High Country Sports

Category: College

  • Bigfoots extend win streak to five with road win over HiToms, 4-2

    By David Rogers. THOMASVILLE, N.C. — Trey Sanders pitched five shutout innings and leadoff batter Tyler Martin displayed both power and speed on June 27, leading the Boone Bigfoots to a 4-2 road win over the High Point-Thomasville HiToms at Finch Field. The victory extended the Bigfoots’ win streak to five games, preserved their Coastal Plains League West Division tie with Martinsville for No. 4 in the standings, and pulled them within just three games of the league-leading Forest City Owls.

    Credited as the winning pitcher, Sanders allowed just three hits and three walks while striking out seven HiToms batters in five innings of work on the mound and was efficient in facing just 21 batters. Of his 83 pitches, 48 were strikes. He worked 3-up, 3-down frames in the first and third innings, and worked out of jam in the fifth inning with runners at 2nd and 3rd by striking out the No. 3 hitter in the HPT batting order to quell the threat.

    Leadoff hitters are most apt to get on base and led the power hitters in the heart of the batting order drive them home. Martin pooh-poohed that notion by crushing a home run as the first batter in the bottom of the 5th inning — and the first batter faced by HPT’s reliever Kobie Cushing, who ignored the rude greeting and got through the rest of the inning without additional damage.

    Martin’s speed on the basepaths was also critical to the Bigfoots’ scoring to open the game. After being issued a walk to leadoff the first inning, Martin stole second to put himself in scoring position, enabling Boone to capitalize when BBF third baseman Payton Basler smacked a double to the fence.

    Boone added more single-run frames in the 4th (Brady Sullivan scored on consecutive wild pitches), 5th (Martin HR), and 8th (2-out RBI single by Samuel Weinstein) innings.

    KEY PERFORMERS

    Boone Bigfoots

      • Trey Sanders – 5 innings pitched, 0 runs on 3 hits, 3 walks, 7 strikeouts
      • Tyler Martin – 1-4, 2 runs scored, 1 RBI, HR, 2 stolen bases
      • Payton Basler – 1-4, 1 RBI, double
      • Brady Sullivan – 0-3, 1 run scored, walk
      • Tyler Renn – 1-3, 1 run scored, hit by pitch

    High Point-Thomasville HiToms

      • Trey Bentley – 2-4, 1 RBI, sacrifice fly, stolen base
      • Yates Sikes – 1-3, 1 RBI, 2 walks, stolen base
      • Blaize Johnson – 1-2, 2 walks, stolen base
      • JJ Parsons – 0-2, 1 run scored, 2 walks
      • Max Perry – 0-2, 1 run scored, 2 walks

  • Undrafted, Huntley signs 2-way contract with Phoenix Suns

    By Jacob Plecker. BROOKLYN, N.Y. — App State men’s basketball forward CJ Huntley signed a two-way contract with the Phoenix Suns following the conclusion of the 2025 NBA Draft.

    Over his five-year career with App State, Huntley was a part of three postseason appearances, which included a berth in the 2021 NCAA Tournament. App State’s 96 wins during Huntley’s career makes him the second-most winningest player in program history, trailing only Donovan Gregory, who tallied 97 wins from 2019-24.

    A second-team All-Sun Belt selection in 2024-25, Huntley posted a career year in his fifth season at App State, scoring a career-best 15.7 points-per-game and grabbing a career-best eight rebounds-per-game. Huntley shot 50 percent from the field in his final season and a career-best 36 percent from behind the 3-point line.

    CJ Huntley (15) puts down a resounding dunk to beat the buzzer at the Holmes Convocation Center to defeat Southern Miss on Feb. 5, 2025, 60-58. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports

    The Huntersville, N.C., native also became the 37th member of App State’s 1,000-point club on Dec. 20, 2024, against North Texas. He finished his five-year career with 1,324 points, which is the 22nd-most all-time at App State. Additionally, he played in 153 games in the Black and Gold, tying him with Justin Forrest for the most all-time.

    Twice named to the All-Sun Belt Preseason Team, Huntley tallied a team-best 11 double-doubles in 2024-25, making him one of four Sun Belt players with at least 10 double-doubles. He also became the first Mountaineer since Marshall Phillips in 1998 to record a 20-point, 15-rebound game, doing so against Coastal Carolina on Jan. 8. He recorded four games with at least 25 points in his final season and finished seventh in the Sun Belt in scoring and sixth in rebounding.

    He averaged 8.7 points and five rebounds-per-game in his Mountaineer tenure, while shooting 49 percent from the floor and 34 percent from three.

  • Young powers Bigfoots to early lead en route to 5-4 win over HiToms

    By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Starting off on the right foot — so to speak — the Boone Bigfoots exploded for three runs in the bottom of the first inning against the High Point-Thomasville HiToms, added a couple more runs later and hung on to win, 5-4, on June 26 at Smith Stadium.

    One of the hottest-hitting batters in the Coastal Plain League of late, Boone’s Michael Young wasted little time in crushing a towering fly ball over the left-centerfield fence, driving in not only himself but also the leadoff batter, designated hitter Tyler Martin, who walked to open the bottom half of the frame. Young has been shuffled up and down the Bigfoots’ batting order this season but the University of South Alabama’s CPL standout brings his power to wherever he’s inserted.

    Ray Euson pitched four strong innings for the Bigfoots to earn the win vs. the HiToms on June 26 at Smith Stadium. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports

    On the mound, Ray Euson faced 17 batters in four strong innings and was credited with the win as the Boone starting pitcher, allowing just four hits and one run, walking two and striking out a pair of HiToms batters.

    The HiToms didn’t go away quietly. In the 7th inning, the visitors managed three runs off of two different Bigfoots pitchers who had “Born to be Wild” in their DNA on this night. Reliever Andrew Hart hit the HiToms’ Landon Peavy to lead off the inning, then walked the visitors’ Tyler Steele.

    A Yates Sikes RBI single to score Peavy sent Hart to the showers and brought Landon Watts to the mound with runners on first and second. That proved only temporary, however, as a passed ball and wild pitch advanced the runners and brought Steele home. Then a Blake Gaffney infield single scored Sikes before Watts settled in and secured the final two outs of the inning — but not before the HiToms had knotted the score at 4-4.

    Just a bit inside… Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports

    The Bigfoots responded with back-to-back, 2-out doubles in the bottom of the 7th inning to bring across the winning run. First, Davin Whitaker smashed a double to the centerfield fence, then Tyler Renn ripped a 2-bagger to left, driving in Whitaker.

    Defense and pitching were the difference makers for the Bigfoots in the later innings. Watts dug in on the mound in the 8th, striking out the first HiToms batter and getting the second to ground out to second base. A single and a stolen base were all that separated that strong opening with the finishing strikeout to end the scoring threat.

    The Sequence

    It might look like the Bigfoots Payton Basler will be thrown out by a proverbial mile, but somewhere between the HiToms’ shortstop’s catch and tag, the ball ends up near the infielder’s cheek bone as Basler slides into second base safely on June 26, 2025. Photographic images by David Rogers for High Country Sports

     

    Flame-throwing Bigfoots reliever Jacob Haley was credited with the save, coming on in the 9th inning to face just four batters in retiring the side and securing the home team’s win.

    With the win, the Bigfoots improve to 10-10, which puts them in a tie with Martinsville for fourth place in the Coastal Plain League’s West Division.

    KEY PERFORMERS

    Boone Bigfoots

      • Ray Ebson (SP): 4 innings pitched, 1 run on 4 hits, walked 2, striking out 2
      • Michael Young (1B): 1-3, 1 run scored, 2 RBIs, HR
      • Davin Whitaker (CF): 2-4, 1 run scored, 2B
      • Tyler Renn (C): 1-3, 1 RBI, 2B
      • Brady Sullivan (RF): 1-3, 1 run scored, 2 stolen bases
      • Payton Basler (3B): 0-1, hit by pitch, 2 walks, 2 stolen bases

    High Point-Thomasville HiToms

      • Yates Sikes (CF): 2-3, 1 run scored, 1 RBI
      • Blake Gaffney (C): 1-2, 1 run scored, 1 RBI

    PLAYERS MENTIONED

    • Ray Euson – Haines City, Fla., Francis Marion University
    • Michael Young – Montgomery, Ala., University of South Alabama
    • Davin Whitaker – Mocksville, N.C., East Carolina University
    • Tyler Renn – Marys Home, Mo., Columbia College
    • Brady Sullivan – Cypress, Texas, Blinn Community College
    • Payton Basler – Lansing, Kan., University of Missouri
    • Jacob Haley – Huntsville, Ala., University of South Alabama
    • Andrew Hart – Wexford, Pa., Cleveland Community College
    • Landon Watts – Picayune, Miss., Pearl River Community College
    • Yates Sikes – High Point, N.C., Western Carolina University
    • Blake Gaffney – Kannapolis, N.C., Wake Tech Community College
    • Landon Peavy – Lancaster, S.C., North Greenville University
    • Tyler Steele – Charlotte, N.C., UNC-Greensboro
    League standings courtesy of Pointstreak.com

     

     

  • Late power surge lifts Bigfoots past Owls, 11-6

    By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C.— A dramatic 7-run explosion in the 7th and 8th innings broke open a 4-4 deadlock and powered the Boone Bigfoots to a convincing, 11-6 win over Coastal Plain League leader, the Forest City Owls on June 24 at Smith Stadium.

    After Boone twice loaded the bases in the bottom of the first inning but were limited to just a single run as Owls starting pitcher Luke Ferguson was able to wiggle out of the jams — thanks in no small measure to baserunning errors by the Bigfoots — the offensive action carried over into the second inning. The Owls sent John Jones to the mound to start the bottom half of the 2nd. It might have been a different pitcher, but the Bigfoots were still on target, offensively. Rightfielder Brady Sullivan (Cypress, Texas; Blinn Community College) led off with a single to right, then second baseman Blaine Lucas (Tomball, Texas; San Jacinto Community College) raced to first base on a dropped third strike by the Owls catcher.

    Michael Young launches a 2-RBI double that hit the left centerfield fence on June 24 vs. the Forest City Owls. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports

    The Bigfoots’ designated hitter on this night was Michael Young (Montgomery, Ala.; University of South Alabama). As Boone’s hottest batter in recent games, Young didn’t disappoint, smashing a double off the left-centerfield wall and driving in both Sullivan and Lucas.

    The Bigfoots would add another run in the 4th inning behind a strong pitching performance by starter Drew Harrison (Madison, Miss.; Pearl River Community College). The lanky righthander gave up three runs on three hits, striking out seven of the 22 batters he faced while walking none. Of Harrison’s 77 pitches thrown, 56 were strikes.

    The Boone Bigfoots’ Blaine Lucas slides home against the Forest City Owls on June 24. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports

    Cole McMichael (Louisville, Ky.; Bellarmine University) took the mound in relief of Harrison to start the 7th inning — and immediately gave up a solo home run to Owls left fielder Matthew Lively (Chapin, S.C.; The Citadel). McMichael settled down to allow only one more baserunner, but that left the score knotted at 4-4.

    The Bigfoots responded with four runs of their own in the bottom half of the 7th inning. Young led off with a single for his third hit of the ball game. Then Owls reliever Corben Childers had some control problems, walking Charlie Niehaus (West Chester, Ohio; University of Cincinnati) and hitting Payton Basler (Lansing, Kansas; University of Missouri) to load the bases.

    Davin Whitaker (39) had a big night for the Boone Bigfoots on June 24 vs. the Forest City Owls. The Mocksville, NC native attending East Carolina went 3-4, with 1 run scored and 6 RBIs on the night. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports

    Davin Whitaker (Mocksville, N.C.; East Carolina) wasted no time, slashing the second pitch to center for a 2-RBI single, scoring Young and Niehaus. Whitaker and Basler would complete the scoring for the inning a couple of batters later on wild pitches.

    It was three up and three down in the top of the 8th for the Owls, with Colin Jenkins (Mt. Olive, Miss.; Pearl River Community College) taking the mound for the Bigfoots, in relief. A flyout to left and a couple of groundouts to third base were all the visitors from Forest City could manage in response.

    In the bottom half of the inning, the Bigfoots added three more insurance runs off of another new Owls pitcher, Adam Katz. Grant Watkins (Troon, Neb.; Abilene Christian), Niehaus and Basler all singled to again load the bases full of Bigfoots and Whitaker took advantage by driving a double to the fence, scoring all three of the runners ahead of him.

    The Owls, still firmly in first place with an 11-5 record after the loss, threatened to even things up in the top of the 9th inning, but could only manage to score two runs, coming up short on the night.

    Harrison was credited as the winning pitcher for Boone, Ferguson picked up the loss for the Owls.

    Boone is at Martinsville on June 25 then return home on June 26, hosting the High Point-Thomasville HiToms.

    KEY PERFORMERS

    Bigfoots

      • Drew Harrison (SP): 6 innings, allowed 3 runs on 3 hits, no walks, 7 strikeouts
      • Michael Young (DH): 3-4, 2 runs scored, 2 RBIs, 2B
      • Davin Whitaker (CF): 3-4, 1 run scored, 6 RBIs, 2B
      • Blaine Lucas (2B): 1-4, 2 runs scored, 2B
      • Payton Basler (3B): 1-4, 2 runs scored, hit by pitch
      • Charlie Niehaus (SS): 1-3, 2 runs scored, 2 walks

    Forest City

      • Jaden James (1B): 2-4, 2 runs scored, stolen base
      • Frank Kelly (2B): 1-4, 1 run scored, 2 RBIs, HR
      • Matthew Lively (LF): 1-3, 2 runs scored, 1 RBI, HR, walk
      • Kael Snethen (3B): 1-3, 1 RBI, 2 stolen bases

     

     

  • Late Mustangs rally upends Bigfoots, 7-5

    By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — A bases-loaded single by pinch-hitter David Ayers in the top of the 8th inning scored two runs for the Martinsville Mustangs, jumpstarting a late innings rally by the visitors and an eventual 7-5 victory over the host Boone Bigfoots at Smith Stadium on June 20.

    CLICK ON ANY IMAGE FOR LARGER, FULL RESOLUTION VERSION AND SLIDESHOW MODE

    With a pitching collapse in the final two frames, the Bigfoots wasted an early power surge by leftfielder Michael Young (HR, 2B, 2 RBIs, 1 run scored) and a respectable pitching effort by starter Trey Sanders (Columbus, Ga., Samford University), who gave up only two runs in 4.1 innings of work on the mound.

    Trey Sanders, a rising redshirt senior at Samford University, was the starting pitcher for the Boone Bigfoots on June 20, vs. the Martinsville Mustangs at Smith Stadium. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports

    Ayers’ 2-run single in the 8th inning closed the Mustangs’ deficit to 5-4 and Boone reliever Jacob Haley (Huntsville, Ala., University of South Alabama) came on to get the final two outs in the 8th inning, but Martinsville wasted little time in jumping on USA’s rising junior pitcher for three runs in the top of the 9th to take the lead and the win.

    The Mustangs’ Enrique Wood (North Carolina A&T) led off the top of the 9th inning with a single, then came home on a wild pitch to knot the score at 5-5. Two batters later, a wild pitch put runners at 2nd and 3rd for the Mustangs and leftfielder Hayden Friese (Western Carolina University) drove them home with a single to left, completing the visitors’ comeback for the win.

    Boone Bigfoots’ centerfielder Kenan Bowman (Upstate University) makes contact in the early innings of the June 20 game vs. the Martinsville Mustangs. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports

    The Bigfoots go on an eastern road trip over the weekend, at Wilmington (Sharks) on Saturday, June 21, and at Wilson (Tobs) on Sunday, June 22, before a Tuesday, June 24 home tilt vs. the Forest City Owls.

    KEY PERFORMERS

    • BOONE BIGFOOTS
      • Michael Young (LF): 2-4, 1 run scored, 2 RBIs, HR, 2B, Sacrifice Fly
      • Kenan Bowman (CF): 3-5, 1 run scored
      • Payton Basler (3B): 1-4, 1 run scored, 1 RBI
      • Trey Sanders (P): 4.1 innings pitched, 7 hits, 2 runs, 4 walks, 3 strikeouts
    • MARTINSVILLE MUSTANGS
      • Hayden Friese (LF): 2-4, 2 runs scored, stolen base
      • David Ayers (PH): 2-5, 2 RBIs
      • Jack Pokorak (1B): 2-6, 1 RBI, 2 doubles
      • Enrique Wood (SS): 2-2, 1 run scored, 1 RBI
      • Carson McCoy (RF): 1-4, 2 runs scored, walk, 2 stolen bases
      • Simon Linde (P): 5 innings, pitched, 6 hits, 1 run, 5 strikeouts, 1 walk

  • Boone RTC’s Jarvis Little earns All-American honors at U.S. Under 23 Freestyle Nationals

    GENEVA, Ohio — By placing eighth in the 65 kg division of the U23 Freestyle Nationals, App State’s Jarvis Little became the seventh USA Wrestling All-American in the last four years from Boone RTC.

    Little, who redshirted as a true freshman at App State during the 2024-25 season, won six of his first seven matches in Ohio and finished 6-3 in the event.

    After going 4-1 on the opening day, Little reached the final 12 in his bracket with a 5-4 victory over Gable Porter from Virginia. Porter recorded a tying takedown with 12 seconds left in the final period, but Little broke the tie with a reversal two seconds later and stayed on top to finish the match.

    Little then clinched All-America recognition and a top-eight finish by advancing over an opponent who had been disqualified from a quarterfinal match in the previous round.

    Little won his first three matches in decisive fashion before dropping into the consolation bracket with a 7-2 loss. After clinching a top-eight finish, he dropped a 9-6 decision against Northern Iowa’s Connor Thorpe to set up a match for seventh place against Noah Tolentino from Oregon State. Little jumped out to a 4-0 lead, but Tolentino rallied for a 5-4 victory.

    Boone RTC had three wrestlers reach the final 24 in their brackets before being eliminated with a second loss: Colby McBride (57 kg), App State newcomer Joe Fongaro (65kg) and Joe Zovistoski (79kg).

    McBride reached the Round of 16 with a 2-0 start before dropping his next two matches. Fongaro started 2-0 and was 4-1 before falling against Little, while Zovistoski followed an opening loss with five straight victories before finishing 5-2.

    Kaden Keiser (four wins), Logan Eller (four wins), Bryson Terrell (two wins) and Anthony Conetta (two wins) all prevailed in Consolation Round 4 matches before being eliminated. Brayden Fahrbach, Alex Hopper and Stephan Monchery also won at least two matches.

    Jarvis Little’s results

    Champ. Round 1: Jarvis Little, BORT over Donnie Morton, PVWC (TF 10-0 (1:47) )
    Champ. Round 2: Jarvis Little, BORT over Kayd Craig, BRUV (Dec 8-2 )
    Champ. Round 3: Jarvis Little, BORT over Ethan Qureshi, SCRT (Dec 10-4 )
    Champ. Round 4: Nash Singleton, BDWR over Jarvis Little, BORT (Dec 7-2 )
    Cons. Round 6: Jarvis Little, BORT over Joe Fongaro, BORT (TF 10-0 (1:11) )
    Cons. Round 7: Jarvis Little, BORT over Gable Porter, CWC (Dec 5-4 )
    Cons. Round 8: Jarvis Little, BORT over Jager Eisch, MIRT (DQ )
    Cons. Round 9: Connor Thorpe, PWCR over Jarvis Little, BORT (Dec 9-6 )
    7th Place Match: Noah Tolentino, BDWR over Jarvis Little, BORT (Dec 5-4 )

  • Freshman Nichols sets pole vault school record in advancing to NCAA T&F Championships

    By Katherine Jamtgaard. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Six Mountaineers represented App State at the NCAA East First Round in Jacksonville, Fla. this week, highlighted by freshman Lilly Nichols’ advancing to the NCAA Championships in the women’s pole vault.

    Junior Ava Studney competed alongside Nichols in the women’s pole vault competition, while graduate student Patrick Freeman and sophomore Matthew Gray represented App State in the men’s pole vault. Sophomore Kendall Johnson redshirt senior Calbert Guest competed in the women’s 100 meters and men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase, respectively.

    Nichols is the first App State women’s pole vaulter in program history to advance to the NCAA Championships. After a weather delay cut competition short on Thursday, Nichols returned to the track to compete on Friday, where she recorded a new school record and personal best clearance of 4.24m (13′ 11″). Nichols surpassed her previous program record of 4.16m (13′ 7.75″), which she set at the Sunday Night Qualifier on May 18 in Boone. She finished fourth in her flight and 11th overall in Friday’s event to punch her ticket to Eugene.

    “I’m thrilled to have advanced to the NCAA Championships and to have achieved a season best, especially after overcoming a knee injury this indoor season,” Nichols said. “I’m hoping to set a new personal record in Eugene.”

    The significance of Nichols’ accomplishment was not lost on her coaches.

    “This is really exciting for Lilly and App State. Making the NCAA finals is impressive and doing it as a true freshman is especially impressive,” said pole vault coach Daniel Isaacs. “I think it’s a good sign of what’s to come in the future for the App State pole vault squad, as well as the entire track and field program as a whole.”

    “This is a meet where self-motivation comes into play,” said director of track & field/cross country Damion McLean. “I’m very proud of the first timers and the seniors. They laid it all out for App State. I’m also extremely proud of Lilly and Coach Daniel Isaacs for punching their ticket to Eugene on their first try.”

    The last Mountaineer to advance to the NCAA Championships was Jada Branch in 2023. Branch landed 12th in the women’s triple jump with a leap of 13.09m (42′ 11.5″) at the 2023 NCAA East Prelim, which was also hosted by North Florida in Jacksonville, Fla.

    Gray placed 15th in the men’s pole vault on Thursday after clearing a bar of 5.33m (17′ 5.75″). His clearance was 0.10 meters from his school and Randy Marion Track & Field Facility record of 5.43m (17′ 9.75″), which he set at the Sunday Night Qualifier.

    On the track, Johnson stopped the clock at 11.36 in the women’s 100-meter quarterfinal on Saturday. She had placed 19th in the first round of the women’s 100 meters with a personal best of 11.31 to qualify for Saturday’s race. In the App State all-time list, she remains second overall.

    In the men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase on Friday, Guest placed eighth in his heat and 23rd overall with a time of 8:55.25. Guest broke the program record with a time of 8:42.01 at the Penn Relays this season. Additionally, he holds the App State record in the men’s 10,000 meters (29:12.85).

    Freeman and Studney did not clear bars in the men’s and women’s pole vault competitions. Freeman entered the men’s competition ranked 19th in the NCAA East First Round qualifying list and caps his career in the Black and Gold ranked second in the App State all-time list with a clearance of 5.35m (17′ 6.5″). Studney entered the women’s competition ranked 43rd in the NCAA East First Round and closes out the season ranked second in the App State all-time list with a personal best clearance of 4.11m (13′ 5.75″).

    Up Next

    The NCAA Championships are slated for June 11-14 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore. The women’s pole vault is scheduled for 4:35 p.m. PT (7:35 p.m. ET) on Thursday, June 12.

    Individual field events and the multi-events events will be available to stream on ESPN+ throughout the day. The meet will be available to watch on ESPN and ESPN2 starting at 4 p.m. PT (7 p.m. ET) on Wednesday and Thursday, at 5 p.m. PT (8 p.m. ET) on Friday, and 6 p.m. PT (9 p.m. ET) on Saturday.

     

  • Top-ranked JC guard comes to App State WBB

    By Katherine Jamtgaard. BOONE, N.C. — App State women’s basketball coach Alaura Sharp announced the addition of Marta Gutierrez to the 2025-26 roster on May 29. As the newest addition to the roster, Gutierrez joins fellow spring signees Emma Smith, Daisia Mitchell, Jada Burton, Jayden McBride, and Feryal Defne Atli.

    Marta Gutierrez | 5′ 7″ | G | Dénia, Spain | IES Historiador Chabas | Vincennes

    Gutierrez will join the Mountaineers as a guard after spending the 2024-25 season at Vincennes University. Last season, Gutierrez started 28 of the 30 games she appeared and collected NJCAA DI All-Region accolades for her efforts on the court. She helped the Trailblazers to a Region 24 semifinal appearance. Gutierrez averaged 11.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per contest last season. Additionally, she shot 47.3% from the field and 31.2% from beyond the arc. Gutierrez spent her freshman season at Ranger College. The Dénia, Spain native also competed on the Valencia Basket Club and Valencian’s Selection club teams.

    While at App State, Gutierrez plans on studying psychology. She enjoys listening to music, skateboarding, and hanging out with friends.

    Why Gutierrez Chose App State: “I chose App State because I want to win.”

    Sharp on Gutierrez: “Marta is a welcomed addition to our roster. She gives us great security at the ball handling position and is also versatile enough to play off the ball. Her basketball IQ and defensive intensity really stood out to us. Marta plays with a ton of energy, which the fans will really love. We cannot wait for her arrival in Boone.”

  • Mountaineers’ September football broadcasts set; two games nationally televised

    By Bret Strelow. BOONE, N.C. — With a clearer picture of how the opening month of the 2025 season will look — highlighted by two national television appearances in September — the kickoff times and accompanying network designations for several App State football games this fall were announced May 29.

    The Mountaineers’ first game under the direction of first-year head coach Dowell Loggains is a Friday opener, the Duke’s Mayo Classic against Charlotte in Bank of America Stadium on Aug. 29. It will kick off at 7 p.m. and be shown on ESPNU. The Duke’s Mayo Classic at the home of the NFL’s Carolina Panthers is also the first game for a new-look coaching staff and a roster that includes 49 newcomers.

    Fans can purchase tickets now for the Aug. 29 game against Charlotte. Ticket revenue received prior to Sunday stays with App State.

    The home opener against Lindenwood on Sept. 6 will be a 3:30 p.m. game available on ESPN+, which will also be the platform for the Mountaineers’ Sun Belt Conference opener at Southern Miss on Sept. 13. That game will begin at 7 p.m. ET (6 p.m. CT).

    Following a bye week, App State’s trip to Boise State and the blue turf of Albertsons Stadium on Sept. 27 is a meeting between the only two G5 programs with at least 100 victories since 2014, the Mountaineers’ first FBS season. The game will air nationally on either FOX, FS1 or FS2. The kickoff time has not been finalized, with that information and a specific network likely being announced on Monday, Sept. 15, in conjunction with the other TV selections that are publicized 12 days out from game day.

    App State’s lone midweek contest — a nationally televised home game against Georgia Southern on Thursday, Nov. 6 — will kick off at either 7:30 or 8 p.m. on ESPN or ESPN2.

    A limited number of season tickets are available by calling the App State Athletics Ticket Office at 828-262-7733 (Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.). More details are forthcoming for single-game tickets, which go on sale in June.

    On Thursday, the league also announced that the 2025 Sun Belt Football Championship Game will move from Saturday to Friday, with the Dec. 5 title game having a 7 p.m. ET kickoff time and being televised on ESPN.

    “We are excited to kick off conference championship weekend with the Sun Belt Football Championship Game on Friday, Dec. 5,” Sun Belt Conference Commissioner Keith Gill said. “With primetime billing on ESPN, we look forward to showcasing our East and West Division champions as they vie for a conference title and a potential berth into the College Football Playoff.”

    2025 App State Football Schedule

    Fri., Aug. 29 vs. Charlotte (Bank of America Stadium)
    Sat., Sept. 6 vs. Lindenwood (Family Weekend)
    Sat., Sept. 13 at Southern Miss*
    Sat., Sept. 27 at Boise State
    Sat., Oct. 4 vs. Oregon State
    Sat., Oct. 11 at Georgia State*
    Sat., Oct. 18 vs. Coastal Carolina* (Homecoming)
    Sat., Oct. 25 at Old Dominion*
    Thurs., Nov. 6 vs. Georgia Southern*
    Sat., Nov. 15 at James Madison*
    Sat., Nov. 22 vs. Marshall* (Black Saturday, Heroes Day)
    Sat., Nov. 29 vs. Arkansas State* (Senior Day)

    * Sun Belt game
    Home game in bold

  • Mountaineers advance six track and field athletes to NCAA East First Round

    By Katherine Jamtgaard. BOONE, N.C. — Six Mountaineers have advanced to the NCAA East First Round, as announced on the NCAA website on Thursday. Graduate student Patrick Freeman, redshirt senior Calbert Guest, junior Ava Studney, sophomores Matthew Gray and Kendall Johnson and freshman Lilly Nichols have been accepted into the competition.

    The NCAA East First Round will be hosted by the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, Fla., on May 28-31. The meet will be available to stream on ESPN+.

    A trio of Mountaineers will be making their second appearance at the NCAA East First Round, having qualified in previous years. Both Gray and Studney will make their second consecutive appearances in the meet, as the pair previously qualified in the men’s and women’s pole vault categories in 2024. Guest will make his return to the Jax Track at Hodges Stadium, where he made his previous appearance in the men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase in 2023.

    Freeman and Gray will start the Mountaineers off on Wednesday with the men’s pole vault, which is slated to start at 5:30 p.m. The duo had broken the school record at the App State Open (April 18-19) with matching clearances of 5.35m (17′ 6.5″). Gray went on to surpass the record on two more occasions, first clearing a bar of 5.38m (17′ 7.75″) at the Sun Belt Championships to secure silver and Second Team All-Sun Belt honors, before recording a clearance of 5.43m (17′ 9.75″) in front of a home crowd at the Sunday Night Qualifier on May 18. Gray and Freeman enter the competition ranked 14th and 19th, respectively, in the final NCAA East First Round Qualifying List.

    Johnson, Nichols and Studney will each compete on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. Nichols and Studney will compete in the women’s pole vault and enter the competition ranked 34th and 43rd, respectively, in the qualifying list. Nichols broke the women’s pole vault program record twice this spring, first at the Sun Belt Championships (May 8-10) with a clearance of 4.11m (13′ 5.75″), and then with a clearance of 4.16m (13′ 7.75″) at the Sunday Night Qualifier (May 18). Nichols secured silver and Second Team All-SBC honors for her performance at the SBC Championships and now holds the women’s indoor and outdoor pole vault program records. Studney recorded a personal best clearance of 4.11m (13′ 5.75″) at the Sunday Night Qualifier and stands second in the App State all-time list for her performance.

    At 7 p.m. on Thursday, Johnson will race in the first round of the women’s 100 meters. The top 24 finishers will advance to Saturday’s 6:35 p.m. women’s 100-meter quarterfinal. Johnson rounds out the qualifying list’s top 25 after she stopped the clock at 11.33 in the women’s 100 meters at the Sun Belt Championships (May 8-10). Her time launched her to second in the App State all-time list, just shy of the program record of 11.22, which Lamonda Miller set in 1989.

    Friday’s action will feature Guest in the 5:40 p.m. men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase competition. Guest stands 17th in the qualifying list after he stopped the clock at 8:42.01 to break the program record in the event at the Penn Relays (April 24-26). Guest earned Sun Belt Men’s Track Athlete of the Week honors for his efforts.

    The top 12 finishers in each individual event and 12 teams from each relay event from the NCAA East First Round will advance to the NCAA Championships. The NCAA Championships will be held at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore. on June 5-8.

    MEET SCHEDULE: click HERE

    LIVE RESULTS: click HERE