1A-1 Preview: North Bay Haven looking to see plan come to fruition

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Preston Neufeld, 61-7, 2nd, RC, DC.

Notable returning wrestlers: Koa DeLoach, Sr., 64-6, 3rd, RC, DC; Jack Mulnix, Jr., 51-6, 6th, RC, DC; Bear Siegal, Sr., 61-11, 6th, RC, DC; Will Lundgren, Sr., 39-16, RQ-BR, DC; Kaden Davis, Jr., 29-22, RQ, D2; Brady McAlister, Fr., 18-24, RQ, D3; Peyton Saluto Jr., Jr., 21-22, RQ, D4; Nathan Mercado, Sr.; Zander Stillgess, Sr.; JP Falgout, So.; Jackson Clark, So.; Peyton Saluto, Jr.

New wrestlers: Alex Vasquez-Young, Jr., 44-20, RQ, D4 (Transfer from Mosley); AJ Ramey, Jr., 24-24, RQ, D2 (Transfer from Bay)

What they are saying: “This is our proof of concept year. When we first started laying the foundation, we had four eighth graders, a slew of seventh graders, and some sixth graders starting for us that we knew would be the core of a big push for some team titles; this will likely be the first year we don't have a middle schooler in the starting lineup. Injuries kept us from making more of a statement last year. If this team is healthy and we get these young men in the right weights, then I don't think there is a team we can't scrap with.“

On Koa DeLoach: “He was Greco Fargo All-American this year and I think that seeing more of those national level tournaments has built his confidence in a different way. He's still a kid that does a good job of not really paying attention to who anybody else is. If you watch any of his recent clips, there's a different level of confidence in what he's doing. Last yearm he was still very great on his feetm but sometimes I felt there was some hesitation against kids that I think he could have opened up against. Confidence has been a big piece for him. It's really only his second year in the states competing and he mostly focused on freestyle in Guam. He’s going into that second year with a little more confidence, a little more understanding.”

On how close this team is: “I think it's been huge. I think when you look at our kids that have had to miss that year hurt. I think being as close as they are with the other kids, they're able to stay connected to the team even if they weren't competing. You have kids that are going to be a little more willing to kind of go up or down a weight in order to fit for the team and not just kind of an individual aspect of it. They're a fun tough group. We always have somebody willing to step in and they just push each other to get better because they love each other. But again, knowing each other that long, they're also incredibly competitive with each other.”

Outlook: The Buccaneers have already experienced success with this program, but this is the year that it’s all been building for from their master plan to develop this program.