The calendar is about to turn to December.
But the Jefferson City Jays wrestling team is spending every day with an eye toward February - the postseason.
"We want to get ready for February," Jays coach Phil Cagle said as Jefferson City prepared to host Lebanon in its season opener tonight at Fleming Fieldhouse. "Everything that we do is a step toward that. We know we're going to have some ups and downs.
"We won't have our full lineup until where it should be until mid- to late-January. We have the luxury where we can throw kids into different weight classes, do some experimenting, and see what what happens.
"But it's all a process of getting ready for districts and state."
Jefferson City figures to be a major force in the Class 4 district and state tournaments. The Jays have nine state qualifiers, including six medalists, on a team that finished seventh last season.
"We have a lot of experience," Cagle said. "We should be a fairly decent tournament team."
But Cagle stresses because you did it once doesn't mean you're going to do it again.
"It's going to depend if they are happy with that or they want to build off that," he said. "Every year is different, it brings new challenges.
"Right now, we're working pretty good."
Jalen Martin, a senior, is Jefferson City's top state returner. He was second at 195 pounds last year. Logan Moriarity was third at 160, while Christian Mayberry was fourth at 126 and Rashaun Woods was sixth at 182. Jacob Brune, a state qualifier last year, was fifth in the state in 2014 at 132.
The Jays lineup figures to be bolstered by Gavin DeWitt, a transfer from Ozark. The senior defeated Mayberry in the third-place match at 126 last season.
"He's been good for our program, he's positive and fun and full of energy," Cagle said. "It's helped us that he's been here."
Peter Kuster and Tanner Irwin are also returning state qualifiers for Jefferson City.
"We try to just work hard every day," Cagle said. "When you're talking about what you plan to do down the road, you're not focusing on the things you need to get done every day.
"We're taking it one day at a time. A lot of people talk, but they're not in the room every day. If everything works out, we can have a good year."
A trio of newcomers will hold down the lower weights for the Jays in tonight's dual - Garrett Butell at 103, Sam Martin at 112 and Addison Canale at 119.
"They work hard and physically tough kids," Cagle said. "But we need to see about their technique and how it improves throughout the season."
Kuster will start at 126, followed by Mayberry at 132 and Irwin at 138. Zach Hurley, a varsity starter last year, will start at 145. He will be followed by DeWitt at 152, Brune at 160, Moriarity at 170, Woods at 182 and Martin at 195. Mehki Burnley will start at 220, while the starter at 285 is undecided pending wrestle-offs.
The lineup is far from set in stone.
"From 152 up, we're wrestling up a weight class," Cagle said. "We're going to see where our lineup is the strongest and where the individual kids will have the best chance to be successful at the end of the year."
The team certainly looks to be primed for tournaments. As for duals?
"We still have some things to figure out," Cagle said. "We'll have to work through some inexperience in the three lower weights and at heavyweight.
"That can be 24 points against you. We just need to get some experience."
As freshmen, this group of seniors was part of a team that lost a season-opening dual to Lebanon. Jefferson City has not lost a regular-season dual since.
"Lebanon's got a fine team, it's going to be a lot closer than a lot of people think it is," Cagle said.
There are two new tournaments on Jefferson City's schedule.
In early January, Jefferson City will travel to The Clash XIV in Rochester, Minn. The elite event is invitation-only.
"We got an email and thought about it for a couple of days," Cagle said.
Nearly each of the 32 teams invited are either returning state champions or runners-up.
"People know that we have quality kids on our team and they want the opportunity to wrestle them," Cagle said. "We're fortunate to be invited. If we do good, that's great. If not, we know we're going to have a heck of an experience. It's going to be a great memory for our kids."
Then, the week before the district tournament at Nixa, Jefferson City will go to Columbia for the Elite 8 Duals.
"We have to work hard and overachieve, that's what has built champions here forever," Cagle said. "You can't ever be satisfied and sit on your laurels. If you do that, you're just asking to get beat.
"When I came here 17 years ago and they told me Jays try to stay humble and overachieve and I've always believed that."
Action will begin today with the junior varsity dual at 6 p.m. The varsity should begin around 7 p.m.