Bryson City – Tuesday the Devils downed Andrews for their 20th win of the season. As far as Swain history goes, we only know of 7 teams that have gone over the 20 win mark in school history. The record is 27 wins by the 58-59 squad that finished 27-3 on the season. Swain’s next highest win total was 24 games back in 1991-92, when they finished 24-3. The current edition of the Maroon Devils is definitely chasing history.
Perhaps a bigger indication of the type of year the Maroon Devils are having is their record compared to the rest of the state. Currently the Devil’s 20 wins, sits just one game behind Kestrel Heights who leads the state 1A teams with 21 wins. Lincoln Charter is the only other 1A team with 20 wins. Voyager Academy, Oxford Prep and River Mill Academy are all poised to join the 20 win club sitting on 19 wins.
None of those schools are traditional public schools. The next closest public school is Alleghany who has 18 wins and Avery County with 17. So, at this point in the season the Maroon Devils lead the state in wins by a public school.
Traditionalists are beginning to hit hard on the argument that charter/parochial/academy schools have a larger area to draw student/athletes from that the traditional 1A schools. Case in point, using basketball as an example, Kestrel Heights is located in Durham, giving the Hawks the Durham and surrounding county area to draw students from. Durham’s population estimate is 245,475, for just the city of Durham, this does not even include the county of Wake.
By contrast Swain County has, well Swain County to draw from. Swain County’s population estimate is 14,058. Even by my poor math skills 245,475 is greater than 14,058.
The other argument traditionalists use is that charter/parochial/academy schools recruit. Technically this is not true. However, they do have to recruit students, and in many cases the teachers or staff have to recruit. So the basic argument is that if you have a wrestling coach who is helping with recruiting, what kind of student do you think they will recruit?
Regardless of classification or school type reaching 20 wins in a basketball season is an extraordinary feat. It certainly is for Swain, where it has only been done 7 other times (in known school history).
With at least two regular season dates left and for most conferences a tournament to be played there will be others to join the 20 win club. But for the Maroon Devils it is just another accomplishment in a season full of extraordinary accomplishments.