KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The golf team at First Baptist Academy in Powell has had a nearly perfect regular season.
The close-knit team of nine only lost by a few strokes in a regional tournament against its rival school, CAK. However, the Eagle's second-place finish still earned them a spot to compete for the state championship.
FBA has only competed as a team in the state tournament one other time, in 2022.
Freshman Luke McGhee expressed his excitement about playing in the tournament.
"It's a good accomplishment," McGhee said. "We've been here before, and we know what we need to do. We just gotta go get it done."
Getting to this point hasn't always been easy for the Eagles, instead, it's been emotional. With about two weeks left in the regular season, FBA's coach and mentor, Jeremy Cox, suffered an aneurysm near his heart.
Freshman Max Green said the news about Jeremy was a tough one to hear.
"It really hurt me. We were all really sad about it," Green said. "But we told each other that God has a plan, and his plan is perfect."
Jeremy co-coaches with his parents, Karen and Johnny Cox, who have run the FBA middle school and golf programs for seven years. Due to Jeremy's health scare, his parents put their lives on hold to take care of him.
Karen Cox said that it was difficult for the team to handle on and off the course. "It was heartbreaking. Not just on our side but on the kid's side as well, because they love Jeremy," she said.
The Eagles were without all three of their coaches for the regional tournament and explaining that to them was heavy.
"Trying to explain that to the boys and say, 'Look guys, you've loved having Jeremy out here, but he is no longer able to help you all,'" Karen Cox said.
Despite not having that in-person coaching connection, Facetime has been a great resource leading up to the state championship. The boys have been practicing on their own every day during their two-week fall break.
Freshman Brady Morris says it's been an adjustment.
"They tell us what to do, so we do our best to think of what they would tell us and keep our attitude in control," Morris said. "We're doing our best for [Jeremy]."
On Sept. 28, Jeremy underwent surgery, and doctors say he is set to make a full recovery. Now, the team can walk onto the tee at the first hole for states with clear minds knowing that their leader will be alright.
"Once we heard the news that he was getting surgery and would make a full recovery, I went downstairs and started yelling and jumping, just happiness," Green said.
As for the State Championship, the team has brand new motivation and will look to bring home the title as a team for the first time in school history.
The Eagles will compete on Thursday, Oct. 12, and Friday, Oct. 13 at the Sevierville golf course.