POULSBO — The off-season is a wonderful time to reflect on the truth of old adages while hammering out evening practices during the summer, repeating the same drill until it becomes second nature.

Since beginning its off-season workouts last spring, the North Kitsap Viking wrestling team — amongst all NK winter sports squads — has been grasping a tweaked version of a mantra that exemplifies the Viking quest for success in the coming season.

“The old adage goes practice makes perfect, but in actuality perfect practice makes perfect,” said NK coach Jon Cooke.

Preseason practice for the winter sports season began Monday as the Vikings hit the gym, mats and water. While the grapplers were in the NKHS auxiliary gym awaiting weigh-ins and dueling pick-up matches with teammates, the girls basketball team ran a consistent gamut of drills inside the main gym.

“I don’t remember a tryout that was that tough,” senior Jade Niemeyer said of the first day of practice under new head coach Kaelea Makaiwi-Barreith. “But I was more surprised on how well the girls took it. Nobody quit, nobody walked off, everybody was working hard.”

It is that kind of hard work which preseason practice is known for as each of the NKHS teams have roughly two weeks to prepare themselves for the season competition. The first step in the process, for many, is getting back into top condition.

“We want to be ready for what’s to come, our league isn’t very easy this year,” Niemeyer said. “We’re going to be playing a lot of those Tacoma schools where girls are born with basketball in hand.”

With the realignment of the Narrows League taking effect this year, North merges into Narrows Bay competition with only one familiar foe — Central Kitsap.

But putting opponents and their upcoming schedules aside, the Vikings are focused on preparing themselves.

“What we are looking at is continuing the training and establishing really good work habits from the beginning,” head boys’ swim coach Greg Braun said. “It’s such a short season that it’s going to be the little things that are going to make the difference.”

The NK swimmers will leave the blocks at 3 p.m. Nov. 30 when they host Central Kitsap while both boys and girls basketball will tip off against Bainbridge Island.

The Viking wrestlers will be hosting a multi-team tournament Dec. 2 to begin their season.

“When we turn them loose on some live wrestling, that’s when they get excited,” said coach Cooke. “These guys just love to wrestle.”

To view complete NKHS winter sports’ schedules — including gymnastics which won’t begin until January 2007 — visit the schools athletic Web site at www.nksd.wednet.edu/schools/nkhigh/athletics/front.htm.

Additionally, the Meet the Vikings parent/athlete forum for winter sports will be at 6 p.m. Nov. 23 at the NKHS main gym.