TURNER’S RETURN TO THE SIDELINES A WELCOMED SIGHT

Following Wilkes Central’s win against North Iredell on Friday night, Head Football Coach Ron Turner was greeted at midfield by his wife, Elisabeth, and his two sons, Jackson and Brooks. It’s a sight the Eagles’ sideline general has become accustomed to throughout his tenure at Central but one he missed last season. Turner’s life changed when he was diagnosed in summer of 2016 with synovial sarcoma cancer and had his right leg amputated. In his fourth season with the Eagles, Turner now has a prosthetic leg and is still adjusting to it but returning to the sidelines has brought a sense of normalcy back into his life. “It felt like I was away a long time but it’s great to be back out here. I’m just extremely blessed to be out here, doing what I love and after a win, be able to watch my two little boys run around (the field),” said Turner. Turner’s sons, Jackson, 5, and Brooks, 2, and his wife were a source of inspiration during his recovery process. Friday’s season opener marked the first time Turner was on the sidelines coaching since the second round of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association 2AA state playoffs at East Lincoln in November 2015. Turner knew there would be challenges in getting back to doing what he loves, but felt the positives outweigh the negatives in the end. “It was all a challenge but the good Lord was with me, I know I have a loving wife who was just unbelievable through the whole thing and I’ve got two little boys, so whatever challenges I had to face, it was not an option of feeling sorry for yourself or anything like that,” said Turner. “I know the good Lord has always got a plan and I don’t know exactly why this was the plan but I know if it helps me relate to a kid one day about facing obstacles, then I’m okay with that — it’s not about what happens to you, it’s about how you react to it. “I know if I can help teach that to some kids, then even though it’s been difficult, in a way, it’ll be worth it; as long I can watch those two little boys grow up, it’s worth it.” Turner coached in several of the Eagles’ seven-on-seven scrimmages last summer before he was diagnosed and was on the sidelines for support at a handful of games early last season. As he was going through chemotherapy treatments following the amputation, the side effects forced him to watch the last portion of the season from his car. One of those games was the Eagles’ win against North Wilkes for the Mountain Valley Athletic Conference title. But on Friday night, he looked and felt like his usual self, even chewing into his players on the sideline if he felt they weren’t paying attention to what was occurring on the field. “I get a little fiery, I’m competitive and I love the competing part. As much fun as it is winning, and I hate to lose, it helps the kids learn about life. You’re going to lose sometimes and that’s the great things about sports, there’s so many life lessons,” said Turner. “You’ve got to put team first and in our society it’s just eat up with me, me, me and in football you can’t do that, you’re not going to be very good. “We’ve got great kids, they’re going to practice right, they’re going to act right, represent their families and Wilkes Central great and they’re a thrill to coach.” Now Turner and the Eagles turn their attention to their home opener with Alexander Central this coming Friday. It’ll be the first time since 2008 the neighboring county schools have played each other. Turner also has a personal connection to Alexander Central having served two stints as an assistant coach with the Cougars. The game will also be a good challenge for the defending MVAC champions. “When I got there (in 2014), I told them we wanted to be in place to compete for conference championships every year — that’s our goal,” said Turner. “And I feel like we’re getting to that stage where we’re starting to expect to win and that’s not an arrogant thing, but the kids have put in the work and that’s what we want to do. “We won 10 games two years ago and nine games last year and we just want to compete and now we want to get to that next level.”

TURNER’S RETURN TO THE SIDELINES A WELCOMED SIGHT

Photo Credit: Zach Colburn

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