MORA -- Chip Rankin, who led Litchfield to its only state high school wrestling championship in 2003, left the school district last month to become the Dean of Students at Mora High School.
Rankin coached the Dragons for seven seasons before leaving for Iraq with his National Guard unit in 2006. Rankin compiled 105 wins from 1998-2005 and guided Litchfield to the state tournament three consecutive seasons from 2002-2004 with 2003 ending with a state title.
Rankin isn't currently part of the Mora wrestling program, but Mora Athletic Director Gary Gauffin said that Rankin could be in the not-so-distant future.
Both Litchfield and Mora are scheduled to participate in the Dassel-Cokato Invitational on Dec. 15.
"If everything goes well for him, which it seems like it is doing, he could be part of the (wrestling) program even this year, next year or two years down the road," said Gauffin. "I'm sure he might peak his head into the wrestling room this year and talk to the coaches and give them his expertise."
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Gauffin said that Rankin is remodeling his house in Litchfield in hopes of selling it and moving closer to Mora. Rankin will drive back and forth from Litchfield to Mora a couple times of week, a commute that is roughly 90 miles.
