By Mark Schmerling

“Character is revealed by how you face adversity,” Polk County High School head varsity football coach Jamie Thompson reflected at Monday’s football awards dinner.

“This team overcame a lot this year,” Thompson noted. Among other challenges after last year’s 9-4 season and Western Highlands Conference championship, the 2014 team fielded just nine returning starters, and like the 2013 squad, began with losses to two very tough opponents.

Seven Wolverines made the Western Highlands Conference All Conference team. They are Jamal Wheeler, Damian Jackson, D.J.Twitty, Jason Chupp, Khiree Green, Storm Wheeler and Jordan Smith. Smith was also honored as the WHC Defensive Player of the Year.

This year’s biggest turning point, Thompson emphasized was the R-S Central game (a game that the 2013 Polk team lost), where the R-S players went on the field with “a lot of swagger.” When the Wolverines neutralized the Hilltoppers, 33-12, Thompson knew his team exhibited more than simply football skills.

After the R-S game, the Wolverines reeled off six more wins before suffering a loss at home to Owen (a team they’d defeated nine of the previous 11 times), with the WHC title on the line.

“It’s kind of hard when your dreams are shattered,” Thompson noted, adding, “What we do after we fail determines who we are.”

All the Wolverines did after the Owen game was defeat a very good Hendersonville team on the road, and then come back from a 14-point half-time deficit to defeat Lexington in the first round of the state playoffs.

“They gave me memories that will last a lifetime,” added Thompson, who told his players, “I love you.”

What was it like to be part of this football team?

During the Hendersonville game, a player who competes in two sports at Polk noted that he liked the other sport, but stressed, “this team is special.”

PCHS Athletic Director Jeff Wilson said of Thompson, who has coached at Polk since 1998, and who became head varsity coach earlier in 2014, “He is a true Wolverine. He has led our athletes in a great direction.”

Wilson also praised Polk County School’s Superintendent William Miller and PCHS’s principal, Mary Feagan, who attend many sports and other events at the school and on the road.

“She cares about football. She cares about all the sports,” said Wilson. Of Miller, he noted, “He puts sports at a high premium.”

“The awards come and go,” Wilson added, “but the rewards . . . build some intangibles.”

Wilson continued, referring to Thompson, “He has the respect of the staff and all the coaches in the conference. I feel confident that he will build stronger, faster and tremendous Wolverines. Coach Thompson understands what it takes to play high school level football.”

Individual varsity football awards went to Dillon Overholt (Most Improved Player), Damian Jackson (Most Valuable Defensive Lineman), Khiree Green (Most Valuable Linebacker), Jamal Wheeler (Most Valuable Offensive Back), Jason Chupp (Most Valuable Receiver), D.J. Twitty (Most Valuable Offensive Lineman), Bryce Martin (Most Valuable Defensive Back), Jerry Cox (Mr. Wolverine), and Jordan Smith (Most Valuable Player). In spite of losing time to injuries, Smith led the team in tackles (128) and was a star running back.

Presenting many of the awards were assistant coaches Ethan Edwards, Mark Duncan, Josh Hill, Phillip Miller and Zach Searcy.

Edwards, the head JV coach, noted, “We’re trying to prepare for the next level, and improving. The ones who finished are the ones we need in our program.”

JV awards went to Zane Johnson (Most Valuable Offensive Player) and Kevin Hernandez (Most Improved).

Cheerleading Coach Elisa Flynn presented awards to some of her cheerleaders.

“My girls rallied around this football team,” Flynn noted. “I’m very proud to be a member of Polk County High School.”

Alexandria Dale (Most Dedicated/Spirited), Kamillya Patrie (Best All-Around) and Chrissy Phipps (Coach’s) received varsity awards.

Mattie Case-Stott Volkman, Bella Bowser and Amberly Martin were honored with JV awards.