Wrangell senior Jackson Carney enters the new wrestling season with a target on his back — and a state championship to defend.

Carney captured the Division II title last winter in Anchorage, capping a strong state meet for the Wolves. Wrangell placed three more wrestlers on the podium: Della Churchill took fourth at girls 120 pounds, Cody Barnes finished fourth at 215, and Everett Meissner placed sixth at 152.

Now, head coach Jack Carney, in his fourth season leading the program after earlier stints with the middle school and as a high school assistant, said Wrangell is built to contend again — with numbers, experience and momentum on its side.

The team boasts its largest numbers ever at 29 wrestlers across all grades in high school.