Gunnar Alm sat at a table in Polk County High School’s auditorium on Wednesday, watching friends and family finding seats.
Alm seemed the most relaxed person in the hall, and why not – when you’ve worked toward something for most of your life and finally achieved it, no need to do anything except enjoy the experience.
That’s what the Polk County senior did during the ceremony celebrating his signing an athletic grant-in-aid to continue his baseball career at North Carolina State. The audience of more than 100 watching Alm officially affirm the commitment he made almost three years ago included the last two NCAA Division I players from Polk County, Nick Capozzi and Joel Booker. They, along with many others, received appreciation from Wolverine head coach Billy Alm, who also happens to be Gunnar’s father.
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“As a dad, I look out here and I see teachers. Wendi Owens. Elisa Flynn. It’s special,” Billy Alm said. “One thing we always told Gunnar when he was younger that to be great, you’ve got to be different. I feel like he’s done that his whole life.
“I grew up in a small town. We live in a small town. And the support that he has had. . . you are only as good as what you are surrounded by, and we are surrounded by greatness here. It takes a village to raise a kid, and I feel like this has been the best village in the world.”
Gunnar Alm hopes to make that village proud at N.C. State. He verbally committed to the Wolfpack program in October 2022 and never wavered from that decision, largely because he can’t envision any place better suited for his athletic and academic goals.
“(Head coach) Elliott Avent and (associate head coach) Chris Hart are A-plus human beings. They believed in me,” Gunnar Alm said. “I was still going through some other schools, but as soon as I got the offer from N.C. State, I knew that’s where I wanted to be. There was no doubt in my mind.
“As soon as I went on campus, what they showed me was unreal. It was an easy decision. The campus is awesome. The life there is awesome. And it’s a great academic program. I love the business (school) there, and that’s what I’m going to do is business. In my opinion it’s the best school in the state.”
The reigning state 1A player of the year, Alm capped a busy summer by being ranked as the top senior in North Carolina by scouting service Perfect Game. He’s spent the fall working toward his target of adding additional muscle and weight, doing so with a couple of area players who have already made the jump to professional baseball.
“I’m at 172 now, so I’ve put on 14 pounds,” he said. “I’m working out with a first rounder from last year, Braxton Davidson, who went to T.C. Roberson. And I’m working out with a guy who just got drafted, Brayden Corn, from Western Carolina who got drafted by the Seattle Mariners. We grind three days a week, It’s two-hour lifts, they’re hard, they’re rough. But I love it. They push me. It’s been an unreal experience.”
Alm already owns six school career records, and there are at least five more he could own by the time his career ends. More importantly, he’d like to lead Polk County to a Western Highlands Conference championship and a deep 3A playoff run. A cast of returning players that includes Alex Perry, Noah Harden, Avrey Hensley and Nate Fagan makes both goals more than realistic.
Looking beyond this season, though, Alm is already establishing objectives for his first year in Raleigh.
“The goal is to start, day one, and play center field. That’s my goal, and I’m going to work really hard for that goal,” he said. “It’s not going to be given to me. They say I could have a chance to do that if I work hard, so that’s what I’m going to do. That’s the plan. Obviously, there will be some adversity, but I’m looking forward to it.”
All of those thoughts belonged to another day, though. Wednesday was meant for the realization of years of hard work.
“It’s a day of excitement,” Alm said. “I’ve been looking forward to this day a long time. Being able to sign and enjoy this day and be done with it, it’s going to be nice.
“I’ve known it was coming for a long time, but I’m really excited to sign. I’m ready for the next chapter. It’s what I’ve always worked for, to play at the next level, and I’m really excited to do that.”
