With the Gore Pirates wrestling program just in its infancy, numbers are low for coach Matt Hawkins.

“The program just started just a couple of years ago,” Hawkins said. “It’s trying to take off. We have low number right now, but the junior high is picking up.”

Currently, there are five matmen out for the Pirates — Devon Mannon at 157 pounds, Bladin McCartney at 175, Antonio Parker at 215 and Caydin McCartney and Shelby Raines at heavyweight. Bladin McCartney was a state qualifier last season.

“The ones we do have, we have a lot of quality in them,” Hawkins said. “We have pretty high expectations as far as individuals go this year.”

Depending upon how one looks at it, one may see the fact that there are no seniors on the team as a downfall, but Hawkins sees it as only positive.

“We’re young,” Hawkins said. “Nobody is older than a sophomore, so we have these guys for the next few years. I feel we have some young guys working hard. Right now, they’re doing all the necessary things to get better. When we get going, we’ll get a better idea of where we stand. Right now, I feel pretty good about them.”

With only five wrestlers, it means most duals will end up as losses due to forfeiting anywhere from nine to 10 weight classes. However, what is more important to Hawkins is getting his matmen wrestling time.

“That’s what we’re looking forward to,” Hawkins said. “These duals are for getting these guys some mat time. Our expectations are to go to tournaments, and see where we end up and see where we stand with other schools around this area.”

If there are more than one state qualifier come February for Hawkins’ Pirates, that will be a good thing as he sees his program progress.

“It would mean a lot,” Hawkins said. “It would mean we’re progressing, which is what you want. That’s what you want to see happen — the kids developing and getting better, and being better than they were the year before. That’s progression, and that’s where we want to be.”