Southern hospitality was on full display at
Northwestern (Rock Hill, S.C.) High School on Tuesday, February 8th as the 6th annual MaxPreps Football Tour of Champions presented by the Army National Guard stopped in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Northwestern (15-0) went undefeated for the first time since the school was founded in 1971, won their state championship and finished ranked #54 in the country according to the MaxPreps Freeman computer rankings.
From the first minute we arrived until the minute we left the school, faculty, players and staff all worked extremely hard to make sure we felt welcomed and had everything we needed. I arrived at the school gymnasium shortly before the girls basketball game was beginning. Head Coach Jimmy Wallace immediately found me and his excitement was obvious. He gave me a quick tour and helped me get set up. Soon after the tour, Sergeant Jeremy Owens from the South Carolina Army National Guard arrived with the National Guard national ranking trophy in hand. Sergeant Owens was followed by six other Guardsmen who all came to support him and the school.
Coach Wallace was by our side for the next several hours and we quickly learned how well respected and admired Coach Wallace was in the community. When he wasn't exchanging pleasantries with the Guardsmen, he was greeting parents and students. He continued thanking the Guardsmen for coming out and awarding his team. It was obvious how honored he was to be part of the tour. When it came time to hand out the commemorative Tour of Champions t-shirts to the team before our ceremony, he had every single player personally thank every Guardsman.
At halftime of the boy's basketball game, MaxPreps Representative Smith Hardy began the ceremony speaking of the team's accomplishments and then introduced Sergeant Owens who presented Coach Wallace and the team captains with the Army National Guard national ranking trophy.
The crowded gym erupted in applause and Coach Wallace took the microphone and once again thanked MaxPreps and the South Carolina Army National Guard for coming to Northwestern.
It was a great event in Rock Hill, SC, congratulations again to Coach Wallace and the Trojans!
