The Helias Crusaders finished 10th in the Class 3 state wrestling tournament last season.
That was good. But not good enough.
"As a coach, I expect to do better and we're expecting the kids to do better," Helias coach Weston Keleher said as the Crusaders prepare to open the season tonight in a double dual against Warrenton and Hannibal in Warrenton. "Tenth wasn't bad, but we could have done better.
"This is Helias wrestling and we want to get back to the pinnacle. We want to be in the hunt for a trophy."
The Crusaders will be a young team this season, led by their three seniors.
Aleksey Salaz is a returning medalist for the Crusaders, taking fifth at 126 pounds. He will be wrestling at 138 this season.
"He's brought a different level to the practice room this year," Keleher said. "He's become a very good leader and we're hoping that helps him become what we hope will be a state championship caliber wrestler."
Being at the top of the podium in mid-February is a goal Salaz can achieve.
"I thought it was realistic last year at 126," Keleher said. "If you take those brackets and shake them up five times on five different days, I think five different guys could have been a state champion."
Gavin Adams finished one win short of a medal at 106 last season. He will be moving up a weight class as a senior.
"He's no longer the tallest 106-pounder in the state, he's probably the tallest 113-pounder in the state," Keleher said.
Winning that match to get into the medal rounds is Adams' goal.
"Gavin is the same wrestler, he comes in and works so hard every day," Keleher said. "He's a kid that has the ability to take that final step onto the podium this year. The highest one is reachable for him."
Curtis Rockers also returns to the lineup for his senior season. He will wrestle at 170.
"He does a good job in the room every day," Keleher said. "You can tell he wants to continue to grow in this sport."
Other potential starters include:
Ethan Herigon and Gage Lock, both sophomores, or freshman Carter Prenger at 106.
Jack Lage, a sophomore who started last year before being injured, or freshmen Jace Duemmel or William Smith-Vandergriff at 120.
Carson Hayes or Cody Suthoff, both freshman, at 126. Duemmel also could be in the lineup at this weight.
Jacob Schrimpf, a junior, sophomore Brodyn VanLoo or freshman Brennan Prenger at 132.
Nicholas Jeffries, a sophomore, will backup Salaz at 138.
Nate Schnieders and Lincoln Mertens, both juniors, sophomore Wyatt Forck, or freshmen Korbin Fisher or Mason Frank at 145.
Nikolai Careaga, a junior, at 152.
Alex Tesreau, a junior, or sophomore Connor Wilbers at 160.
Hayden Payne, a junior, at 182.
Tanner Nappier, a sophomore, at 195.
Michael Sanner, a sophomore, or freshman John Jack Klebba at 285.
Helias will be open at 220.
"We just don't have a body to put there," Keleher said. "There's not a guy who can drop or a guy who can put on the weight."
Keleher doesn't expect the Crusaders to do a lot of changing of weights in the lineup this season.
"It could, but I try to make the lineup as solid as I can at the beginning of the season," he said. "I like to have the same guy at the same weight all season.
"You can get to the end of the season and if you try to drop, you lose your strength."
The strength of the team figures to be in the lower weight classes.
"I think we have a realistic chance to have state-placers in the first seven," Keleher said. "And if we do that, there's no reason we can't earn a trophy."
It's a young team, with 26 of the 36 wrestlers being sophomores or freshmen.
"It's a positive, I think our success last year brought some of the out," Keleher said. "Winning always brings interest.
"And a lot of our first-year wrestlers from last season came back. You could tell that they loved it and there was no question they were coming back."
Starting the season a little later than most teams is giving the fall sport athletes a chance to get acclimated to the winter sport.
"I like competing after Thanksgiving, the break gives us a chance to focus on wrestling," Keleher said. "Plus we get to have some longer practices during the holiday break.
"We're finally getting everybody in shape, we're getting into the groove that you need to be for this sport."
Helias will open its home schedule Dec. 13-14 with the Missouri Duals.
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The Crusaders wrestling team will be without senior Jackson Careaga, who passed away in October.
"It's been tough, but it's something we know we're going to have to deal with," Keleher said. "There's a great support system here at Helias and in the wrestling room. The practice room is a safe haven for the kids.
"I'll tell a story sometimes about Jackson or talk about a move that Jackson liked to make. I've talked to some kids about Jackson on the side, I know the other coaches have, too."
Careaga was a three-time state qualifier for Helias, finishing second as a junior and sixth as a sophomore at 152.