Washington wrestling capsule

For the second-straight season, the Washington wrestling team will enter the winter as the reigning conference champs.

A perfect dual meet record in conference action gave the Demons their second conference title in as many years last year, and Washington will look to make it three in a row with multiple individual state qualifiers returning to the team.

Juniors Kyle Anderson (120 pounds), Trey Van Weelden (138 pounds) and Andrew Waite (113 pounds) were all state qualifiers for the Demons a season ago, and all three certainly have their sights set on advancing back to Des Moines in February.

Junior Austin Hazelett, who was one place away from qualifying for the state tournament at 126 pounds last season, will also be returning for the Demons in 2015.

Last season, the Demon wrestlers saw 13 athletes post records above .500, with only two varsity wrestlers no longer on the team due to graduation.

While the losses of Brad Skubal (second place at state for 195 pounds) and Alex Gonzalez (19-4 before an injury sidelined him last season) will hurt, Washington appears to have enough depth to combat the losses and should compete for another conference title.

The Demons will open practice on Nov. 16, and will open up the season at HLV on Dec. 2.