As a wrestling team that has won nine consecutive state dual championships, 10 straight traditional titles and 14 traditional titles overall, Jefferson could easily treat its 2011-2012 result as a foregone conclusion.

Talk to most Class AA coaches around the area, and even the state, and they are likely to indicate as much. There is one favorite; everyone else is just trying to catch up.

But Dragons coach Doug Thurmond doesn’t treat it that way. To his team, every year is a new challenge.

“We don’t ever expect it,” he said. “The expectation of success is there, and we put pressure on ourselves to succeed. But we’re not overlooking anybody.”

And that, above anything else, perhaps, is why his teams have been so successful.

Thurmond spoke highly of the competition Jefferson would be facing in Area 8-AA this season, noting that there were a number of improved teams.

“There’s a deep mixture of teams in our area,” he said. “There are several really good wrestlers, and I think it’s going to be an interesting season to say the least.”

Taking one look at Jefferson’s roster, however, would indicate that the gap is a little larger than Thurmond would suggest, however.

From a state-title team in both traditional and dual competition, Jefferson returns a number of talented wrestlers in 2011.

Seniors Cain Finch and Forrest Przybysz, both two-time state champions, figure to lead the way for the Dragons, Thurmond said. He also noted seniors Isaac Kelly (state champion) and Clay Richardson (state runner-up) and junior Jake Sherman (state runner-up) as wrestlers that he expected to perform well this season.

The team also returns three third-place finishers at state a year ago and a couple other kids that “should do well,” Thurmond said.

Obviously, the team is as loaded as ever. But the road still won’t be easy.

Jefferson will compete in three out-of-state competitions this season: in Raleigh, N.C., on Dec. 16-17, Pigeon Forge, Tenn., Dec. 23-24, and at The Clash in Rochester, Minn., on Dec. 29-31. These events comprise some of the best teams in the nation.

It has won in Pigeon Forge the last three years and finished second in Raleigh last year. This will be Jefferson’s first trip to Rochester.

“We try to give them some tough competition early,” Thurmond said. “Our goal is to keep them healthy and to give them competition early on. We’ll see as time goes on how well they do. I don’t know. It’s going to be a competitive year.”

Some of Jefferson’s stiffest competition in Area 8-AA will be from Banks County, which has finished second in the area behind Jefferson in three consecutive years.

Banks County coach Kasey Henley echoed Thurmond’s statements about the competitiveness of the area this season.

“There’s a lot of tough teams in this area, there’s no doubt about that,” he said.

Henley said that, while the goal is always a state championship, history shows that teams are fighting for second place in the area behind Jefferson.

“Second place advances to state,” he said. “We have our eyes set on state duals, so we just need to get to that No. 2 spot.”

That doesn’t mean he lowers expectations.

“We don’t believe in tempering expectations,” he said. “We don’t want to leave ourselves short.”

Banks County returns three state qualifiers from a year ago: Mason Patton, Hayden Dilbeck and Wes Faulkner. In six matches for each this season, they are still undefeated.

AREA 8-AAA: While Jefferson may control its area, things are less clear closer to home.

Ask four coaches around the area who the favorite is, and you may get four different teams.

“West Hall and Lumpkin County are looking tough,” Chestatee coach Carey Whitlow said.

“Chestatee’s always good,” West Hall coach Eric Radich said.

“White County and Johnson are both looking a lot better this year,” North Hall coach Jay Hargis said.

Lumpkin County finished second in the area duals a season ago and ended its season fifth at state.

Indians coach Brian Matthews said that, while his team is somewhat greener than last year, he still expects to see some success.

“The expectations are the same as every,” he said. “We have a lot of faith in our coaches and the kids are extremely coachable.”

The Indians return three who placed at state last year in seniors Lee Cagle (second) and Michael Hilliard (fourth), and junior Alex Ward (second in area).

Radich said he would put his Spartans around the middle of the pack for now.

“We’re working hard, but we’re still young,” Radich said.

However, the team will return three strong finishers from a season ago in Logan Herford, Ricardo Mancilla and Jimmy Lopez. Herford finished third in the state in his weight class and was an area champion.

While West Hall is careful not to over-rank itself for the time being, Whitlow said that he has no problem announcing his War Eagles as the area favorites.

“You know what? I think we’re the favorites,” he said. “We’ll put a target on our own backs. I say, come and get us. We’ve still got some great wrestlers.”

He noted the successes of Jose Reyes (fifth in state last year) and Dylan Brock (top four in the area), and that his team is mostly comprised of upperclassmen.

“We’re setting our sights on trying to win the area,” he said.

Not to be forgotten, Hargis likes the chances of his North Hall Trojans.

“I’m pleased with what we’re going to put out there,” he said, noting the returns of sectional champion Tyler Kratzer as well as Cam Howell. “Last year we had a lot of freshmen. This year, they’re sophomores, and we’re going to expect more out of them.”

One thing each of the coaches can agree on is that this season looks to be an extremely tight race at the top.

“It ought to be fun,” Radich said.