The David and Goliath comparison can be made this year for the Parkland wrestling team.

When looking at the strengths heading into the 2015-16 campaign, head coach Ryan Nunamaker has a lot of his experienced and successful wrestlers back in the lighter weight classes, but not quite as much on the back end of the line up.

“The strength of our team will be the first half of the line up,” Nunamaker said. “We return a lot of experience and talent in the lighter weights. Our guys have a lot of confidence in each other and our program due to the success of the teams in the recent past.

“Our upper weights can become a strength of our team if they continue to improve throughout the season. They are all underclassmen with a lot of potential to become very successful in the future.”

Parkland finished 24-7 in the regular season and placed second in District 11 Class AAA team duals and fifth in the state last season. There is a lot to look forward to after graduating just three seniors in Omar Haddad, Rob Wetherhold and Anthony Chidiac.

The key returnees include Nick Dolak (113 pounds), Zach Ortman (120), Andrew Mastrangelo (126), Lee Todora (133), Jacob Lizak (138), Brayson Haas (145), Frank Guida (170) and Jahan Worth (220).

Lizak and Guida both finished as District 11 runners-up last winter. No. 1 seed Luke Karam of Bethlehem Catholic earned a 3-1 decision over Lizak in the Hawks’ first appearance in the Class AAA ranks. Guida came up short in a 3-2 decision to Southern Lehigh’s Matthew Mirth.

Dolak and Ortman placed fourth and fifth in their respective weight classes at districts, while Mastrangelo and Todora also medaled in the tournament by taking sixth.

Some newcomers in this year’s lineup this year will be Brandon Kassis and Joey Guida.

“I think our wrestlers have a great opportunity to reach their goals this season,” said Nunamaker. “If they are willing to work hard in the room and compete on the mat, they will become champions.”