BACK FOR "MORE"...is two-time state placer Andrew Dehart of Covington, who is looking for a state championship in 2010.

The 2009-10 wrestling season should be an exciting one for Cross County Conference teams as several wrestlers will be vying for the state tournament, including returning state placer Andrew Dehart of Covington and returning state qualifier Zane Goldberg of Miami East.

Here is a breakdown of each team in the Cross County Conference.

Arcanum Trojans
The Trojans are fairly new to the sport of wrestling, yet they have developed a strong program in such a short time. Arcanum had four grapplers qualify for the district meet a year ago and all return to the lineup; seniors Sam Prankratz, John Sullenbarger and Josh Stone, along with junior Jared Beatty. All four are capable of challenging for a spot in the state tournament this season, however Stone is hoping to recuperate in time from an unfortunate injury suffered in football. Arcanum also has a strong nucleus of returning talent in seniors Tyler Kelly, D.J. Byers and Josh Liles, along with sophomores Cody Stone, Dustin Shiverdecker and Tyler Loxley. Kelly is a returning district alternate, while Liles and Stone both placed sixth at sectional a year ago.

Covington Buccaneers
The Covington Buccaneers may have their strongest team from top to bottom since the early 1980s with a blend of experienced upperclassmen and talented youngsters. The Buccs fill out every weight class and are led by two-time state placer Andrew Dehart. The junior placed sixth at state as a freshman and fourth last season and will challenge for the top spot on the podium at 145 lbs. Joining Dehart are returning district qualifiers Sam Angle (Junior), Matt Breisch (Senior), Josh McMillion (Senior), Brandon Flora (Junior) and Josh Shebuch (Senior) along with district alternate Tyler Tebbe. Senior Aaron Devenport also returns after wrestling up a weight class last season. Two more wrestlers to look out for are freshman Kyler Deeter and Brian Olson, who both qualified for the Jr. High State a year ago with Deeter bringing home sixth place.

Miami East Vikings
The Vikings of Miami East have a very proud wrestling tradition with annual state qualifiers and multiple state placers. Carry on the tradition is returning state qualifier Zane Goldberg, who performed unbelievably in last year's state meet despite having the flu. A healthy Goldberg this season will likely lead to a spot on the podium. The Vikings also return a talented nucleus of experienced wrestlers in returning district alternate Scott Wimmer (Junior), Jon Wright (Senior), Tyler Franz (Senior), Kyle Noe (Senior), Justin Palser (Senior), Reed Pyers (Junior) and A.J. Ganger (Junior). Ganger qualified for state two years ago as a freshman and looks to get back to Columbus this season as a junior.

National Trail Blazers
The post Nick Hiestand Era has been a transitional one for the Blazers of National Trail. Hiestand, who qualified for the state meet in 2008, put Blazer wrestling on the map and the program has seen an increase in numbers since. Still, National Trail will look for the returning wrestlers to step up to minimize the loss of two talented wrestlers in district qualifier Tyler Drew and Justin Stone. The Blazers have three capable returning wrestlers in senior Corey Arnett, junior Caleb Wesler and sophomore Nathan Cochran. Wesler excelled last season as a sophomore are he was runner-up in the sectional tournament at 130 lbs. to qualify for the district meet.

Tri-County North Panthers
The Panthers return three district qualifiers and one district alternate this season and look to advance a wrestler back to the state meet after a two-year hiatus. Seniors Dylan Dudley and Todd Delong lead the charge after outstanding junior seasons that ended at the district tournament. Delong fell just short of a trip to Columbus by taking fifth at 285 lbs. and looks to take that next step this season. Also capable of challenging for a trip to state in junior Jake Huffman, who narrowly missed out last season at 112 lbs. Huffman has the family bloodline as his older brother Nick was a state qualifier a few years ago. Also returning for the Panthers is sophomore Jacob Schlater, who was a district alternate last season at 152 pounds.

Good luck to all CCC wrestlers in 2009-10.