It's like Christmas morning for wrestling coaches.
The state tournament brackets were released Monday and coaches from around the state anxiously looked where their wrestlers were placed and who they were facing, not only in the first round, but potentially deeper in the event.
For the most part, Helias coach Weston Keleher was happy with what he saw.
"We're not going to complain much about our draws," Keleher said as five Crusaders get set for the Class 3 championships starting today at Mizzou Arena.
"We have five kids that I believe can finish in the top six."
The five advanced by picking up top-four finishes at last weekend's District 4 Tournament at Kearney.
Two Crusaders - Aleksey Salaz and Jackson Careaga - claimed individual district crowns.
Salaz, a junior, won the title at 126 pounds. He will be making his first state tournament appearance.
"He's an even-keeled kid," Keleher said. "If you could have a team full of guys like him, you would probably take it and be very successful."
Salaz (34-7) will meet Josh Copher (37-9, jr.) from Webb City, who finished fourth in a strong field at the weight in District 3 and was a state qualifier in 2017 as a freshman.
Copher is ranked No. 5 in the state by MissouriWrestling.com.
"It's going to be a tough match because that district was loaded," Keleher said. "But we feel good we can win the match."
Careaga, a junior, was the champ at 152. He won the title with a 2-1 decision against Blake Ackerman of Smithville, scoring his points with a takedown in the third period. Careaga is ranked No. 3, while Ackerman is No. 6.
"That set him up for what looks to be the opportunity to go deep," Keleher said. "It looks like a good draw."
Careaga was sixth at 152 at state last year and qualified at 138 as a freshman.
"He's such a student of the sport," Keleher said. "He loves wrestling and wants to get better every day and that's something you can't teach. He's just a tough kid that doesn't complain."
Careaga (43-6) opens against Brent Wielms (19-13, sr.) from Warrenton.
Two Crusaders - Gavin Adams and Evan Winder - finished second at districts.
Adams, a junior, will be making his first appearance at state. He's unusually tall for someone wrestling at 106 pounds.
"He presents problems for kids with his size," Keleher said. "He can be awkward for other kids to wrestle and he gives his opponents fits."
Adams (44-6), ranked No. 5, opens against Ettien Rodgers (34-8, soph.) from Hazelwood East.
"Gavin is the type of kid that never stops, he's always moving," Keleher said. "He's a tough kid to wrestle for a lot of reasons."
Winder, a senior, is a state tournament veteran. He will be bidding for his fourth medal after taking sixth at 106 as a freshman and a sophomore and at 120 as a junior.
Winder (27-4, ranked No. 4) will meet Devin Francis (25-16, sr.) of DeSoto in the first round at 132. But looming in the quarterfinals is a possible matchup against top-ranked Nathan Pulliam (23-0, soph.) from Rolla.
"That weight class may be the best in Class 3," Keleher said. "But Evan is one of the best kids in Class 3 and there's no reason he shouldn't be successful."
Dustin Luebbert of the Crusaders advanced to state by taking third at 160 in districts. This is Luebbert's second state appearance after qualifying at 138 as a sophomore.
"He can be a dangerous guy at state because he's a senior with a gas tank like no other," Keleher said. "He wants to go out the right way and he's worked really hard to get himself into this position."
Luebbert (35-11) will face Colt Adkins (34-12, soph.) of Lebanon in the first round. Luebbert lost a decision to Adkins in the Missouri Duals in early December.
"It was so early in the season and we're wrestling a lot better now," Keleher said.
Keleher believes the Crusaders have a chance for a good finish in the team standings.
"We can be a top 10 team," Keleher said. "And I wouldn't be shocked if we made a run at the top five because we have five kids that can place."
The Crusaders will need to pick up pins and technical falls to make that run in the team race.
"We're a bonus-point machine, we have been all year," Keleher said. "That can make a big difference in this tournament with us just having five guys."
Neosho and Kearney are among the team favorites in Class 3.
The Class 3 championships begin at 5:15 p.m. today. Action will resume at 1:30 p.m. Friday. Saturday will have the third- and fifth-place matches around noon, with the title bouts slated to begin at 4 p.m.