Allendale Senior Tre'Quan Jenkins Heads to Border Bowl Today

Tre'Quan Jenkins will represent Allendale County on a regional stage when he takes the field for the South Carolina team in the annual Border Bowl today at 1 PM at Harlem High School. Jenkins, a senior and one of the top high school athletes in the state, earned a spot on the roster after a season that caught the attention of coaches and selectors. The appearance is a high-profile recognition for an athlete from a small, rural district and brings local pride to family, classmates, and neighbors.

The Border Bowl is a showcase event that gives participating athletes exposure to college coaches and wider audiences. For Jenkins, the game is both a personal milestone and a potential stepping stone toward scholarship and postsecondary opportunity. For Allendale County, his selection highlights the county's ability to develop talent despite limited resources that often face rural schools.

Beyond celebration, Jenkins' participation raises public health and safety questions that affect student athletes across the county. Contact sports carry risks including concussions, musculoskeletal injuries, and in rare cases, sudden cardiac events. Ensuring player safety requires robust sideline medical coverage, access to athletic trainers, pre-participation health screenings, concussion baseline testing, emergency action plans, and pathways to timely follow-up care. Rural schools frequently contend with shortages of athletic trainers and specialists, transportation barriers to care, and limited mental health resources for young athletes coping with the pressures of competition.

Community leaders and school officials can use this moment to prioritize policies that protect athletes and expand equitable access. Potential steps include securing funding for certified athletic trainers at schools, partnering with regional hospitals or colleges to provide sports medicine clinics, integrating telehealth for specialist follow-up, and ensuring that every athlete receives comprehensive pre-season physicals and concussion education. These measures support not only elite performers like Jenkins but also the broader student population that participates in school sports for fitness, social connection, and personal development.

The Border Bowl appearance will bring fans and attention to Allendale County and offer a chance for the community to rally behind one of its own. Jenkins' achievement is cause for celebration and reflection: celebrating his hard work while advocating for the systems and investments that keep all young athletes safe and supported. The county congratulates Tre'Quan Jenkins and wishes him the best of luck in today's game.