Polk County High Schools’ athletic programs have propelled two more athletes to college careers, with the April 29 signings of track and cross-country star Mitchell Brown, and basketball standout Jamal Tanner.

Brown, a member of the Wolverines’ overachieving 4×800-meter relay quartet, just signed his intent to attend Winston-Salem State University, and run cross-country for the Rams.

Jamal Tanner
Tanner, who lit up football fields and basketball courts alike, chose basketball, which he will play for Catawba Valley Community College.

Even while missing a number of games early in his high school career, Tanner scored over 1,500 career points, and broke the Wolverines’ season record, with 542 points during the 2015/16 season. His 21.6 points per game average was the highest in Western North Carolina.

Tanner, who can steal the ball, race the length of the basketball court, and jam the ball through the hoop almost faster than the eye can follow, is relieved to have a path in sight.

“It takes a lot of weight off my shoulders,” he said at the signing.

He said the Rams’ coach, Bryan Garmroth, contacted him after this year’s Blue-White All-Star Game.

“Jamal brings his athleticism as a skilled guard who can score and defend,” said Garmroth. “He can play the point or play on the wing with his versatility and game knowledge. Jamal is going to be a great addition to CVCC.”

After signing Tanner is “ready to get it going now.”

As possibly the best all-around athlete at Polk County, Tanner will face college teammates and opponents who were also the best at their respective high schools. How does that make him feel?

“That’s what athletes look for, people to push them in practice and in games,” he replied.

Josh McEntire, who coached Tanner at PCHS, observed, “You can’t replace a kid like that. His game will translate well because he’s an athlete.” McEntire predicts that Tanner will be a point guard for the Red Hawks, “definitely a scoring point guard. He’s got the ability to stop the other team’s point guard every game.”

 

Mitchell Brown
Brown, who has starred on Polk’s track and cross-country teams, simply loves to run. The prospect of running in college, “is really exciting,” Brown remarked.

When he became more familiar with WSSU’s running program, Brown said, “I felt right at home with the coaches. I’m beyond excited, and feel blessed with the opportunity.”

In Brown’s sophomore year at Polk County, he thought about running at the collegiate level. Now that it’s official, he feels relieved and rewarded.

Brown, who feels “beyond blessed” to have been coached at Polk, plans to major in exercise physiology, and hopes to earn a doctorate in physical therapy.

Polk assistant cross-country track/field coach Jenny Wolfe noted, “Mitchell developed a passion for running, which you don’t see in a lot of athletes. Mitchell is a runner.”

Wolfe described how Brown loves the challenge of running up the brutal three miles of White Oak Mountain Road.

“He’s a true distance runner,” Wolfe continued. “He doesn’t shy away from long runs. He tears his body down to build his mind up.”

Wolfe predicts that as Brown gains strength, his competitive distances will likewise increase, to eight or ten kilometers (high school cross-country runs are usually about 5K). “He can hold a pace a long time,” Wolfe said.

In 2015 and 2016, Brown was part of the quartet that set school and state records in the 4×800-meter relay.