Southwestern Athletic Conference football prep preview

HERBERT L. WHITE | THE CHARLOTTE POST

The new Southwestern Athletic Conference kicks off in 2025 with Palisades the only team to advance to the 2024 postseason with an 8-4 record in the 4A ranks.

The new-look Southwestern Athletic Conference promises to be one of the more balanced high school football races in Charlotte.

The conference is composed of Palisades, Ardrey Kell, Providence, Rocky River, East Mecklenburg and Ballantyne Ridge. Each team has their own goals, starting with winning the first SWAC championship. 

Palisades (8-4 in 2024)

The Pumas are entering their fifth season as a program after opening in 2022. After winning five games in their first two seasons, 2024 was a big step in the right direction for coach Jonathan Simmons and his team. 
Simmons acknowledged that to be considered a winner, you must consistently win. Last year was a building block, but this season is where they can prove themselves as a true winner.

“[We want] to prove that last season wasn’t just luck,” Simmons said. “You’ve got to do it over and over again to really be considered a winner. Just doing it once doesn’t make you a winner. It means you won but it doesn’t make you a winner, so we are trying to be winners at this time.”

Ardrey Kell (5-5 in 2024)

The Knights, led by coach Greg Jachym, are focused on fixing the little things. A season ago, Ardrey Kell missed the playoffs, and Jachym said they don’t plan on doing that again. If the Knights fix the small things, Jachym believes they can be on the winning side of one-possession games.

To his point, in 2024 the Knights lost key games in October to Myers Park (27-24) and Olympic (14-13) that likely cost them a playoff berth. 

“Last year, we were a missed field goal and a missed extra point away from probably winning the conference and making the playoffs,” Jachym said. “We ended up 5-5 and didn't get into the playoffs. So, we talked about how things that seem like they're little things turn into big things. We’ve really focused on concentrating on those little things, and doing little things right because when it comes down to it, one play can cost you your season.”

Providence (5-5 in 2024)

Coach Wes Ward and the Providence Panthers played a tough 2024 schedule against perennial powers like Charlotte Catholic, Butler and Independence. The 2025 schedule doesn’t get any easier with Myers Park, 2024 3A state champion West Charlotte, Butler and East Lincoln. 

The number of players on the roster is down from years past, which could pose a depth issue. On the other hand, it could strengthen camaraderie.

“[Having a smaller roster] can help a little bit,” Ward said. “It varies from class to class. I've coached classes that are totally separate and don’t hang out very much, and then I’ve coached two different classes as a senior and junior class, they’re always together. I think this one is kind of one of those deals. It’s something you can’t ever tell, like, ‘Oh, this is senior, this is junior,’ and whatnot. A lot of them mix and mingle and all kind of hang out together.”

Rocky River (3-7 in 2024)

The Ravens are 11 years removed from their last playoff berth and winning season. It’s something coach Kenneth McClamrock is looking to change by first establishing a new culture.

“[We are creating] a culture where we care about each other,” he said. “We had a staff meeting today… and before I bring any coach onto our staff, one of the things I tell them is you have to be invested in our young people's lives. Our young people need us more now than they ever have at any point in the history of high school football. And we’ve got some kids here that come from really tough situations, and so they need positive adults. They need positive men in their lives more than some other schools where I've been.”

McClamrock believes the Ravens are doing the right things to get back to the program of a decade ago where they were making the playoffs regularly and deep runs when they got there. 

“I think we're really close,” he said. “To be honest with you, we don’t put numbers on anything, a quantity, as far as wins go or anything like that. We have our goals that we talk about, and we’ll refresh those goals tomorrow. But I think that we’re really close to being the Rocky River of 10 plus years ago when [Baltimore Ravens cornerback] Jaire Alexander was here. 

“I’ve said this before… I didn’t come here to lose. I didn’t come here to be 3-7. I didn’t come here to be 4-6 or 5-5. My expectation is for these guys to be the players in the football program that everyone across the city talks about.”

East Mecklenburg (1-9 in 2024)

East Mecklenburg found themselves in a similar spot to the last several seasons – handful of losses and a win over Garinger. Coach Lennie Sanders said this year’s group has a different feel. 

“I made an adjustment this year,” he said. “Normally it's always smash, smash, smash. I'm a very old school-spirited coach, but this year was like, ‘I need to let them run their team.’ I don't need to be one starting practice every day. I don’t need to be one blowing the whistle every day.”

Sanders is letting the seniors lead. Whenever an underclassman is late or not doing something right, team leaders handle the issue. The players are embracing responsibility, and Sanders said it is refreshing to watch the maturation process. 

Ballantyne Ridge (0-11 in 2024)

Mecklenburg County’s newest school had its fair share of growing pains in 2024. The Wolves scored just 37 points and were shut out six times, but coach Tyson Fernandez said he’s encouraged by the number of players who’ve returned and the way they are buying in. 

“It's something that not many coaches have that opportunity to do,” Fernandez said about starting from the ground up. “So, you're creating a culture. You're creating a standard where you’re hoping that this will carry on for 10, 15, 20 years down the line. Traditions that Providence and Ardrey Kell, some of these teams in our conference that have had the opportunity to go ahead and build, we’re building them now. 

“It's one of those things that’s really exciting, and kind of like how we talked about it with these coaches. Man, it’s a lot of firsts. A lot of these firsts that I’m able to see, I’m able to mold, I'm able to create with these young men. It’s a lot of fun.”

Fernandez said one of the biggest changes were the players’ bodies. They are not small anymore and they are beginning to add muscle.

“They're starting to look like football players,” he said. “For some of these guys, man, if you were to see the picture of our team last year against Fort Mill, you’re probably scratching your head a little bit. I’m like, ‘man, that's a varsity football player?’ But these guys have been working. They’ve worked tremendously hard over the spring, throughout the summer, getting in the weight room and just starting to slowly transform their body.”

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