MANSON — St. Edmond head wrestling coach Eugene Carlson summed it up best when asked about finally getting on the mats this Saturday to compete.

“It’s just the way this season is going to roll,” Carlson said. “We have to do what we can to make everything as fun and exciting as possible for these kids.”

The Gaels were scheduled to open the year this past Thursday in a triangular, but that was scrapped.

Instead, they’ll send four to the Doug Wood Invitational hosted by Manson Northwest Webster.

Wrestling begins at 10 a.m.

Along with the host Cougars and St. Edmond, Alta-Aurelia, East Sac County, Ogden, Ridge View, South Central Calhoun, South Hamilton, West Bend-Mallard and Woodbury Central round out the field.

Last year, Manson NW won the team title, finishing ahead of the Titans and Wolverines.

Competing for the Gaels will be juniors Clay Kelley (138 pounds) and Tyler Rossmanith (182), sophomore Emiliano Guillen (145) and freshman Zach Rossmanith (195).

“It’s been very important to keep them excited,” Carlson said. “We’ve had a good week of practice and now they get the chance to compete in live action.”

Eight meet champions return including Christopher Krueger and Brodie Anderson from Manson Northwest Webster. Ayden Toms and Blake McAlister of South Central Calhoun, Donavon Hanson and Logan Studer from West Bend-Mallard, Tyler Peterson of Alta-Aurelia and Lane Swenson from South Hamilton also won gold last year.

McAlister is second at 170 pounds with Toms eighth at 120. Teammate Jordan Khommanyvong is fifth at 138. Hanson is ranked sixth at 113 pounds with Lucas Fehr ninth at 106.

Anderson sits at seventh at 195.

Woodbury Central is ranked seventh in 1A with Ryder Koele (No. 10, 113 pounds), Trevor Davis (No. 10, 120), Beau Klingensmith (No. 1, 126), Max McGill (No. 6, 145) and Ty Dennison (No. 5, 182) in the Top-10 as individuals.

Swenson is third at 170 and Thompson third at 195 for South Hamilton. Zander Ernst is eighth at 145 in 2A for Ridge View.