Siuslaw Vikings coach Neil Wartnick is ready to welcome as many as 40 wrestlers when practice begins next month.

"I'm hoping for 25 to 30 boys and 8 to 10 girls," Wartnik said. "I'm super excited about this season."

The Vikings are coming off perhaps the best season in their coach's nearly three decades with the program. Siuslaw was sixth in 4A at state last spring, finishing with six place winners and 101 points, both school records.

While he is eagerly awaiting great returning and new talent, Wartnik is even happier to welcome a new colleague. His daughter, Hannah, recently took over the Siuslaw Middle School program.

Hannah is a social studies teacher at the middle school, Neil an English teacher at the high school.

"Having my daughter on the coaching staff means a lot to me," Wartnik said. "She is an outstanding person and teacher. Her presence will bring new energy and stability to the middle school program."

The Vikings took some serious hits from last year's roster due to graduation, including second-place finishers Elijah LaCosse (145 pounds) and Christian Newlan (220) and fifth-place finisher Ryan Jennings (160).

Siuslaw's returns third-place finisher Mason Buss (170) and sixth-place finishers Yoskar De la Mora (120) and Dayne Muller (182). Hunter Petterson also is back after qualifying last spring for state, where an injury hurt his chances at placing at 132.

The girls' team features state fourth-place finisher Hayden Muller (140).

"While we will miss the outstanding group of seniors who graduated last June, we have an outstanding group of the leaders returning," Wartnick said. "I am excited to be working with them.  

"We will also have many new faces and fresh energy. If we can unite our energy and vision, this will be an exciting year."

NOTES

Assistant coaches also include Stecher Buss, who has been with the program for more than a decade, and Chris LaCosse, who has been with the middle school program a number of years.

Volunteer coaches include Sara Mann, Travis Alcorn, Jeremy Berhnhardt, Chris Rupp and Rich DeSantis.

"Robert Forsythe may not be able to help us this year because he has declined the (covid) vaccine and will not ask for an exemption," Wartnik said.

The Siuslaw boys are in 4A Special District 2 with 1A Alsea, Cascade, 1A Crow, Elmira, Junction City, Newport, Philomath, Stayton and Sweet Home. … There are 34 schools in six special districts in 4A … The top four wrestlers in each district qualify for state… 

The Siuslaw girls will compete in an all-district South, with the top four wrestlers in each of the 14 weight classes advancing to state to face the top four from the North. …

SIUSLAW WRESTLING

Monday, Nov. 15 — First practice.
Saturday, Dec. 4 — at Cascade Tournament at Turner
Friday-Saturday, Dec. 10-11 — at North Bend Classic
Friday-Saturday, Dec. 17-18 — at Grants Pass Winter Kickoff
Wednesday, Dec. 22 — at 4-Way Dual, Marshfield
Saturday, Jan. 15 — Nick Lutz Memorial Tournament, Glenn Butler Court
Friday-Saturday, Jan. 21-22 — at Bay City Duals, Coos Bay 
Thursday, Feb. 3 — vs. Stayton, 5 p.m., Glenn Butler Court
Friday-Saturday, Feb. 11-12 — District 2 Regional at Siuslaw