This could be the year that the Bonney Lake High wrestling squad makes a bold statement in a South Puget Sound League 3A grappling world that has been dominated by the Enumclaw Hornets.

“We’ll see how the weights shake out, but unless we get bogged down with injuries we are all hoping that this is Bonney Lake wrestling’s time to shine,” coach Anthony Clarke said. “My guys, especially the seniors, are chomping at the bit to get our mat campaign under way.”

Ripping up the mats this year are 113-pound sophomore Colton Tracy and 120-pound senior Andrew Cunningham; both finished second at last year’s state wrestling tournament in their 103-pound and 112-pound weight categories, respectively. While Cunningham recorded a 37-3 individual mark last season, Tracy finished with a noteworthy 35-5 accounting.

The lighter weights should prove to be BLHS’s strong suit and the 126-pound phase is certainly no exception as sophomore candidate Caid Caveness has earned the right to showcase his skills in that weight division. The next weight, 132 pounds, features a dogfight between Jon Ellis and Ben Quintinar.

The next quadrant of weight divisions has Jordan Magrum (138), Matt Yuste (145) and Tyler Hernandez (152) as well as sophomore Chili Saban at 160 pounds, all well-established in the program.

Seniors Jake Lueders (170 pounds) and Evan Dorsey (182 pounds) will furnish the veteran mat moves. Lueders shook off late regular season injuries in 2011 to tear it up at state in the 160-pound column, winning three consecutive matches before finally ending up on the third place step of the podium.

The crystal ball becomes a little cloudier as the chart climbs into the heavier weights, but as opposed to the last half decade, things are a bit clearer as senior cruiser, Jordan Schultz, seems to have cinched up the starting role at 220 pounds.

In the heavyweight division, Bonney Lake wrestling faithful will be cheering on the efforts of one of two sophomore candidates, Stephan Land or Ryan Chapman.

The chance to get a preseason peek at this year’s Bonney Lake mat hopefuls will come Friday when the Panthers host Sumner High.

Saturday, Bonney Lake will engage in the annual White River Classic, an all day affair usually beginning around 9 a.m.