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The 2009-10 Roane County High wrestling team includes, front (from left): Kyle Crihfield, Dylan Cottrell, Josh Fisher, Brad Hickman, Randy Lawson, Patrick Carruthers, Nathan Reynolds, Jacob Summers; back: Tyler Dolan, John Ash, Ernie Carper, Clayton Jarvis, Sam Lawson, Zach Snodgress, Caleb Starcher, Derek Gibson; not pictured: Luke Hottle, Steven Martin, Sam Whiting. Photo by Sue Knotts

It keeps moving on up.

The Raiders were sixth in the Class AA-A state tournament two years ago and fourth last year. In coach Wayne Jarvis’ third year at the helm, he wants to keep on climbing.

ìWe possibly can,î Jarvis said. ìWe have some guys who can definitely go deep in the tournament.î

A pair of Little Kanawha Conference and state champions will lead the way for the Raiders, who open their season Dec. 18 in Point Pleasant’s Jason Eades Memorial tournament.

Josh Fisher, a junior, is a two-time state champ and unbeaten for his career at 91-0. He won the title at 103 as a freshman and took the crown at 112 a year ago with a 45-0 mark.

Fisher took his skills to the national stage in April for the National High School Coaches Association Junior Nationals in Virginia Beach. All he did was go 6-0 to become a three-time all-American and record the first national championship in school history.

ìHe just seems to make no mistakes when he’s out there,î Jarvis said. ìHe’s so confident. You just can’t seem to get the upper hand on him.î

Dylan Cottrell, reigning state champ at 103 after a 48-1 record that was a new school standard for wins, went 6-1 at the same national tournament to also earn all-American honors. He will be at 119 as a sophomore.

ìHe’s so much better than last year,î Jarvis said. ìHe’s grown, he’s stronger and he’s a pretty vicious kid on the mat.î

Roane will fill every class except 103 with a lineup that features 18 wrestlers.

At 112, junior Kyle Crihfield gets a chance to start after being behind Fisher and Cottrell last season. Jarvis said he would count on Crihfield to be a state qualifier based on his performance a year ago when he was able to get some mat time.

Sophomore Sam Whiting returns at 130. The coach also expects Whiting, a strong and skilled wrestler, to qualify for the state tournament.

The 135 spot falls to junior Brad Hickman, who returns to the team after a year’s absence. Hickman was state runner-up at 112 as a freshman.

“You very likely could see him in the finals again,” Jarvis said. “He’s that good.”

At 140, junior Randy Lawson may start or be a backup at 135. If Lawson is not ready to go, sophomore Luke Hottle could step in.

Jacob Summers, a sophomore, is projected at 145 if he can make weight. Summers was a state qualifier at 135 last season.

First-year Raider Nathan Reynolds, a sophomore, is at 152. Reynolds last wrestled in middle school, and his coach said he has the necessary strength and quickness to improve throughout the season.

Tyler Dolan, a senior, returns and will wrestle at 160. Dolan, the only senior on the team, is being pushed by freshman John Ash and junior Ernie Carper.

“One of those guys will need to step up for us,” Jarvis said.

Clayton Jarvis, the coach’s son, has trimmed down and is at 171 after wrestling at 189 a year ago as a sophomore.

Freshman Sam Lawson is set at 189 after a stellar middle school career.

“He’s a big, tall, long athletic kid,” the coach said. “He could go down to 171.”

Junior Steven Martin is back this season at 215 and is another Raider expected to qualify for the state tournament. Sophomore Zach Snodgress is also in the weight class.

The heavyweight is Caleb Starcher, a freshman. Starcher, at 250 pounds, will not give up weight too often in the 285 class.

The Raiders’ first home match will be Dec. 30 when they host the Roane Duals. Annual events including the Jackson County, Braxton County and WSAZ Invitational are on the schedule, along with the W.Va. Duals.

Roane will finish with three tournaments at home – the LKC on Feb. 6, the Raider Cup on Feb. 13 and the regional on Feb. 20. The state tournament is Feb. 25-27 in Huntington.

Jarvis expects Calhoun County to have another strong team in the conference and regional, with perennial power Point Pleasant waiting in the regional.

“It’s been absolutely wonderful,” Jarvis said of the preseason. “They’ve been pushing hard and itching to wrestle somebody else.”

Jarvis has proven winners in the lower weight classes and will rely on some of the middle and upper classes to add points to the team total. And while the coach expects to move up a little more in 2009-10, maybe next year the Raider elevator can reach that penthouse.

“We’ve got some good ones,” he said, “but truthfully, we may be a year away from doing something big.”