EVERETT

Back in 2003, the first-year Archbishop Murphy wrestling team consisted of a group of 15 inexperienced wrestlers.

Some of them, like senior Jack Reeves, who wrestles at 130 pounds, have stuck with the program and developed into solid competitors.

“We’ve come a heck of a long way since then,” said coach Blaine Gilchrist-Smith, who started the program.

The Wildcats have improved over the years, but they are still far from being the type of team that sends wrestlers to state on a regular basis.

“Most kids we get in here haven’t wrestled before,” Gilchrist-Smith said. “It takes time to develop. Are we there yet? We’re close.”

Archbishop Murphy is close to fielding a full lineup this season, with the team’s only vacancy at 112 pounds. At some weights they have two quality wrestlers.

The Wildcats will be hard-pressed to send anyone to state this season given the district they are in, but junior Zeke Evers at 189 pounds has a shot to qualify for regionals, Gilchrist-Smith said.

Evers, along with Reeves, are among seven varsity returnees for the Wildcats. Sophomore Brett de Chadenedes, who moved up to 119 pounds from 103 pounds, was the Wildcats’ sole regional qualifier last season. Sophomore Taylor Baehm (125), senior Peter Stampher (140), junior Stephen Street (152) and senior Rich Yeilding (215) also return.

The team also includes a group of five freshmen with wrestling experience, the most experience of any freshman class Gilchrist-Smith has had.

The challenge, though, for mostly inexperienced wrestlers, is to help them see the light at the end of the tunnel even when they are getting beat, Gilchrist-Smith said.

“Hopefully, they’ll buy into what I’m telling them,” Gilchrist-Smith said.

“They’re a good bunch of kids,” he added. “They’re fun to work with.”

Cedarcrest, who the Wildcats faced Dec. 12, is the top team in the Cascade Conference followed by Sultan and South Whidbey.

The Wildcats face tougher competition in their district than in the recent past. Burlington-Edison, Sehome, Anacortes and Bellingham are good programs that moved down to Class 2A from 3A as part of the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association’s reclassification process this year.

Still, the Wildcats remain undeterred, Gilchrist-Smith said.

“We’d like to be in a position to compete for a championship and we’ll continue to work for that,” he said.