Ever heard of a home-mat advantage? Poudre High School wrestling coach Barret Golyer has.

With wrestling regional tournaments taking place today and Saturday all over the state, Poudre is in the unique position of hosting its region – it's Region 3 this time – for a second consecutive year. This weekend it will welcome 15 Class 5A schools to its gym, to its own surroundings. The top four finishers in each weight class at regionals advance to next weekend's state tournament.

Poudre has six wrestlers with top-four seeds, including Derek Whitman, No. 1 at 189 pounds. Golyer likes any added edge his athletes can find by competing at home.

"The kids are familiar with the setting ... and we wrestle well at home," Golyer said. "That's a benefit. We don't have to do any traveling or worry about hotel arrangements and all that other stuff. The kids can sleep in their own beds. I see it as an advantage."

"I don't know how long it's going to be for us to get the regional back. It should be an exciting two days here."

For wrestlers at each program, this weekend marks the beginning of an intense eight days during which state titles will be won and lost. Coaches from each program said they could sense eagerness in recent days.

Poudre's junior varsity won its conference title last weekend, injecting even more enthusiasm into the program. Golyer echoed the city's other coaches when asked what he senses from his players.

"With that one week left it seems like a short season," Golyer said. "There is excitement from all the guys, whether they are seeded high or not. They're just ready to go."