PALMER — For the last three seasons, the Colony Knights have stood at the top of the state’s large-schools wrestling ladder.

And the three-time defending 4A state champions intend to stay there.

“Winning three in a row, anything other than first is a serious disappointment,” Colony coach Dave Booth said of his team’s determination to win another state title. “That’s our goal.

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Booth said the Knights know Colony’s three-year run at the top of Alaska’s wrestling ranks ensures that the Knights will sit squarely in the middle of opponents’ crosshairs.

“It’s the goal of everybody else to make sure we don’t win,” Booth said. “If Colony doesn’t win. Everybody wins. It’s the same way people felt when Wasilla won (its titles). Nobody wants to see one team dominate.”

Not only are the Knights ready for that competition, Booth said, Colony has the arsenal for the battle.

The Knights return four Northern Lights Conference individual champions, one state champion and seven athletes who placed in the top-six of a state tournament the Knights won by more than 100 points.

“We’re looking strong,” Booth said of his team. “We can field (a team) with a lot more kids we are allowed to enter at regions.”

Colony can send a pair of grapplers in each of the 14 classes, but has depth to exceed that total. In the past, the Knights’ lofty numbers have been made up largely by underclassmen. The athletes are more evenly distributed this year, Booth said.

“Our varsity lineup will include kids form all grades,” Booth said.

The Knights also have a strong group of 20 freshman, Booth said.

“Several freshman are going to be competitive,” Booth said.

Leading Colony’ list of returners is senior Eric Fan, the defending state champion at 215.

“He looks really good,” Booth said. “I expect a lot out of Eric.”

Junior Renn Wright, who placed fifth at 215 last year, has made the move to heavyweight.

Wright opened the season with a first-place finish at the Houston Invitational at Houston High School on Saturday. Wright also attended a camp in Oregon during the summer.

Also returning is senior Kenny Boykin, who placed third in the NLC and fourth in state at 160 last season. Booth said Boykin could potentially wrestle at 160 for the third straight year or bump up to 171.

Senior Sam Loggins, the NLC champion and state runner-up at 130 returns. Loggins has been injured, but Booth expects Loggins to return to the mat in November.

Senior Charles Coisman finished third in state at 119 last season, and should compete at 125 this year.

Sophomore Isaac Wilson, the state runner-up at 112 in 2008, could be at 112 or 119.

Gabe Loggins, a sophomore, is back after recording a fifth-place finish in state at 103 last year. Loggins has made the jump to 125, but could drop back down to 119 by the state tourney, Booth said.

The Knights finished second in the Houston Invite last weekend, and are slated to compete in the Peninsula Duals at Nikiski High School this weekend.

Colony will also meet Service in a dual in Anchorage on Thursday.

See future editions of the Frontiersman for more on the Houston, Palmer and Wasilla wrestling programs.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.