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The wrestling room on the third floor of the high school was nearly silent Wednesday evening.

Lining the walls were Bulldogs wrestlers, eyes glued on the center mat as teammates Nathan Tomlin and Todd Stewart squared off.

The Bulldogs wrestling team kicks off its season Friday at Mountain Vista High School - one of 11 teams competing in the season-opening Survivor Series high school wrestling tournament in Highlands Ranch - but the competition for the team already has begun.

"We do this every Tuesday and Wednesday," coach Roman Gutierrez said about the wrestle-off. "This is how you make varsity. It's not like we just pick them. You win a wrestle-off, and you wrestle varsity that week. It's that easy.

"No if, ands or buts about it."

Tomlin won, securing a spot in blue and white when the team hits the mat Friday.

It's been nine months since the Bulldogs have been able to grapple with someone other than a teammate.

As far as Gutierrez is concerned, that's nine months too long.

"We're anxious to get back out there and compete," he said. "We are going to be missing a couple of kids, but we're ready to go."

The team won't have to wait long. The Bulldogs will grapple in five dual meets Friday and another five Saturday.

Although the team will be competing for the first time, Gutierrez isn't shying away from expecting success.

"Let's see," he said looking at the ceiling. "We are competing in 10 duals : so, I'll say we should win eight of them."

Lofty expectations?

Not for a man who has been at the helm of a program that has claimed 23 state titles.

If anyone can demand excellence, it's Gutierrez.

"It's time to get to work," he said. "We are going to go out there and do what we do best.

"We wrestle."