ADAMS TWP — Rebuilding the Mars wrestling program will start at the ground level for new head coach Jason Wilk.

Wilk wants to bring consistency to the Planets' program from the youth level up.

“I know in the past the program has had a lot of inconsistency among coaches,” Wilk said. “I'd like to bring consistency. I want to win and build this program into a winner over time.”

One of the first things Wilk did after taking over the program was contact the middle school coach.

Mars will have 14 freshmen coming up this season.

“The powerhouse teams have great feeder programs starting from the elementary and middle school up,” Wilk said.

Wilk will replace Bart LaLonde, who guided Mars to a 2-9 record last season, including a 1-4 mark in sub-section matches.

Two wrestlers, Alex Grosso (220 pounds) and Trey Turnblacer (285) qualified for the individual WPIAL Class AAA tournament.

The Planets last qualified for the team playoffs in 2011-12.

“We were looking for someone that will be here for the long haul,” Mars athletic director Scott Heinauer said. “He can work with both the younger and more experienced wrestlers.”

Wilk, 32, graduated from Fox Chapel High School and Thiel College.

While wrestling for the Tomcats, Wilk won a Presidents' Athletic Conference title in the 152-pound weight class in 2002.

Wilk plans to try and recruit the school to be able to fill out all the weight classes.

“I want to get kids to come and try out, even athletes that do other sports,” Wilk said. “I want to increase numbers. Even if not everyone is great, if you have numbers you can put together a solid team.”

The key for Wilk is changing the culture at Mars.

“Nothing happens overnight,” Wilk said. “I want to win and I want to build this program over time into a winner. Something they can count on year in and year out.”