Entering his second year as Hazen head coach, Rory Magana is building his program the way a smart coach should: From the bottom up.

“Last year was good because we started really building the foundation for the future,” he said. “Now instead of taking baby steps and working technique every single day, we’re actually getting some hard work in at practice.”

The Highlanders went 5-4 in the Seamount last year and sent wrestlers, Jordan Hjelmaa and Roxanne Paz, to state for the first time in six years. The two graduated, but Magana said the success will leave a lasting mark on the program.

Hazen has an unusual makeup this season because many of the team’s seniors are new to wrestling. Magana said the bulk of the team’s 24 wrestlers are juniors. That junior group includes standouts Austin Clark, Justin Russell and Jeremy Guilbert.

Other wrestlers, outside of the junior class, to watch are Jonathan Greer, Lexi Boen, Kyle Ely and Daniel Karpman.

Karpman is just a sophomore and is already turning heads.

“He’s doing things that juniors and seniors do,” Magana said. “He’s working really technical, really upper difficultly moves.”

Karpman is one of the team’s captains, alongside Ely and Greer. He should also be very strong on conditioning as he made it to the 3A state meet in cross country this fall.

Karpman made it to the regional tournament last year. He took third at 140 pounds at the Decatur Invitational Dec. 11.

Guilbert didn’t wrestle last season, but he’s back on the team at 215 pounds. He placed third at the Decatur invite.

Ely took second at 215 pounds at the Decatur invite. After wrestling behind Hjelmaa at 189 pounds all of last season, Magana said the senior has stepped his technical wrestling up to a whole new level.

Clark also made the regional tournament with Karpman last year. Clark wrestles at 135 pounds.

After wrestling up at 215 pounds last year, Russell is now over 215 and wrestling as a heavyweight.

The Highlanders have a strong, young core to build from. One potential problem this year is that the talent is clumped up at certain weight classes.

“All of our tough kids are sitting in the same weight classes,” Magana said. “It’s kind of crazy, but that’s the way it works.”

Boen is Hazen’s only girl this season. The senior competed in the Washington Intensive Camp last summer and is looking to make a run at state. Magana said she gives some of the lighter guys on the team tough matches.

Ely, Karpman, Clark and Greer also went through the Washington Intensive camp with Boen in the summer.

Because he still has fairly low numbers, Magana said he’s not looking to place at state as a team quite yet. Instead, he’s focusing on doubling his individual wrestlers to the state tournament.

Hazen started the season 1-1 in league competition, edging Kennedy Catholic 42-29 and falling to Lindbergh 38-35.