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"We're really inexperienced," said Vagle, who returns for his 38th season as the varsity coach. "This is the most inexperienced team we've had in 25 years."

The Bulldogs lost eight senior regulars from last year's team, which ended as the Section 5AA runners-up, losing to Litchfield, who won the Class AA team title. Among the seniors lost were individual state entrants Marty Engen (who won an individual title as a junior), Adam Christian, and Ryan Glenz.

Returning regulars include seniors Matt Kerzman (23-17) and Pat Utsch (29-8), junior Jack Mueller (13-13), and sophomores Andrew Christian (5-13), Sean Glenz (25-11), and Joey Sheridan (11-18).

A sixth returning regular - junior Cory Christenson (15-22) - has practiced with the team this fall but is moving to Arizona.

Of these wrestlers, Utsch is ranked tenth in Class A at 189 by the Guillotine in its preseason rankings. Glenz has qualified for state individually the last two years.

The loss of seniors is coupled by the loss of three projected regulars to injury, said Vagle. Senior Derek Burris is recovering from a knee injury from football, and sophomores John Hemingson and Dustin Utsch also have leg injuries. While Vagle hopes to get these wrestlers on the mat this year, their return is uncertain.

The Bulldogs do have 40 wrestlers in grades 8-12 out for wrestling this year, and Vagle is pleased with their attendance and work habits in practice so far. While the Bulldogs have promising talent, they lack experience and depth, said Vagle, who will be assisted again this year by Steve Fuchs.

The Dogs move back to Class A in wrestling for the next two years and back to Section 6A. The Bulldogs won the Section 6A titles in 2000 and 2001, including winning the Class A state title in 2000. In 2002 and 2003, the Bulldogs were in Class AA and lost to Litchfield in the Section 5AA finals both years.

The Bulldogs will be an underdog this year, as Pierz is the favorite in Section 6A. Pierz has won the Section 6A title the last two years, including taking the consolation title last year in Class A at state.

Pierz is rated second in Class A by the Guillotine this year and has seven state-rated wrestlers, including senior Craig Luberts, a two-time state champion.

The Dogs are rated 11th in Class A to start the 2003-04 season.

Vagle said Mille Lacs also will have a strong team in Section 6A. "We hope to battle in there," Vagle said. "It's just so uncertain. It's hard to project. It depends on how we develop."

Once again, the Bulldogs will wrestle a tough schedule this year, and Vagle urged realistic expectations this year, like staying above .500 for the team record.

The conference also is a toss-up, with Albany, LPGE (which qualified for state last year in Class AA), and Sauk Centre looking to dethrone the Bulldogs as the conference champs.

While the Bulldogs this year will wrestle these teams, as well as Melrose, in dual meets, the West Central Conference tournament has changed. This year, the conference tournament - which will be held in New London in January - will include all 11 schools in the conference, adding the six schools in the south half: Benson, LQPV, Minnewaska, Montevideo, Morris, and NL-S.

The Bulldogs start their season at the Foley Tournament on Saturday. Other teams at the tourney include Becker, Foley, Hibbing, and Pierz. The teams will be seeded for the dual tournament at 9 a.m. with wrestling starting at 10 a.m.

The Bulldogs will host their first home meet next week with a quadrangular against BBE, Melrose, and Rush City on Tuesday, Dec. 9. Paynesville wrestles Melrose at 5 p.m., Rush City at 6:30 p.m., and BBE at 8 p.m. with BBE wrestling Rush City at 5 p.m., BBE wrestling Melrose at 6:30 p.m., and Melrose wrestling Rush City at 8 p.m.