By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — One semifinal was a decisive thumping by top-seeded Hardin Park over the No. 4-seed, Cove Creek (25-19, 25-10). The other semifinal was a nailbiter of a sweep by No. 3 upstart Blowing Rock at the expense of No. 2-seeded Parkway (25-20, 26-24). The final, though, went pretty much according to pro forma expectations, with the Rockets coming back to Earth in a 2-0 sweep by the Golden Eagles (25-5, 25-13).
Hardin Park had a near-perfect season, losing only one set throughout the season, to the Parkway, which finished the regular season No. 2. After a strong finish to the regular season, Blowing Rock finished No. 3 but didn’t surprise many by their strong showing in the tournament as the runner-up.
48 BONUS PHOTOS (click on any image for larger size and Slide Show Mode)
All photographic images by David Rogers for High Country Sports
By David Rogers. MARION, N.C. — Led by outside hitters Emma Pastusic and Ashlyn Smith, with 21 and 11 kills, respectively, the Watauga women’s volleyball team cruised to yet another 3-0 sweep in Northwestern Conference play on Oct. 7 (25-16, 25-13, 25-22).
In the lopsided win, the Pioneers’ head coach Kim Pryor was able to get valuable, on-court playing time for 14 of her athletes, all seeing participation in at least one set. The win put Watauga in the drivers seat for next week’s conference tournament with the likely No. 1 seed and automatic pass to the semifinals on Tuesday, Oct. 14, in a return trip to Marion where McDowell will host the semis and finals on consecutive nights, Oct. 14 and 15.
Going into the final regular season match vs. St. Stephens on Oct. 9 (“Senior Night”), Watauga is 20-1 overall and 9-0 in Northwestern Conference play.
SELECTED INDIVIDUAL STATS
Kills: Emma Pastusic (21), Ashlyn Smith (11), Kora Knight (7), Gracyn Phelps (2), Addie Stough (2), Lainey Gragg (1), Athena Elliott (1)
Service Aces: Lainey Gragg (3), Ashlyn Smith (3), Caroline Childers (2), Emma Pastusic (1), Jillian Martin (1), Lilli Combs (1)
Assists: Lainey Gragg (39), Caroline Childers (5)
Blocks: Addie Stough (1)
Digs: Caroline Childers (25), Lilli Combs (14), Ashlyn Smith (10), Lainey Gragg (10). Emma Pastusic (8), Ava Zaragoza (3), Kora Knight (1)
Serve Receives: Caroline Childers 24, Ashlyn Smith 15), Emma Pastusic (6), Lilli Combs (1)
BONUS PHOTOS (Click on any image for larger version and Slide Show Mode)
All photographic images by David Rogers for High Country Sports
By David Rogers. MARION, N.C. — A broad-based, coordinated attack by Watauga’s junior varsity volleyball team resulted in seven different players recording kills against the McDowell Titans JV on Oct. 7, reinforced by five service aces from Kira Beasley.
The Pioneers won, 2-0 (25-8, 25-13).
Ember Honeycutt on the serve vs. McDowell JVs, Oct. 7. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
Watauga had little trouble in dispatching McDowell, improving their overall record to 18-1 and 3-0 in Northwestern Conference play.
Freshman outside hitter Adeline Tate led the attack with a game-high six kills, with sophomore Kira Beasley adding four kills. Freshman setter Mia Mitchell orchestrated the attack with 12 assists and played a key role defensively with a game-high six digs. Defensive specialist Kelbey Windish mustered four digs to keep the ball in play.
Mia Mitchell (25) sets for the Watauga JVs on Oct. 7 at McDowell. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
Next action for the Pioneers is a final home match to end the 2025 JV campaign, vs. St. Stephens on Oct. 9.
SELECTED STATS
Kills: Adeline Tate (6), Kira Beasley (4), Haileigh Peele (2), Mia Mitchell (2), Addin Hodges (2), Payton Carter (1), Ellie Helms (1), Lia Gillin (1)
Service Aces: Kira Beasley (5), Anna Casey (2), Kelbey Windish (1), Mia Mitchell (1), Lia Gillin (1)
Assists: Mia Mitchell (12), Ember Honeycutt (2), Katie Bentley (1)
Blocks: Adeline Tate (1), Mia Mitchell (1)
Digs: Mia Mitchell (6), Kelbey Windish (4), Ember Honeycutt (3), Anna Casey (2), Kira Beasley (1), Haileigh Peele (1), Lia Gillin (1), Molly Nolte (1)
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Watauga 8th grader Kate James Moore not only finished the Western Highlands Middle School Conference 2-mile run hosted by Watauga High School as No. 1 in the Girls Division — but more than 90 seconds ahead of No. 2, Mitchell MS 7th grader Laney Glenn.
All told, Watauga had seven of the top 10 finishers. Behind Moore were Eden Gates (No. 3, 14:29.76, 8th grade), Liliana Resendiz (No. 4, 14:39.98, 8th grade), Estalee Davenport (No. 6, 15:27.46, 8th grade), Hannah Reule (No. 7, 15:47.12, 7th grade), Abbie Cutchens (No. 8, 15:49.27, 6th grade), and Elena Worley (No. 9, 16:01.05, 6th grade).
No. 5 was Amelia Minick in 15:03.13, a 7th grade student athlete representing Foothills Running.
Forty-three (43) student athletes competed in the Girls Division race, with Watauga taking home the team top prize (19 points), followed by Avery (60) and Mitchell (65).
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — A strong team performance by the Grace Academy of Boone boys cross-country team highlighted the Western Highlands Middle School Conference meet hosted by Watauga High School on Oct. 7. Grace Academy swept the top four finishing positions and captured six of the top 10 spots.
Evan Gordon, a Grace Academy 8th grade student crossed the finish line as No. 1 for the two mile course, in 11:50.07. He was followed by teammates Micah Arnold (No. 2, 11:51.88, 7th grade), Brandon Gordon (No. 3, 12:31.36, 7th grade) and Weston Galy (No. 4, 12:41.72, 5th grade).
Grace Academy had a near-perfect team score of 16 points, followed by Watauga District Middle School at 43, Avery Middle School at 97, and East Yancey Middle School at 98.
Watauga’s top scorers include Yates Hodges (No. 6, 13:19.95, 8th grade), John Braxton (No. 8, 13:22.03, 7th grade), Ben Trivette (No. 10, 13:28.03, 8th grade) and William Leonard (No. 11, 13:28.97, 6th grade.
Forty-two student athletes competed in the Boys Division.
By Matt Present. BOONE, N.C. — App State earned a point at home against East Division leader James Madison, with a 1-1 draw at The Valley on Oct. 5.
Olivia Simon put the Mountaineers (5-5-3, 1-2-3 Sun Belt) on the board in the fourth minute, finishing a feed from Kyli Switalski for her second goal of the season.
The advantage was short-lived, as the Dukes (6-3-5, 2-1-3) equalized in the 24th minute when Jordan Yang buried a shot off an assist from Jamie Swartz.
Both defenses held firm the rest of the way. Goalkeeper Hanna Skogsfors anchored the Mountaineers with four saves, including a pair in the final 10 minutes to preserve the draw.
App State generated seven shots, with Izzi Wood, Simon and Reagan Sturgill each testing James Madison keeper Lili White, who finished with three saves. Wood was turned away on a prime opportunity in the opening minutes of the match.
App State has earned a point in each of their last three matches and the team will look to continue its success on the road next Saturday when the Mountaineers visit ULM at 8 p.m. ET.
By Layne McNary. BOONE, N.C. — The App State field hockey team fell to No. 6 Liberty, 7-1, on Sunday.
Hadley Kuzmicky scored the lone goal for the Mountaineers (8-3, 3-1 MAC), tallying her seventh goal of the season.
Photo by Michael Mann, Jr., courtesy of App State Athletics
How it Happened
1st Quarter: Liberty (9-1, 3-0 Big East) got on the board first, taking the lead eight minutes into the contest. Goalkeeper Claire Grenis also tallied one save in the period, keeping the Mountaineers within one score heading into the second.
2nd Quarter: Liberty found the back of the cage twice in the period, extending the lead. Kuzmicky scored in the final moments of the first half to put the Mountaineers on the board, with Grenis netting another save in the period.
3rd Quarter: Liberty tallied two more goals in the period, extending the lead to four. The Mountaineers earned one penalty corner but could not convert a goal from the set piece.
4th Quarter: The Mountaineers earned another penalty corner and took two shots early in the period. Liberty scored twice more to close out the game.
Winning Goalie: Diane Saint Martin (9-1, 3-0 Big East) — 0 saves, 1 goal allowed
Losing Goalie: Claire Grenis (8-3, 3-1 MAC) — 3 saves, 7 goals allowed
Photo by Michael Mann, Jr., courtesy of App State Athletics
Up Next
The Mountaineers will hit the road for the next two games, taking on MAC opponent Central Michigan on Friday, Oct. 10, at 1 p.m., and Michigan State on Sunday, Oct. 12, at noon.
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — It was a long, cross-country trip for the Oregon State Beavers football team. It might have felt even longer on their return.
In one sense, App State flipped the script on Oct. 4 in defeating Oregon State, 27-23, in front of a sold out crowd at Kidd Brewer Stadium — which stayed jam-packed to the triumphant, if nail biting end.
Yosep ziplining into Kidd Brewer Stadium with the U.S. flag helped energize the sold out crowd on Oct. 4 for the Mountaineers’ football game vs. Oregon State. Photographic image captured by Jared Everett, processed by David Rogers for High Country Sports
Three turnovers by the visiting Beavers proved their undoing against the Mountaineers, offsetting an otherwise strong performance. Oregon State won the time of possession battle, 31:30 vs. 28:30. Importantly, the Beavers rolled up 456 yards of total offense, compared to 354 for new starting quarterback J.J. Kohl’s Mountaineers. Kohl is the fourth QB used by App State in the still young, 2025 season.
But as App State and its fans well know, turnovers are hard to overcome. They nearly cost the Mountaineers the game at home against FCS upstart Lindenwood (Sept. 6) and they proved pivotal in the loss against Southern Miss (Sept. 13) where the Mountaineers committed three turnovers inside the red zone.
A turnover-free afternoon against the men from Corvallis, Ore., though, was only part of App State’s story with this win. Although the Mountaineer defense seemed porous vs. the Oregon State offense for most of the second half, they were near impenetrable — and opportunistic — in crunch time.
Redshirt junior Kanen Hamlett (86) looks to gain yards after catch in the first quarter vs. Oregon State on Oct. 4.Photographic image captured by Jared Everett, processed by David Rogers for High Country Sports
Down 27-23 and knowing another touchdown would likely seal the deal for the visitors, with 43 seconds remaining and in possession of the ball at the App State 29 yard and 2nd-and-1, the Mountaineer defense held. The stopped the Beavers again on 3rd-and-1 — but the nail biting last few seconds were just beginning.
On 4th-and-1, Oregon State quarterback Maalik Murphy passed short right, incomplete, a pass that appeared to be uncatchable. But App State defensive back Elijah McCantos was flagged for pass interference, giving the Beavers new life at the 25-yard line, and a 1st-and-10 with 29 seconds remaining.
With the crowd chanting, no roaring back and forth, APP — STATE, APP — STATE, Murphy dropped back to pass but was sacked for a loss of 13 yards by junior defensive lineman Rondo Porter, App State’s first sack on the day.
So on second and 23 from the Mountaineer 38, with 26 seconds showing on the clock, Murphy dropped back to pass, under pressure. His pass short left was on target to the Beavers’s star wide receiver Trent Walker, who finished with a game–high 179 yards receiving on 13 catches, but the ball, briefly hauled in by Walker, was dislodged on a thunderous hit by freshman defensive back Juan Berchal. The ball popped into the air and was juggled for a moment by DB Zyeir Gamble, but the redshirt sophomore from Sumter, S.C. gathered it in and returned the INT nine yards, effectively ending the game and sealing the win for App State.
Spirits were running high on Oct. 4 in Kidd Brewer Stadium as App State defeated Oregon State, 27-23. Photographic image captured by Jared Everett, processed by David Rogers for High Country Sports
The end-of-game excitement almost overshadowed the debut of two redshirt sophomore performers for the App State offense in 6-7, 245 lb. quarterback from Ankeny, Iowa, J.J. Kohl, and 6-4 wide receiver Davion Dozier, a native of Moody, Ala. The duo are new arrivals in Boone, transfers from Iowa State and Arkansas, respectively.
Kohl managed the offense effectively, completing 13-of-28 passes for 218 yards and one TD with no interceptions. He also scored a TD on a 6-yard keeper through the middle in the first half.
Dozier was making his Kidd Brewer debut and made it a good one, including four catches for 140 yards and a TD.
Now 3-2, the Mountaineers will look to capitalize on the momentum when the travel to Atlanta, Oct. 11 (3:30 p.m. kickoff), for a second Sun Belt Conference game, this one against Georgia State. The Panthers are 1-4 overall and 0-1 in conference play after an Oct. 4 loss to James Madison, 14-7.
By David Rogers. MORGANTON, N.C. — It was Watauga’s biggest test so far of the 2025 high school football season and they passed with flying colors, 42-20, putting a damper on Freedom’s homecoming festivities.
BONUS PHOTOS @ Bottom of Article
All photographic images captured by Jared Everett, processed by David Rogers for High Country Sports
In a poignant tribute to one of the High Country’s greatest mentors of young men, Watauga QB Cade Keller remembers App State and Central Florida Coach, Shawn Clark. Photographic image by Jared Everett, processed by David Rogers for High Country Sports
Precision blocking at the line of scrimmage helped running back Everett Gryder and quarterback Cade Keller pick up large chunks of gridiron real estate, getting both Pioneers into the second level where they outraced any Patriot thoughts of defense. Add-in sophomore linebacker John Wilson Mills’ “smash mouth” efforts in leading a stellar Watauga defensive performance and you have all the ingredients for the blowout that it was. The Pioneers were ahead, 21-0, before the buzzer sounded for the end of the first quarter.
The Pioneer offensive coaching staff’s multiple formations and motion sets had Freedom frequently grasping for air. On defense, the Patriots were going backwards as often as not, compliments of Watauga defenders’ tackles for loss and smothering QB sacks.
The Pioneers’ head coach, Ryan Habich, acknowledged the hard work put in by his players and coaches during the previous week, noting that while Watauga played a special game last week at Asheville to help pay tribute to the Hurricane Helene recovery efforts in Western NC, Freedom and others in the Northwestern Conference had byes.
“Freedom has been preparing for us these past two weeks,” Habich pointed out.
Cade Keller (10), in command of Watauga’s offense on Oct. 3, 2025, at Freedom. Photographic image by Jared Everett, processed by David Rogers for High Country Sports
Now Watauga turns its attention to a home tilt vs. longtime Northwestern Conference rival South Caldwell, which lost Oct. 3 to the league’s lone 7A contender, McDowell, 60-42.
The Spartans are 2-4 overall, 0-1 in league play, with wins over West Caldwell (Aug. 22, 62-26) and North Gaston (Sept. 12, 16-12). Losses were to Hibriten (Aug. 29, 62-6), Tuscola (Sept. 5, 42-6), T C Roberson (Sept. 19, 40-6), and the aforementioned McDowell.
We’ll have an update to this story when game stats are made available.
BONUS PHOTOS (Click any image for larger version and Slide Show Mode)
All photographic images by Jared Everett, processed by David Rogers for High Country Sports
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — In one of the most electric environments in Lentz Eggers Gym in recent memory, Watauga High School’s varsity women’s volleyball team clawed back from a 19-13 deficit in the third set to complete a sweep of Alexander Central on Oct. 2, 3-0 (25-20, 25-13, 25-23).
It was “Pink Out” night in Lentz Eggers gym, in support of breast cancer research. With the player introductions, the public address announcer also added who each Watauga player was remembering or honoring on this night.
It was ‘Pink Out” night in Lentz Eggers Gym on Oct. 2, in support of breast cancer research. Photograhic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
Although the visiting Cougars competed fiercely in the first two sets, Watauga seemed in control the entire journey, always turning back AC’s rallies. Whether the Pioneers got complacent after going up 2-0 or their opponents made some adjustments of kind is open for discussion, but from the start of the third set Watauga was in relative disarray — errant passes, the sets less precise, the attacking kill shots off target.
With the partisan crowd enthusiastically behind them, though, the Pioneers shook off the early foibles, got back in synch and rallied behind the hustling placements of junior setter Lainey Gragg and thunderous kill shots by senior outside hitter Emma Pastusic.
Emma Pastusic (18) powers a kill shot past Alexander Central defenders, middle block Asia Jackson (4) and outside hitter Lyla Mayberry (15) on Oct 2, in Lentz Eggers Gym. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
Testimony to the attacking skill of Alexander Central were the defensive numbers put up by host Watauga. No less than five Pioneers recorded double digits in digs, including Pastusic’s 19, Caroline Childers with 14, Ashlyn Smith (14), Lilli Combs (13), and Lainey Gragg (10). Each instance of a “dig” implies the ball was kept in play and effectively passed to a teammate keeping a counterattack opportunity alive.
“Those comebacks are fun. (At least) afterwards, they are fun,” said a smiling Pioneer head coach Kim Pryor. “We got in a lull. All year long, we never showed a lack of confidence. Just for a minute (tonight), we did. We called a timeout to talk about that, ‘… to never, ever play without confidence. You’ve earned the right to play with confidence with everything you have (accomplished) this year.’ So they just lifted. They turned it around, fortunately. We just took control and rolled it in.”
Watauga junior setter Lainey Gragg puts up an athletic set for middle blocker Kora Knight (lower right corner). Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
As with most hotly contested matches, this one was not without controversial officiating calls — and Pryor, the passionate head, was not reluctant in letting her viewpoint known when a call went against her Pioneers. Her getting yellow carded when Watauga was in the midst of that third set rally might well have helped extend the team’s momentum.
“I am not aiming to get yellow cards,” said Pryor, what is believed to be her fourth yellow card of the season. “But I think sometimes when I get fiery, (the girls) get fiery, for some reason. More than that, though, when players are flying into the wall, over the bench and the ball falls for us, that is so motivating. Those kinds of plays just propel us.
“We have to be careful not to be complacent,” Pryor added, “just because we have won so much on the road. The way we have done it is to take control of games and play with energy. We didn’t bring as much energy early (in that third set). We have to make sure we play with energy all the time.”
Alexander Central’s sophomore outside hitter and defensive specialist Reagan Pierce (3) hammers a kill shot into the outstretched arms of Watauga’s Rae Coffey (13), with Gracyn Phelps also going up for the block on Oct. 2, 2025. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
Pryor’s competitive experience over many years of coaching brought another, special insight about her team’s performance against Alexander Central.
“You know, we needed to have this game (especially at this point in the season),” noted Pryor. “(Alexander Central) is a great team. We didn’t play our best but we were able to pull it out. As a team, we need to see that, to know that we are able to play at our highest level and winning, and also playing not as well and still pulling through. We need to see this level of competition.”
Pryor acknowledged the energy provided by the enthusiastic crowd — and passed on a compliment.
“The Alexander Central coach complimented our crowd, which was cheering and the student section was being funny and all. But they were still being respectful at the same time. We have one of the best student sections in the state. Sometimes they roll in late because many of them have their own practices, but when they come in they are a force. We love having them in the gym,” said Pryor.
One of the comeback sparkplugs might well have been the serving of junior defensive specialist and backup libero Graycie Collins.
Emma Pastusic (18) hammers a kill shot past an Alexander Central defender on Oct. 2, helping power Watauga’s third-set, comeback win to complete the 3-0 sweep of the Cougars. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
“I was feeling the moment,” Collins said. “It was really electric… the fans, our bench. There was a lot of energy in the gym and it was supporting us. We have a huge target on our backs. Coach even told us that after our last game. Each opponent from here on is out to get us. Alexander Central came out strong in that third set and it fired us up even more. It was exciting. It was awesome.”
Watauga next takes that target — 19-1, including an 18-game winning streak, and undefeated, 8-0, in Northwestern Conference play — to Marion, N.C. on Oct. 7, to face a 7A classification opponent, McDowell. The match is scheduled for approximately 6:15 p.m., after the junior varsity game starting at 4:30 p.m.
The Pioneers will close out the regular season on Oct. 9, hosting St. Stephens (6 p.m.). Watauga swept both McDowell (3-0, Sept. 18) and St. Stephens (3-0, Sept. 23) in the first half of the home-at-home series.
SELECTED MATCH STATS
Kills: Emma Pastusic (20), Ashlyn Smith (10), Kora Knight (8), Lainey Gragg (3), Addie Stough (2), Hannah Adams (1)
Service Aces: Ashlyn Smith (3), Graycie Collins (2), Lainey Gragg (1), Caroline Childers (1)
