By Layne McNary. BOONE, N.C. — The App State Field Hockey team (2-3) fell to the Wake Forest Demon Deacons (1-3) 4-1 on Sept. 13.

Despite the loss, it was still a day of firsts, as senior defender Sarah Perkins scored her first goal of the season and goalkeeper Claire Grenis finished Friday’s game with eight saves, a career-high for the senior.

How it Happened

1st: The first period started off tight, with both teams maintaining possession. Wake Forest pressed the attack, getting five shots and two corners in the period to App State’s zero. Wake Forest defender Mia Montag got the Demon Deacons on the board first, ending the period 1-0.

2nd: It was more of the same for the Mountaineers, as the offensive struggles continued in the second period. The Mountaineers held firm defensively, only allowing one shot on goal and a penalty corner in the period. Wake Forest midfielder Flo Tuthill scored at the end of the period, giving the Demon Deacons a 2-0 lead going into the half.

3rd: The Mountaineers’ defense continued to limit chances for Wake Forest, allowing only three shots in the period. The Mountaineers still struggled on the offensive end, finishing the period without a shot on goal. Wake Forest forward Lauren Storey extended the lead to 3-0 with a penalty stroke early in the period.

4th: The Mountaineer offense began to pick it up in the final period, earning three penalty corners and three shots. Wake Forest also came out hot, extending the lead to four with Storey’s second goal. The Mountaineers never quit, with defender Sarah Perkins scoring her first goal of the season from a Lise Boekaar pass. The Mountaineers fell to a score of 4-1.

By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — At least in football, Clemson is regarded as one of those national powers, a “Power 4” team that always seem to be in the conversation for winning a national championship. At least some of that panache carries over to the Tigers’ other sports teams where all the NCAA Division I schools are considered more equal. So, when a volleyball team carrying the Clemson brand comes to town, it raises the level of excitement.

BONUS PHOTOS AT BOTTOM (Click on any image for Slide Show Mode)

That certainly was the case on Sept. 12, for the estimated 600 fans on hand for App State’s first match of the weekend Black & Gold Invitational tournament hosted at the Holmes Convocation Center. In what can only be described as one of the most exciting athletic contests of the year in any sport, App State battled toe-to-toe with Clemson, the 3-0 loss to the Tigers a bit deceiving.

“Any time you are in two sets where the difference is two points, it could have gone either way,” said said a smiling Sarah Rumely Noble, disappointed in the loss but understanding what her squad had accomplished. “We could have capitalized on a couple of more moments in those sets but I am really proud of our offensive performance because we killed a lot of balls. We showed that we can kill balls against anybody. That has been a big focus for us as we have gone through the (early) season. I am excited at how we can progress through the season.”

We can kill balls against anybody.

Speaking to some of the statistical differences, Rumely Noble pointed out, “We had an identical number of service errors, nine. Clemson capitalized on a few more service aces (8-2). You know, it is hard when you are playing a strong team like that, you have to apply service pressure. We’re going to be OK with missing a couple but from a crowd standpoint (it is frustrating to see them).”

One of the more crowd-pleasing aspects of App State’s emerging style of play was the high number of quick-set kill shots and, ultimately, that speaks to the athleticism and skill of a setter and the frontline players’ skill and chemistry, being in sync.

“Our middles have been playing extremely well, so we are getting the ball to them really quickly. They have been really hard to defend. Maya (Winterhoff), our middle, had 11 kills tonight which is just incredible. That has carried us a ton. That (the quick-set kills) extends and opens up the rest of our offense,” said Rumely Noble, now in her second year at the help of App State’s volleyball program.

The Nitty Gritty

In the first set, App State clawed back from an early, 9-4 deficit to eventually tie the score at 11-11 on a Maya Winterhoff kill. The 7-2 run was jumpstarted by a service ace off the arm of setter Juliana Horta. The 5-10 freshman from Clayton, N.C. played a key role (service ace or assist) in six of the nine points of the run.

By earning the 11-11 draw and overcoming the deficit, it was “game on” for the two adversaries, exchanging the lead and forcing ties until the Tigers opened what seemed to be an insurmountable 22-19 lead.

And yet, the Mountaineers rallied on the strength of kills from Elise Marchal, Maddie Smith, and Winterhoff, closing the gap to 24-23 before Clemson’s Neea-Maria Joki fashioned her own kill shot got secure the set.

The second set was more of the same, although it initially looked like things would go App State’s way as the tournament hosts opened up an early, 5-2 lead on a pair of kills by Smith and one each by Winterhoff and Marchal, with Horta setting from the middle.

Clemson was not intimidated, closing the gap quickly with key kills by pin attacker Mia McGrath, a junior from Deerfield, Ill., who leads the Tigers on offense, now with 71 kills on the young season.

Once the visitors from South Carolina evened things up at 5-5, the match became a see-saw battle: exchanging leads, with multiple ties. App State’s biggest lead was at 15-13. Clemson’s biggest was only a single point advantage until finally beginning to gain some separation at 22-19 — a 3-pont gap that was quickly closed with a service ace by Kenady Roper, a block by Winterhoff and Marchal.

When Horta set up kills by Smith to take a late lead at 23-22 and again at 24-23, the Holmes Center excitement grew but Clemson’s six on the court rose to the occasion, finishing things off with a kill by McGrath off a set by freshman Katherine Sandt of Western Springs, Ill., and a final service ace off the arm of Devan Taylor, the Tigers’ senior libero from Spring, Texas to carve out a final set score of 27-25.

In the third set, Clemson gained separation early, to 19-10, before settling for a 25-15 final set score win.

Now 3-4, the Mountaineers will finish out the Black & Gold Invitational with a 6 p.m. match on Sept. 13 against Winthrop, then a final 4 p.m. encounter with Wofford on Saturday, Sept. 14.

Clemson meets Wofford at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 13 at the Holmes Center, then returns to the arena on Saturday for a 1 p.m. tilt vs. Winthrop.

BONUS PHOTOS

All photographic images by David Rogers for High Country Sports

By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Both Valle Crucis and Blowing Rock had their moments, but by the end neither could defend against a more athletic and better skilled Hardin Park volleyball team on Sept. 12. The tri-meet hosted by the Eagles saw them sweep past the Rockets, 2-0, then finish the night with a 2-0 sweep over Valle Crucis. Blowing Rock had a tougher time against Valle Crucis in the first set, but then mustered a decisive win in set No. 2 to complete the sweep, 2-0.

BONUS PHOTOS AT BOTTOM (click on any image to launch Slide Show Mode for full size)

Around the county, Parkway dismantled Bethel, 2-0, then dispatched Cove Creek, 2-0, before the Raiders took out Bethel, 2-0. In the evening’s only dual meet action, Green Valley doubled up on Mabel, 2-0.

SCORES

@ Hardin Park

• • Hardin Park 2, Blowing Rock 0 (25-11, 25-13)
  • Blowing Rock 2, Valle Crucis 0 (25-22, 25-7)
  • Hardin Park 2, Valle Crucis 0 (25-12, 25-14)

@ Bethel

• • Parkway 2, Bethel 0 (25-6, 25-14)
  • Parkway 2, Cove Creek 0 (25-13, 25-20)
  • Cove Creek 2, Bethel 0 (25-12, 25-8)

@ Mabel

• • Green Valley 2, Mabel 0 (25-13, 25-22)

BONUS PHOTOS

By Matt Present. BOONE, N.C. — App State Baseball announced 17 additions to the program heading into the 2025 season. The newcomers are comprised of seven freshmen, four junior college transfers, one Division II transfer and five transfers from Division I institutions.

Conner Barozzino is a right-handed pitcher from Cornelius, N.C. 6-1, 185, bats right, throws right. Barozzino joins the Mountaineers from Hickory Grove Christian, where he was a high school teammate of Kameron Miller. Barozzino was rated as the 21st-best right-handed pitcher in the state of North Carolina by Perfect Game, as well as the 50th-best prospect overall. He was also a top-500 prospect nationally. Barozzino possesses a high-spin-rate fastball that tops out in the high 80s, as well as a changeup, curveball and slider. As a senior, he posted a 1.41 ERA and struck out 94 batters in 59.2 innings of work. He finished his high school career with more than 250 strikeouts across four seasons.

Liam Best is a right-handed pitcher, a redshirt junior from Sterling, Va. and Potomac Falls High School. 6-1, 205, bats right, throws right. A transfer from State College of Florida, Best has a power right-handed arm, featuring a low-90s fastball. In two seasons with the Manatees, Best fanned 67 batters in just 45.2 innings of work. Best began his collegiate career at George Washington University, where he made five appearances as a freshman in 2022. In high school, he was ranked the 21st-best right-handed pitcher in the state of Virginia and a 2021 Perfect Game Preseason All-American Honorable Mention as well as a 2020 Perfect Game Preseason Underclassman All-American.

Cameron Carpenter is a freshman outfielder from Palm Beach, Fla. 5-10, 175. Switch hitter, throws right. Carpenter batted .307 across his final two seasons at Palm Beach Gardens High School while also making nine appearances on the mound, where he recorded three saves as a senior. Additionally, Carpenter played Area Code Games, East Coast Pro league and in the Diamond Club All-Star games. His father, Doug, played Minor League Baseball for seven seasons and has since worked in Major League scouting for over 30 years, currently with the Cleveland Guardians.

Cal Clark is a right-handed junior pitcher from Charlotte, N.C. 6-4 205. Bats right, throws right. A high school teammate of Everette Harris at Charlotte Christian, Clark began his collegiate career at Charlotte in 2023, playing in 20 games, including six starts. Clark transferred to Gaston College in 2024 but was limited to just two appearances due to injury. A highly touted recruit out of high school, Clark was ranked as the 13th-best overall prospect in the state of North Carolina as well as a top-60 right-handed pitcher in the country. Clark helped lead Charlotte Christian to three state championships in high school and finished his career with a 1.81 ERA and 128 strikeouts on his way to being invited to participate in the MLB Draft Combine.

Juan Correa is a senior first baseman from Weston, Fla. 6-5 220. Bats right, throws right. A well-traveled addition to the Mountaineers, Correa was an academic all-conference selection last season as a member of the Charlotte 49ers. Correa batted .264 on the year and ranked second on the team with 12 home runs and tied for fourth with 32 RBIs. He also boasted a team-best 10-game hitting streak. Correa began his career with the Stetson Hatters in 2022 before transferring to the College of Central Florida, where he led the Patriots to a National Championship and was named JuCo World Series MVP. Correa was named a second-team All-American at West Broward High School.

Charlie Evans is a junior outfielder from Levittown, Pa. (Pennsbury HS). 5-9 175. Bats right, throws right. A transfer from Winthrop, Evans started in 39 of the 40 games he played for the Eagles a season ago. He paced the team with a .303 average and a .517 slugging percentage while posting a .990 fielding percentage in center field. A highly touted recruit out of high school, Evans was rated as the ninth-best prospect out of the state of Pennsylvania in 2022. He was also named a Perfect Game Preseason All-American that year.

Tyler Figueroa is a sophomore infielder from Colonie, N.Y. (Colonie Central). 5-8 165. Bats right, throws right. A transfer from Siena, Figueroa faced the Mountaineers in a three-game series to open the 2024 campaign in Hickory, N.C. As a freshman last season, Figueroa led the Saints with a .315 batting average and 35 RBIs. He also boasted a .523 slugging percentage and .392 on-base percentage in his first college season, earning him a spot on the 2024 MAAC All-Rookie team as well as four Rookie of the Week selections during the season. He finished the season by hitting safely in 40 of 52 games, including 16 multi-hit efforts.

John Kramer is a redshirt junior outfielder from Wildwood, Mo. 6-1 220. Bats left, throws left. Kramer transferred to App State from Ole Miss, where he was a member of the 2022 national championship squad as a freshman. Across three seasons with the Rebels, Kramer appeared in 44 games and made 17 starts before having his 2024 season cut short due to injury. Named the 2021 Missouri Gatorade Player of the Year, Kramer was rated as the fourth-best prospect from the state and a top-60 outfielder, nationally. He holds the Lafayette High School record for career home runs (19) and single-season home runs (11). Kramer hails from an impressive athletic family, as his father, Jack, played basketball at Michigan and UAB and his aunt, Nicole Kramer, swam in the 1976 Olympics.

Tyler Lichtenberger is a freshman infielder from Boca Raton, Fla. 6-0 180; Bats left, throws right. Lichtenberger delivered a strong finish to his high school career at West Boca Raton HS. As a senior, he batted .340, with 16 of his 33 hits going for extra bases. On the mound, he posted a 4-0 record with two saves in 2024. He did not allow an earned run in 9.1 innings of work. He was named a top-100 shortstop in the state of Florida by Perfect Game.

Xavier Lopez is a junior outfielder from Orlando, Fla. 6-0 187. He bats left and throws left. Lopez has transferred to App State after playing two years at Daytona State. Last season, he was named a First Team All-FCSAA D1 and All-Citrus Conference selection, slashing .414/.505/.637 with eight home runs and 46 RBIs in 45 games. He walked 24 times compared to 27 strikeouts and posted a .978 fielding percentage across multiple positions. Lopez was an all-state selection at Oviedo High School in Orlando, Fla.

Riley Luft is a freshman utility player from Boca Raton, Fla. 5-11 185. Bats right, throws right. Luft joins the Mountaineers out of North Broward Prep, where he was rated by Perfect Game as the eighth-best third baseman in the state of Florida as well as being a top 50 overall player in the state. Luft led North Broward Prep to three state titles in four years as well as a runner-up finish, totaling 98 wins across four seasons. He earned all-county and all-district honors in each of his four seasons and batted over .330 each of his final three high school seasons. He finished his four-year career with eight homers, 74 RBIs and over 100 hits. He also walked as many times as he struck out across four seasons.

Caleb Marks is a senior right-handed pitcher from Murfreesboro, Tenn. 6-1 180. Bats right, throw right. A Division II transfer from Trevecca Nazarene, Marks is coming off a sensational 2024 campaign. He was named a First-Team D2CCA All-American Midwest Region and the G-MAC Conference Pitcher of the Year after posting an 8-0 record and a 2.25 ERA. Marks struck out 99 batters while walking just 20 and threw four complete games on the season. He also issued just one wild pitch and did not hit a batter in 88.0 innings of work. He posted a 2.62 ERA as a sophomore and combined to fan over 200 batters across three seasons at Trevecca. Marks played for Siegel High School, where he earned two honorable mention all-district awards.

Tanner McCammon is a sophomore infielder from Matthews, N.C. 6-3 195. Bats right, throws right. McCammon made 21 appearances, including four starts, as a freshman at Elon last season. He competed for the Danville Otterbots of the Appalachian League this summer, recording 25 hits in 34 games. McCammon competed for Charlotte Christian High School, where he was a 2021 and 2022 Perfect Game Preseason Underclass All-American and a two-time state champion. He was ranked by Prep Baseball Report as the 15th-best shortstop in the state of North Carolina and the 60th best player overall for the class of 2023.

Mason Middleton is a right-handed freshman pitcher from Pfafftown, N.C. 6-2 220. Runs right, throws right. Middleton joins the Mountaineers out of Reagan High School, where he was ranked the 19th-best player in the state of North Carolina and the 10th-best right-handed pitcher by Perfect Game. His arsenal is highlighted by a low-90s fastball and complimented by a changeup, slider and curveball. Middleton was named the CPC 4A Player of the Year as a senior, in addition to all-conference and all-region recognition. Across his three-year varsity career, Middleton made 28 appearances, including seven starts, and was victorious in six of his eight decisions. In his final season, he posted a 1.15 ERA and struck out 48 batters in 36.2 innings of work, leading Reagan to a conference title. Middleton pitched at Fenway Park in 2023 as part of the New Balance Baseball Future Stars Series Main Event.

Luke Oblen is a freshman right-handed pitcher from Chicago, Ill. 6-3 193. Bats right, runs right. Oblen comes to the High Country from DePaul College Prep, where he was recognized as the fourth-best right-handed pitcher in the state of Illinois and the 18th-best overall player in the state by Perfect Game, leading DePaul Prep to a sectional championship. Oblen touches the mid-90s with his fastball and possesses a changeup, curveball and slider. He was a member of the 16U/17U USA Baseball National Team Development Program.

Reyn Watson is a junior left-handed pitcher from Green Sea, S.C. 6-3 175. Bats left, throws left. A transfer From Florida Southwestern State, Watson combined to post a 4.41 ERA and a strikeout rate of 10.06 per nine innings. Watson also excelled in the classroom, garnering NJCAA All-Academic recognition as well as earning academic all-conference and all-state honors. Watson was a two-time SCISA Player of the Year at Pee Dee Academy, going 9-1 with a 1.75 ERA as a senior. In his career at Pee Dee, he struck out 185 batters in 93 innings, and as a senior, he led his team to a state championship and a 21-3 record.

Sam Weinstein is a freshman catcher from Brookeville, Md. 6-1 183. Bats right, throws right. The top-ranked catcher in the state of Maryland, Weinstein joins the Mountaineers out of Georgetown Prep, where he was also ranked the 18th-best player in the state by Perfect Game. Weinstein helped the Little Hoyas capture their fifth consecutive conference championship in 2024, catching a no-hitter in the championship game. Weinstein was named an IAC All-Conference selection. He is one of seven Georgetown Prep players from the class of 2024 to go on to play collegiately.

The Mountaineers have announced two fall ball contests at Smith Stadium next month. App State will host Wofford on Saturday, Oct. 5 at 1 p.m. before hosting ECU on Saturday, Oct. 12 at 1 p.m. Admission is free.

By David Rogers. HUDSON, N.C. — A different varsity volleyball team representing Watauga High School took to the court on Sept. 11 at South Caldwell, even if the faces above the jerseys were all the same. With slick offensive and defensive execution, the Pioneers defeated the Spartans, 3-0 (25-10, 25-17, 25-15).

BONUS PHOTOS AT BOTTOM (click on any image for Slide Show Mode in full size)

The night before hosting Hickory in the final non-conference match of the 2024 season, Watauga seemed out of sync with one another. As head coach Kim Pryor told reporters later, “We didn’t play Watauga volleyball.”

What a difference 24 hours can make. And the contrast started right from the opening point when the two longtime Northwestern Conference adversaries engaged in the longest rally of the night. Powerful hits, courageous digs, sharply executed passes and assists… they were all there in the opening point — eventually won by the visiting Pioneers.

Watauga’s powerful outside hitter, Emma Pastusic, recorded 16 kills in the three sets to lead the Pioneers’ attack, but her kills were matched by the frontline quartet of Kora Knight (6 kills), Grace Twillery (7), Grace Phelps (5) and Hadleigh Windish (4).

The breadth of scoring came with the support of solid setups by Lainey Gragg, who effectively distributed the kill opportunities for 34 assists.

Adding to the Pioneer effectiveness were four service aces, including two by Pastusic and one each by Kaitlyn Darner and Gragg.

Defensively, Grace Twillery led the team with six stuff blocks, with Kora Knight adding two and Pastusic another.

Also defensively, eight Pioneers were credited with digs to keep the ball in play, led by Darner (11 digs), Caroline Childers (10), Pastusic (8), Lilli Combs (7), Gragg (6), Phelps (3), Twillery (2) and Windish (1).

Pastusic has returned from an early season elbow injury, but is now back in mid-season form.

“We came down here really confident that we were going to play well,” said Pastusic. “Our rotations were really good and everybody played great tonight. Our passing was outstanding and that really helped us win the game.”

The setter, Gragg, emphasized the Pioneers’ playing as a team.

“We grew together tonight and played as a team and when you play as a team you can do just about anything you want,” said Gragg afterwards. “We played together and wanted to win.”

Freshman libero Caroline Childers has emerged as an anchor on the Pioneer back row.

“We dived (for balls) well tonight,” said Childers. “And we communicated really well. We were particularly good on serve receive and defense, blocking and digging.”

Pressed for how she felt as a freshman playing on varsity, Childers said, “It is such an honor and a great experience for me. I am so happy to be able to play with such amazing teammates. They are all so good and make up such a good team. We all get along really well. We love each other.”

Childers said she has been playing volleyball since she was in second grade.

“Tonight we played with confidence,” said head coach Kim Pryor. “We played with poise. We got back to Watauga volleyball, how we play. I am proud of how the girls responded after a couple of losses.

Casting the pre-conference record aside, Pryor said, “We were 0-0 before this match and now we are 1-0 in conference. That is all that matters. I have been telling the team that we are so well prepared for what is to come (in the conference schedule) by those tough non-conference games. I am excited about what is to come.”

After winning the first point, Watauga won the next three in the opening set to go up 4-0, then gave up a couple of points to South Caldwell, making the score 4-2. Then, with Childers serving, the Pioneers went on an 8-0 run to gain separation. Asked about Childers’ success in serving, Pryor was candid.

“As a team, we got back to aggressive serving. You don’t play volleyball to be careful. You play it to be aggressive. You make aggressive mistakes and those mistakes are OK. We got back to our aggressive game and our settled game, team volleyball,” said Pryor.

Asked what constitutes ‘aggressive serving,’ Pryor said, “It is serving to different spots on the floor. It is serving with some velocity on the ball. It is making sure we aren’t serving straight to people and getting the ball to places where it is hard for our opponents to pass.”

Next up for the Pioneers is a second road contest with yet another Northwestern Conference 4A rival, at Alexander Central in Taylorsville. First serve is slated for approximately 6 p.m., after the junior varsity game. The Cougars finished their preseason slate, 4-5. They lost their conference opener at Ashe County, 3-0.

SELECTED WATAUGA STAT LEADERS

• • Emma Pastusic: 16 kills, 1 stuff block, 2 service aces, 8 digs
  • Caroline Childers: 10 digs, 2 assists
  • Lainey Gragg: 34 assists, 1 service ace, 6 digs
  • Grace Phelps: 5 kills, 3 digs
  • Grace Twillery: 7 kills, 6 stuff blocks, 2 digs
  • Kaitlyn Darner: 11 digs, 1 service ace
  • Kora Knight: 6 kills, 2 stuff blocks
  • Hadleigh Windish: 4 kills, 1 dig
  • Lilli Combs: 7 digs

BONUS PHOTOS

By David Rogers. BOONE, NC — Watauga cross country runners captured 15 of the top 16 places in the Men’s Division of a Northwestern Conference tri-meet on Sept. 10, hosting South Caldwell and Hibriten at the Don Kennedy Trails section of App State’s State Farm Intramural Fields.

Pioneer senior Will Bradbury finished the 5000-meter run in 16:41 to top the field, with South Caldwell’s Bryce Corpening crossing the line in the No. 2 position (18:03). Watauga’s  Calvin Zwetsloot, James Bostrom, Elliott Taft, Grady Gates, Samuel Rex, Haines Heistand, Zeke Walker, Doyle Casey, Jonah Norris, Brian Newmark, Andres Roman, Issac James, Charles Langley and Holden Womak rounded out the top 16.

In the Women’s Division, Watauga freshman Cali Townsend led a pack of Pioneers taking 18 of the top 20 spots, including a sweep of No. 1 through No. 5, including Annabelle Stewart at No. 2, Janie Beach-Verhay No. 3, Lainey Johnston No. 4, and Grace Scantlin No. 5 before Hibriten’s Ama Higgs crossed the line at No. 6.

MEN’S DIVISION

WOMEN’S DIVISION TOP 20

By David Rogers, BOONE, N.C. — After playing a powerful Cox Mill team on the road “… like it was the fourth round of the playoffs…” and taking the Chargers to a fifth set on Sept. 5 before losing, 3-2 (25-21, 23-25, 21-25, 33-31, 13-15), Watauga came home to an “off” night in its rematch with Hickory on Sept. 10, losing 3-0 to the Red Tornadoes.

BONUS PHOTOS AT BOTTOM OF ARTICLE (click any image for Slide Show mode)

All photographic images by David Rogers for High Country Sports

Although the Pioneers arguably played better at home against Hickory than they did on Aug. 13, when they lost 3-0 (16-25, 19-25, 14-25), head coach Kim Pryor was not satisfied.

“We didn’t play well today,” said Pryor. “We didn’t play our game. At Cox Mill (last week) we played like it was a final four or final two (in the playoffs). Tonight we did not. We made quite a few mistakes at critical moments. It was just execution, playing together.

“The good news is that preconference (matches) prepare us for what’s to come,” added Pryor in looking ahead at Northwestern Conference competition. “We’ll hit tomorrow hard and start conference play against South Caldwell… This wasn’t one of our better nights. We need to come back strong for conference play.”

The Red Tornadoes’ head coach Jason Stephens seemed relieved after the game, knowing that in the Aug. 13 match Watauga was missing some players.

“First and foremost, Watauga was a lot better here since they had everybody healthy. It was a fun, competitive game. I’m just really proud of my kids. I thought we passed well against some really good hitters and we serve received well. We are improving as the season goes on,” said Stephens.

The Pioneers, now 3-6 as they went through non-conference play, begin Northwestern Conference competition on Sept. 11 at South Caldwell. Scheduled time for the varsity match is 6 p.m.

SELECTED WATAUGA STATS

• Emma Pastusic: 15 kills, 1 solo block, 2 block assists, 6 digs, 11 serve receives
• Ashlyn Smith: 8 kills
• Caroline Childers: 12 digs, 27 serve receives
• Lainey Gragg: 5 digs, 21 assists
• Quinn Haines: 1 service ace, 5 assists
• Lilli Combs: 1 service ace, 4 digs
• Kora Knight: 2 block assists

BONUS PHOTOS

By David Rogers. WATAUGA COUNTY — Mabel and Green Valley were the big winners on Sept. 10 in the middle school volleyball tri-matches. Meanwhile, Parkway squeezed out a 2-1 win in the night’s only stand-alone match.

SCORES

@ Mabel

• • Mabel 2, Bethel 0 (25-15, 25-20)
  • Bethel 2, Valle Crucis 0 (25-23, 25-21)
  • Mabel 2, Valle Crucis 0 (25-12, 25-10)

@ Blowing Rock

• • • Cove Creek 2, Blowing Rock 0 (25-22, 25-12)
    • Green Valley 2, Blowing Rock 0 (25-22, 25-12)
    • Green Valley 2, Cove Creek 1 (25-27, 25-17, 19-17)

@ Hardin Park

• • Parkway 2, Hardin Park 1 (25-14, 19-25, 15-11)

MISCELLANEOUS PHOTOS FROM BLOWING ROCK vs. COVE CREEK

All photographic images by David Rogers for High Country Sports

By Bret Strelow. BOONE, N.C. — With several high-profile opponents set to visit Varsity Gym, which has been upgraded via seating and visual enhancements for the 2024-25 season, App State Wrestling announced its complete schedule and season ticket availability Tuesday.

Key Home Events  

The Mountaineers’ home schedule includes visits from nonconference foes West Virginia (on Nov. 22, a Friday night before a Nov. 23 home football game against James Madison), Virginia Tech (Sunday, Jan. 19) and Duke (Monday, Jan. 20) as well as SoCon counterparts Chattanooga (Sunday, Feb. 9) and Campbell (Sunday, Feb. 23).

Counting two Saturday tournaments and seven duals, there are nine home events on the schedule for App State, which closed last season with a second straight SoCon Championship tournament title and a No. 24 national ranking.

New Seating Opportunities

General admission season tickets with seating on the familiar sets of sideline bleachers are available for the low cost of $70 for the nine home events. For faculty/staff, the discounted price is $60.

New endline seating, facing the new competition mat and the Varsity Gym scoreboard, will be in place as a premium seating option for the 2024-25 season.

A season ticket in the Premium Gold section — which has a reserved seat that includes a seatback, a cupholder and more leg room than a traditional bleacher seat — costs $100. A season ticket in the Premium Black section, which is a general admission seat (that also has a seatback) within the Premium area, outside of the Premium Gold seats, costs $85.

Single-match tickets will go on sale at a later date, with the matches against West Virginia, Virginia Tech and Campbell serving as Varsity Plus duals, so the best value for App State Wrestling fans is purchasing a season ticket.

This season, home duals will be streamed live on FloWrestling, which has a subscription model.

Schedule Details

The Mountaineers’ schedule begins Nov. 3 with a tournament appearance at the Battle at The Citadel, and App State will host the Mountaineer Invitational the following Saturday. The dual schedule begins Friday night, Nov. 15 at NC State.

App State hosts West Virginia in Varsity Gym at 7 p.m. on Nov. 22 before competing away from home for nearly two months.

Those events are the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational (Dec. 6-7), the SoCon opener at VMI (Dec. 12), the Wilkes Open (in Pennsylvania on Dec. 20), the Southern Scuffle (in Chattanooga from Jan. 4-5) and another SoCon road dual against The Citadel (Jan. 12).

The Mountaineers host Virginia Tech and Duke on back-to-back days, with the Sunday dual against the Hokies scheduled for 3 p.m. and the Monday night dual against the Blue Devils scheduled for 7 p.m., following a high school match.

The Appalachian Open is set for Jan. 25, followed by a SoCon visit from Presbyterian two days later. The Mountaineers then conclude their road schedule with visits to Louisville-based Bellarmine on Jan. 31 and Gardner-Webb on Feb. 4.

The last three Sundays of the regular season feature 3 p.m. home duals against SoCon opponents Chattanooga (Feb. 9), Davidson (Feb. 16) and Campbell (Feb. 23).

The location and date have yet to be finalized for the SoCon Championship tournament, although it is expected to be March 7 or March 8, and the NCAA Championships begin March 20 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.