During a regular wrestling practice over the last three years, West Fargo assistant coach Kayle Dangerud could be seen nose down in the mats, taking on some of the best wrestlers in the state right in the Packer wrestling room.

Head coach Kayle Dangerud expects much the same.

";If I expect them to work hard, I'm going to have to show a little bit of hard work myself. I don't think I could go through a practice without getting down on the mat with someone.";

Dangerud takes over the most successful wrestling program on the east side of the state this winter, after former coach and current West Fargo High School teacher Steve Marquart was asked to step down last March after 11 years at the helm of the Packer program.

The Packers have won six straight regular season Eastern Dakota Conference titles, and have finished runners-up in the dual portion of the Class A Tournament each of the last three seasons.

Dangerud inherits an experienced squad that will be led by returning state champion Chris Lundberg, state finalists Adam Lynnes and Lane Lunde and state placewinners Nate Lynnes and Jared Noel.

With that core, Dangerud said he thinks the Packers can be a state contender again next season, despite what happened in the offseason. He said the combination of natural talent and good coaching has made West Fargo so successful in the past, and he doesn't plan to stray from that formula.

";Coach Marquart was a good motivator and he made the kids work,"; Dangerud said. ";We were also fortunate to have some success, and that kind of just keeps going.";

He said he won't stray far from his mentor's methodology, and he'll bring his past experience into his coaching. Dangerud was a solid wrestler at Hettinger, a traditional powerhouse in Class B wrestling. A two-time Class B champion, Dangerud holds that school's record in wins and was a four-time placewinner.

";We're pleased to have him stay with the program,"; Activities Director Curt Jones said.

That wasn't a certainty last spring, and as late as last June. Dangerud was ready to move on from West Fargo when Marquart was asked to step down last March. A full-time insurance representative, Dangerud had no ties to the high school beyond his assistant coaching job. But when the parents and wrestlers from last year's squad approached him and asked him to stay on board, he couldn't refuse.

";After that I kind of talked with Steve, and he told me to go for it,"; Dangerud said. ";It means a lot to have the kind of support we get from the parents and wrestlers here. I don't think a lot of programs in Class A enjoy the support that West Fargo wrestling gets. It's a unique situation. We have great fans and a great group of parents.";

Dangerud said offseason workouts have been in progress, and many of the Packer wrestlers have hit camps and special meets this summer. The two Lynnes brothers, along with Lundberg, for example, wrestled in last week's Class A vs. Class B challenge, which Class B won, 31-17, in Bismarck on Saturday. The Class B victory made Dangerud chuckle, a little bit.

";I had to smile,"; he said. ";But it shows that there's work to be done if we want to get to the top level in the state.";