Mount Si’s wrestling program this winter is aiming for a strong season, and among the many reasons for optimism is how things look in the heavyweight division.

Junior Josh Mitchell, according to second-year coach Tony Schlotfeldt, appears right now to be the top wrestler in the program coming into this upcoming season. Mitchell has been busy getting ready, attending camp and tournaments over the past year.

“I did freestyle (competition), lifted weights because I needed to get bigger,” said Mitchell, who had a solid season for Wildcat football leading into this wrestling campaign.

Rigorous preparation will continue to be key throughout this season for Mitchell.

“Josh’s goal right now is packing on weight,” Schlotfeldt said. “We’ve got him in the weight room at least three times a week and he’s coming in after practice. His goal is to keep getting stronger through the season.”

Schlotfeldt expects him to earn a state berth. That goal will be a bit tougher to attain this season, as Mount Si has tough teams in Bellevue, Liberty and Mercer Island it will need to have success against to have a chance to win in the Kingco, then the regional tournaments, after spending the past couple of seasons at Liberty, have sent the conference teams up north, meaning they will have to fight off tough Northwest Washington competition to make state.

One way the Wildcats will prepare for that is by going for the first time to a national-caliber tournament over the holidays. Mitchell is ready for this event, in San Diego.

“I know there’s going to be a lot of good competition there, so it’s obviously going to make me better,” Mitchell said.

Besides Mitchell, other wrestlers to watch include seniors Shane Dixon, Dan Peterson, Erik Sorvik, junior Connor Deutsch and sophomore Bruce Stuart.

“Get out there, support the Wildcats. It’s going to be an exciting season,” Mitchell said.