Wrestler Polk recognized at school board meeting

Durant High School senior wrestler Addison Polk was recognized during a Monday meeting of the Durant Board of Education.

Polk is a four-time state qualifier in wresting and at the recent awards banquet, she was presented Outstanding Wrestler and Jared Pierce Teammate awards.

DHS wrestling head coach Jim Taylor spoke of Addison’s accomplishments.

“This is Addison Polk, in case you don’t know her,” Taylor said. “Addison was our only state qualifier this year in wrestling. We had a very young bunch this year, kind of a rebuild kind of stuff so Addison was very much our leader in a lot of things. Addison joined a very special group this year. Since 1986, there have been three wrestlers in the history of Durant wrestling that have been fourtime state qualifiers. Addison is one of those three.”

Taylor said that puts Polk into a group that is pretty amazing.

“But the most amazing thing is this young lady, because she was a senior and she had some college time and concurrent enrollment, she would go to the middle school everyday when she could and would help teach techniques to our seventh and eighth grade girls with Coach Smith over there,” Taylor said.

“It just blows your mind to think about a high school senior that understands it’s that important to give back to the program. I’m going to miss her. Her mom asked me awhile ago if I was tired of taking pictures with her. No, I’m not and I could take a whole lot more. She has signed to wrestle at Northern Oklahoma College in Tonkawa, so we look forward to hearing a lot more about her wrestling career.”

Superintendent Duane Merideth praised Polk as well as other students who were recognized at the board meeting.

“To our wonderful students, thank you for all of your hard work, your dedication and the time you put in the things that you all participate in,” Merideth said.