WARDSVILLE - For the first time since starting its wrestling program, the Blair Oaks Falcons will have a new head coach.
Mike DeMilia, who served as an assistant last season under Tim Karsten, becomes the Falcons second head coach in program history when Blair Oaks opens the season today at Knob Noster.
DeMilia, entering his second season overall on the coaching staff, has made some minor preparation tweaks this preseason.
"Our tempo at practice, and my philosophy, is simplifying things a little bit," he said. " We're trying to simplify and get really good at a few things."
The Falcons held their Green and White scrimmage Tuesday. DeMilia said the preseason warmup helped him decide starters at six weight classes.
"We knew there were going to be some really tough matches, and they turned out just as we thought," DeMilia said.
Blair Oaks returns five starters from last year's roster.
Leading the returners is junior Dalton Bridges, who finished sixth at state last season with a 32-13 record. Bridges will bump up a weight class this season and wrestle at 132 pounds.
DeMilia said Bridges was just scratching the surface last season.
"I think there were times last year he didn't wrestle to his capability," DeMilia said. "So far this year, he has. He's looked a lot better.
"He just needs to stick to simple stuff and use his athletic ability and his strength, which is off the charts."
The Falcons also return junior Ben Thomas at 145 and junior Jace Griggs at 120. Both wrestlers were one win shy of qualifying for state last season.
Thomas is one of nine wrestlers who also played football and were unable to start wrestling practice until the week of Thanksgiving.
"I'm a big fan of multi-sport athletes, so with his experience in football and track, he's been in big matches and big games," DeMilia said.
Another key returner for the Falcons is sophomore Kyler Griep at 160. Griep won 32 matches as a freshman.
"Kyler is a wrestling junkie," DeMilia said. "He's always had the talent, but I think his head is going to be even better this year, which is going to get him over the hump and hopefully get him to state."
Blair Oaks has two seniors on the roster, with Addison Canale at 138 and Eddie Wells at 170.
Canale only wrestled for half of last season, so DeMilia is ready to see what he can offer this year.
"He's a competitive kid," DeMilia said. "He still has to shore up a few things, but he's motivated, he's driven."
Wells wrestled a few times at varsity last season and brings aggressiveness to the Falcons' lineup.
"He's still a new wrestler, this is only his second year, but he's a fighter and he's going to get after it," DeMilia said.
DeMilia is looking for big things this season from freshman Levi Haney at 152. He started last season at 120, but he hit a growth spurt and finished the year at 145.
"I think he could be a really good wrestler here at Blair Oaks," DeMilia said. " He's going to turn some heads this year."
Junior Creed Lenn will wrestle at 220. He was unable to wrestle varsity last year after transferring from Helias.
"He's big and strong, but he's still got a lot to learn," DeMilia said. "He's another one that could surprise some people."
Filling out the rest of the varsity lineup is freshman Robbie Lairmore at 106, freshman Nick Welch at 126, sophomore Shane Gillmore at 182 and sophomore Adam Jurgensmeyer at 195.
The Falcons will be open at 113 and 285.
Blair Oaks will be one of 12 schools wrestling today in the Ray Stockdale Tournament at Knob Noster. DeMilia is looking forward to seeing his wrestlers face outside competition.
"We'll realize where we have some weaknesses and be able to go from there," he said. "I'm excited to see where we're at compared to everybody."
Blair Oaks only has one home match this season, a quad-dual Jan. 23 against Knob Noster, Palmyra and Southern Boone.
DeMilia wants to see Blair Oaks compete for a Tri-County Conference championship this season, a title the Falcons haven't won since their four-peat from 2011-14.
"I think if every guy can go out and just be competitive to start and give himself a chance to win, we can catch some people late in a match here in there and pull a couple of upsets," DeMilia said. "At the end of the day, you can't control winning or losing. You can only control your effort. That's what I'm really looking for."