By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Abbi Shuman and Hatherly Armfield dominated Watauga’s No. 3 doubles match, 8-0, on Aug. 23 vs. Maiden, to put the finishing touches on the Pioneers’ fourth consecutive women’s tennis win to open the 2023 season. Watauga swept the Blue Devils, 9-0 on a warm, sunny day in the High Country.

Collectively, the Pioneers had little trouble with Maiden, even bettering the 8-1 win down in Catawba County on Aug. 17.

SINGLES

• No. 1 – Addison Cohen (WAT) def. Maggie Sherrill (MAI), 6-3, 6-1
• No. 2 – Larson Berry (WAT) def. Addison Fuller (MAI), 6-2, 6-4
• No. 3 – Kennedy Moore (WAT) def. Neely Campbell (MAI), 6-4, 6-2
• No. 4 – Fiona Russell (WAT) def. Abbey Floyd (MAI), 6-1, 6-0
• No. 5 – Abbi Shuman (WAT) def. Raelyn Albert (MAI), 6-1, 6-2
• No. 6 – Hatherly Armfield (WAT) def. Cara Albert (MAI), 6-2-60

DOUBLES

• No. 1 – Cohen-Berry (WAT) def. Sherrill-Fuller (MAI), 8-3
• No. 2 – Moore-Russell (WAT) def. Campbell-R. Albert (MAI), 8-3
• No. 3 – Shuman- Armfield (WAT) def. Floyd-C. Albert (MAI), 8-0

Watauga will play one more non-conference match, an Aug. 28 encounter at Hickory, before opening Northwestern Conference play on Aug. 30 when the Pioneers host South Caldwell.

By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — It was a high school volleyball match for the ages on Aug. 22, with fierce rallies, thundering kill shots and spectacular digs. Watauga battled back not once, but twice to overcome visiting Hickory, 3-2 (22-25, 25-20, 25-21, 18-25, 15-10).

BONUS PHOTOS AT BOTTOM OF ARTICLE

The Red Tornadoes whirled into Lentz Eggers Gym hellbent on upsetting the Pioneers, the 7-time defending champion of the 3A/4A Northwestern Conference (NWC) in a non-conference tilt. Hickory, once a part of the NWC and annually victimized by the Pioneers, moved to the Western Foothills 4A Conference in 2021-22 as part of the North Carolina High School Athletics Association’s (NCHSAA) periodic realignment. Whether volleyball, football, basketball, baseball or any other of the high school sports teams fielded by the schools, Hickory and Watauga have history and the regional rivalry continues.

With school having started classes just the day before, it was an electric atmosphere in Lentz Eggers Gym with many parents and friends filling both sides of the gym floor and a large Watauga student section, including many members of other Pioneer athletic teams providing enthusiastic vocal support for the home team.

WHEN YOU GET A GOOD DIG AND A GOOD SET, SWING AWAY.

“In many ways, this is a special volleyball match because so many of these young women play with and against each other on various club and travel teams throughout the year,” explained Watauga assistant coach Casey Gragg. “So it is filled with friendly, regional rivalries. These girls know each other.”

For Watauga, it is hard to pinpoint a single individual performance because there were so many up and down the roster who made a difference.

• Senior libero Evie Robbins certainly stood out with a whopping 34 digs to keep the ball in play after a Hickory kill attempt. Robbins added to her stat line with three assists and a kill.
• Senior outside hitter Brooklyn Stanbery had perhaps the most diversified contribution for the night with 19 kills, 18 digs, 2 stuff blocks, and one service ace.
• Sophomore outside hitter Emma Pastusic recorded 21 kills, 2 assists, and three digs.
• Senior designated setter Olivia Kop didn’t just have seven digs, but her powerful serves frequently had the Red Tornadoes on their heels as the Pioneers reeled off two or more consecutive points with Kop’s turns on the service line.
• Freshman setter Lainey Gragg had 9 digs to go along with 20 assists.
• Senior Madi Combs, like Stanbery, made contributions in a variety of ways with 25 assists, 10 digs, and two service aces.
• Senior middle hitter Sara Marlowe also showed versatility with 7 kills, a service ace, a stuff block and a dig.
• Junior middle hitter Grace Tillery added 5 kills, a stuff block, and a dig.
• Sophomore middle hitter Kora Knight made good use of her time on the court with a team-high four stuff blocks.
•  Senior middle hitter Kate McCullough, with one official stat in the form of a dig, was often a threatening defensive presence on the frontline as well as helped keep the ball in play with adroit passing.

“We had some ups and downs in what was a good competition, but we did pretty well in coming back, especially after our most recent loss to Cox Mill,” said Pastusic after the match. “Our back row was really good tonight. We still have some things to work out in the front row, just keeping it consistent, but overall I think we did good in coming back from the loss.”

With the match tied 2-2, the Pioneers huddled before the decisive fifth set.

“We just (said) we need to pick stuff up, keep the ball on the court. be smart and find some corners where we could (put the ball)… And then, when you get a good dig and a good set, swing away,” Pastusic added.

In recording her 34 digs, Robbins may well have spent more time flying through the air than on her feet.

“Just throwing myself out there,” said a smiling Robbins. “It is good for the team and fun. Having the student section behind us creates more energy, makes it even more fun. We all become more competitive. Our attitude coming into this game, after a loss, we were ready to not lose and stay scrappy, do whatever it took to win. Tonight, whenever we got down we picked each other up and stayed at it every play, every kill, every set.”

Head coach Kim Pryor was obviously pleased with the result, even if cautious in her assessment.

“It is usually a dogfight with Hickory,” said Pryor. “They always come with great talent and great coaching, so we always expect it to be neck-and-neck and hope that we can pull away for a win in three and make it an easy night, but really we have these (tough) early, non-conference games in order to prepare for our conference schedule. So a five-set match where we come out on top is great preparation.

“It was great to have our students back, with school in session,” Pryor added. “We have such a great following. Our fans are amazing, the parents and middle school teams that come and support us. It is really neat to have this kind of atmosphere in the gym.”

Watauga JVs Battle to OT Win, Too

Before the varsity thriller, Hickory pushed the Watauga junior varsity to the proverbial brink, too, with the Pioneers eventually coming out on top, 2-1 (25-23, 8-25, 19-17). Freshman outside hitter Athena Elliott (8 kills, 4 digs), Gracyn Blanton (12 kills, a block and 2 digs), and Lilli Combs (2 kills, 13 assists, and 7 digs) led the Pioneer attack while Bella Wade, with 15 digs provided many of the defensive highlights to keep the ball in play.

Watauga resumes non-conference play on Aug. 28, in another, expected to be grueling matchup at Cuthbertson (Waxhaw).

BONUS PHOTOS

By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — In one respect, it was like watching the Watauga men’s varsity soccer team play itself, only the real Pioneers didn’t quite make it to the field. With sharp ball-handling and putting numbers in the Pioneer half of the field throughout the match, West Forsyth cruised to a 4-0, non-conference win.

“It is hard to explain,” said Pioneer head coach Josh Honeycutt after the match, “but we did not play our brand of Watauga soccer. Most importantly, we didn’t play with passion.”

Now 2-0-1 in non-conference play, West Forsyth played like Watauga normally plays with short, crisp passes, keeping the ball on the ground, with one and two-touch deliveries to teammates as they worked the ball downfield.

West Forsyth head coach Jeffrey Williams was expecting a hard challenge from the Pioneers.

“Watauga is always well coached and plays hard,” said Williams after the match. “We knew we were in for a battle tonight and luckily we came out on the winning side of that. We were able to get numbers in our attack and we counterattacked very quickly. To a degree, we were able to overwhelm them in the final third with our numbers and then we got some quality finishes.”

Honeycutt was very complimentary of what the Titans brought for the contest.

“West Forsyth is a good team,” said Honeycutt. “I am not going to take anything away from them because they are a solid team. They possess the ball well, move it quickly and they have a dangerous attack. If you walked down to my office right now you would see a list of those things on the board, describing them. We got exactly what I told our boys we would be getting. We just weren’t our best tonight, for whatever reason. We didn’t play with a lot of passion. So that was a little bit disappointing.”

Watauga will try to regroup and recover on Aug. 24, at home against Forbush.

BONUS PHOTOS

By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — After jumping out to a 2-0 lead in the first half, Watauga’s junior varsity soccer team lost a defender to a “red card” roughly three minutes before intermission. Forced to play a man down (no substitutions for players sent off after receiving a red card), the Pioneers battled fiercely but were simply outgunned in the second half, the visiting Titans earning a 2-2 draw.

“It was really unfortunate,” said the Pioneers JV head coach Vern Collins afterward. “Noah Van Werkhoven was battling hard to stop a goal, but he came at the West Forsyth player from behind and drew the red card. At halftime, we changed our formation to account for being a man down while trying to strengthen our defense, but West Forsyth did a good job of taking advantage.”

Watauga will try to get back to its winning ways on Thursday, Aug. 24, when the Pioneers host Forbush.

BONUS PHOTOS

By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Even without previous No. 1 player Siena Davidson, who left the team for undisclosed reasons, Watauga women’s tennis continued its winning ways in the young 2023 season with a 9-0 decision over visiting Hickory on the first official day of classes, Aug. 21.

Everyone stepped up a position but the team hardly skipped a beat. Freshman Addison Cohen won at No. 1, with an 8-0 decision over the Red Tornadoes’ senior Mebane White, 8-0.

At No. 2, Pioneer sophomore Larson Berry got by Hickory junior Kate Banks, 8-0, while at No. 3, sophomore Kennedy Moore dispatched junior Kate Bridges, 8-1.

Watauga sophomore Fiona Russell prevailed at No. 4 singles, shutting out Hickory junior Caitlyn McCrary, 8-0.

The No. 5 singles win went to Watauga senior Abbi Shuman, defeating junior Addison Beard, 8-0, and the Pioneers’ junior Hatherly Armfield moved up to the No. 6 singles and defeated the Red Tornadoes’ sophomore, Gracie Nexson, 8-0.

In doubles, the No. 1 tandem of Cohen and Berry bested Hickory’s No. 1 duo, White and Banks, 8-2. At No. 2 doubles, Moore and Russell collaborated to defeat Bridges and McCrary, 8-0. Finally, at No. 3 doubles, Shuman and Armfield dominated Beard and Nexson, 8-1, to complete the Pioneer sweep.

Next, Watauga will host Maiden on Aug. 23.

Editor’s Note: This article has been corrected to accurately reflect the order in which App State’s goals were scored.

By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Deft ball-handling, pesky defense and constant pressure on the opposition goal were the order of the day on Aug. 20, as App State women’s soccer produced a 3-0, home opener win over George Mason at the Ted Mackeroll Soccer Stadium.

BONUS PHOTOS @ BOTTOM OF ARTICLE

An estimated 700 fans packed the stands and grassy knolls above the field, enjoying the warm sunshine as late summer begins its transition into fall.

“We knew George Mason would be a tough, scrappy opponent since they fought us to a 0-0 draw at their place last year,” said Mountaineer head coach Aimee Haywood after the match. “I expected a lot of fight from them and that is what we got. The first 20 minutes of each half they were battling us hard, physically. So to score three goals against them today is big time. It shows a lot of growth in our team this year. We had a lot of ball throughout the game and a lot of opportunities so I am pleased with that. There were some mistakes, of course, that we have to fix but the intensity and possession was good, as was our roster depth. We played a lot of our roster today.”

A junior forward from Durham, N.C., Stephanie Barbosa accounted for the first and second Mountaineer goals, both timely punches that found the back of the net after moments of mayhem in front..  Barbosa’s goals established clear Mountaineer momentum before a penalty kick awarded to Izzi Wood, a senior forward from Hickory, N.C., in the 58th minute. While Barbosa’ second goal was unassisted, Sarah Widderich and Shannon Studer were both credited with an assist on the first goal. It came just 31 seconds into the second half, bringing a roar from the crowd and jumpstarting the Mountaineers’ second half energy.

Of the first goal, which game in the 11th minute of play, Barbosa was particularly excited about it.

“That first one, it really got us pumped up and we just kept carrying the energy,” said Barbosa, the former all-state high school player. “As a team, we have recently been saying we need to play with passion. That’s what we did today.”

Of the play leading up to her penalty kick, Wood said, “I just remember we connected in the back and had a great through-ball. Somehow I ended up with the ball and when I went for the shot, there was a hand ball in the penalty box.”

Wood said she knew exactly where she was going to place the ball on her penalty kick.

“I practice it all the time,” she said.

App State dominated possession and that was reflected in the team’s statistical performance. The Mountaineers worked themselves into position to take 21 shots, compared to just four for the Patriots. George Mason goalkeeper Ginny Fronk played the full 90 minutes, crafting four saves on the afternoon, two of them dramatic, diving stops and a third leaping high to deflect a hard shot over the top of the net.

Next up for App State is a road game at University of Tennessee-Martin on Aug. 24, before returning to play High Point on Aug. 27, at Ted Mackeroll Soccer Stadium, 1 p.m.

BONUS PHOTOS

RELATED LINKS

• Barbosa brace sinks George Mason

By David Rogers. BLOWING ROCK, N.C. — Former App State distance running star Tristin Van Ord lets the proverbial cat out of the bag in this video of preparations for the October running of the Chicago Marathon, flashing her hand and revealing to the world that she and teammate Andrew Colley are engaged to be married.

That is one of the “fun” and endearing things about this video that speaks to the hard work and preparation that Van Ord, Colley and ZAP teammate Annemarie Tuxbury are going through as they train for upcoming Chicago Marathon on Oct. 8.

Six ZAP team members have already qualified to compete in the Feb. 3, 2024, U.S. Olympic Trials in Orlando, Fla., hoping to make the U.S. Olympic Team in the marathon. The six include Tuxbury, Van Ord, and Colley, as well as Tyler Pennel, Josh Izewski, and Whitney Macon. A seventh teammate, Ryan Ford, is more of a 10,000-meter specialist but, according to head coach Pete Rea, will attempt to meet the qualifying standard for the Orlando Trials in a half marathon later this fall. If he meets the standard in the shorter, 13-mile event, the Olympic Trials will be his marathon debut since he has not competed at the 26.2 mile distance, previously.

Watch and listen to the video, enjoying the stories and perspectives of Van Ord, Colley and Tuxbury.

By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Watauga junior Will Bradbury took top honors in the 11th grade division of the “Clash of the Classes” high school and middle school cross country event on Aug. 19, on the Pioneers’ home course.

More than 1,000 runners from 36 high school and middle schools converged on the Don Kennedy cross country trails for the second annual “Clash” event. With an even larger number of spectators jamming the course sidelines in and amongst the colorful array of school tents, the event took on a festival-like atmosphere celebrating the sport of cross country.

Watauga County taxpayers were surely getting their money’s worth in the use of the high school property as the “Clash of the Classes” was just one of several events on the venue, including the Watauga County Sheriff’s William Mast motorcycle ride, a High Country United youth soccer tournament, and one of the featured women’s volleyball matches of the non-conference schedule, Watauga vs. Cox Mill. In a word, every parking space on campus was occupied, and then some.

12th Grade Men’s Division

A big field of 97 young men were drawn to the 12th Grade Men’s ‘Clash,’ the two mile race won by Luke Mussard of Dobyns-Bennett High School (Kingsport, Tenn.), the only harrier to get under the 10-minute mark, finishing in 9:53. West Henderson’s Hudson Rice was some 40 seconds behind in second (10:38).

While Owen Johnson of Science Hill navigated the ups, downs and arounds at No. 3 (10:58). Watauga’s Sam Nixon was the top Pioneer finisher at No. 4 and only a second behind the third place spot in 10:59.

Other selected Watauga finishes in the division: Collin Anderson (No. 26), Davis Crymes (No. 28), and Miles Page (No. 40).

12th Grade Women’s Division

According to meet director and longtime Watauga head coach Randy McDonough, a few of Watauga’s top women senior performers were sidelined with COVID-19 or being quarantined after having been exposed, so the Pioneers were less competitive in the division than they might have been. Even without the full contingent of Pioneers, the 12th Grade Women’s division saw 56 student athletes take to the 2-mile course.

Breanna Budzinski of West Henderson topped the field as the No. 1 runner to cross the finish line, in 12:15. Second place went to Ella Battel of Daniel Boone High School (Gray, Tenn.), in 12:54, with the No. 3 spot earned by Katie Johnson of North Buncombe (Weaverville, N.C.).

The top Watauga finishes was Ellary Smith at No. 26 (15:22). Another Pioneer in the top half of the field was Maggie Souza (No. 28).

11th Grade Men’s Division

Watauga’s Will Bradbury raced to the No. 1 spot in the 11th Grade Men’s Division, navigating his home course in 10:25, well ahead of West Henderson’s Eli Clonch, No. 2 in 10:41. Connor Hodgson of Jefferson County High School (Dandridge, Tenn.) crossed the line at No. 3 (10:43), among the 90 student athletes from 25 schools competing in the race.

As a team, Watauga was the top finisher among the 10 teams qualifying with at least five runners. Other top Pioneers: Jonah Norris (No. 14), Sam Rex (No. 22), Haines Heistand (No. 29).

11th Grade Women’s Division

Maggie Bellamy of David Crockett High School (Jonesborough, Tenn.) was the No. 1 finisher in the 11th Grade Women’s division, in 12:44, just 16 seconds ahead of Sarah Siner of Dobyns-Bennett HS (Kingsport), in 13:00. Ardrey Kell (Charlotte) junior Reese Hohenberger was only a second behind in third (13:01).

Watauga’s top finishers in the 11th Grade “Clash” of 61 competing student athletes included Sadie Buchanan (No. 12), Mia Libre (No. 19), Hadley Carpenter (No. 32) and Kara Schneider (No. 33).

10th Grade Men’s Division

The 10th Grade Men’s division was one of the largest fields, with 105 student athletes competing. Watauga had a strong team showing, led by Calvin Zwetsloot’s No. 4 finish (11:22). No. 1 honors went to Fisher Battel of Daniel Boone HS (10:42), with Michael Ferguson of North Buncombe at No. 2 (11:14) and Connor Shaw of David Crockett HS at No. 3 (11:19).

Other top Watauga finishers included Zeke Walker (No. 9), Cameron Nance (No. 10), Silas Powell (No. 11) and Santino Wood (No. 24).

10th Grade Women’s Division

Lake Norman High School’s Kasey Dingman was the top sophomore to cross the line in the 10th Grad Women’s division, in 11:56. She was followed by No. 2 Sadie Honeycutt (12:51) of Daniel Boone HS and No. 3 Chloe Jackson (13:22) of North Buncombe.

Watauga’s top competitors were Janie Beach-Verhay (No. 9), Sydney Cate Townsend (No. 13) and Bailey Collins (No. 33).

9th Grade Men’s Division

Tennessee was well-represented in the 9th Grade Men’s “Clash” with Adam Kelley of Daniel Boone HS taking the No. 1 spot in 11:14 and Josh Estes of Dobyns-Bennett HS capturing the No. 2 spot, in 11:37. Ardrey Kell’s George “Adam” Dreier was No. 3 (11:38).

Watauga’s top performer in the class was Grady Gates (No. 7). Other Pioneers in the field of 82 runners included Andreas Rlman (No. 12), Brian Newmark (No. 27) and Isaac James (No. 34).

9th Grade Women’s Division

Science Hill High School (Johnson City, Tenn.) freshman Lorraine Hunter crossed the line No. 1 in the 9th Grade Women’s division, in 12:42, She was followed by Daniel Boone HS’s Mahri Layne at No. 2 (12:46) and Science Hill teammate Ava Nutter at No. 3 (13:08). A total of 80 student athletes competed in the freshman “Clash” of young women.

Top Watauga performers included Lainey Johnston (No. 12), Carrie Bradbury (No. 16), Winter Shaw (No. 17) and Maddie Maple (No. 23).

Congratulations and thanks are in order for the Watauga organizers and volunteers for the event, which drew student athletes from A.C. Reynolds, A.L. Brown (Kannapolis), Alexander Central, Ardrey Kell, Avery County, Cannon County (Woodbury, Tenn.), Chase (Forest City), Cloudland (Roan Mountain, Tenn.), Daniel Boone (Gray, Tenn.), David Crockett (Jonesborough, Tenn.), Dobyns Bennett (Kingsport, Tenn.), Elizabethton (Tenn.), Greer Middle College Charter (Taylors, S.C.), Jefferson County (Dandridge, Tenn.), Lake Norman, Lakeshore Middle (Mooresville), McDowell, Mooresville, North Buncombe, North Stokes (Danbury, N.C.), Pisgah (Canton), Providence Academy (Johnson City), Providence Academy Middle School (Johnson City), R-S Central (Rutherfordton), Run 4 Life Iredell, Science Hill (Johnson City), South Caldwell, Surry Home Educators (Dobson, N.C.), T.A. Dugger Junior HS (Elizabethton, Tenn.), University School of Johnson City, Watauga, Watauga Middle Schools, West Cabarrus (Concord), West Henderson (Hendersonville), and West Stokes (King, N.C.) as well as unattached student athletes.

By David Rogers BOONE, N.C. — Against a total of seven middle school cross country teams, Parkway 8th grader Cali Townsend blew away the field of 56 student athletes to capture the middle school girls division of the Watauga-hosted “Clash of the Classes” on Aug. 19.

It could easily have been called a harrier festival at the Don Kennedy Trails venue with 36 schools and more than 1,000 runners competing in 10 classes, each defined by gender and academic level.

While Townsend topped the field with a time of 12:34, Claire Zimmerman, an 8th grade student representing Lakeshore Middle School (Lake Norman), was a distant second for the two-mile course, crossing the finish line just under 13 minutes, in 12:59). Arvella Nave, of T A Dugger Junior High School, was third in 13:25.

With 23 runners in the field of 56, Watauga had the largest contingent and had eight athletes among the 15 medal winners in the middle school girls division.

Boys Middle School Division

Seventh grader Sean Rea was the top Watauga entrant in the middle school boys division, securing a top 10 position in ninth place, with a time of 13:20. Eighth grader Dylan Robinson of Providence Academy took the title in 11:38, followed by two unattached athletes, Obie Greene (12:36) and Lance Dingman (12:46). Watauga 7th grader Jonah Pearson ran 13:23, good enough for ninth place.

Watauga had 10 of the 62 runners competing in the boys middle school division, placing fourth in the middle school boys classification.

By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — After the Watauga junior varsity thumped the Cox Mill JVs, 2-0, on Aug. 19, many in Lentz Eggers Gym thought the varsity matchup would be a mere formality. Not so, as an athletic, powerful hitting Chargers squad upended the Pioneers in straight sets, 29-27, 25-20, 25-20.

In the first set, the teams battled neck and neck for most of it, with Watauga looking to have taken as much as a 4-point lead late in the frame. But the Chargers battled back to trade leads once again, finally getting the upper hand in overtime.

The final two sets found the Pioneers making uncharacteristic handling errors in and around some sensational digs off of rocket-like kill shots by Cox Mill’s sophomore outside hitter, Jordyn Gray. The 6-1 southpaw did most of her damage at the net on kill shots, but also proved troublesome for the Pioneers when serving.

Watauga lost the match in spite of 26 kills from Emma Pastusic and Brooklyn Stanbery combined, 13 each. Libero Evie Robbins led the Pioneers in digs, with 15, while Lainey Gragg and Madi Combs recorded 15 and 11 assists, respectively.

Now 2-1, the Pioneers host former Northwestern Conference rival Hickory on Aug. 22, 6 p.m., before consecutive road games against Draugh (Aug. 24), Cuthbertson (Aug. 28) and Foard (Aug. 31).