Last season, ADM’s top wrestlers were the hunters. But having had success on the biggest of stages last year, that role has been flipped to being the hunted.

Senior Trevor Harsh and juniors Nathan Heath and Zach Johnston all placed at the state wrestling meet last season, and all three have picked up right where they left off.

Johnston, the No. 1 ranked wrestler in Class 2A at 160 pounds, is undefeated at 21-0. Harsh, the No. 4 ranked wrestler at 138 pounds, isn’t far behind with 18 wins, his only losses coming to other ranked wrestlers. At No. 7 in the 285-pound Class, Heath has 17 wins.

In other words, the three have handled the success and attention created by last season’s heroics well. But head coach Justin Schmauss says the trio won’t be able to sneak up on anybody this season. They figure to get their opponents’ best shot each and every time they step on the mat.

“They’ve wrestled pretty well. I know and they know they can improve; they’ve got things they can work on,” Schmauss said. “People know that they’re good. Last year they had the benefit of being under the radar, and that surprised people at state.

“So this year’s different, and people are scouting them, and they remember what they’re good at, so they try to stay away from them. That makes it all the harder that they have to improve in other areas to balance that out.”