By Kevin Eckleberry

Sports Editor

The banners occupy a prominent place in the wrestling room at Troup High.

The numerous state championship banners adorn one wall, and a banner celebrating the program’s 200 straight dual-match wins is on another wall.

Troup High has an extraordinary wrestling history, a history that is documented in the room where the current Tigers practice every day.

“It means a lot to be a part of this tradition,” said current senior Adam Lundberg, who won an area championship last year.

The Tigers have continued to be a strong player on the wrestling stage in Georgia, and as recently as 2008, Rashad Moss won an individual state championship.

The program isn’t what it was, though.

It has been eight years since the Tigers won their last team state championship, and it’s been nearly that long since they were a serious contender for the state title.

Senior Zach Latimore, who like Lundberg won an area title last season, said it’s time for a current crop of wrestlers to make their own mark at Troup.

“A lot of coaches always talk about old school and the banners and all that,” Latimore said. “But that’s in the past. It’s time to build this program and get it back to where it was.”

Lundberg said this team, which has a nice mix of veterans and hungry newcomers, has the potential to enjoy a big season.

“We really have a lot of character,” Lundberg said. “We feel like we’re going to do really good this year.”

So far, the Tigers are doing just fine.

At the Tiger Classic in Stockbridge last weekend, Troup captured the tournament championship.

Every Troup wrestler who competed placed at Stockbridge.

“That was a good way to start out the year,” said senior Zach Latimore, who like Lundberg won an area title last season.

The Tigers had seven wrestlers qualify for state last season, and five of them are back, including the two area champs.

Cody McRae, Jeremy Torbush and Luke Gay also got a taste of the state meet a year ago.

At the tournament in Stockbridge, Otis Thornton, Stephen Cain, Lance Patillo, Lucas Bridges, Eric Taylor, Kyle Nixon, Alex McGhee, Peyton Evans each placed.

Chris Rippy, who is taking over head-coaching duties this season after Randy Tittle left, likes the combination of senior leadership and youthful exuberance.

“We’ve got a strong senior leadership with Latimore, Lundberg and Gay. It’s their team,” said Rippy, the offensive line coach for the Troup football team. “We’ve also got a couple of good freshmen coming in, and our JV team is looking really strong.”

Rippy, who has a strong staff that includes returning assistant coach Clint DeMooney who does a lot of hands-on work with the team, said everyone is doing what it takes to be successful.

“There’s a lot of tradition here. That’s what we’ve got to try to bring back,” Rippy said. “We’ve got the coaching staff and the wrestlers to do well.”

It wasn’t that long ago that Troup High’s wrestling program was the best in the state.

The team won nine state titles from 1978, and it won its 200th straight dual match on Dec. 20, 2000.

A few months later, Troup won its last state championship under coach Dariel Daniel.

Troup finished second at state in 2002, which was Daniel’s last season.

Latimore said this team is “serious about getting this program back to where it was. For the seniors, it’s more about leaving a legacy for the younger kids.”

Latimore said one indication that the program is on the way up is the interest being shown by younger wrestlers.

“In the past, we’ve always had kids come out and leave soon,” he said. “We’re getting a lot of kids that are sticking with it. That’s good.”

Rippy said the goal will be to have the wrestlers at their best when the area dual tournament rolls around in December.

After the state duals, the traditional area tournament will be held in January.

“All of the tournaments we go to, it’s practice,” Rippy said. “It’s game time come area.”