The St. Edmond wrestling squad dives right into the deep end of the North Central Conference on Thursday, as the Gaels open their season at home with a triangular against expected league contenders Webster City and Algona.

The Gaels take on the Bulldogs at 6 p.m., with Algona squaring off with Webster City at around 6:45. St. Edmond and the Lynx finish the evening at approximately 8 p.m.

Head coach Eugene Carlson is excited to see his five varsity athletes in live action for the first time this season. The Gaels may not have the horses top to bottom to stand up with squads like Webster City and Algona, but Carlson knows this triangular is the first opportunity for St. Edmond to see exactly where it stands.

“We’re taking things one step at a time,” Carlson said. “To me, (the Lynx and Bulldogs) are two of the top three teams in the NCC, along with Hampton-Dumont. This is an opportunity for us, as a 1A program, to see some high-end 2A competition.

“The kids are looking forward to it. We’ll stick to our gameplan and look for small victories first. Keep the (collective) mindset right.”

Senior Ronnie Orres (126 pounds), sophomore Sam Myer (138), senior Yoon Sang Kim (160), junior Zach Rossmanith (170) and sophomore Adam Walker (195) will be on the mat for the Gaels.

“It’s been kind of a short two-plus weeks (since the start of practice), but we’ve been going hard so it will be good to get a meet in,” Carlson said. “For us, everything is geared toward (districts on) Feb. 11. That’s when it all counts. We have to keep building and making progress every day until (the postseason) arrives.”

Webster City brings back state medalists Carson Doolittle, CJ Hisler and Jaxon Cherry. Doolittle was third at 113 pounds last year, while Hisler captured bronze at 195. Cherry placed fourth at 220.

Senior Austin Mason, a returning North Central Conference champion, returns as well for the Lynx. Seniors Jordan Vankham, Dylan Burnette-Bingham, Skyler Scott and Brady Jessen are also Webster City varsity regulars, along with sophomore Luke Estlund, sophomore Tristan Mason, senior Brayden Henely and junior Landon Griffin.

Returning state medalist Jake Zabka anchors Algona, along with fellow sophomore qualifiers Tate Slagle and Isaac Wilson.

Juniors Cohen Reffer and Chase Roof are the other Bulldog leaders. Algona went 22-5 in duals a year ago,