"I think we should be a top-five team (in Class 2A)," said Dolores head coach Leo Garand. "I think we an get five guys on the podium this year."
Leading this year's team will be Richard Martinez and Tristan Medina, who qualified for state as freshman last season. According to Garand, Martinez will wrestle at 113-pounds this season and Medina will wrestle at 120-pounds.
"My goal is to take everything I learned this summer and hopefully place at state," said Medina, who wrestled in more than 50 matches over the summer.
"I'm expecting to wrestle tough and hopefully win state, but I don't want to say anything" said Martinez. "We have a lot of tough kids this year and it's great to work out with them because it makes you better."
Also aiming for a spot on the state podium will be 145-pound senior Guy Wallace and 170-pound senior Kellen Gatzke. Wallace narrowly missed qualifying for the state tournament last season.
"This year, I'm going to place at state," said Wallace. I think we're going to have a really good year."
Sophomore Brandon Ward will look to make an impact at 106-pounds, while freshman Dustin Beltran, who placed fourth at the middle school state tournament last season is hoping to make waves at 126-pounds.
"(Ward) really filled in and Beltran was the second middle school state placer in Dolores history," said Garand.
Freshman Logan Fuller will wrestle at 132-pounds, while sophomore Devin Reed will hit the mat in the 220-pound division.
"Devin Reed is going to surprise some people," said Garand. "He had some eligibility problems last year, but this year he's been solid and working hard. He's a strong kid and he'll make an impact."
Over the summer, several Dolores wrestlers competed in numerous tournaments. The Bears finished first at a tournament in Pagosa Springs and won over 80 percent of their matches at last summer's Paonia Duals.
"It was a great offseason and they're riding the wave," said Garand. "They're a lot more focused than they've ever been."
After scrimmaging in Durango on Nov. 21, the Bears will open their regular season at the Peaks Tournament in Flagstaff, Dec. 5-6. The Bears open their home schedule with a scrimmage against Cortez on Dec. 16.