Published Feb. 18, 2004

LaFayette High School’s orange and black reigns over Georgia Class AAAA dual wrestling, and we salute the Rambler matmen and their extraordinary efforts in steamrolling to the state title recently in Augusta.

LaFayette handily defeated four schools in Augusta to claim the state crown, the first in 28 years for a Rambler athletic team.

Only a small number of high school student-athletes get to experience the joy of winning a state title. While many may have the athletic skill to be one day called a “state champion”, the dedication and passion they bring to the sporting arena is just as important in meeting that goal.

The state championship hardware the Ramblers brought home from east Georgia is proof not only of their talent, but also of their drive and persistence in accomplishing a great mission.

The state title is one in which the whole community can take pride, from team members to coaches to students to fans to parents. With LaFayette boosters in Augusta numbering in the hundreds, the brilliant combination of an inspiring team performance and fervent fan support created an unbeatable orange and black force.

The memories of this state championship will last a lifetime, and no matter what happens in these young athletes’ lives, they’ll always know that for the 2003-04 season, they comprised the best AAAA dual wrestling team in Georgia.

The old sports saying goes, “There is no ‘I’ in ‘team.’”

Well, there isn’t one in “LaFayette” or “Ramblers” either, and this teamwork and dedication are big reasons why the LHS wrestlers are No. 1