It began last year with Warren G. Harding's girls track and field team. The state indoor meet was upon them and the Raiders were in the Stile Fieldhouse at the University of Akron.
Almost a year later, WGH's girls are much improved and heading back to the indoor state meet in Akron much improved and seasoned.
In the past year, during outdoors, the Raiders placed fourth at the Mehock Relays at Ashland University.
Later in the 2011 season, WGH won the Trumbull County Meet and was edged by Austintown Fitch for the district title. Then, WGH got a couple athletes through the regionals and on to the state meet in Columbus.
The girls 4x100 and 4x200 both took sixth place and finished All-Ohio - the first time any female Raiders athlete was bestowed that honor.
It isn't all about the boys team that won the Division I state team title in 2010. This is a girls team that is just as dedicated to winning as that outstanding boys Raiders team was.
"They are no longer comparing themselves to the boys team," WGH coach Charles Penny said. "They've now separated themselves. They are two separate teams now - Warren Harding boys and Warren Harding girls. It's not just Warren Harding boys track and the girls are there. Now, it's two separate programs and both have high expectations for themselves."
The separation starts with the 4x200, which is ranked No. 1 in the state heading into Saturday's Division I state meet.
The girls have lofty expectations of that event and senior Alexis Simpson is leading the way for the Raiders.
"Winning state in 4x200. I think we really have that," she said. "We are each other's support groups. We're just working hard and we want state really bad."
The Raiders will be represented in that event and many others Saturday. It's a better girls team this year. They are more dedicated and ready to aim for a district title this year. The Raiders will take more people to state this year. Who knows, that coveted 4x200 team might be on top of the Division I podium come early June in Columbus.
For now, WGH will take its best shot at the state indoor meet and hopefully come away with a trip to the top of the podium on Saturday night.
"It's not just words to them now," Penny said. "It has meaning."