By Thomas Sellers Jr.
The reality for Munford’s Jermyah Davis is having a father who preceded you in a sport and two younger brothers watching your every move.
Jeremy Davis invested in his son’s interest in wrestling by even starting the Cougar Wrestling Club. Also members of the CWC are Jermyah’s brothers Quenston and Daylen. With Jermyah paving the way for the Davis Boys, Jermyah reached a milestone May 23 that will also inspire his extended family of the Munford Cougar Wrestling team. In the Munford High School Cafeteria, Jermyah signed his national letter of intent to attend The University of the Ozarks in Arkansas.
Davis is the second Cougar from Head Coach David Cline’s program to be heading to Clarksville to join the Eagles. Munford’s State champion Wemawamungu “Mo” Moktani inked his letter of intent the previous week.
“Consistent work, he and Mo both set a goal at the beginning of the year to achieve certain goals we set out,” Cline recalled. “We knew if those goals could be achieved, moving on to the next level was valid. They knew it was going to take a lot of hard work throughout the year to make it happen. And they both made it happen.
“These guys work hard,” he added. “I can’t take away from the effort it takes to succeed in this sport. It’s very challenging. We never stop. With JD being a football player also, he would get to me a little bit later than I wanted him to. But I can definitely see the benefit of him playing football spending a lot of time in the weight room with that time.”
Davis used his bulky frame and strength to compete in the 182-pound weight class. He will take his skills and power to The Ozarks to wrestle for Head Coach LeRoy Gardner III.
Davis’ first coach in the sport was at home.
“We moved to the Munford area about 5 years ago,” Jeremy recalled. “Jermyah started his eighth-grade year wanting to wrestle. Then his two younger brothers got involved with the sports. So that’s when we got started.
“I got involved in my eighth-grade year as well,” he added. “I did some of the same things while in high school at John Overton (Nashville).”
Jeremy not only instilled technical skills into his son but taught him some the philology of wrestling.
“It’s a lifestyle,” he said. “With wrestling, you get into it and it will raise you. It’s a mentality. It’s a physical sport but it will be able to shape your mind. Every ability inside of you will bring it out. I think the kids in my program are starting to see that.”
With the additional task of being a role model, Jermyah has depended on the grace of God to navigate his way.
“He’s done a great job with his younger brother Quenston,” Jeremy said. “Actually both of his younger brothers have gone to State. I think the time they spend with each other and dad on the mat makes a difference. Big brother is a leader by example.”
At State Davis started his 2022 run with a win over Kylar Chadwick from Polk County 12-4. Then Davis dominated Nathan Downey from Green Hill to reach the semifinals in his weight class. Aiden Littles (Pigeon Forge) came out victorious to reach the State championship round before losing to Kendrick Curtis. Davis competed in the third place match before being outlasted by Kobe Smith from Red Bank.
“He got a couple of offers and he felt like he wanted to be with some people he knows and that are in tune with him,” Jeremy said. “They will move him in the right direction and I think the guys he spoke to will definitely do that.”
Jermyah said he will take advantage of this opportunity with his primary goal to maintain good grades in pursuing his Business degree. He plans to use the methods and techniques he learned under Coach Cline in the classroom and real life.
“Coach Cline with him on the mat we get different looks and different angles,” Jermyah said. “We learn different moves and everything.”
Cline is proud of all his wrestlers who put the Munford program on the map and he celebrates the achievements of Mo, Keegan Schulz and now Davis.
“It’s a huge honor to follow in Mo’s and Keegan’s footsteps,” Davis said. “It makes me want to do better and makes the whole team look better.”
By the time Davis wrapped up his tenure at Munford, his number of brothers increased from two to countless amounts.
“It feels amazing knowing that I have some solid friends,” he concluded. “No, really I can call them my brothers. Knowing that they can love me for who I am and can push me to always do better, makes me want to wake up the next morning and do better.”
