Every fall, thousands of young men throughout North Carolina participate in high school soccer. And, each summer, just 32 seniors are selected from among that pool of players to compete in the East-West All-Star game.
This year, Polk County High School will be particularly well-represented, as Polk graduate Blair Ruth takes the field while Polk head coach Lennox Charles oversees the coaching duties for the West All-Stars.
Ruth, who originally hails from Boca Raton, Fla., has played soccer since the age of 5.
“It seems like ever since he could kick a ball, he was kicking one,” said Ruth’s father, John.
The family moved to Polk County in 2004, and Ruth played on the undefeated Polk Middle School teams of 2005-2006.
After playing JV soccer in his freshman and sophomore years at Polk County High School, a six-inch growth spurt and a lot of hard work propelled Ruth onto the varsity squad in his junior year. As a senior, the 6’2”, 200 pound midfielder was not only named all-Western Highlands Conference, but also was selected to the all-area team.
Ruth first learned he had made the East-West All-Star team in the spring, when assistant coach Will Peck handed him a letter from the selection committee.
“It’s a great honor to be named to the team,” said Ruth. “My whole family is planning to travel to the game.”
Charles, who played soccer at Gardner-Webb University and then stayed on as a coach for the Runnin’ Bulldogs, joined the coaching staff at PCHS in 2001 and assumed head coaching duties soon afterward.
Polk teams coached by Charles have been consistently successful, with five trips to the state finals (three for the men and two for the ladies) and three state championships in the past nine years.

“I’m really happy to be given this opportunity,” said Charles. “When I look around at the other high school coaches who have been around for 15 or 20 years, for me to get this opportunity already is a very good thing.”
Coach Charles and Ruth will travel this weekend to Greensboro to prepare for the game, which kicks off at 8 p.m. Tuesday, July 19 at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.