When Polk County’s boys soccer team takes the field Monday in the third round of the state 3A playoffs, it will be the latest outing for a group of seniors who know each other very well.
Polk is slated to host West Caldwell in Monday’s third round, with kickoff set for 6 p.m. Note that per North Carolina High School Athletic Association rules, ticket prices for the match will be $12.
Seven of the Polk County seniors who will line up Monday have been playing together since participating in recreation soccer several years ago. That group also played together at Polk County Middle School, and recently recreated a photo taken at PCMS as eighth graders.
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In the original photo, from left, are assistant coach Blair Ruth, Will Garrison, Cooper Meyer, Keegan Wyatt, Tanner Osborn, Tommy Jackson, Blake Anderson, Brinson Ashworth, Wyatt Highsmith and head coach Lennox Charles.
In the recreated photo are Ruth, now a PCHS assistant coach, Garrison, Meyer, Osborn, Anderson, Ashworth and Highsmith.
Polk County’s Thomas Varnadore has also been playing with his senior teammates since their days in Polk’s recreation league. The teamwork and camaraderie that has carried the Wolverines to a 15-0-3 record thus far this season is rooted in that experience, years of sharing a field.
The quality of the group also prompted head coach George Alley to call them “one of the best groups I’ve ever coached. They’re just quality kids, and fortunately for me, they’re also good soccer players.”
