By David Rogers. TAYLORSVILLE, N.C. — Going 4-for-5 with a home run and three singles — and adding a pair of stolen bases — Watauga senior shortstop Maddox Greene’s breakout day for the 2025 season turned out to be not quite enough. In the top of the 10th inning, Alexander Central’s designated hitter Wyatt Smith lofted a long fly ball to centerfield, scoring junior first baseman Maddix Reese for a walk-off sacrifice fly to win, 5-4.
In the top of the 7th inning, Greene’s solo home run tied the game at 4-4 and both teams wriggled out of defensive jams for the next two frames to send the game into extra innings.
Greene got the scoring started in the top of the 3rd inning with a 2-out single, then scored when first baseman JT Cook doubled to center. Then Pioneer right fielder Dillon Zaragoza followed with a double to left, scoring Cook, allowing Watauga to take an early, 2-0 lead. The Cougars rallied for three runs in the bottom of the 3rd to take a one-run advantage, but in the top of the 4th, the Pioneers’ speedy second baseman Evan Burroughs stole third base and scored on a fielding error by the Cougars’ third baseman, freshman Gunnar Johnson, knotting the score at 3-3.
Alexander Central scored again in the bottom half of the 4th to take the lead, 4-3, and that is where things were until Greene’s HR to lead off the 7th inning and tie things up at 4-4. The Cougars threatened in the bottom of the sixth when Johnson tagged up at third base on a fly ball to right by Smith, but Zaragoza rifled the ball home to catcher Brett Vannoy, in time to tag Johnson out at the plate.
Watauga (3-7 overall, 0-2 in Northwestern Conference) returns home on March 25 to face Hibriten (8-2, 2-0, then travels to Morganton to take on Freedom (6-5, 0-2) on March 28.
By Matt Present. CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Despite falling behind by six runs in the bottom of the first inning, App State chipped away at the deficit and ultimately put the go-ahead run on base in the ninth, before falling 7-6 to Charlotte at Hayes Stadium on Tuesday.
Summoned into action in the first inning, the App State (11-9) bullpen was sensational in the ballgame, with five relievers combining to work 7.2 innings, giving up just one run, while striking out 11.
Photo by Jon Pearl, courtesy of App State Athletics
Trailing 7-1 in the sixth inning, the Mountaineers scored the final five runs of the contest. Dillon Moquin led off the sixth with a single up the middle, and Joseph Zamora and Kameron Miller each walked to load the bases. After a sacrifice fly from Braxton Church, Charlie Evans reached on a fielding error to push a run across, and Tanner McCammon singled through the middle to push across another run and cut the deficit to 7-4.
After Carter Boyd ended the home sixth by picking up a strikeout to stand the bases loaded, the App State offense went right back to work. Tyler Lichtenberger and Moquin opened the seventh inning with back-to-back doubles, trimming the deficit to two. Later in the inning, Tyler Figueroa lifted a sac fly to center field to make it a 7-6 game.
Still down by a run in the top of the ninth, App State put runners at the corners with one out, following a walk and a single, but a double play put an end to the App State comeback effort.
Photo by Jon Pearl, courtesy of App State Athletics
Cody Little highlighted the effort from the App State bullpen, collecting a career-high five strikeouts across three innings of work. Jake Beaty fanned three more over 1.2 innings of work, while Boyd tossed two scoreless innings and picked up a pair of strikeouts.
Charlotte (10-9) opened the game with a bunt single followed by a two-run home run two batters later. The 49ers ultimately sent 12 men to the plate in the frame, scoring six runs on six hits, and took advantage of three walks in the frame.
Moquin and Lichtenberger led the offensive effort for the Mountaineers, extending their on base streaks to 16 and 19 games respectively.
The Mountaineers return to conference play this weekend, as the team heads to Statesboro, Ga. for a three-game series against Georgia Southern. All three games will be broadcast on ESPN+
By Jacob Plecker. SAN MARCOS, Texas. — Trailing by four after three outs of play and then falling behind five runs after the second inning, the App State Softball team used a great outing in relief by Sejal Neas to help its comeback effort, but the strong pitching and defense of the Texas State Bobcats sunk the Mountaineers in the series finale, the Bobcats winning, 6-4, on March 16.
App State (9-18, 0-3 SBC) saw a phenomenal outing by Neas over the final six innings of play as the senior kept Texas State (18-6, 3-0 SBC) off the scoreboard for each of the final four innings. Neas gave up zero earned runs in her 5.1 innings of work and helped settle things down for App State after the Bobcats scored four times in the first inning. This included leaving the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth inning with the Mountaineers trailing by two.
Photo by Jon Pearl, courtesy of App State Athletics
The Mountaineers outhit the Bobcats in game 3, seeing a 7-6 advantage. Makayla McClain and Grace Barrett both tallied a multi-hit game and the top four in the Mountaineer order posted six of the seven hits. Leah Gore smacked her team-leading fifth homer of the season out of right field and Summer Simpson helped spark a rally that resulted in a two-run third inning. Simpson gave App State good production out of the nine-hole in San Marcos as she recorded two hits and scored two runs.
It was a close series between the Mountaineers and Bobcats to open Sun Belt play, but the big inning bit the Mountaineers on both Friday and Sunday. App State surrendered a four-run first frame in both the series opener and the series finale. Take those innings away, and the two teams were separated by just three runs. In both games that App State allowed a four-run first, Texas State led wire-to-wire.
How it Happened
The Mountaineers went quietly in the top of the first inning as Texas State sat down the first three hitters it faced. The Bobcats saw walks to three of their first four hitters to quickly load the bases with one out in the bottom of the first. Sophie Moshos, the Mountaineers starting pitcher, recorded the second out of the inning, but back-to-back singles helped plate four first-innings runs. Neas came on to relieve Moshos and ended the inning, but the Bobcats led 4-0 after one.
Instantly responding, App State trimmed its deficit down to three runs with nobody out in the second as Gore shot a homer the opposite way for her fifth long ball of the year. Texas State didn’t let the Mountaineers get any closer in the second and maintained its three-run lead.
Photo by Jon Pearl, courtesy of App State Athletics
Texas State responded by scoring twice more in the bottom of the second inning to shoot its lead back to five. The frame started with a single by the lead-off hitter and then a crucial error on a sacrifice bunt attempt put two runners on for the Bobcats’ third hitter in their lineup. This resulted in a sac fly to make the score 5-1. After a walk to Aiyana Coleman, Neas struck out the next hitter for the second out, but a steal of second and throw through the pitcher plated the Bobcats’ sixth run. That was the last time Texas State scored in the game.
As part of this back-and-forth game, the Mountaineers bounced back and scored twice in the third inning to chip away at their deficit. Texas State retired the first hitter of the inning and then four straight hits by Simpson, McClain, Macy Hamby and Barrett plated two runs to make the score 6-3. Texas State made a pitching change after Barrett’s RBI hit and turned to Sun Belt Preseason Pitcher of the Year, Madison Azua, who retired the side and left two stranded.
Neas left a two-out double stranded in the third inning to post a scoreless frame and then posted her second consecutive scoreless frame in the fourth by striking out a batter. App State used the momentum from Neas’ work and scored again in the fifth inning to make it a two-run game.
McClain’s second hit of the day started the inning before Barrett whacked a single into right-center field to put runners on the corners with one out. The Bobcats retired the next hitters, but the Mountaineers executed a double steal as Barrett took off for second and made it safely which sent McClain home. A popout closed the inning, but it was just a two-run ballgame after five.
A quick inning from both defenses helped move action to the bottom of the sixth inning, which saw Texas State load the bases with two outs. Needing to keep the score where it was, Neas got to a two-strike count and saw a soft line drive snagged at third base by the jumping Olivia Cook, which kept the score at 6-4 into the final inning.
App State turned to Simpson to start the comeback effort, and she nearly opened the inning with a key knock, but a diving play in right field by Bailee Slack recorded the first out. Azua retired the next two hitters in order and sealed her third win of the weekend with a strikeout.
Up Next
The Mountaineers will open their home schedule and the newly constructed Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium next weekend by playing host to the Georgia Southern Eagles. The Mountaineers will celebrate their 25th season of softball in the High Country all weekend long while also celebrating their alumni. The series will open on Friday with first pitch slated for noon. All three contests can be streamed on ESPN+. Admission to all home games is free.
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Post-season honors keep piling up for Kate Sears. Adding to earlier recognition in her remarkable 4-year career playing high school basketball, the Watauga senior point guard was named the Gatorade North Carolina “Player of the Year” this week for women’s basketball.
With 13 “triple-doubles” in 28 games during the 2024-25 season, Sears nearly averaged a triple-double: 27.2 points, 13.1 rebounds and 9.3 assists.
FILE PHOTO. Kate Sears. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
Sears led Watauga in all statistical categories in helping the team to an NCHSAA 4A quarterfinals berth in the state playoffs, where the Pioneers lost to the 4A West bracket champion, Lake Norman, who play the 4A East champion, Wakefield, on March 15 for the state title.
MORE… AND MORE
Also this week, Sears was named to the North Carolina Basketball Coaches Association District 11’s all-district team and the District 11 “Player of the Year.” Watauga head coach Bill Torgerson also was recognized as the District 11 “Coach of the Year.”
In a mid-week press release from the Northwestern Conference, Sears and Torgerson were also named the league’s player- and coach-of-the-year, respectively.
Sears finished her high school career with a remarkable, 2,613 points scored, 978 rebounds, 715 assists, 242 steals, 89 blocked shots vs. only 261 turnovers, according to MaxPreps.com. The ultimate teammate, Sears’ average per game in assists during her senior season puts her No. 2, nationally.
She will take her 4.54 weighted grade point average to play NCAA Division I basketball at Virginia Tech after she graduates later this spring.
By David Rogers. BLOWING ROCK, N.C. — Participants in an expanded meeting of the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Committee on March 13 gained key insights about decisions being made by Watauga County affecting the town, as presented by Commissioner Todd Castle, and heard updates on critical infrastructure and development issues from Town Manager Shane Fox.
Robin Miller, the new CEO of the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce hosted a special meeting of the Economic Development Committee at Town Hall on March 13. Photographic image by David Rogers for Blowing Rock News
Hosted by new Chamber CEO Robin Miller at Town Hall, the meeting kicked off with brief introductions of everyone in attendance. Once completed, Watauga County Commissioner Todd Castle, elected to represent District 5 that includes Blowing Rock, introduced himself and described progress on three significant issues affecting the Town of Blowing Rock.
Ambulance Service: Castle stated the County is actively looking to purchase land for an ambulance base, to be located along the U.S. 321 corridor between Tweetsie Railroad and the Blue Ridge Parkway. He acknowledged that current response times for ambulance service to Blowing Rock is 15-20 minutes and said that an ambulance based at the proposed new site would reduce that to 5-6 minutes, plus better serve areas like Ski Mountain, Blue Ridge Mountain Club, and western communities along U.S. 221. “It is going to happen sooner than later,” he said of the service first requested by Blowing Rock residents in 1974 and repeatedly requested since, to no avail. Given the population size and demographics of the Blowing Rock area, expansion of ambulance service is long overdue.
The special meeting of the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Committee on March 13 was well attended by area business owners and some residents. Photographic image by David Rogers for Blowing Rock News
Communications: The County has adopted the new VIPER communications technology and has erected multiple towers throughout the county, Castle said. He noted that he and other county commissioners and staff are working with Blowing Rock town management to identify one or more locations for a VIPER tower to enhance and modernize emergency services communications, locally.
School Resource Officer: Several years ago, the Town of Blowing Rock began paying for a School Resource Officer (SRO) to be full-time at Blowing Rock School when Watauga County balked at providing such officers. Since then, the County has hired SROs for the seven other elementary and middle schools in the County, as well as at Watauga High School, but left Blowing Rock to pay for its own SRO. Castle stated that going forward the County will pay for the Blowing Rock SRO, relieving the Town of Blowing Rock taxpayers of that financial burden.
Blowing Rock Town Manager Shane Fox. Photographic image by David Rogers for Blowing Rock News
Blowing Rock Town Manager Shane Fox outlined key infrastructure improvements that are important to the town’s economic development, including water, sewer, street paving and, specifically, the renovations about to start in Memorial Park. He also offered reports on various developments, from a new Hampton Inn to be considered in the near future by the Planning Board and Town Council, to recently improved projects including Shoppes at Watership Down, Arbor Village and the Green Park Inn. He also briefly discussed the reasons for the Board of Commissioners’ rejection of the proposed redevelopment of Shoppes on the Parkway.
At the outset of the meeting, Miller stated that it would only last one hour and, true to her word, the meeting was adjourned at exactly 10 a.m. (one hour after the scheduled 9 p.m. start time).
By David Rogers. BLOWING ROCK, N.C. — Plans for the redevelopment of Shoppes on the Parkway were put on hold by Blowing Rock’s Board of Commissioners on March 11, rejecting a conditional zoning application by Shoppes on the Parkway LLC that would change the zoning from General Business (GB) to Conditional Zoning – General Business (CA-GB). Over time, the owners and their developers plan to convert the one-level retail center (formerly the Tanger Outlets) into a mixed use development with restaurants, retail and residential units.
While the owners have a general idea of what they want to achieve with the total property redevelopment, their plan has been to develop the property in phases. The March 11 application was for Phase IA, the addition of 34 dwelling units in a three- to four-story building on the south end of the property, along the Middle Fork New River, and partly adjacent to neighboring Chetola Mountain Resort.
During the public hearing, several audience members spoke against the project and many of those objections mirrored the concerns of the sitting commissioners and Mayor Charlie Sellers.
Summary concerns voiced by audience members, commissioners and the mayor included:
The artist renderings of the dwelling units did not have the “look and feel” of Blowing Rock. While no one articulated what that “look and feel” actually is, a couple of the speakers stated the proposed condominiums looked more like they belonged in Raleigh or Wilmington.
The single building containing all 34 units effectively makes it a hotel, particularly if short-term rentals are allowed.
The lack of a master plan for the entire project leaves too many unanswered questions about what comes after Phase IA.
There were concerns about the adequacy of parking.
Overall, the single building for the condominiums was described as “monolithic” and changes the character of the town, especially as the first thing visitors see when approaching from the north, on U.S. 321.
Among the commissioners, Pete Gherini and Doug Matheson asked the developers to consider incorporating some form of workforce housing.
The ownership team had worked with the town staff in making adjustments after the Planning Board meeting, but apparently did not go far enough for the members of Town Council.
The ownership team explained that the project must be done in phases because of the leases of current tenants, so as to minimize disruptions to ongoing businesses. They also acknowledged seeking a degree of flexibility as they move through the phases after evaluating the market embrace of the first phase.
Helene Resolution Passed
In other business, the Commissioners passed a resolution joining Boone and other High Country communities requesting the U.S. Congress and the North Carolina General Assembly to continue to provide financial, administrative and technical support, and to find other creative solutions to ensure local businesses have the resources they need to sustain and flourish as they continue on the road to recovery from Hurricane Helene. The unanimous vote of the commissioners followed a presentation by David Jackson, CEO of Boone Area Chamber of Commerce and Robin Miller, CEO of the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce.
Staff Reports
Town Manager Shane Fox”
The timing for paving Main Street still yet to be determined (must be coordinated with the Department of Transportation).
The Maple Street project is completed but still needs to be resurfaced as part of the upcoming Main Street project.
The U.S. 221 water line installation project will be completed within the next week.
All projects should be completed within the next two weeks.
FEMA – the Wonderland Trail repair has been completed, including paving, curb and gutter. Waiting on final invoice to submit to FEMA for reimbursement.
Valley View is the biggest and most complex repair project from the storm. Waiting on return of soil samples and ascertaining precisely where the base is prior to getting go-ahead from FEMA, then will go forward with the bidding process.
The bricks have been ordered for the new Sunset Drive crosswalks and should arrive by the end of the month. Greene Construction should begin and complete construction around April 1, but should be a fairly short project.
As a direct result of Hurricane Helene, Blowing Rock Trout Derby has been moved to May 3. A couple of fish hatcheries used by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission to stock rivers and lakes were damaged during the storm. The Commission has given Trout Derby organizers permission to stock local waters with fish from an alternative hatchery.
Planning Board meeting is March 20. New board members will be seated. No other agenda as of now.
Contractor for the Memorial Park project approved in February should start next week. For the project, traffic on Wallingford Street will be changed, utilizing the normal southbound lane for northbound traffic and channeling southbound traffic through the American Legion Building parking facility. The ingress and egress for most of the construction project will occur on the backside of Memorial Park.
By Matt Present. BOONE, N.C. — Despite being held hitless through the first five innings, App State put together a four-run bottom of the eighth, capped by a go-ahead home run from Juan Correa, to lift the Mountaineers to a 5-4 comeback win over Charlotte at Smith Stadium on March 11.
With John Kramer at second base after his two-run double to cut a three-run deficit down to one, Correa waited back on an 0-2 breaking ball and launched his eighth home run of the season over the left-center field fence, to give the Mountaineers a 5-4 lead over his former team.
The App State (8-8) pitching staff was excellent throughout the ballgame. Jack Zang allowed just an unearned run in the first inning in his App State debut and Luke Oblen needed just seven pitches to retire the side in order in the second inning, making his first collegiate appearance. Zach Lewis followed with a 1-2-3 third.
Bradley Wilson was one of two App State pitchers to throw multiple innings in the ballgame, facing the minimum over two scoreless innings – the fifth and sixth.
Joseph Zamora broke up the no-hitter with a one-out double in the bottom of the sixth inning, but the Mountaineers stranded two runners in scoring position.
After falling behind 3-0, with Charlotte (7-7) scoring a run in the top of the seventh inning, App State broke up the shutout in the home half of the frame. Tyler Lichtenberger and Tyler Figueroa led off the inning with back-to-back singles, and later in the frame, Braxton Church plated a run on a sac fly to the warning track in right field – just missing out on a game-tying home run.
Dillon Moquin, who reached base all four out of the leadoff spot, began the ninth inning with a walk. After a 49ers’ pitching change, Zamora and Kramer hit back-to-back doubles, forcing the 49ers back to their bullpen ahead of the Correa go-ahead blast.
After conceding a solo home run to begin the top of the eighth, Liam Best bounced back to work the final two innings in relief, earning his first win as a Mountaineer, capped by a three-pitch strikeout to slam the door shut in the top of the ninth.
App State will begin Sun Belt play with a three-game series against Texas State. First pitch on Friday is set for 6 p.m. with the middle game on Saturday slated for 3 p.m. The series wraps up on Sunday with first pitch set for 1 p.m. in the finale. All three games will be broadcast on ESPN+.
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — How do you spell E-F-F-O-R-T? By whatever spelling, it was clearly on the faces of the Watauga and Liberty Bell middle school track and field athletes on March 10, in an early season meet hosted by Watauga High School.
There were runaway performances as well as “close-as-close-can-get” finishes. Relay races are always exciting and always with the risk of dropping a baton. But this early season competition was more about establishing personal benchmarks to improve upon for the rest of the season. Ultimately, in the Watauga culture, it is about individual growth as much as it is about winning. Not everyone can finish No. 1, but everyone can finish with a personal best.
BONUS PHOTOS below Results tables.
All photographic images by Jared Everett for High Country Sports
GIRLS DIVISION
Visiting Liberty Bell Middle School swept the first six spots in the Girls 800 Meters and did well in the middle distance relays but otherwise it was the Watauga District middle school team’s day.
Photographic image by Jared Everett for High Country Sports
In one of the most thrilling finishes of the afternoon, Watauga’s Kate James Moore nipped unattached Maia Carter, both seventh graders, at the finish line by the narrowest of margins. Moore crossed the line in 5:46.51 while Carter stopped the clock at 5:46.64, producing a near photo-finish.
Perhaps one of the more remarkable stories of the day was fourth grader Lila Carter placing No. 4 in the field of 12 mostly seventh and eight graders. Although well off the winning pace, the younger Carter shows a lot of potential with her 6:34.74 finish ahead of so many older runners.
Watauga was especially strong in the sprints, including fielding seven 4×100 relay teams (28 sprinters) to sweep the event.
Photographic image by Jared Everett for High Country Sports
Ember Honeycutt, a Watauga eighth grader, finished No. 1 in the grueling 400 Meter sprint, almost a full two seconds ahead of Liberty Bell sixth grader Tatum Schnelle.
There must be something “springy” in the sixth grade water at both schools, because the top three spots in the Girls Long Jump were swept by sixth graders, including No.1 Sadie Gilbert of Liberty Bell (11-05), No. 2 Hannah Reule of Watauga (11-03), and No. 3 Schnelle (10-01.25).
A pair of Watauga athletes captured the top two spots in the Girls High Jump: No. 1 Charlotte Rosenbalm and No. 2 Honeycutt, both clearing 4-10.
In outscoring Liberty Bell, 90-28, Watauga excelled in the sprints, hurdles, relays, throws and jumps, while the visitors showed out in the distance races, as a team.
Photographic image by Jared Everett for High Country Sports
BOYS DIVISION
Watauga eighth grade Sean Rea finished more than 30 seconds ahead of his nearest rival in the Boys 1600 Meters race, punctuating a 70-49 team win over visiting Liberty Bell Middles School on March 10, hosted by Watauga High School.
The afternoon started on a good note for the local boys with three 4×800 Watauga relay teams taking the top three spots. The day got even better in the Boys 110 Meter Hurdles, with eighth grader David Ballenger-Peter leading a pack of six Watauga runners sweeping the top six positions.
Photographic image by Jared Everett for High Country Sports
Liberty Bell’s Anaury Edwards finally got the visitors a first No. 1 finish in the 100 Meter Dash, but Watauga still all but dominated the event in taking the next 12 positions in the field of 30 student athletes.
Watauga also dominated the 4×100 relay, sweeping the top six spots and seeing the first three relay teams cross the finish line in under one minute. Sawyer Blackburn immediately followed in capturing the grueling, 400 Meter Dash, almost eight seconds ahead of the next competitor in the field of 14 athletes.
Photographic image by Jared Everett for High Country Sports
A quintet of sixth graders made a splash in the Boys 800 Meter Run, led by Liberty Bell’s Isaac Abram in the No. 1 position with a time of 2:42.23. Eighth grade teammate Bruce Hunter was No. 2 (2:46.20), followed by a pair of Watauga sixth graders, Montgomery Morgan (No. 3, 2:53.46) and Landon Everett (No. 4, 3:02.89).
Liberty Bell’s Anaury Edwards was the only visitor entered in the Boys Long Jump, but certainly showed well as the No. 1, leaping 17-10.50. Watauga eighth graders Stephen Thang (No. 2, 15-01.50) and Nakhi Miller (No. 3, 14-10.50) led a dozen Watauga entries in the event.
Photographic image by Jared Everett for High Country Sports
BOYS DIVISION RESULTS
GIRLS DIVISION RESULTS
BONUS PHOTOS
All photographic images by Jared Everett for High Country Sports
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — What do Maggie Cheves, Kate Sears, Josiah Railey, David Gragg, Bill Torgerson and Bryson Payne have in common?
The first three were named Northwestern Conference “Player (or Swimmer) of the Year” in their respective sports, Swimming, Women’s Basketball, and Men’s Basketball. The final three were named “Coach of the Year” in those same sports, respectively.
The conference released its all-conference nods earlier this week and Watauga High School was well-represented.
FILE PHOTO. Michael Makdad dives into the pool at the start of the Men’s 200 IM, which he won during the Northwestern Conference league championship meet. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
2024/2025 NORTHWESTERN ЗA/4A ALL CONFERENCE – SWIMMING
Women’s Champion: Watauga
Women’s Swimmer of the Year: Maggie Cheves – Watauga
Women’s Coach of the Year: David Gragg – Watauga
Men’s Champion: South Caldwell
Men’s Swimmer of the Year: Owen Griffith – South Caldwell
Men’s Coach of the Coach: Maura Schaffer Greer – South Caldwell
All-Conference Women
Lola Herring – Watauga
MK Riddle – Watauga
Athena Elliott – Watauga
Tessa Buchanan – Watauga
Hannah Wasson – South Caldwell
Kyra Westerfield – South Caldwell
Peyton Felts – South Caldwell
Chloe Bolick – South Caldwell
Maggie Cheves – Watauga
Ama Higgs – Hibritren
Addie Wilson – Watauga
Chessy Martin – Watauga
Addy Connor – Hibriten
Kaylee Moore – South Caldwell
Acacia Felmlee – Hibriten
Reese Sturgill – Alexander
Chloe Penley – Hibriten
All-Conference Men
Owen Griffin – South Caldwell
Mason Hubbard – South Caldwell
Max Clark – South Caldwell
Nathan Hall – South Caldwell
Sean Causby – Freedom
Braden Cullen – Freedom
Nicholas Chiota – Freedom
Nate Carswell – Freedom
Nathan Mull – Hibriten
Stacy Eggers – Watauga
Michael Makdad – Watauga
Gilbert Lanson – Watauga
Silas Powell – Watauga
Harris Inman – South Caldwell
JP Andrews – Hibriten
Titus Felmlee – Hibriten
Justin Schlageter – Hibriten
Ethan Hass – South Caldwell
Brendan Rothwell – South Caldwell
Women’s Team Scores
Watauga 385 points
South Caldwell 245
Hibriten 238
Alexander Central 139
Freedom 78
Ashe County 28
Men’s Team Scores
South Caldwell 272 points
Watauga 248
Hibriten 217
Freedom 198
Alexander Central 164.5
Ashe County 3.5
2024/2025 NORTHWESTERN ЗA/4A ALL CONFERENCE – WRESTLING
Regular Season Champion: South Caldwell
Lower Weight Wrestler of the Year: Bridger Fairchild (Ashe County)
Upper Weight Wrestler of the Year: Luke Osborne (Ashe County)
Tournament Champion: South Caldwell
Tournament Most Outstanding Wrestler: Kaleb Flores-Martin (South Caldwell)
All-Conference Selections
Ryland Walker (South Caldwell)
Xander Vue (Freedom)
Brayden Reid (Hibriten)
Landen Wilson (Ashe County)
Marshall Brown (Ashe County)
Logan Rudisill (South Caldwell)
Bridger Fairchild (Ashe County)
Mason Yount (South Caldwell)
Kaleb Pearson (Freedom)
Iziah Ayers (Alexander Central)
Kaleb Flores-Martin (South Caldwell)
Gabe Smith (Ashe County)
Mason Hollar (South Caldwell)
Connor Walley (Alexander Central)
Luke Osborne (Ashe County)
Camden Brock (Watauga)
Coy Greer (Watauga)
Coan Suttles (South Caldwell)
Noah Koenig (Hibriten)
Alex Engle (South Caldwell)
Mikey Portante (Watauga)
Mario Quivera (South Caldwell)
Aidan Plemons (Watauga)
Alan Vicente Perez (Freedom)
Ashton Woodruff (Hibriten)
Ben Bare (Ashe County)
Cade Hartis (Alexander Central)
Trenton Stevens (Hibriten)
Liam Perry (Watauga)
Carson Smith (Watauga)
Landon Baker (Hibriten)
Avin Crawford (Hibriten)
FILE PHOTO. Watauga senior guard Julie Matheson (1) looks to drive baseline at Lake Norman on March 7. Photographic image by Jared Everett for High Country Sports
2024/2025 NORTHWESTERN ЗA/4A ALL CONFERENCE – WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
2024-25 Women’s Basketball All Conference Champions: Watauga
Player of the Year: Kate Sears – Watauga
Coach of the Year: Bill Torgerson – Watauga
All Conference Selections
Kate Sears – Watauga
Julie Matheson – Watauga
Kaitlyn Darner – Watauga
Blair Haines – Watauga
Jeff Parham – South Caldwell
Ava Anderson – South Caldwell
Kristin Barber – South Caldwell
Peyton Caldwell – Freedom
Haven Gladden – Freedom
Meredith Wile – Alexander
Aamori Patterson – Hibriten
Abby Sheets – Ashe Co
Honorable Mention
Chloe Wilson – Watauga
Izzy Torgerson – Watauga
Maggie Wilks – South Caldwell
Holland Weisner -S Caldwell
Kaitlyn Hagmann – Freedom
Malayah Adams – Alexander
Addison Jack – Alexander
Karlee Starnes – Hibriten
Zoe Rector – Hibriten
Ally Greer – Ashe Co
Abby Eller – Ashe Co
FILE PHOTO. Jace Blocker finishes off a monster dunk during the Feb. 14, 2025, men’s basketball game between Watauga and Ashe County. Photo by Jared Everett for High Country Sports
2024/2025 NORTHWESTERN ЗA/4A ALL CONFERENCE – MEN’S BASKETBALL
2025 Men’s Basketball All Conference Champions: Watauga and South Caldwell
Player of the Year: Josiah Railey – Watauga
Player of the Year: Jay’on Connor – Alexander
Coach of the Year: Bryson Payne – Watauga
All Conference Selections
Cade Keller – Watauga
Jace Blocker – Watauga
Maddox Greene – Watauga
Josiah Railey – Watauga
Tyler Cline – S Caldwell
Connor Setzer – S Caldwell
Caleb Greene – S Caldwell
Amore Connelly – Freedom
King Johnson – Freedom
Jay’on Connor – Alexander
Bryce Peters – Ashe Co
Rob Beasley – Hibriten
Honorable Mention
Jackson Love – Watauga
Lawson Wilkes – S Caldwell
Carter Anderson -S Caldwell
Kobe Johnson – Freedom
Braxton King – Freedom
Jaheim Redmond – Alexander
Cole Treva – Ashe Co
Christian Reynolds – Hibriten
Julius Martin – Hibriten
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Sportswriters usually wait until someone has been tested in college before describing an athlete as a “generational talent.” Perhaps it is premature, but Watauga High School women’s basketball senior Kate Sears could well be the deserving exception.
Even if the defender is a bigger athlete, Kate Sears finds a way to get by and to the basket. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
CONSIDER:
It was the ultimate compliment on March 7, 2025, in what became Sears’ final high school game, when Lake Norman double- and triple-teamed her from start to finish in the NCHSAA 4A West semifinals. Holding the Watauga point guard to “just” 18 points (well below her season average of nearly 28 points per game) allowed the No. 2-seeded Wildcats to move on to the 4A West bracket final against No. 1 McDowell and potentially winning a state championship.
Sears is the only player in 2025 to be voted All State by the North Carolina Basketball Coaches Association for three consecutive years (2025 balloting has not yet been completed or announced). She was voted 1st Team All State in 2024, her junior season. She was voted 2nd Team All State in 2022 and 2023, her freshman and sophomore seasons.
Sears was voted District 11’s “Player of the Year” in her freshman, sophomore and junior seasons. Will her senior season follow?
She was named 3A/4A Northwestern Conference “Player of the Year” AND the conference tournament’s “MVP” for each of those first three seasons.
Sears’ growth and impact is reflected in Watauga’s team accomplishments:
Four consecutive Northwestern Conference regular season championships
Four consecutive Northwestern Conference tournament championships
Finishes in the NCHSAA 4A Women’s Basketball Championship playoffs:
Freshman year – Sweet 16
Sophomore year – Elite 8
Junior year – Final Four
Senior year – Elite 8
Evidence of Sears’ basketball skills surface in the numbers. Without getting into the specifics, it is remarkable that Sears leads Watauga in every statistical category maintained by MaxPreps (scoring, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks, as well field goal percentage and 3-point field goal percentage).
Kate Sears is a disruptive force on defense, too. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
According to MaxPreps, Sears is among the Top 20 players nationally in assists per game (No. 2), double-doubles (No. 19) and free throws made (No. 14).
Also according to MaxPreps, Sears ranks in the Top 25 of eight statistical categories in all of North Carolina, including assists per game (No. 1), double-doubles (No. 2), free throws made (No. 2), charges taken per game (No. 8), points per game (No. 8), rebounds per game (No. 17), field goals made (No. 17), and 3-pointers made (No. 24).
In the NCHSAA 4A West division, which includes 54 competing large schools, Sears’ dominance is even more commanding, including rebounds per game (No. 1), free throws made (No. 1), assists per game (No. 1), charges taken per game (No. 1), double-doubles (No. 1), points per game (No. 2), field goals made (No. 4), and 3-pointers made (No. 6).
In the 6-team Northwestern Conference, the Pioneer senior is No. 1 in points per game, rebounds per game, field goals made, free throws made, assists per game, blocks per game, charges taken per game and double-doubles. She is No. 2 in 3-pointers made and steals per game.
Sometimes Kate Sears attacks the basket vs. fierce opposition. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
MaxPreps doesn’t publish records for players recording triple-doubles, but Sears has recorded 12 triple-doubles in the 2024-2025 season. Notable performances include:
39 points, 17 rebounds, 13 assists vs. East Lincoln (Dec. 14)
22 points, 20 rebounds, 10 assists vs. North Wilkes (Dec. 17)
50 points, 16 rebounds, 11 assists vs. South Caldwell (Jan. 31)
43 points, 21 rebounds, 15 assists vs. Freedom (Feb. 12)
Since watching Sears embarrass older middle school opponents — as a 6th-grader at Blowing Rock School — our interest in what she might do at the next level has grown with each passing season, level after level.
Recently, Sears announced her acceptance of a scholarship offer to play NCAA Division I women’s basketball at Virginia Tech. As Watauga was preparing to go deeper into the playoffs last week, High Country Sports sat down with Sears for a one-on-one conversation about her basketball career and life plans.
Kate Sears is among the most unselfish of players, always looking to get her teammates the ball. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
High Country Sports: What is it that drives your passion and performance in basketball?
Kate Sears: I am super competitive and always have been, so it is natural to gravitate toward sports, especially team sports, working together with a group of people who are like minded and want to achieve similar goals. That helps motivate me to try and reach my full potential. I work really hard because I don’t want to let my teammates down. They work hard and I want to hold up my end of the bargain.
High Country Sports: While your ability to take over a game is impressive, you may be best known and appreciated for your unselfish play, getting your teammates involved.
Kate Sears: I am going to do whatever it takes to win. That might be different every game, depending on the matchups. I am going to do my best, whether that is rebounding or finding an open teammate for them to score, because an opponent may be keying on me. I believe in my teammates. They work hard in practice, taking a lot of shots to be ready to hit them in a game. I trust their work ethic.
Among the best ball-handlers of all high school women’s basketball players. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
High Country Sports: In an earlier interview a few years ago, you credited your older brother, Jake, for being a significant influence on your early development as a basketball player. Can you expand on that?
Kate Sears: Growing up, I was always super competitive and playing outside with my older brother, Jake. Well, I always wanted to beat him. I try to take that same kind of competitiveness out onto the court against other people — almost making it like I am trying to play against my brother and I want to beat him. He has been an important influence, watching him grow up and go on to play for the Watauga men’s team and getting to go to his games. As the younger sister, I have always been excited for my moment to be out there and playing. Jake has always been so supportive and he still comes to my games here at Watauga.
High Country Sports: We also see your mother and father at every game, home and away. What can you tell us about their influence on your basketball career?
Kate Sears: I wouldn’t be in this position if it weren’t for my mother and father. Not only have they been super supportive in taking me off the mountain to play with the travel teams but every day one of them is coming after practice to rebound for me. They have always been supportive of the goals I have and are going to help with whatever it takes to reach those goals.
As a freshman, Kate Sears takes aim on a free throw. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
High Country Sports: You mention travel ball… how is that different than playing for your high school team?
Kate Sears: Travel ball is a whole different world than high school, in good ways and ways that maybe aren’t as good. In travel ball you are coming together with other girls who are really good players and we all have a goal of going on to play NCAA Division I basketball. You don’t practice as much as in high school so you may not develop the same level of chemistry with your teammates. In some respects, it is more pickup basketball. I like high school ball where you are playing with your best friends and you are practicing every day. So you have to make an adjustment to play a different style, but it is something you have to do if you want to play college basketball at a higher level. It is harder to adjust back to travel ball because the speed of the game is usually a lot faster and more physical. It is more similar to how it is going to be in college.
High Country Sports: When you were playing for Blowing Rock School in the sixth grade, then Watauga head coach Laura Barry told us she didn’t want to wait three years to get you on the high school team. You eventually played a couple of years for her then, when she moved on to Davidson College, for your current coach, Bill Torgerson. What can you tell us about the differences?
Kate Sears: Coach Torgerson and Coach Barry are different, but similar, too. Every coach has different philosophies, different things to focus on or not focus on. Torg has been huge in pouring confidence into me. He knows how hard I work and sees the success I have on the court. So he kind of lets me off that leash a little bit. He trusts me and that boosts my confidence even more. You are not always going to agree on everything with a coach but he has always been really good with the two of us talking through things. Maybe he sees something that I don’t see or I see something he doesn’t see. He has allowed me to reach out to him about those things. We have mature conversations about what is best for the team.
High Country Sports: What is it about playing for your high school team that you really treasure?
Kate Sears: I get to play with my best friends. I have played with Julie Matheson and Kaitlyn Darner since second and third grade, so we know each other’s tendencies very well. That helps with our chemistry and played well together. To reach our full potential, a lot of that has to do with the chemistry we have on and off the court.
High Country Sports: Fellow senior Chloe Wilson has sort of blossomed in real time this year after not having played organized basketball, previously. What have you seen in her development and contributions?
Kate Sears: Chloe is a huge piece of our success this year, just in her development as a player and teammate. When summer and fall workouts started, it was a lot for her because she had never played organized basketball and there was a lot to learn all at once. She has been great, really open to Coach Torgerson coaching her and open to her teammates giving her advice. She frequently asks for extra reps after practice and asks for help on certain things. She is getting more comfortable and getting more time on the court. That is huge for us because there are things she can do that no on else on the team can do. For sure, as the biggest and a very athletic player on the court, she takes some of our opponents’ attention away from me as well as from our other shooters.
Blink, and Kate Sears is by you, driving the baseline. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
High Country Sports: Let’s transition to your decision to accept Virginia Tech’s scholarship offer. What went into that decision?
Kate Sears: I love the coaching staff at Virginia Tech. Head coach Megan Duffy recruited me when she was at Marquette, but that was pretty far away from home. I couldn’t see going to Milwaukee. I am not really a city girl. But when she got the job at Virginia Tech and offered me a scholarship there, it was a huge draw because it was not too far from home. Blacksburg is a really cool place and VT’s support for women’s basketball is unmatched. It was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. As I learned about the women who are there and will be there, it became something I wanted to be a part of.
High Country Sports: What was that recruiting process like? I think you had over 40 scholarship offers, many from Division I, “Power Four” schools.
Kate Sears: Toward the end of my recruiting process, I was considering some schools that are a plane ride away and that would have definitely made it harder for my parents, family and friends. They want to come watch as much as they can. So Virginia Tech became a good fit because they can come watch me play but they won’t be in my backyard. So it was important for me to go somewhere my parents liked as much as I do. Towards the end, the schools I was considering were Clemson, Kansas, Michigan, Princeton, Purdue, Wake Forest… but some of those places I fell in love with other than Virginia Tech involved a plane ride. That was hard for me to think about, as well as for my parents and family.
High Country Sports: Have you thought much about your role on Virginia Tech’s team, playing with other talented players?
Kate Sears: Every team I have been on, I have always had a different role. Even the four years here at Watauga, my role has changed a little bit each season. On a travel team, it may not be ‘Hey Kate, let’s go get a bucket right now.’ Instead, it might be, ‘Let’s get so-and-so the ball because they are on a roll right now. You have that in high school, too, but it is on a different level with travel teams. College will be more like that, too. In college, it will be a big thing to get into their system and learn how me, as a point guard, can play with those other good players. They are all really good Division I basketball players. Depending on what my role will be, I will try to own it and do what I am asked to help our team win.
High Country Sports: A few years ago the NCAA had a great marketing tagline, that the vast majority of college student athletes go pro in something other than sports. Have you thought about potentially playing in the WNBA or what you might like to do after your playing days are over?
Kate Sears: I haven’t thought too much beyond college. I have definitely thought about going into coaching after my playing days are over, largely because of all the coaches I have played for and even those who have recruited me over the years. They have been important influences. So that is something I’d like to share with the next generation, to be a positive influence. We’ll see where life takes me. In college, I plan on studying business and am particularly interested in the business side of things in sports. Whether or not it is coaching, I will probably try and stay in the sports industry. What I have learned throughout the recruiting process is how many jobs there are in sports that have little to do with playing.
A sure bet? Kate Sears is going places with purpose — and competitive drive.
