Since 2005 the Auburn Trojan wrestling team has finished in the top-five in the team competition at the Mat Classic 4A Washington State wrestling championships.

And although the team’s efforts may end on the mats at the Tacoma Dome, for the Trojans the bulk of the work is done in a cramped, strip of a room lined with green and gold mats and championship banners – reminders of the team’s past glories.

“It’s always in the back of your mind, the expectations,” junior Dylan Rutledge said. “Auburn’s always good at wrestling. And you want to push yourself and do it for the team.”

“The banners make a difference, it makes you want to push harder and do better,” senior Kelly Maughan added.

Since 2006, when the team finished second at the state tourney, the overall leadership has been in the hands of coach John Aiken.

But ultimately it’s the leadership on the mat that counts, Aiken said.

“It really comes down to transferring from the older guys to the young guys. I just try to foster the relationship between the older wrestlers and our younger wrestlers, on how we do things, how we do business here. And the older guys do a good job of making the young guys understand the expectations and the intensity of our workouts and your dedication to your team and loyalty. They have natural mentors on their own team. Those guys do the bulk of the work.”

For the past four years much of the leadership on the team came courtesy of three-time state champion Jake Swartz, now wrestling at Boise State University. He inspired the team with his work ethic and success on the mat, rather than through vocalizations.

“He was definitely silent, but just solid with the skills on the mat,” junior Nick Conlan said. “He made us such a good tournament team because he would take first at every tournament.”

“We’ve got some big shoes to fill, but someone has to do it, otherwise the team won’t get better,” Rutledge added.

This year the team is in the hands of co-captains Rutledge, Maughan, Conlan and senior Chris Young, all with championship tournament experience.

Last year, Conlan placed sixth at 285 pounds while Young place fifth at 215 and Rutledge placed third at 171. Although Maughan – who is wrestling at 130 this year – did not place last season, he was sixth at 119 as a sophomore.

Coming into this season, the foursome seems poised for more Mat Classic glory.

Conlan, who came into the season ranked No. 1 in the 4A in his division, is already 14-0 with first places at the Auburn Invite, Spud Walley, Pacific Coast and Wildcat tourneys.

“It was a pretty cool feeling (being ranked No. 1), but you just have to stay humble,” Conlan said. “Because that doesn’t mean anything. We just try to work harder and harder every day.”

Rutledge is 19-1 with first place finishes at Tri-State, Pacific Coast and the Spud Walley tournaments.

Young, who has seen limited action, is 7-2 at 215 with a fourth place at the Tri-State tourney, and Maughan is 16-4 with a first at the Auburn Invite and a third at Tri-State.

And it’s not just the veterans that are off to a good start, Aiken said.

“With wrestling, the work you put in will affect the success that you achieve,” Aiken said. “I am happy that a couple of the guys who were a little green last year are starting to put in the work.”

Aiken said he was pleased with improvement shown by Quentin Morris (145), Nick Courtney (152/160) and Lorenzo Freeman (189).

“Some of the guys have had some real good performances, whether at a tournament in Couer d’Alene or Vancouver,” Aiken said. “And while that’s great, it’s just part of the project, it’s not the performance we’re looking for right now. We’re looking for a three-week run at the end, where guys will be able to see and feel themselves performing at the best level they’ve performed at all year.”

“I think we’re in a great spot,” Aiken added. “I think they’ve kept perspective on the things that they want to achieve. And I think they know that you can’t have feet that are sinking in the sand to get there, you have to keep moving and moving forward on the good days and the bad days. And then you’ll get where you need to be. And even then, you’re only there for a brief moment in time, so you better keep your feet moving.”