Chantelle Bailey made history last season when she became the first Enumclaw High girl to win a state wrestling title.

The Hornets, in their third year as a program, finished fifth at state, and with Bailey and a handful of others from that team back on the mat, coach Jerry Scheidt is expecting another good season.

“We’re excited about this year,” Scheidt said. “This year we’re in some really good tournaments and we’re going to wrestle girls we’ve seen.

“Going to state, the girls saw what all the hard work was all about.”

Bailey’s state title should be plenty of motivation. When Bailey pinned Betty Granados of Fife for the state crown it was her 17th pin of the season. She suffered just six losses on the season.

Also returning are seniors Rose Johnson, who placed seventh at state, and Breanna Flaquinti. Kasandra Renfrow, Carson Seitz and Mary Nygaard are also back.

Jenny Paterson, who placed seventh at state, graduated, but her younger sister Jade Paterson enters as a freshman and brings a strong background in martial arts to the program. Newcomers in the lower weights, where Scheidt has been looking to fill gaps, look good with Maranda Long and Logann Erkskine jumping on board.

With a schedule that’s hard to nail down, Scheidt expects the girls to pay their dues for about a month and then hit their stride around January. Most of their matches, he noted, will be Saturday tournaments unless the girls match up weight classes with other teams in the South Puget Sound League 3A, which is growing its girls’ program.