Wise Football: Unbreakable in the Face of Adversity

For ten years, Lead ‘Em Up has worked to develop leaders and build cohesive teams. As we celebrate this milestone, we’re looking back at some of the championship teams that exemplify the power of culture and leadership. Our series finale celebrates the Wise Football team, whose 2023 championship season was a testament to their resilience and ability to overcome extraordinary adversity.

From Setback to Comeback

The Wise football team’s championship journey began with a loss. But it was the challenges that followed that truly defined their season. After their first game defeat, the team was hit with the loss of three starters due to residency issues, including a QB who went on to West Virginia University, a WR who went to Bowie State, and a key LB. Despite these crushing early blows, the team’s culture shone through.

“The team culture was outstanding and got us through some tough times,” their coach said. “They learned to lean on each other. To constantly be positive and to keep getting better and better.”

The Language of Leadership

In the face of adversity, the team found strength in a common language of leadership. Lead ‘Em Up provided a framework that taught players how to support each other constructively. They learned how to push one another, not just as friends, but as teammates committed to a shared goal.

This was a lesson in adversity management, as the team faced a game where they were down by six and had to return days later to finish the final 8 minutes of the third quarter. But the team’s culture was unwavering. “The problem solved was never panic, and our leaders and coaches have our back,” their coach explained. “Keep grinding and fighting together, and good things will happen, and they did.”

Trusting the Process

A defining moment of their season came in the state championship game. Down 14-0 in the third quarter against a superior team, many would have panicked, but not the Wise team. They had a leader who embodied the team’s mindset, junior RB/LB DeCarlos Young, now at Temple University.

DeCarlos reminded his teammates to “trust the process and believe in me.” His words were followed by action when he returned the ensuing kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown. In overtime, with the game on the line, he delivered a game-saving hit to stop a flat pass, leading to a game-winning field goal. This kind of leadership, born out of adversity and faith in the process, was the true key to their victory.

Wise Football’s 2023 season was a powerful display of what can be accomplished when a team chooses unity over distraction and perseverance over panic. Their story is a perfect end to our series, proving that the strongest teams are not those who avoid adversity, but those who are prepared to overcome it.