AnnArbor.com's fourth of seven winter sports previews takes a look at Washtenaw County's wrestling teams.

Austin Deacons (sr.), Manchester: Was a stalling call away from being a Division 4 state champion at 119 pounds last year. Deacons placed fourth as a sophomore and will look to add a state title to his long list of accolades.

Dylan Neff (sr.), Manchester: Neff came on strong in the D4 state tournament last year, finishing runner up at heavyweight despite placing fourth at regionals. Look for him to build on that success for a strong senior season.

Tim Sims (sr.), Milan: Went 61-7 last season and placed sixth in Division 2 at 145 pounds. Sims already has 124 career high school wins.

CHELSEA BULLDOGS Undefeated state champion Dakota Cooley has graduated, and that’s tough to replace in terms of ability on the mat and leadership in the wrestling room. Coach Kerry Kargel likes the looks of his young team, though.

Coach: Kerry Kargel (28th year). Last season: Third in the SEC White. Key returners: Ben Dahl (jr., 112), Andrew Nold (sr., 140), Joey Newland (sr., 152), Charlie Kempf (sr., 285). Key newcomers: Chris Shoemaker (sr., 215). Strength: Work ethic. Weakness: Youth and inexeperience. Coach Kerry Kargel says: “They’re a good group of kids willing to work hard. Once we get down to weights, we should be alright.”

DEXTER DREADNAUGHTS At heavyweight and 215, the Dreadnaught are very strong. Shawn Chamberlain and Josh Cash working together every day in practice will only make them better. With 30 wrestlers out for the team, there is enough depth at each weight for Dexter to be competitive and improve throughout the year.

Coach: Shane Rodriguez (4th year). Last season: 20-15; fourth in SEC White. Key returners: Josh Cash (sr., 285/215), Shawn Chamberlain (jr., 285), Alex Sloan (sr., 130/125), Anthony Chisolm (sr., 145/40), Drew Barnes (jr., 152), Jeff Root (sr., 171), Evan Oxner (jr. 160). Key newcomers: Dave Velez (jr., 189), Steve Bleise (fr., 103). Strength: Depth and experience at key weight classes. Weakness: Filling in a few weight classes. Coach Shane Rodriguez says: “These guys make the wrestling room really exciting. Our upper weights are real competitive and we’ve got a lot of potential going forward.”

HURON RIVER RATS Former Carleton Airport and Flat Rock coach and Arizona State wrestler Jim Tarszkiewicz is attempting to build the River Rats program from the ground up. His first challenge: getting bodies in the room. Only 10 kids have come out for the team so far. He knows it will be challenge, but one he says he’s committed to.

Coach: Jim Taraszkiewicz (2nd year). Last season: Last place in SEC Red. Did not win a dual meet. Key returners: None. Key newcomers: Everyone. Strength: According to Taraszkiewicz, “They know they aren’t up there yet in terms of skill, but are out there to fight for everything and not to get pinned.” Weakness: Technique, fundamentals, low numbers. Coach Jim Taraszkiewicz says: “This school has produced Olympians and many successful athletes in so many other sports. The bodies are out there, we’ve just gotta get them to come out.”

MANCHESTER FLYING DUTCHMEN Manchester returns three All-State individuals and three more state qualifiers from last year’s district championship winning team. Dylan Neff (285) and Austin Deacons (119) were state runners up last year and are looking to get to the top of the podium as seniors. Manchester has a favorable draw on the team side of the postseason tournament with powerhouse Hudson no longer in the same regional.

Coach: Steve Vlcek (20th year). Last season: District champs. Key returners: Austin Deacons (sr., 125) Nate Fisher (so., 103/112), Ryan Abrigo (sr., 119), Cameron LaDouceur (jr., 140), Johnny Woolams (sr., 145), Dylan Neff (sr., 285), Tom Conway (jr., 130), Chris Margraves (sr. 189), Austin Hamilton (jr., 215). Key newcomers: Too early to tell. Strength: Experience, depth. Weakness: Believing they can compete with the Hudsons and Addisons of the world. Coach Steve Vlcek says: “Are you going to hand Hudson the state title already? That’s something we need to work on is getting guys believing they can do it.”

LINCOLN RAILSPLITTERS With 32 wrestlers, coach Mike Betts is encouraged by the turnout in his sixth year at the helm. Most of the team is underclassmen, but Betts expects big things out of junior Eddie Nuttal, who was a regional qualifier last year.

Coach: Mike Betts (2nd year). Last season: Last in SEC White. Key returners: Eddie Nuttal (jr., 140), Adam Barber (sr., 52/60). Key newcomers: Matt Peoples (so., 215). Strength: Athleticism. Weakness: Inexperience. Coach Mike Betts says: “Tecumseh, Monroe and Bedford are the class of the league. We’re working hard to get to that level.”

MILAN BIG REDS Long-time assistant Clint Kraft replaces Gary Jonseck, who last year led Milan to its second consecutive district title and Huron League championship. Milan returns three All-State wrestlers to its lineup, including Tim Sims, who was sixth in Division 2 at 145 pounds.

Coach: Clint Kraft (1st year). Last season: 23-20; district, Huron League champions. Key returners: Tim Sims (sr., 152/160), RJ Gaskill (sr., 160), Matt Schultz (sr., 215), Chris Gaskill (jr., 171), Alex Huling (jr., 125), Ben Fick (so., 135), Clint Lafferty (so., 140), Dylan Wachowicz (jr., 189), Willy Boyd (jr., 285). Key newcomers: Jackson Troin (fr., 103), 112 Allen Kulikowski (fr., 112), Brandon Obeginski (fr., 119), Kyle Domas (fr., 130), Carson Zois (fr., 145) Strength: Great senior leadership and experience with three senior state placers in the lineup. Weakness: Five freshmen in the starting lineup. Coach Clint Kraft says: “Gary had a great system going from the youth all the way up. I hope to take the reigns and continue it.”

PIONEER PIONEERS Pioneer finished last season with a strong showing at the SEC Championships, finishing ahead of many teams it had lost to earlier in the year. The Pioneers are not strong enough top to bottom and give up too many voids to compete with elite teams in dual meets, but they do have some wrestlers, particularly Alex Kinch at 189 pounds, that have the talent to achieve individual success.

Coach: Bill Petoskey (3rd year). Last season: Sub .500 in dual meets. Key returners: Alex Kinch (sr., 189), Jake Peck (sr., 125), Lamon Simpson (sr., 145), Markeyce Drewery (sr., 160), Frank Diaz-Pezua (sr., 171). Key newcomers: Jahi Hilliard (so., 215), Keegan Pape (so., 119). Strength: Young squad with a lot of potential. New assistant coach Stacy Richmond, a former Big Ten champion at Michigan State, brings knowledge and experience to the team. Weakness: Nobody at 112 or 140. Coach Bill Petoskey says: “There are a few holes, but who we got are working hard.”

SALINE HORNETS Saline is a young team, but many of the young wrestlers gained invaluable experience last year, particularly in the lower weight classes. That youth shouldn’t hurt the Hornets down low, but in the upper weights it’s sure to take a toll. Taylor Ticknor, who had a good year at 112 as a freshman, is down to 103, where he should be a force. Regional qualifier Sam Hepler will be strong, as well.

Coach: Scott Marvin (6th year). Last season: Sub .500 in dual meet competition. Key returners: Sam Hepler (sr., 145), Noah Woody (sr., 140), Ryan Boxeth (jr., 119), Kareem Fayssa (sr., 135), Taylor Ticknor (so., 103), Adam Bruly (so., 112), Nate O’Sullivan (so., 125). Key newcomers: Casey Schukow (so., 285), Andrew Butcko (so., 160). Strength: Strong core of young wrestlers. Of 42 on the team, 34 are underclassmen. Weakness: Inexperience and youth. Coach Scott Marvin says: “We’re going to take some lumps, but we’ve got a group that can compete and we’re going to give out some lumps as well.”

SKYLINE EAGLES First-year coach Jess Milliman takes over the Skyline program, which will compete in a full Southeastern Conference varsity schedule for the first time. Milliman wrestled for Bronson on its 2002 and 2003 Division 4 state runner-up teams. So far, Skyline has 11 wrestlers that will fill between six and eight weight classes.

Coach: Jess Milliman (1st year). Last season: Competed as JV squad. Key returners: John Crowley (so. 130) Ben Brinkerhoff (so., 171/89) Abdulah Basir (so., 145). Key newcomers: Paul Upp (jr., 140). Strength: Team cohesion, a lot parent support. Guys working well together Weakness: Everyone has a lot to learn. Low numbers. Coach Jess Milliman says: “We’re not really focusing on wins and loses, but basics and fundamentals.”

YPSILANTI PHOENIX The Phoenix have a very young team with just two seniors and the rest freshmen and sophomores. Ypsilanti will have trouble competing in duals, having to void three weight classes. Coach Claudell Ruffin thinks Trey Sweeney has the potential to be an All-State individual, though.

Coach: Claudell Ruffin (9th year). Last season: 18-15, fifth in SEC White ahead of Lincoln. Key returners: Trey Sweeney (sr., 215), Zaid Addeltrif (so., 285), Devonte Asher-Brown (sr., 171), Anthony Simmons (jr., 135), Jeremiah Moore (jr., 160). Key newcomers: Kyle Abdeltrif (fr., 112), Tamarious Faulkner (fr., 119). Strength: Scrappy hard workers. Weakness: Inexperience and youth. Coach Claudell Ruffin says: “Realistically, we’d like to finish middle of the pack (in the SEC) and are working hard to improve every day.”