"I don't know."

That's not only what Mr. Hand wrote on the chalkboard for Jeff Spicoli in "Fast Times at Ridgemont High." That's also what The Los Lunas High wrestling coach Steve Chavez is forced to say when asked about the role of his seniors this year.

"I don't know," said the fifth-year coach, discussing his seniors, most of whom have little or no varsity experience. "We have a few state placers back, and we're counting on those returners to score a lot of points at tournaments, because we have a lot of question marks."

The Tigers open their season at Rio Rancho's Southwest Shootout duals on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 4 and 5. They graduated 160-pound Class 5A state champion Ray Contreras, along with 125-pound runner-up Mario Montaño and state placers Leonard Montoya, Michael Salazar and Pat Encinias.

In fact, not only are there no senior state placers returning for the Tigers, but the only senior this year with considerable varsity experience is Kyle Perea.

Juniors Robbie Trujillo, Ricardo Abeyta and Loddy Montoya all placed at state last year, and they've suddenly found themselves in leadership roles with many, many inexperienced wrestlers around them.

"Our numbers are good overall. We have more kids this year than in the past few seasons," said Chavez, whose Tigers placed fourth at state in February, barely missing out on a third-place trophy in a tournament filled with controversy.

Perea, who competed at state last year at 171 pounds, is joined by fellow seniors Eric Huezo, a possible 145-pounder, and 160 hopeful Cody Romero.

The Tigers' junior class is the group with both experience and the explosive potential to place well at this year's meets, including the state championships at the Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho the weekend of Feb. 19-20.

The juniors, which include returning state placers Abeyta, Montoya and Trujillo, will be counted on for vocal leadership as well as a lot of match victories.

Abeyta is a two-time state placer, and he's likely to compete in the 135-pound weight class this year, said Chavez, but he added that all of the weight-class predictions he's made are flexible based on ability, matchups, the team's needs and other factors.

Abeyta was fourth in 2008-09 at state at 130 pounds, compiling a 37-8 season record.

Montoya had to win four matches to place fifth at 119 pounds last year, going 34-18 in 2008-09. The lanky Montoya might compete at 125 pounds this year.

Trujillo was a pleasant surprise at 189 pounds, coming on late in the year and placing fourth at state as a sophomore. The junior lost the third-place match at state by a 12-10 score, and Trujillo hopes to improve on his 34-11 mark from last year. He's a candidate for the 215-pound spot this year.

The Tigers' 103 through 119 classes and several other weights will have to be filled by younger and/or lesser known wrestlers. But in years past, that sometimes meant that a novice or experienced junior wrestler finally has a chance to shine.

"Our goal is to place in the top three at state as a team," said Chavez, whose Tigers are ranked fifth in the News-Bulletin's preseason 5A coaches poll. "Rio Rancho (winners of seven of the past eight 5A titles) will be the champs like always, but Rio Grande will be really tough, too."

Rio Grande is one of the Tigers' District 5-5A opponents.

After taking home the 5A third-place trophy in 2005-06, Chavez's first year with Los Lunas, the Tigers have placed fourth at state in 2006-2007 and limped to a 10th place finish with a decimated team in 2007-08 before finishing fourth again last year.

Los Lunas will host La Cueva and Albuquerque High in a triangular meet at LLHS on Tuesday, Dec. 8. The Tigers will be joined by Belen and Valencia in competing at the Las Cruces Invite on Dec. 11-12 and the APS Invite the following weekend.

The Tigers have a dual at Valencia on Tuesday, Jan. 12, and at Belen on Wednesday, Jan. 20.