We’re back…Jr. Highlander program on track after year absence
Published 6:00 am Wednesday, August 14, 2019
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Star Photo/Ivan Sanders With the return of football to the middle school, the Jr. Lady Highlander cheerleaders are now ready to cheer on the Jr. 'Landers.
BY IVAN SANDERS
STAR STAFF
The lifeblood of a high school program is its junior high feeder program so when that supply came to a screeching halt last season at Cloudland Middle School, there was a great concern not only from a high school head coach standpoint but a community standpoint as well.
But thanks to the hard work of Scott Potter, Rick Birchfield, and Jacob Barnett the gold and blue of the Jr. Highlanders will once again don the gridiron in competition in 2019 starting with a 6 pm regular-season game on Thursday at Hampton High School.
“After we didn’t have a team last year, myself and Rick Birchfield, who is also assisting me, we really have been trying to get the kids out since last season,” said Potter Monday afternoon at the high school.
“We have been out begging kids to play and these kids that we have here are here every day and don’t miss. They are dedicated even though they aren’t the most talented but they are devoted and like to hit and that is what I like.”
With some players that haven’t even graced the football field before, the challenge will be a daunting one for Potter and his coaches but Potter is fully aware of the importance of getting the program back up and running.
“We have six kids that have never played before out of the 18 and we are going to have to rely on those kids,” Potter stated. “Getting those kids up to a level where they can be effective is going to be important.
“We do have three or four kids that played in leagues in Avery County and had three kids that played at Hampton as the TMSAA allowed them to play there last season.
“Really it’s just getting them to gel in learning the offense and defense and I think that we will be good if we get that straightened out.”
One person who is breathing a sigh of relief is Cloudland head coach Glenn White who has been in coaching long enough to realize that without a feeder program the high school is in dire straits.
“It really had him (Coach White) worried last year and had me worried as well,” Potter said. “It bothered Coach Mike Lunsford that we didn’t have a team.
“Coach White and I talked about how important it is to have that feeder program.It can destroy a team real quick.”
Potter said that the community is thrilled that the program has come back together and is ready to watch the team take the field.
“They are loving it. The parents love it and everybody wants to know our schedule so they can come to watch a game so they are really happy,” said Potter with a big grin.
Even before practice began on Monday, there was another player that came and approached Potter wanting to play. Potter said that this is normal.
“That happens with high school and junior high,” stated Potter. “You get in there and shake the bushes and you will get one or two.
“That one came from the elementary as a sixth-grader. We have three or four sixth-graders so we can start working with them and teaching them now to get them ready. “I am pleased about that and glad to see it.”
2019 Cloudland Jr. Highlander Schedule
August
15—at Hampton
22—UNAKA
27—at Avery Middle
September
5—HAMPTON
12—at Chuckey Doak
19—HAPPY VALLEY
24—at Johnson Co.
October
3—at Unaka
ALL CAPS denote home games.
