For most people, Thanksgiving conjures up pictures of mouth-watering turkey roasts, creamy mashed potatoes and spiced pumpkin pies. For the high school’s wrestling team, however, another thing comes to mind as well: the start of their season.

In accordance with guidelines created by the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA), the team begins their season on Nov. 28, the Monday after Thanksgiving. After becoming sectional champions last year, the team hopes to continue their success this upcoming season. However, they will face a big change following the departure of all three varsity coaches.

Co-captain and junior Gabriel Thomas said that the significant time needed to be dedicated to the sport contributed to the coaches’ departure.

“The coaches all had increasing responsibilities at their jobs and their own lives and wrestling’s a big time commitment, so none of them could continue to do it this year,” Thomas said.

Thomas and co-captain and junior Jamie Evarts have been working alongside Athletic Director Kyle Williams to ensure a smooth transition in preparation for the upcoming season. Williams said that he wanted to get the captains involved because of how important having student opinion is.

“I wanted to meet with the captains to hear what they might be looking for in the next coach- what sorts of attributes, what things they liked, what things they want to see differently. It’s important to have that student voice,” Williams said.

The athletics department is looking for two wrestling coaches, one varsity head coach and one junior varsity coach or assistant varsity coach, depending on the number of team members. The problem, Evarts said, is that there are very few available wrestling coaches in Massachusetts. Williams said that this problem has been compounded by the fact that they are working with a shorter time frame than usual.

“This year things are different because I’m new to this process. So my timeline is different than I’d like it to be,” Williams said. “Normally, I would prefer to hire winter coaches much earlier so that we can get them in place and get them ready to start the season off on a successful foot.”

Thomas said throughout the process, team members have been optimistic and continue to work hard as they prepare for their season. The former coaches have been communicating with the team to help with the preparations.

“They’ve still been arranging to try to get our next season organized and they’ve kept in contact with us,” Thomas said.

Thomas said that the team hopes to see new faces in the winter this year.

“We’re looking to defend our sectional title and we are looking to recruit new people since there are open varsity spots,” Thomas said.

Evarts says that the mentality of wrestling and working hard in this sport goes a long way, and it has helped him grow as a person.

“It’s been repeated that once you wrestle, everything in life is easy,” Evarts said. “I’d say having that ability to push myself in the sport, physically fighting another person, it’s definitely defined who I am as a person in terms of my confidence physically as well as my determination towards other aspects of my life and my mental fortitude.”

Williams said that he hopes future coaches will continue to help students develop interest and skill in the sport.

“We are looking for coaches who can develop a sense of belonging and inclusion in the sport,” Williams said. “It’s all in teaching the skills and developing students from freshman year to senior year, as individuals, people and athletes.”