MARYSVILLE — Coach Craig Iverson and the Tomahawks got a boost earlier this year when they became an official co-op with Tulalip Heritage.

That arrangement doubled Marysville-Pilchuck’s state experience coming into this year, as it allowed junior Dimitri Robinson to officially be part of the team.

“He’s a great one to have in the room,” Iverson said of the No. 3 finisher at last year’s Mat Classic in Class 1A/1B. “He’s spent a tremendous amount of time working in the off season and it’s showing already.”

Along with Robinson, senior Brian Donaldson is the second of two wrestlers on Iverson’s roster that have grappled in the Tacoma Dome.

This year the hopes are high not just for Donaldson, but a young, experienced group.

Iverson, entering his 11th year as head coach, spoke of uncertainty early on just who was going to be on varsity as he can choose from an even mix of 10 seniors, 10 juniors and a number of underclassmen that made an impact last season.

“We have a good direction and great energy,” he said. “They have been focused and everybody has stepped up right from the start.”

Weights were still being determined last week, so Iverson was hesitant to name any varsity frontrunners, but a handful of those 10 seniors held starting spots on the varsity roster last season, starting with Luke Shumaker at 140 pounds.

“Our middle weights are going to be stacked this year,” Shumaker said. “We’ve just got a lot of guys that have been here for a while.”

“Yeah, you can tell that there are going to be a lot of guys in here fighting for the same middle spots all year,” added Donaldson. “(The intensity level) is pretty high already.”

Depth in those middle weights is a strength for Marysville, as Iverson noted a number of guys with the ability to score on the best wrestlers in the state — something the Tomahawks will need in a league that features Class 4A state champion Lake Stevens.

“That’s always a plus-and-minus situation,” Iverson said. “We have to go against the best wrestlers around, but at the same time, when we send guys (to the Matt Classic), they usually place — they don’t just get a free meal.”

Marysville’s season begins Dec. 4 with a double dual against one of the tougher Wesco teams, at Edmonds-Woodway.

Along with Shumaker and Donaldson, M-P returns seniors Jake Lervold, Cole Cushing and Kenny Swanson, along with six other starting wrestlers.

Other returning carsity wrestlers include sophomores Lois Cardona (103), Christian Mendoza (112) and Chris Herbert (152), and juniors Brandon Blevins (119) and Marcus Haughin (145).(145).