Last year, Jacob Marks was just happy to be invited to the party. In 2012, he’s ready to kick down the door.

After a runner-up finish in the 2A bracket of Mat Classic XXIII, Marks is currently ranked fifth in the state at the 152 pound weight class and is ready to make a return trip to Tacoma.

“Last year definitely exceeded my expectations,” Marks said. “I just wrestled my best and I was pretty excited to make the finals.”

Interlake assistant coach Matt Leonard said Marks’ 2011 state championship match appearance was the first for any wrestler from the school in 25 years.

Despite only having two wrestlers earn points in the tournament, the Saints notched the highest team finish in the state tournament since 1996. That left the coach excited about the possibilities for this season, but after some defections from the program and some trouble with the injury bug, the goal of a KingCo title proved out of reach.

Standout wrestlers Jordan Todd and Summer Hanson elected to focus on other sports during the winter rather than wrestle, leaving Leonard with a less experienced but still determined group.

“The kids are competing a lot tougher than they were last year,” Leonard said. “We have a strong handfull who are going to gear up for a solid state run.”

Along with Marks, Leonard said Netto Cancilla, Chad Peterson, Daniel Montoya and Alex Giseburt all have a chance to leave an impression on those around the state.

Cancilla has lost only two matches all season and Peterson was a state alternate last year. Four of the five (all except Montoya) are also part of an Interlake football program that has been taken to new heights under head coach Jason Rimkus and a revamped strength and conditioning program under coach Darius Terry that is paying off on the mat as well.

“The weight room has certainly helped them,” Leonard said. “The toughness on the mat is a real testament to what coach Rimkus and coach Terry have done.”

Interlake will compete in the Seamount League wrestling meet, which begins on Saturday, Feb. 4 at 9 a.m. at Renton High School. The top four placers in each weight class will then head to the regional round where the top four will again survive and head to Mat Classic XXIV in the Tacoma Dome on Friday, Feb. 17.

The challenge of repeating or even besting last year’s performance is one Marks is ready to embrace.

“It’s one of the biggest stages around,” Marks said of the Mat Classic. “Anything can happen.”