By Cortnie Jarman

As the Grand grapplers prepare for the new season, which starts this Friday and Saturday here in Moab, returning head coach Dennis Wells is pushing the Devils harder than ever before. He expects great things this year. The team has 20 wrestlers, with 15 of them returning from last year’s team. Of those 15, five were State qualifiers; one was State Champion and two were State Placers.

With the long season about to start, the Devils have been preparing for months, focusing on open mats to work on technique and a new weightlifting program to increase strength and endurance.

Returning State Champion, sophomore Austin Paris, said he is really excited about this upcoming season.

“My teammates and I have been working hard for months,” he said. “This year’s schedule is also going to be great. We have the opportunity to attend a couple tournaments that we haven’t been able to go to in the past because some of us weren’t at that level of competition yet. With all the hard work we have been putting in, we are ready to wrestle anyone.”

If you would like to see some early-season wrestling, please come and support the Grand County Red Devils at the Moab Red Rocks Invitational two-day wrestling tournament on Friday, Dec. 1 from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 2 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. The tournament is being held in the double gym at Margaret L. Hopkin Middle School. You can also catch some great wrestling on Tuesday, Dec. 5 at 6 p.m. when the Devils take on San Juan and Carbon for a home duel that will take place at the Grand County High School.