As the leader of this year’s lone Bedford High School winter varsity sports program, wrestling head coach Darren Root said he is using the opportunity to set up the program for future success.

While he was tentative at first to schedule difficult opponents – out of fear his wrestlers would become discouraged by losing – he decided setting a strong foundation took priority.

“I thought it would be best to take our lumps earlier on because, as I see it, it’s like putting money in the bank,” said Root. “When these freshmen and sophomores get to be juniors and seniors, I think they can really cash in.”

If lumps are what Root is looking for, his team is likely to obtain a few in the upcoming weeks.

Following competitions with Newport and Hollis- Brookline, last year’s D-II champion, Bedford hosts its first home event, a quad-meet with D-I beast Londonderry, which won the Bow Holiday Classic; St. Thomas Aquinas; and Plymouth, this year’s division favorite.

After the Bulldogs competed in their first varsity meet against Winnesquam and John Stark, in which their coach said they seemed tentative in losing on the road, Bedford accepted an invite to the Bow Holiday Classic on Dec. 15. The team finished 16th out of 18 competing squads.

But the result means less than the effort, said the former Merrimack coach.

“Traditionally, Bow is a pretty tough season-opening tournament, especially with teams like John Stark, Bow and St. Thomas (Aquinas), who are all pretty strong each year,” said Root. “Considering it’s the first-ever tournament in school history, I thought we did fantastic in that we pushed the pace when we could and wrestled hard. At the very least, it was an eye-opening experience for them.”

The event provided the Bulldogs not only an experience from which to learn, but a showcase for 112-pounder Caleb Earnshaw, Bedford’s only grappler with varsity experience.

Earnshaw, who last year wrestled in the 103-pound weight class while competing for Manchester West, placed fourth at Bow, an indication of things to come, said his coach.

“He’s absolutely our most talented wrestler,” said Root, who noted Earnshaw competed in the Class L tournament last season and has the opportunity to reach the Meet of Champions in the spring.

Also showing potential are 103-pounder Reese Collier, who showed a great deal of toughness and won one of three matches in Bow; and 145-pounder Frankie Conery, who earned his first varsity pin and win.

“We do have some kids who have some real raw talent and who are really looking forward to working hard,” said Root.

Others wrestling for Bedford include 119-pounder Justin Bleakley, 125-pounder Adam Coco, 130-pounder Brendan Lerman, 140-pounder Troy Stafford, 152-pounder Joe Dickson, 171-pounder Hunter Trottier, 215-pounder Jeremy Nault and 285-pounder Craig Tyre.