The first week of high school wrestling practice at Panorama Community Schools is used to test the mental strength of the Panthers student-athletes. Longtime Panorama varsity wrestling coach Jason Kirtley joined Monday’s Wahl McAtee Tire and Service Center Guthrie County PM Sports Page to promote the start of the 2018-19 season. Kirtley shared he designed the first week of preseason practice as arguably the toughest stretch of training the Panthers do all season long. “You always have some athletes sign up that are wanting to try (wrestling) but are not too sure about (the sport),” Kirtley said, “We usually know after the first week how many we’re going to have for the rest of the year because I make that first week practice probably the hardest practices we have all year. Just to see whose (mentally in it) and who (isn’t). ”

Kirtley admitted that he has a committed group of athletes signed up for this year’s team, many of whom took part in multiple camps and clinics over the summer to improve their skills. The 2018-19 competition season for Panorama varsity wrestling team starts Tuesday, November 27, hosting a quadrangular dual with Coon Rapids-Bayard, Manson-NW Webster, and Southeast Valley.