As you walk into H.B. Stewart Arena, you are greeted by a large trophy case full of State Championship and State Runner-Up trophies. What you notice is this is not just Football. Above that is banners that circle the basketball court listing the various state championships. Most won after the football team’s first one in 2000.
At the School Board meeting on Thursday night, the 2023 Class 5A State Champion Cheer Squad and the 2023 Class 6A State Championship Football teams were recognized. During the first semester the 2023 Class 5A State Champion Girls Cross Country was recognized, bringing Greenwood’s total to 62 State Championships. To add to the trophy case the Volleyball team and Blue Dazzlers Squad brought home Class 5A State Runner-Up trophies also in the first semester.
For a community that has been labeled as a “Football Town” and was the influence on Greenwood Alumni Jabe Burgess’ Nashville debut of the same name. The Greenwood School District has made the case to being something other than just Football. There is only a small handful of school activities that have not hung a banner or placed a trophy into the case but it surely was not for a lack of trying. The ones that have, have won multiple times.
- Baseball – 4x
- Football – 11x (Tied for a State Record in the modern era)
- Basketball – 7x (Girls)
- Cheerleaders – 8x
- Dance Team – 2x
- Tennis – 3x (Girls-2, Boys-1)
- Golf – 9x (Girls-7, Boys-2)
- E-Sports – 1x
- Wrestling – 5x
- Volleyball – 3x
- Cross Country – 3x (Girls)
- Track – 2x
- Softball – 2x
- Bowling – 2x (Boys and Girls have 1 each)
“It shows a complete dedication from our school district and our community, to not only the major sports but of all activities.” Athletic Director Chris Young said after the School Board recognition. “We have State Championships everywhere from football and basketball and volleyball all the way to E-Sports, cross-country, cheer, and wrestling.”
“I think Greenwood does a great job of offering a lot different activities for kids to get involved in. Kids are more successful when they are involved in extracurricular activites.” Chris Young said. “Just the wide offering Greenwood has for our student-athletes.”
Currently Greenwood is tracking towards or has surpassed 100 appearances in state championship games, big part of that comes from the community. Following the buses leaving Greenwood for the football state championship, it was as if that was their first trip and not their seventeenth. “They support everything, it doesn’t matter what activity or what event you’re at. And if you’re in Greenwood you’re going to have great support from the parents. They support the kids, they support the coaches. They support our schools.”
To keep the standard that has been set forward by past Athletic Directors like H.B. Stewart, Jerry Cecil, and Dr. Dustin Smith, there has to a great team in place. “I do have a great team on both sides. Obviously starting with the athletic department, Kim Hobbs, the athletic secretary does an unbelievable job. The administration has allowed me to hire some Assistant Athletic Directors. Where we can kind of spread ourselves out and we can provide more support to our coaches.” Chris Young said. “With Coach Brewer and Coach Woods and Chase Meyers, it just gives us additional people to help coaches and athletes be successful.”
Going back to the state title appearances, you start to realize that this is much more than a “Football Town”. “It’s a challenge, we want those programs just as successful as Girls Basketball and Volleyball and Football. We have got to find ways to help them and help them win their own state championship.” Chris Young said. “Success is contagious. So when you have athletes of activity or one sport and they are winning championships or winning at a higher rate. Those kids go play multiple sports, the hope is that runs off into that sport as well. It’s just contagious. Our kids are special, they’re going to play hard whether they are playing football or basketball or baseball.”
Aside from the athletics, the other programs offered like Air Force JROTC, Band, and Future Business Leaders of America, have found themselves getting high praise not only on the state level but nationally. 2022-2023 Air Force JROTC was recognized as one of the Top 10 units in the country.
The motto on the fence at Smith-Robinson reads “Creating Champions”, between the athletic department, the administration, and the faculty, they most certainly are.
