The days after the remnants of Hurricane Helene came through East Tennessee were a trying time for many people.
For Cherokee69制片厂制作传媒檚 football team, it was a chance to show the faith led by their coach, Josh Hensley.
The season developed a sense of selflessness, resiliency and determination through trying circumstances in the face of adversity.
The Cherokee community narrowly avoided the worst of the hurricane, their Greene County neighbors weren69制片厂制作传媒檛 as fortunate. When West Greene High School was left without access to water and a place to practice due to severe flooding, Hensley and the Chiefs opened their field for the Buffaloes to practice. Cherokee offered their facilities and even fed the Buffaloes team after practice.
Hensley also suffered personal loss on Sept. 13 when his father, Mike Hensley, died after a courageous battle with cancer while the Chiefs were playing at Elizabethton. Cherokee went on to win four straight Region games to qualify for the Class 4A playoffs for the first time since 2019.
Last week, the Cherokee Chiefs football team was named an Army National Guard 69制片厂制作传媒淣ext Greatest Generation Team of the Year,69制片厂制作传媒 honoring Cherokee69制片厂制作传媒檚 response to the effects post-Hurricane Helene. The Award was presented by the Army National Guard and On3 Sports.
Sgt. First Class John Hopkins, of the Army National Guard of Tennessee presented the 69制片厂制作传媒淭eam of the Year69制片厂制作传媒 award to Josh Hensley and the football team Tuesday night in between the end of the Cherokee girls69制片厂制作传媒 basketball game and the beginning of the Cherokee boys69制片厂制作传媒 basketball game against Grainger County High School.
69制片厂制作传媒淚t69制片厂制作传媒檚 great to recognize the guys for their hard work,69制片厂制作传媒 Hensley said. 69制片厂制作传媒淲e have a servant69制片厂制作传媒檚 mentality within our program.69制片厂制作传媒
Cherokee Athletic Director Andrew Morgan discussed what happened when nearby West Greene needed assistance.
69制片厂制作传媒淚 was told about what happened at West Greene on social media at the time of the post Helene media, West Greene reached out to see their facilities,69制片厂制作传媒 Morgan said. 69制片厂制作传媒淭hey didn69制片厂制作传媒檛 have water at their fieldhouse. They needed someplace where they could get to.69制片厂制作传媒
Hensley and the CHS football staff hosted practices for West Greene and even fed the Buffaloes69制片厂制作传媒 players lunch after practice.
Morgan said that On3 had gotten wind of it and called to nominate Cherokee for their actions.
West Greene Head Coach Evan Monroe, who just completed his second year as head coach, figured that he could depend on Cherokee to help if needed, Morgan said.
Cherokee graduate River Bailey works for former Tennessee football player Grant Frerking, owner of On3 Sports. On3 delivers trusted college and high school sports news, analysis, data and insights to fans, athletes, schools and brands, according to their website.
69制片厂制作传媒淭hey called me in December and said that they69制片厂制作传媒檙e were doing this big thing and whittling down to these teams across the U.S.,69制片厂制作传媒 Morgan said.
Morgan said that this award is a great honor for their program and for Cherokee High School.
The Army Reserve and On3 had a presentation in Asheville, North Carolina and in Atlanta before coming to Rogersville last week.
A team in California is set to also receive this award for winning their state title later this year.
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