Troxel barely had half that number at his first practice as head coach when the school opened in the fall of 1994. Winning a state championship then was more fantasy than possibility.

And that first practice wasn't even at the new school. For the first month in 1994, LC had to practice at a playfield on the other side of town where the rival high school played its games during the 1960s.

So there was Troxel, looking over a turnout that includes four starters off a 9-3 team that captured a state championship a year ago.

It won't likely take Lake City another nine years to win a second state championship. Shoot, it could happen as quickly as one can say ‘‘repeat'' if the Timberwolves have anything to say about it.

The wins were few the first three years. LC was winless the first year before breaking through for its first victory the second season. That number tripled by the third year.

Troxel's first freshman class posted the school's first winning season as seniors, going 8-2 in 1997.

The victories have come in bunches since. LC has captured outright or shared six straight league championships, has posted two 11-1 seasons and has played in three state finals in that span.

LC would be the next best thing to a lock to defend its 4A championship this year. But it can't. LC and Coeur d'Alene move up to the 5A level.

That means LC, CdA and Lewiston will tangle to decide the region's lone 5A state berth.

‘‘Honestly, I don't think the move to 5A is that big of a jump because the quality of teams we've played on our schedule the last couple of years are as good as any 5A teams, including Sandpoint,'' Troxel said.

LC defeated 5A Lewiston last year, and Lewiston went on to face eventual state champ Highland in the 5A final.

With just four starters back, LC will feature several new faces. That's fine with Troxel because it's become a byproduct of his program.

‘‘That's why you have seniors who have been in your program for four years,'' Troxel said. ‘‘Every year since 1997 we've had anywhere from three to six starters back. So we'll go into this season like we have the last six years -- untested but not unprepared.''

LC won't lack numbers. That's the foundation on which Troxel has built his program. The turnout includes 23 seniors and 30 juniors. The T-Wolves have averaged 25 to 28 seniors the last four years.

‘‘The plan from the first day (1994) was to get the program to the point where we had 20 to 30 seniors each year,'' he said.

With the move to 5A, Troxel figures each senior class must be closer to 30.

‘‘That's what you need to continuously be competitive at that level,'' he said.

So, in the best world, Troxel hopes to have 45 to 50 freshmen, at least 35 sophomores and 30-plus juniors.

‘‘That would give you the best chance to retain 30 by the time they're seniors,'' Troxel said.

It's a formula that certainly worked in 4A.

The pinnacle is a state title -- like last fall.