POULSBO — North Kitsap’s head wrestling coach Jon Cooke has become quite familiar with the phrase “practice makes perfect” during his nearly two decades on the mat.

And as the first meet of the season approaches, he is well aware that no wrestler is going to reach absolute perfection; still Cooke is excited about the upcoming NK squad’s proximity to the untouchable.

With only three varsity seniors exiting from last year’s lineup, the Vikings are gathering their feet with experience and poising themselves to take a shot.

Though they won’t lunge into the season until Dec. 2, the Vikes have been chiseling themselves in the off-season on the practice mat, in the weight room and abroad.

The team’s blood, sweat and effort has been pouring into routine open workout sessions throughout the summer which have been focused on strength and technique building along with feeling at home on the mat, said NK’s varsity 112-pounder Willis Castle.

“The more mat time you get, the more in tune you are with how to do moves, how smooth and flowing you can get them to go through,” Castle said. “And the less likely you will make mistakes.”

In addition to honing their skills already attained through extensive mat time, Castle, and what Cooke expects to be the core of this year’s squad, also picked up a fresh perspective and instructions from the 2005 NCAA national champions at the Oklahoma State University camp hosted by OSU head coach John Smith over the summer in Reno, Nev.

“I think going down to Reno really opened some eyes for some kids,” Cooke said. Juniors Castle and Anthony Lindfors along with seniors Eric Hedin, Jon Berry, Lyle Welsh, Johnny Helsing and Nick Miller made the trip.

There the NK crew received individualized coaching. The OSU camp also provided a tournament venue for some of the top kids in the nation to do battle. Seeing what that top-level competition should make the Vikings hungry, Cooke said.

Immediately following the OSU experience the Vikings were back to Poulsbo, hosting a skills camp/tournament of their own — the Kitsap Takedown Camp — during the last week of July.

“When we turn them loose on some live wrestling, that’s when they get excited,” Cooke said. “These guys just love to wrestle.”

This winter’s preseason practice has been becoming more and more lively as the season nears. The Vikings will host a ??-team season-opening tournament at 10 a.m. Dec. 2 before traveling to the Kitsap Pavilion for the Olympic team tournament at 10 a.m. Dec. 9.

“I think we should have a real good year this year; this senior group came in as sophomores and the core of them are still there, plus they have added a few,” Cooke said. “We’ve been tied for second in league for the last two years, so we want to step up beyond that, and with the (league) realignment we should be right there.”