Page 18 - Summer 2021

Sim Tolbert, then an eighth grader on the Wolverines middle school soccer team, cuts past a defender during a 2021 match held at Brad Akins Field.
recreational league play and time spent on travel teams. They all stuck with the Wolverines despite the losing seasons.
Cooper Patton, Sim Tolbert and Jack Whalen competed as eighth graders this past season. They each played for the Prince Avenue team all three years of middle school.
They all agreed that the team’s losses prior to this year stemmed from a shortage of chemistry and proper alignment on the field.
“We were always working really hard,” Patton said. “We had good players, just not necessarily the right lineup and maybe not the right positions for each player. We couldn’t work together in the game until this year.”
Palmer recognized the talent he had at his disposal. Still, his realistic goal was to keep the games close.
“I just didn’t want to get beat 10-0 every game,” Palmer said. “If we could just be in games by one or two goals, it would be ideal.”
To start off the season, Palmer worked on changing the players’ mindsets. Once the team adjusted to Palmer’s coaching style, the players noticed a change for the better.
“Coach Palmer definitely brought a new competitiveness to the team,” Whalen said. “I also think that the eighth graders really made a big difference because of the past two losing seasons. Basically, all of them have played since sixth grade here, so I think we took it personally.”
A more competitive spirit trickled down to the youngest members of the Prince Avenue squad.
“They worked hard and embodied everything that I asked
PAgE 16 | OcONEE ThE MAgAzINE | SUMMER 2021