The Advocate and Democrat

Last week marked the final breaths of the 2007-08 high school sports calendar. The final all-county team was revealed, marking the end of what was an outstanding year for the schools in this county.

From now until August, which is when fall sports in Monroe County fire back up, there will be talk of great accomplishments from athletes at all three schools while reflecting on this year’s teams.

However, two athletes that might get overlooked are from Tellico Plains.

With the amount of success many athletes in this county saw, Brooke McKinnon and Josh Ball are two athletes that don’t deserve to go unnoticed.

McKinnon’s play at the collegiate level on the basketball court this year isn’t something that just happens.

Certainly state championships are at a premium, but Ball was able to break through to claim one in track.

Tellico Plains has its fair share of great athletes for a small town.

But this community can also be proud of both athletes for the people they are as well.

If you want to show a young athlete how sports should be played, let them observe either of these athletes.

Ball was a quiet, unassuming player on the basketball court that never let his emotions get too high or too low.

Though I’ve never seen McKinnon in the heat of the battle, plenty of stories still circulate the Tellico Plains gym about her hard-nosed play.

Though there are and have been several great representatives of Tellico Plains, these are two that the community should certainly be proud of.

Sequoyah Football

Lately, there’s been plenty of back-and-forth talk about who’s to blame in the fallout with the dismissal of former head coach Ronnie Summey.

So much talk that it’s starting to divide the supporters of the school.

The best thing to do in this situation is act like members of the team have acted. Take the news in stride, forget about who’s to blame in all this, and get ready for the upcoming season.

From what I’ve seen, the team has moved past last week’s events.

This team and coaching staff know that a tough group from Sweetwater will be coming to Madisonville on Aug. 22. However, their focus has never shifted.

It’s time for Sequoyah supporters to put aside whether they think the dismissal was justified or not, who the new coach should or shouldn’t be, and what assistant coaches should or shouldn’t stay.

What supporters should focus on is filling up the Chop House in that season opener and giving their team the support they deserve against the Wildcats.

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