Fourteen.
That’s two touchdowns (with extra points). Match point in a volleyball fifth set. Four 3-pointers and a two-pointer in basketball. Two runs per inning in high school baseball and softball.
And a number I wasn’t certain I’d get to celebrate this year.
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This week we start ramping up coverage for our 14th year of PolkSports. We’ll officially complete year 13 in September, but this marks the start of our 14th academic year of covering Polk County athletics. We have some things planned that I think will make this perhaps our best year to date.
Yet I very nearly didn’t get to be part of it. Earlier this summer, I learned that I’ve stacked one serious health condition atop one I already had. The genetic lottery has something to do with that, but so does too many years of two jobs and too much stress and not enough taking care of myself. I no longer have the luxury of not doing so if I want to hang around for a while.
More rest, less stress, better care – that’s now a key part of my daily routine. For a time, I thought that meant the end of my days with PolkSports, which is the thing I do outside of my day job. Fortunately, that proved not to be the case, and for that I’m glad.
I believe that everyone on this planet has one thing at which they’re naturally good, and if you’re fortunate, you find out what that is and you’re able to make a career of it. I luckily found mine – being involved in producing local sports coverage – 40 years ago, and while I’ve not always practiced it, PolkSports has given me the opportunity to do so once again. I’ve never taken that for granted, and had walking off Dietz Field in May following the end of the 3A girls soccer playoffs been my final event, that would have been OK. I’ve been truly blessed to get to do this work here since 2013.
But that wasn’t the end.
Instead, we’re back and ready to go for 2026-27. I may be at fewer events this year, but I don’t think you’re going to see any reduction in coverage thanks to the great coaches we have in Polk County, who are always ready to help, as well as a few others of note:
- Jed Blackwell will again be helping out. Jed has enough South Carolina Press Association awards to cover a living room wall, many of those earned at the Inman Times, some as the high school sports writer at the Herald-Journal in Spartanburg. Jed and I share a common belief in how high school sports should be covered, and I’m glad to have him back.
- You may have prowled around Facebook in recent months and noticed the talents of local photographer Captured By The Joker. That’s Caleb Russell, and he’s going to be lending his skills to some PolkSports galleries this year. We know that our audience loves photo galleries, and I think you’ll see more of those than ever this season thanks in large part to Caleb. I’m excited to bring you his talented eye for sports.
- Another local photographer, Lindy Buss of Flash Motion Studio, continues to help us with athlete and coach headshots, a vital yet thankless task. We’re so blessed that she says yes each season.
- The website itself has been completely rebuilt since May. Schedules are easier to find. Scores are easier to find. Live streams are easier to find. The site loads much more quickly on all devices. There are historical scores for most high school varsity sports, with hopefully more to come as the year progresses. There are some other new features you’ll see as the season unfolds.
- That reminds me – we’ve also built some cool new options for local businesses. So if you want to help support Polk County athletics and help your business at the same time, ping me at andy [at] polksports.com.
- As is nearly everyone these days, we’re making use of artificial intelligence, where appropriate, to help with coverage. I know that’s a touchy subject for many, and it’s especially prickly in journalism circles. I think we’re taking a responsible approach to how we’ll employ it.
As always, none of what we do is possible without all of you. Publishing content that no one reads or views is just an old man standing in his yard shouting into the wind. So, thank you, sincerely, for your ongoing support and interest in our work. That, and supporting the efforts of the young men and women of Polk County, is why we do what we do.
Enough of that. Year 14 is here – let’s get started.
