Due to low roster numbers, it’ll be virtually impossible for Salisbury to end up on the winning end of most of its matches this wrestling season.

The Falcons, who finished 0-8 in the Colonial League last year, graduated just one senior in Nico Scarcia, a regional qualifier last winter. But the bigger issue comes as eight other starters from last year aren’t returning in 2015-16 for a number of different reasons. That results is a lineup of just five wrestlers on this year’s varsity team, including one newcomer in senior Christian Major (138 or 145 pounds).

“The numbers are obviously the lowest in a long time, since I have been here,” head coach Eric Snyder said. “But at this point, we have to focus on who is wrestling rather than who is not.”

The grapplers who are on the team are talented across the board. Leading the way is Alex Nicholas (23-12 last year) at 285 pounds, who placed fourth at last year’s district tournament and was a regional qualifier. Reaching the state tournament was also well within reach for Nicholas, but the senior just missed out on that opportunity by one win at regionals.

Senior Zach Adams (22-9) is also back on the mat at 126/132 after placing sixth at districts last winter. Like Nicholas, Adams was a match away from reaching the next level, which for Adams would have been a trip to participate in regionals.

“We are looking for big things from these two, and we know they were both disappointed in how their seasons ended last year,” Snyder said. “Nicholas has a goal of getting to states and getting on the podium. He gave up some other sports to focus on wrestling this summer, and that will pay dividends in the long run to reach his goals.

“Adams started a little late this year due to injury, but he has been back within the last week working hard. Zach is focused on getting better every day and wants to improve on his finish last season.”

Rounding out the Falcons’ returning wrestlers are Shane Simononis (17-13) at 160 pounds and Michael Murphy at 120 pounds. Simononis finished a match shy of placing at districts a season ago and is looking to take that next step up in the upcoming months.

“All of these guys are looking to build off last year,” Snyder said. “Adams was a match away from being a regional qualifier, Simononis a match away from being a district place-finisher, and Nicholas a match away from states. Murphy was only a first-year wrestler last year, but he won matches and loves to wrestle and hates to lose.”

It all starts with the tone those veteran wrestlers set in the next couple of weeks. They can let the fact that their low numbers already puts them at a disadvantage team-wise. Or they can continue to work hard and compete at this level. Snyder expects the latter of the two and has high hopes for this young tight-knit group of Falcons.

“Nicholas is capable of placing real high at the state tournament, and Adams is capable of big things when he is focused,” Snyder said. “Simononis is also capable of getting out of the district tournament if he focuses on getting better at the little things and limiting his mistakes.

“These guys come every day wanting to work hard, and at times they don’t even have someone close to their weight to work out with. There are no complaints on their end and they look to get better every day.

Salisbury’s first match is a tri-match on Wednesday at Southern Lehigh against the Spartans and Northwestern.