Oak Ridge coach Gareth Glick hasn’t even been at his new school for a full year yet, but he’s already bought into the motto that the athletics program is trying to rally around.

“Rise of the Ridge” has been the new battle cry, and Glick believes his team could be the next squad to leave its mark on District 14-5A this year.

Glick, who spent seven seasons at Willis where he won three district Coach of the Year awards, takes over a War Eagles program that boasts 15 seniors, five juniors and only two sophomores.

“I just told (the players) that we were going to be a team that worked hard,” Glick said. “We’re going to represent the school with pride, and I think that’s something that’s been really important here, for them to take pride in the program. I think all the programs, athletically — and we talk about it as coaches all the time — they’re kind of starting to rise again.”

The War Eagles finished 9-11-1 last year and did not have a single winning campaign in five seasons under former coach Jason Fanning. Glick, who played at Texas A&M from 2000 to 2004, is optimistic that he can get the program headed in the right direction, which includes challenging for a league title this season. click here for complete story