(WJHL) – When it comes to high school sports in Washington County, Tennessee, it’s either the trailblazers or the trailblazers: David Crockett or Daniel Boone.
But one men's volleyball team has broken that mold over the past few seasons.
The Jonesboro-based club volleyball team's jerseys have “Crockett” written on the front. But looks can be deceiving.
“We're like a Washington County team,” head coach Tucker Nose explained.
For the past two years, several Daniel Boone student-athletes have visited David Crockett and competed together in men's volleyball.
This season, Boone juniors Lennon Collier and Caleb Bishop helped lead the team to a 6-8 regular season record. And they have no qualms about wearing a David Crockett jersey.
“No, it’s not,” Bishop said. “What I like about this piece is that one school, he's taking two rival schools and uniting them. They're my family and I'm working with them on his two It has grown over the years.”
“I feel like when I'm on the court with these guys, that feeling just goes away,” Collier added. “I mean, they're my teammates, they're my friends, they're my family.”
David Crockett's members felt the same way almost immediately.
“I was really happy,” junior Leighton Street said. “We needed people, and these guys in particular were really good.”
“We all love each other. We're all human beings. That's our job,” explained Bradford Garland, the only senior on the team. “We just get together and have fun.”
Knuds, a former assistant with the team, took over as head coach in the first season. He believes this group is a perfect example of how sports can transcend even bitter rivalries.
“I mean, they’re volleyball players and they want to win,” he said. “So when we step on the court, our goals are the same.”
“They may go to rival high schools, but they're not rivals on the court right now.”
Croquet's season concludes Thursday with the Big 8 Conference Championship Tournament at Science Hill High School.