Rome High School Football Honors Teams of the Past
Community September 27, 2022
ROME, GA— Rome High students and fans blacked out Barron Stadium on Friday night during the Wolves 42-19 win over Allatoona but two large parts of the crowd wore some colors long-time Rome City Schools athletic fans certainly recognized.
A large scattering of blue and gold T-shirts and a large crowd of green and white clad fans stood and cheered right along with the black clad fans as Rome High paid homage to three historic teams celebrating milestones.
Before the contest began, close to 100 former coaches and players and family members representing some who have passed away gathered on Barron Stadium’s turf.
The players and coaches were from the 1977 East Rome High School state championship team, the 1982 West Rome High School state championship team and the 1992 Rome High football team. Public address announcer John McClellan read out the names of those on the field.
The 1977 East Rome Gladiators coached by Jerry Sharp finished the season with a 15-0 record, beating Early County 35-7 in the state Class A finals at Barron Stadium to claim the school’s first state football title. East Rome allowed only one touchdown during the regular season, shutting out nine of their 10 opponents. Larry Kinnebrew, Greg Gordon and Sylvester Elkins all earned first-team all-state honors that season and Ray Brown earned honorable mention all-state honors. East Rome would also go on to win the state title in 1978 as well.
The 1982 West Rome Chieftains’ squad is notorious for being the first of four consecutive state title winning football teams. The squad coached by Mike Hodges compiled a 15-0 record and topped Mary Persons 7-6 in the Class AA state finals to claim the school’s second state football title. The squad featured three first-team all-state selections in Eric Floyd, Keith Green and David McCluskey. The Chieftains would also win state titles in 1983, 1984 and 1985. Earlier in the school’s history, the West Rome squad of 1965 also won a state title, giving the Chieftains five football state titles.
The 1992 Rome High School Wolves coached by Danny Wiseman saw East Rome and West Rome come together. The squad won their first game of the season, topping Coosa 22-12, and also grabbed wins over Southeast Whitfield, Northwest Whitfield and Ridgeland. While the team didn’t reach the playoffs, it did set the foundation for the many great years of Rome High football to come.
After being introduced, the players from each squad gathered together for photos before ascending into the stands and helping cheer on the Wolves in the game.
Corey Kinnebrew, a member of the 1992 Rome High team, said he truly appreciated Rome High honoring his team and the other teams from the past.
Rome High School Cross-Country Team Prepares for State
Community November 4, 2021
ROME, GA— Our Rome High School Cross-Country Wolves have been busy this season leading the pack and are now preparing to travel to Carrollton High School this Saturday to take on the last meet of the 2021 season, the GHSA State Championship Meet.
After finishing third at the Region 5-AAAAAA Championship in Whitesburg, Ga., the Wolves came home hungry and ready to attack the next few weeks of training for the State Championship.
This week, Head Coach of the Wolves, Nick Bridges, and Assistant Coach, Kevin “KP” Paulk, have been busy ensuring all athletes are well-rested and mentally prepared for Saturday’s events.
“We have been trying to rest our bodies as much as possible this week, outside of running at practice,” explained Cai Sabino, junior at RHS and Wolves’ Team Captain. “We have also been focusing on eating healthy, getting at least eight hours of sleep, and drinking lots of water.”
“We are really focusing on making sure everyone is rested up and getting our minds right before the meet on Saturday,” concurred Bridges. “Either way, this weekend is going to be fun.”
Lucia Loarca and Hillary Martinez, Rome High XC Team Captains, and sole seniors, were both excited about spending one last time with their team, who have become like family.
“I am looking forward to having the team together one last time,” smiled Loarca. “It’s going to be a bittersweet moment, but I am excited to spend it with them.”
Martinez echoed those same sentiments, “Since this is my last time running cross-country, I am looking forward to just having fun with my team and working hard towards our goals. We have been training really hard this entire season, and with Coach Bridges and KP’s leadership, I know we will do great this weekend as well.”
According to Bridges, the team set forth expectations of “racing with confidence” at the beginning of the season and have worked hard to keep those same expectations afloat throughout.
“We have gone into all of our meets with the same expectations, which is just for our kids to race with confidence. They have completely bought into this new culture and that alone makes me proud of our athletes,” said Bridges. “We have flown under the radar for long enough. These kids are most definitely going to fly this weekend.”
The smile on the entire team’s faces was enough to show how motivated these student-athletes truly are.
“I am really excited about this weekend,” said Sabino, who will be racing at the State Meet for the first time this Saturday. “We are all ready to race, we are all ready for state, and we are just ready to have fun and run fast. I love each and every one of these guys and I am so proud of the work we have all put in this season. It’s going to pay off this weekend.”
Loarca recently broke the overall Rome High School personal record during the Region Championship last weekend. The previous record set was 19.27 and currently, it sits at 19.23. She is looking forward to potentially PRing again this weekend while making her school and team proud.
“State is a pretty tough course to PR on, but I do feel prepared and have trained hard this season,” said Loarca. “If I can come out of this meet with a new personal record, that would have to be one of the greatest accomplishments of my running career so far.”
One thing that these Wolves are most proud of, outside of their amazing accomplishments, is the bond they have created with their teammates and coaches.
“My hope is that our team carries on this ‘family’ tradition that we have worked to establish this year,” smiled Martinez. “I also hope that these athletes continue learning and growing from our coaches and continue this success for years to come.”
Good luck to our Cross-Country Wolves this weekend at the State Meet!! We are so proud of you!
GO WOLVES!!!!!!