The Siuslaw girls wrestling team is off to a great start and the boys are ready to launch.

And that's keeping Vikings coach Neil Wartnik crazy busy.

"I am so in over my head right now," he said cheerfully, as the Vikings prepare for this weekend's 36-school North Bend Coast Classic.

The Lady Vikings were at near full strength for last weekend's Perry Burlison Girls Tournament at Cascade High School in Turner, the boys were far from it.

The girls finished fifth among 22 schools.

"The girls were the story of the day — so much grit, impressive athleticism and growing skill," Wartnik said. "We had a great day together."

Seniors Bailey Overton and Hayden Muller won individual titles, Overton pinning her three opponents and Muller pinning her two.

"Bailey and Hayden were sharp and gutty in the finals," Wartnik said. "Placing fifth out of a field of 22 was pretty neat."

The Vikings were 11th in the boys field, with only five wrestlers competing.

"Many of our strongest wrestlers on the boys side were out of the lineup," Wartnik said. "Hunter Petterson competed, but he is still not in wrestling shape — after the football team state championship run.

"John Corser and Lucian Murphy had another commitment but will be back in the line-up this weekend. Dayne Muller and Cort Waggoner took time off to recover from football weariness. They too will be back this weekend."

Junior Mason Buss was a standout last weekend for the Vikings, winning the 170-pound division.

"Mason was amazing," Wartnik said. "His takedown in the finals was worthy of a highlight film."

With reinforcements coming this week, the Vikings may be in the early stages of a big season.

"We are trying to be slow and patient bringing our young, skillful team members along," Wartnik said. "We will wrestle some of them at the junior varsity level the next two weeks so they can get experience before they are thrust into the varsity line-up.

"Those who understand wrestling know that it is more important how competitors grow from beginning to end of season than achieving early season success."

SCHEDULE
Friday-Saturday, Dec. 10-11 — at North Bend Coast Classic
Friday-Saturday, Dec. 17-18 — at Grants Pass Winter Kickoff, 9 a.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 22 — at 4-Way Dual, Marshfield
Thursday, Jan. 6 — Sky-Em Dual Meet Championships at Siuslaw, 2 p.m.
Wednesday, Jan. 12 — Conference Duals at Philomath, 6 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 15 — Nick Lutz Memorial Tournament at Siuslaw, 9:30 a.m.
Thursday, Jan. 20 — at Junction City Three-Way Meet, 5 p.m.
Friday-Saturday, Jan. 21-22 — at Bay City Duals, Coos Bay
Wednesday, Jan. 26 — Conference Duals at Elmira
Thursday, Feb. 3 — vs. Stayton, Glenn Butler Court, 6 p.m.
Friday-Saturday, Feb. 11-12 — District 2 Regional at Siuslaw
Friday-Saturday, Feb. 25-26 — OSAA State Championships, Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Portland

ROSTER
Freshmen
Jordan Albin, 152
Aiden Armstrong, 285
Ty Bond, 138
Ryan Clark, 126
Ashlyn Hart, 130
Macali Lade, 120
Wesley Nicholls, 132
Leonardo Robertson, 145
Joel Sissel, 170
Austen Webb, 285
Sophomores
Makayla Freeman, 140
River Howell, 220
Dayne Muller, 135
Daniel Petrovic, 220
Rosa Velasco-Mendez, 130
Cort Waggoner, 220
Juniors
Mason Buss, 170
Ava Coggins, 115
Yoskar De la Mora, 120
Cayden Gray, 120
Julian Loftis, 220
Lucian Murphy, 160
Chance O'Brien, 220
Hunter Petterson, 138
Madison Petterson, 115
Jacob Welton, 138
Seniors
John Corser, 152
Dante Galli, 182
Jesus Garcia 182
JC Gentry, 285
Jessie Hoover, 100
Hayden Muller, 135
Brooke Olson, 135
Bailey Overton, 120
Coach: Neil Wartnik
Assistants: Chris Rupp, Chris LaCosse, Robert Forsythe, Stecher Buss