Polk’s team very young, but working to win

This year’s Wolverine team is in a building stage, said Phillip Miller, in his second year as head varsity coach, but in his ninth at Polk County.

“We’ve only got three seniors,” said Miller. “We’re so young.”

One of those seniors is McMurray, who was 29-11 last year. Miller has two very good freshmen in Chandler Patrick and Chase Emory. Polk’s wild card might be Damien Cantrell, a recent transfer, who was third-ranked in South Carolina last year, and will, when he recovers from an injury, compete in and around the 170-pound class. Cantrell has family in Polk County.

“That’ll help us a lot, too,” Miller said. “He’ll win a lot of matches.”

Senior Anthony Marino, who competes mostly at 145 pounds, is another bright spot on Miller’s roster. “He’s got a really good chance of making the states this year,” Miller said of Marino.

“Our goal is still to make the state duals,” Miller said. To do that as a team, the Wolverines must finished second among AA schools in the Western Highlands Conference. Miller sees Mitchell as the Wolverines’ top opponent this year. “They’re loaded,” he said. “They brought 13 of their 14 (starters) back,” Miller observed. Owen and Madison are two other tough opponents in AA.

In spite of relative lack of overall experience, “We expect to win,” Miller asserted. “I do. You have to take your lumps before you start to win. We’re taking our lumps, (but) by the time conference (competition) starts (Jan. 8), we should be alright.”

Tuesday, Dec. 17, the Wolverines host Landrum and Smokey Mountain. Action begins at 5 p.m. On Saturday, Dec. 21 Polk competes in the Wade Hampton Duals at Wade Hampton. The meet begins at 10 a.m.