By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Watauga junior Will Bradbury took top honors in the 11th grade division of the “Clash of the Classes” high school and middle school cross country event on Aug. 19, on the Pioneers’ home course.
More than 1,000 runners from 36 high school and middle schools converged on the Don Kennedy cross country trails for the second annual “Clash” event. With an even larger number of spectators jamming the course sidelines in and amongst the colorful array of school tents, the event took on a festival-like atmosphere celebrating the sport of cross country.
Watauga County taxpayers were surely getting their money’s worth in the use of the high school property as the “Clash of the Classes” was just one of several events on the venue, including the Watauga County Sheriff’s William Mast motorcycle ride, a High Country United youth soccer tournament, and one of the featured women’s volleyball matches of the non-conference schedule, Watauga vs. Cox Mill. In a word, every parking space on campus was occupied, and then some.
12th Grade Men’s Division
A big field of 97 young men were drawn to the 12th Grade Men’s ‘Clash,’ the two mile race won by Luke Mussard of Dobyns-Bennett High School (Kingsport, Tenn.), the only harrier to get under the 10-minute mark, finishing in 9:53. West Henderson’s Hudson Rice was some 40 seconds behind in second (10:38).
While Owen Johnson of Science Hill navigated the ups, downs and arounds at No. 3 (10:58). Watauga’s Sam Nixon was the top Pioneer finisher at No. 4 and only a second behind the third place spot in 10:59.
Other selected Watauga finishes in the division: Collin Anderson (No. 26), Davis Crymes (No. 28), and Miles Page (No. 40).
12th Grade Women’s Division
According to meet director and longtime Watauga head coach Randy McDonough, a few of Watauga’s top women senior performers were sidelined with COVID-19 or being quarantined after having been exposed, so the Pioneers were less competitive in the division than they might have been. Even without the full contingent of Pioneers, the 12th Grade Women’s division saw 56 student athletes take to the 2-mile course.
Breanna Budzinski of West Henderson topped the field as the No. 1 runner to cross the finish line, in 12:15. Second place went to Ella Battel of Daniel Boone High School (Gray, Tenn.), in 12:54, with the No. 3 spot earned by Katie Johnson of North Buncombe (Weaverville, N.C.).
The top Watauga finishes was Ellary Smith at No. 26 (15:22). Another Pioneer in the top half of the field was Maggie Souza (No. 28).
11th Grade Men’s Division
Watauga’s Will Bradbury raced to the No. 1 spot in the 11th Grade Men’s Division, navigating his home course in 10:25, well ahead of West Henderson’s Eli Clonch, No. 2 in 10:41. Connor Hodgson of Jefferson County High School (Dandridge, Tenn.) crossed the line at No. 3 (10:43), among the 90 student athletes from 25 schools competing in the race.
As a team, Watauga was the top finisher among the 10 teams qualifying with at least five runners. Other top Pioneers: Jonah Norris (No. 14), Sam Rex (No. 22), Haines Heistand (No. 29).
11th Grade Women’s Division
Maggie Bellamy of David Crockett High School (Jonesborough, Tenn.) was the No. 1 finisher in the 11th Grade Women’s division, in 12:44, just 16 seconds ahead of Sarah Siner of Dobyns-Bennett HS (Kingsport), in 13:00. Ardrey Kell (Charlotte) junior Reese Hohenberger was only a second behind in third (13:01).
Watauga’s top finishers in the 11th Grade “Clash” of 61 competing student athletes included Sadie Buchanan (No. 12), Mia Libre (No. 19), Hadley Carpenter (No. 32) and Kara Schneider (No. 33).
10th Grade Men’s Division
The 10th Grade Men’s division was one of the largest fields, with 105 student athletes competing. Watauga had a strong team showing, led by Calvin Zwetsloot’s No. 4 finish (11:22). No. 1 honors went to Fisher Battel of Daniel Boone HS (10:42), with Michael Ferguson of North Buncombe at No. 2 (11:14) and Connor Shaw of David Crockett HS at No. 3 (11:19).
Other top Watauga finishers included Zeke Walker (No. 9), Cameron Nance (No. 10), Silas Powell (No. 11) and Santino Wood (No. 24).
10th Grade Women’s Division
Lake Norman High School’s Kasey Dingman was the top sophomore to cross the line in the 10th Grad Women’s division, in 11:56. She was followed by No. 2 Sadie Honeycutt (12:51) of Daniel Boone HS and No. 3 Chloe Jackson (13:22) of North Buncombe.
Watauga’s top competitors were Janie Beach-Verhay (No. 9), Sydney Cate Townsend (No. 13) and Bailey Collins (No. 33).
9th Grade Men’s Division
Tennessee was well-represented in the 9th Grade Men’s “Clash” with Adam Kelley of Daniel Boone HS taking the No. 1 spot in 11:14 and Josh Estes of Dobyns-Bennett HS capturing the No. 2 spot, in 11:37. Ardrey Kell’s George “Adam” Dreier was No. 3 (11:38).
Watauga’s top performer in the class was Grady Gates (No. 7). Other Pioneers in the field of 82 runners included Andreas Rlman (No. 12), Brian Newmark (No. 27) and Isaac James (No. 34).
9th Grade Women’s Division
Science Hill High School (Johnson City, Tenn.) freshman Lorraine Hunter crossed the line No. 1 in the 9th Grade Women’s division, in 12:42, She was followed by Daniel Boone HS’s Mahri Layne at No. 2 (12:46) and Science Hill teammate Ava Nutter at No. 3 (13:08). A total of 80 student athletes competed in the freshman “Clash” of young women.
Top Watauga performers included Lainey Johnston (No. 12), Carrie Bradbury (No. 16), Winter Shaw (No. 17) and Maddie Maple (No. 23).
Congratulations and thanks are in order for the Watauga organizers and volunteers for the event, which drew student athletes from A.C. Reynolds, A.L. Brown (Kannapolis), Alexander Central, Ardrey Kell, Avery County, Cannon County (Woodbury, Tenn.), Chase (Forest City), Cloudland (Roan Mountain, Tenn.), Daniel Boone (Gray, Tenn.), David Crockett (Jonesborough, Tenn.), Dobyns Bennett (Kingsport, Tenn.), Elizabethton (Tenn.), Greer Middle College Charter (Taylors, S.C.), Jefferson County (Dandridge, Tenn.), Lake Norman, Lakeshore Middle (Mooresville), McDowell, Mooresville, North Buncombe, North Stokes (Danbury, N.C.), Pisgah (Canton), Providence Academy (Johnson City), Providence Academy Middle School (Johnson City), R-S Central (Rutherfordton), Run 4 Life Iredell, Science Hill (Johnson City), South Caldwell, Surry Home Educators (Dobson, N.C.), T.A. Dugger Junior HS (Elizabethton, Tenn.), University School of Johnson City, Watauga, Watauga Middle Schools, West Cabarrus (Concord), West Henderson (Hendersonville), and West Stokes (King, N.C.) as well as unattached student athletes.
