The Fort Mill and Nation Ford wrestling programs might not share the same history and tradition, but this season they may share a common theme.

That theme is young wrestlers having to step into big roles.

"We have a very young team. This is the youngest team I've had in 19 years of doing this," Fort Mill head coach Chris Brock said. "We usually start one or two freshmen. This year, I expect to start at least five [maybe] as many as seven."

Brock said that was unusual for any team, but especially for the Jackets, who graduated six state qualifiers and a couple of state champions from last year's team.

Although the freshmen may be young, that does not mean they are inexperienced, Brock said.

"Most of our freshmen have already been wrestling in our program," Brock said.

"You always hear 'it's a rebuilding year,' but the way I look at it, when you're on the varsity level, grade level makes no difference. The expectations are the same. You're expected to perform and we expect to be in the playoff picture."

Freshmen and first-year wrestler Jacob McDonald said the older members of the team have been encouraging and help the young wrestlers learn.

"It's been pretty fun," McDonald said. "A lot of wrestlers I knew on the team told me it would be."

He'll soon find out how much.

"Our first match is this Saturday," McDonald pointed out.

At Nation Ford, the Falcons are seeing huge numbers of middle school athletes turning to the wrestling team.

"I'm very happy with the turnout," head coach Paul Richardson said. "The kids have been recruiting, bringing other kids with them. As a result, we have 34 middle schoolers on the team right now."

Richardson said many of the young wrestlers are showing loads of potential.

The first middle school match is Tuesday, Dec. 2, against Castle Heights.

Peter Sturgis, an eighth-grade student at Springfield Middle School, said Richardson recruited him while he was on the football team earlier this year.

"I think I'm adjusting pretty well," he said. "I'm excited (for the first match). I'm a little nervous, but I'm ready."