CHADRON, Neb. -- What could be the strongest Chadron State College wrestling team in at least a decade will open its season Friday, Nov. 3 by hosting Northeastern Junior College from Sterling, Colo., in a dual. The match will begin at 5 p.m. in the Chicoine Center.
             
With all but one starter returning from last year's lineup, a standout who was injured last year ready to go again, several promising redshirts striving to make their varsity debuts and a couple of transfers eager to prove they can provide assistance, Coach Brett Hunter is anxious to get the season underway.
             
The coach, a two-time national champion for the Eagles during his spectacular wrestling career, believes this year's team will be special. It appears to have both quality and quantity.  There are 40 on the roster.
             
Hunter was pleased that the Eagles are 13^th in the Wrestling Coaches Association pre-season rankings.  Three CSC matmen are on the individual lists. Quen Campbell is No. 2 at 133 pounds, Mason Watt is fifth at heavyweight and Keegan Gehlhausen is 12th at 184 pounds.
             
As a two-year school not known as a wrestling power, Northeastern isn't expected to be a powerhouse. But Hunter says the Plainsmen have more sophomores in the lineup than usual and "have some talent."  The team also has a new coach.   He's Colby Duncan, a former Western Colorado wrestler.  This immediately gives him credibility because the Mountaineers are always well-coached and competitive.
             
Hunter said he'll put his best lineup on the mat in the opener.  As of early this week, just one weight class was undecided. That is 157 pounds, where the Eagles' 149-pounder from last year, sophomore Brandon Paredes, is being challenged by Northern Colorado transfer Tayten Gillette, a redshirt freshman.
             
Paredes is from Arizona; Gillette from Idaho. They are among the youngest of the varsity starters. Six of the probable starters are seniors.
             
The anticipated lineup follows: 125—Quade Smith, Layton, Utah, Jr.; 133—Quen Campbell, Tifton, Ga., Sr.; 141—Ethan Leake, Compton, Calif., Sr.; 149—Brody Lamb, Wellington, Colo., Sr.; 165—Jaziah Whaley, Gilcrest, Colo., So.; 174—Logan Berger, Hartsville, S.C., R-Fr.; 184—Rowdy Pfeil, Moorcroft, Wyo., Sr; 197—Eli Hinojosa, Imperial, Sr., and Hwt—Mason Watt, Bloomfield, Calif.; Sr.
             
As the reigning 133-pound West Regional champion who then lost the national championship 4-3 on riding time, Campbell is the team's bellwether. Watt also qualified for nationals and has returned for his sixth season with the Eagles determined to place at the 2024 nationals and earn All-American honors.
             
The same is true for Hinojosa at 197.  He missed all last season because of a shoulder injury suffered in his first match, but has rehabilitated and is anxious to make up for lost time.
             
A shoulder injury suffered at last year's national meet and required surgery will prevent Gehlhausen, a sophomore from of Pinedale, Wyo., and the 2022-23 Region 6 Freshman of the Year, from competing in the early matches, but Hunter said he should be available by   January.
             
The dual with NJC won't be the Eagles' only action this weekend. On Sunday, the freshman and redshirt freshmen will compete in the Rookie Open hosted by Colorado Mines in Golden. Hunter said between 12 and 15 CSC grapplers will compete.
               
CSC's early schedules also list the Cowboy Open at the University of Wyoming as taking place Saturday, but it has been postponed until February.