The Class L wrestling tournament, without question, will be the one to watch as far as team competition goes.

Of the 17 teams across the state that received votes in the final regular-season coaches poll, nine of them will compete in the ‘L’ meet at Bristol Central beginning Friday night.

None of the state’s best teams are in Class S. Only two are in ‘LL,’ where the Danbury dynasty has no equal. The battle between second-ranked Ledyard, No. 3 Bacon Academy and seventh-ranked Windham should make for a compelling race in ‘M.’

Class L also features the most local wrestlers with sixth-ranked Berlin, No. 11 Farmington and Wethersfield vying for position. New Milford and Middletown, ranked fourth and fifth respectively in the poll, would have to be considered the favorites, but the deep Redcoats handled Middletown in Saturday’s Northwest Conference tussle.

The field also includes undefeated, eighth-ranked Bristol Central, ninth-ranked Hand-Madison, 14th-ranked Fairfield Ludlowe, CCC West champion Hall and Pomperaug, second to New Milford in the South-West Conference.

“The L’s are stacked this year,” Berlin coach Dave Tremblay said. “Last year they went from nobody to where six teams can win it. It’s going to be a great tournament to be at.”

History is on Berlin’s side. The Redcoats are seeking their 10th state title, the last coming in 2003. Their first title came in Class S in 1986. They have flip-flopped between ‘M’ and ‘L’ since 2000. Six titles have come in ‘M’ and two in ‘L.’

Tremblay would like nothing better than to annex a state title in his first year running the show. Tremblay, himself a Class M state champion at 189 in 1993, was an assistant to Jim Day for 13 years before his mentor stepped down after last season.

The Redcoats have two top seeds. Jon Fiorillo, who will defend his state title at 160, is 40-0. Kevin Moss (36-5) may get his stiffest challenge at 135 from Farmington’s Malcolm Yancey (27-4). Yancey wrestled up to 140 Saturday so the two didn’t meet.

Yancey also wrestled at 140 in the dual meet between the league rivals on Wednesday, won by Farmington, 32-29.

Fiorillo will have a pair of once-beaten wrestlers – Kyle Lundberg of Guilford and Pomperaug’s Jacob Verzello – looming as his primary competition.

“After seeing us wrestle (in the NWCs), I think we have a chance to do real well,” Fiorillo said. “I thought Middletown would have a good shot at winning but we just beat them here. They’re up there, too. Definitely.”

Farmington also has two top seeds in seniors Luke Walsh (119 pounds, 38-2) and Evan Baily (130, 27-1).

Walsh, who lost to Middletown powerhouse Casey Leslie in the Class L 112 final last year, may see Nick Cyr of Bristol Central in the semifinals. Walsh pinned Cyr in the quarters last year.

Baily may see fourth-seeded Chris Solek (31-10) in the semifinals, Baily beat Solek 9-3 in the dual meet and 9-2 in the 130-pound finals in the NWCs. Patrick Michael of Branford is seeded second in the division.

Wethersfield will be represented by one first seed in junior Diego Perez (125, 29-2). Perez took fifth at 119 last year.

Berlin’s depth is key. Day was always effective at motivating wrestlers who lost early to battle hard through the consolation rounds and Tremblay recognizes the importance of such perseverance.

“What it’s going to come down to in the first couple of rounds is who’s (competing hard) and who’s not,” he said. “I try to tell them to get their points while they can. The beginning rounds are where you score your points and as we go on, you worry about yourself and winning a title.”

Tremblay will be looking to wrestlers like sophomore Ryan Bisson (3rd seed, 34-9 at 125), junior Ethan Berube (5th, 33-11 at 145), the Banks brothers Cameron (6th, 29-6 at 171) and Jack (11th, 25-10 at 152) and freshman Will Matuszak (12th, 21-14 at 112) to finish higher than their seeds.

Some of the higher seeds that Farmington coach Eric Misko is counting on in addition to Walsh, Baily and Yancey are senior Eric Orrell (4th seed, 35-4 at 112), senior Tom Drake (8th, 24-9 at 125), senior Ben Brody (3rd, 38-3 at 171), sophomore Shawn O’Connell (6th, 31-8 at 189) and senior Kevin Cabelus (7th, 17-5, heavyweight).

Wethersfield’s next highest seeds after Perez are sophomore Jon Fields (7th, 19-10 at 135) and junior James Queiros (10th, 22-11 at 171).