WOODS CROSS – Woods Cross High School wrestling coach Mason Milligan has watched his Wildcats continue to improve each week, and last weekend saw the momentum and potential of the 2012-13 team reach to new heights.

“Every week we get better,” Milligan said. “It’s really exciting. When I see these guys working hard and then they come out and show improvement, it is great. I’m excited because we have guys who are showing they can do real well when state comes around as long as everyone keeps training hard.”

The Wildcats invaded the Royal Duels at Roy High over the weekend. After six matches, Woods Cross came away with four attention-grabbing wrestlers.

“We had some guys really step and come away with great records for the tournament,” Milligan said.

The Royal Duels is a different format from most wrestling tournaments С it’s a team event.

“It’s more like a basketball style tournament where it’s our whole team against another team, rather than individual brackets,” Milligan said. “These are fun because we get to stay together as a team for the weekend and support one another.”

 Milligan heaped praise on his entire squad, but pointed out Sam Cottam (220) for finishing 5-0 at the tournament.

“Sam wrestled great,” Milligan said. “To go through five matches and come away undefeated is a great day for any wrestler. I think it shows that Sam is someone to be reckoned with all year. He should be very proud of himself.”

Finishing with just one loss each over the weekend were Stone Mele (132) and Davis Halls (126), each at 5-1.

“I was real impressed with Stone and Davis,” Milligan said. “They wrestled very good guys at their weight classes and finishing how they did was real exciting.”

With the season just getting in full swing, Milligan is expecting great success from the Wildcats. A strong, determined attitude is coming out of the Woods Cross wrestling room. Milligan is thrilled.

“The guys are doing great,” Milligan said. “We’re a young team but it’s the best we’ve had in a long time.”

Experience is only part of a winning team, he continued.

“I’ve always believed and I think other coaches would agree, it doesn’t really matter how old your wrestlers are,” he said. “What matters is if they are willing to work hard and expect to win. We have that attitude and it’s great. We’re going to surprise a lot of people.”