Two years ago the Northwestern varsity wrestling roster consisted of eight names.

This winter, there are 32 wrestlers competing for varsity spots and head coach Jim Moll loves the increased interest.

"Oh, absolutely," said Moll when asked about the higher numbers helping fill out lineups. "It is very, very different this year and it is fascinating how it has changed over these last two years. We are a smaller school and we have these waves of numbers that come over the years.

"The youth program also has done a real good job at keeping numbers up and developing wrestlers, which we are now getting in the high school program."

Thirty-two wrestlers is great to have for any program, but there isn't a single senior among the group.

"This is a very young team," said Moll. "We have 32 kids in the room, but most of them are freshmen or sophomores. This is a good and hardworking young group. I'm interested to see how they do when they get into competition mode."

The Tigers will be without Mike Ortiz, who graduated in the spring after winning district gold during his senior year. He is continuing his wrestling career at Lock Haven University.

Returning for Northwestern and providing some experience and leadership to this youthful bunch are sophomores Jarett White, who qualified for regionals last winter, and Quentin Bernhard.

Other experienced returners include juniors Cole Moyer, who dealt with a concussion most of last season, Anthony Fillis and Alex Russo, who finished with six wins last year.

With them are sophomore Andrew Sorensen, freshman Baily Wehr and junior Matt Dunaway. All three of whom will get their shot on the varsity mat this season.

Finishing the 2012-13 season with an 0-12 record was rough for the Tigers, but they focus on how each wrestler is faring as the season goes along.

"What we take away from each season is the individual success," said Moll, a technology education teacher at the high school. "We look at what we can do at districts.

"The last few years we have made some trips to states as well. We use that to see how successful our season was."

Moll said that he and his coaching staff work on developing wrestlers which will translate into team and individual successes.

The numbers are increasing at Northwestern and Moll hopes the medals and victories increase, too.