"Perham is the favorite in Section 8AA," Road Crew coach Tom Demars said last week. "Perham beat us 33-29 in the section final last year when we were both in 7AA. Now we're both in 8AA and Perham's the team to beat. They lost a couple kids (to graduation), but they gained a state runner-up in Isaac Werner of Aitkin (sophomore at 112 pounds). Thief River Falls should also be tough (in the section)."

The Guillotine state wrestling publication ranks Perham at No. 2 and Thief River Falls at No. 12 while giving the Road Crew honorable mention status. Last year, the Road Crew compiled the best record since the two schools combined, and four wrestlers qualified for state.

"We came close (to qualifying for state as a team last season) and I could tell the kids were chomping at the bit on the first day of practice," Demars said.

With only two losses in dual matches, the Road Crew won the Park Region Conference title, placed sixth out of 32 teams at the Big Bear invitational, were fourth against 13 schools in Bemidji, and placed in the top four at the Paul Bunyan Invitational in Brainerd.

Just three seniors graduated from last year's Road Crew squad, which has seven returning wrestlers who placed fifth or higher at sections.

Leading the returning letterwinners is senior Nathan Waslaski, who is ranked No. 5 at 140 pounds by the Guillotine. Waslaski, along with junior Nic Harrison and sophomore Cody Schrupp, all qualified for state last year.

"We have a pretty balanced lineup with varsity experience at 10 or 11 weights," Demars said. "Pat Bresnahan, Marcus Hernandez and Troy Griffith are talented seniors at the heavier weights and Zach Humphrey and Dustin Campbell are solid juniors at the middle weights. We also have senior Joel Knutson, who didn't wrestle much on varsity last year, but will be a solid wrestler this year."

After Saturday's meet, the Road Crew is scheduled to compete against Detroit Lakes in a quadrangular with Crosby-Ironton, W-DC and the Lakers on Dec. 4; host a triangular with Walker-Hackensack-Akeley and Deer River at Pequot Lakes High School on Dec. 6; and then wrestle at the Paul Bunyan Invitational Dec. 7-8 in Brainerd.