Category: High School

By David Rogers. CHARLOTTE, N.C. — If soccer games were decided by who spends the most time in an opponent’s half of the field, Ardrey Kell was the clear winner on Aug. 14 in the 2023season opener vs. Watauga. That didn’t happen, though, because the Pioneers’ defenders turned back the Knights’ onslaught — including three dramatic saves by senior goalkeeper Kyle Painter in the 0-0 draw.

BONUS PHOTOS AT BOTTOM OF ARTICLE

Watauga head coach Josh Honeycutt is intentional in his non-conference scheduling, loading up the early slate of matches with the strongest possible competition before starting to campaign for a Northwestern Conference championship. At least in North Carolina, the Knights’ program is among the best. Competing in the highest, 4A classification, Ardrey Kell finished No. 13 among all of the 566 high school soccer programs in North Carolina by the end of the 2022 season, according to MaxPreps.com, which had Watauga listed at No. 83.

“Before the game, we were all sitting around looking at social media and stuff and my buddy, Ben Myers, showed me a power ranking for North Carolina 4A, and Ardrey Kell was ranked as No. 7. We weren’t even mentioned. You wouldn’t even know that Watauga existed. So, we had a bit of a chip on our shoulders tonight, feeling we had something to prove. Coming away with a 0-0 is a statement to any school in the state that we are not a joke or just a bunch of hillbillies. We can play.”

Honeycutt put the Pioneers’ season opening performance into perspective after achieving a 0-0 draw when the Knights dominated possession.

“I am super proud of these guys the way they battled all night long,” said Honeycutt. “Defensively, we were as solid as we could be. Ardrey Kell has an unbelievable attack, one of the best high school teams I have seen. They have lots of talent on the ball, lots of good runs and quick one- and two-touch passing. They are very difficult to defend and we came out here and kept it a 0-0 game. That just speaks volumes to what our guys leave on the field every time they come out to play soccer.”

Honeycutt had special praise for Painter’s performance.

“Kyle had a couple of great saves and he commanded the field. It all starts with him. He is very vocal, directing traffic. Our backline is soaking wet right now, drenched in sweat because they did an excellent job of man-marking and tracking, making sure we were staying goal side and giving Ardrey Kell as few opportunities as possible. For an opponent like Ardrey Kell, on their pitch in this heat, to come away 0-0 in the season opener… I will take that all day long.”

Although Honeycutt understood the significance of the draw against a very strong Ardrey Kell team, he also realized there is room for improvement.

“We have to do a better job of possessing in the midfield,” he said. “We had a couple of guys say beforehand that they weren’t feeling great, even nauseous, perhaps because of the heat, so we were shuffling guys in and out. There wasn’t a lot of continuity as we were trying to keep the guys hydrated. I think if we can build our midfield possession and allow it to be purposeful, to build the attack moving the ball forward, we will be a lot better off. We were a little on our heels tonight, but that is also credit to Ardrey Kell and how good they are in their attack.”

Senior defender Ayden Johnson credited his team’s communication on the field for much of the evening’s performance.

“On the field, we have to always be talking to each other, checking your shoulders and communicating,” said Johnson. “A big thing is also trust. I have to be able to trust my outside back, let them fight their battles and trust them to win those. We have a lot of connection and togetherness on this team.”

Watauga returns home, hoping for more favorable playing conditions on Wednesday, Aug. 16, for their opener at Jack Groce Stadium against West Caldwell (Lenoir).

“I am excited for it,” said Painter. “We’ve been talking to friends and looking for a big crowd. If we play as well as we did tonight, everyone gets to go home early.”

“Win big,” added Johnson, smiling.

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By David Rogers. CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Giving up three goals in the first 13 minutes of play on Aug. 14 proved too much to overcome for the Watauga junior varsity men’s soccer. The Pioneers proved resilient in the second half, but fell to the host Ardrey Kell Knights, 4-0, in both teams’ 2023 season opener.

Watauga endured a three and a half hour bus ride to get to the Knights’ home pitch, the team’s arrival delayed three times by car crashes ahead of them on I-77. Upon arrival, they stepped out of the school bus into an oven — 96 degrees Fahrenheit and high humidity vs. the 71-degree weather they had left earlier in the afternoon, in Boone.

“Coming into it we knew it was going to be a tough matchup,” said Watauga JV coach Vern Collins afterwards. “As a program, we like to load the non-conference portion of our schedule with better teams because it is an opportunity for these boys to learn and to grow.

“It took us basically to the second half to play at the intensity level that we prefer,” Collins added. “We were sluggish in the first half. The heat was a shocker. Our mountain boys are spoiled! But seriously, we like to tell our guys that the heat and the conditions they can’t control. But what they can control is their level of play. Even though the scoreboard doesn’t reflect the outcome we wanted, we are very proud of the way they picked up the level of intensity in the second half.”

Collins pointed out that the Watauga JV team is quite young.

“We sent a lot of guys from last year to varsity this year,” he said. “We have a lot of freshmen, but there is a lot of talent on this team. We have been able to tell very quickly that these guys are buying into the culture of Watauga soccer.”

Watauga will play under more favorable conditions in their next encounter, on Aug. 16, when they host West Caldwell (Lenoir) at Jack Groce Stadium. The JVs’ kickoff is slated for 4:30 p.m., with the varsity to follow.

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By David Rogers. SALISBURY, N.C. — It was a scrimmage-style, high school volleyball tournament hosted by Catawba College on Aug. 12, but it wasn’t really about the scores, which weren’t kept or reported, officially. Instead, the timed, 30-minute (varsity) and 20-minute (JV) scrimmages gave the coaches some idea of their respective teams’ readiness for the soon-to-start regular season.

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Watauga faced West Wilkes, Davie County, Mallard Creek and West Cabarrus in the packed Catawba College gyms — two of them — with family, friends, teammates and coaches lining the walls around the courts. If nothing else, it was a festive atmosphere celebrating high school women’s volleyball.

The Pioneers had the event’s largest contingent, with a varsity team and not one, but two junior varsity entries, the only school so represented.

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EVERY YEAR PRESENTS A NEW PUZZLE. WE HAVE SOME REALLY GOOD PIECES THIS YEAR.

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“Our hope was to get in here and play against some high level teams,” the Pioneers’ head coach Kim Pryor explained after her charges’ first matches against West Wilkes. “We have been hitting against each other for so long, it is nice to play someone different. That said, we get a lot out of our intrasquad scrimmages. Part of being a part of Watauga volleyball is being able to play against high level competition in every practice. Our talent level coming in is pretty good every year. To play against other teams, though, gives you a true feel for the game, putting different lineups in and checking things out.”

One of the stark realities of high school sports is turnover. Student athletes graduate and move on with their lives. A few go to play at the next level but every year the coaches are replacing at least some of their previous season’s stars.

Case in point: the Pioneers lost a couple of big hitters the last few seasons in Caroline Farthing and Brooke Scheffler, as well as the Northwestern Conference defensive player of the year, Kenzie Baldwin and multi-talented Faith Watson.

Replacing two hitters going on to play at Division I schools, Farthing at App State and Scheffler to Furman, is no easy task, but the Pioneers have a lot of potential in outside hitters Emma Pastusic (sophomore) and Brooklyn Stanbery (senior), as well as middle hitters Kate McCullough (senior), Sara Marlowe (senior), Grace Tillery (junior) and Kora Knight (sophomore). Marlowe and McCullough all-Northwestern Conference honorable mention selections last season.

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A STARK REALITY OF HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS IS TURNOVER. STUDENT ATHLETES GRADUATE AND MOVE ON WITH THEIR LIVES, INCLUDING SOME WHO WILL PLAY AT THE NEXT LEVEL.

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“We have a lot of depth with our blocking and hitting this year,” said Pryor.

Other varsity returnees from 2022 include Evie Robbins (senior libero, designated setter), Olivia Kop (senior, designated setter), Madie Combs (senior setter/designated setter) and Kasey Gragg (senior, setter).

The strength of the Watauga program may well be its numbers and roster depth, as reflected in the school’s entering a varsity team and two JV teams.

“Every year you have a new puzzle and you are challenged to fit all the pieces together. The pieces that we have this year bring a special set of skills in the area of blocking. When seniors move on, it creates opportunities for the girls coming up to fill those spots. It is always fun to put the new puzzle together. We have some great pieces to play with,” said Pryor.

“We have 50+ student athletes out for volleyball this year,” Pryor added, in referencing Watauga’s three tournament entries. “Especially at this time of year, we wanted to see them all play. Each one of them has been working hard.”

Pryor indicated the tournament’s scrimmage competition offered exactly what she and her coaches valued at this point in the 2023 season.

“For the preseason, we want to play strong opponents,” said Pryor, “even the best and you will see that in our early schedule as we prepare for another Northwestern Conference championship run. Our conference has gotten stronger in each of the last few years, so preparing for conference play has gotten more demanding. Ashe County is already strong, Hibriten is coming up, Alexander Central and South Caldwell are always scrappy and good tests now. We get ready for conference play this year with early opponents like Cox Mill, Southwestern Randolph, Hickory, and Foard, which are all very strong programs.”

Pryor’s optimism for the new season is shared by her players.

“I am very excited for the new season,” said Pastusic. “We lost a couple of players who graduated and went off to college, but I think we are adapting well. This scrimmage will really help us with timing and all. We are really working hard in practice and there are some girls who played JV last year coming up to varsity this year and they are very, very good.”

Pastusic, who also represented the Pioneers last spring in track and field, said her multi-sport experience is a positive.

“Being able to play more than one sport helps you achieve a sort of balance in your conditioning and preparation,” she said. “By being in track, I also stay in shape for playing volleyball in the summer and fall.”

Standing at 6-feet tall, Tillery enjoys a height advantage and one of those student athletes moving up from the JV squad where she competed in 2022.

“Moving up from JV to varsity is a big change for me,” said Tillery, “but I just want to get in there and live up to the expectations. I have considered trying to play at the next level and a junior year is when a lot of the recruiting is taking place. But while I have some individual goals, helping our team win a conference championship and possibly go deep into the playoffs is the most important thing.”

Watauga gets started on the 2023 season in earnest this week, with three matches. On Tuesday, Aug. 15, the Pioneers host Southwestern Randolph in Lentz Eggers Gym, with the JVs kicking things off at 4:30 p.m. and the varsity match scheduled for 6 p.m. On Wed. (Aug. 16), Watauga travels to West Wilkes (4:30 p.m./6:00 p.m.), and on Saturday (Aug. 19), they’ll get up early to play 4A power Cox Mill in Lentz Eggers Gym (11 a.m./12:30 p.m.).

VARSITY IMAGES FROM CATWABA COLLEGE SCRIMMAGE

JUNIOR VARSITY IMAGES FROM CATAWBA COLLEGE TOURNAMENT

By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — A spirited, three-way high school football scrimmage graced Jack Groce Stadium on Aug. 11, involving host Watauga, Ashe County and North Surry each representing three different NCHSAA levels.

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Each of the teams had their moments, but in the early part of the sessions perhaps the most impressive was 2A representative North Surry, which effectively moved the ball on offense against the two larger schools Watauga (4A) and Ashe County (3A), both members of the 3A/4A Northwestern Conference. North Surry also intercepted a long Watauga pass in the end zone to avoid giving up a TD.

“After graduating 22 seniors from last year’s team, six of them going on to play at the next level, there is no question we are young with a lot of questions,” Watauga head coach Ryan Habich said to High Country Sports in a weekend telephone interview. “We have probably the toughest non-conference schedule this season, at least since I have been here, so our challenge as coaches and players is to stay healthy physically, mentally and emotionally as we prepare for the conference schedule. Our No. 1 goal is always a conference championship because that is what earns you high seedings and home field advantage in the state playoffs.”

Habich indicated that several positions, including running back and tight end, are proving to be tough competitions among players with little or no experience at those positions, including veteran student-athletes like Morgan Henry, who has already started to receive college offers.

“We graduated our six top running backs last year,” said Habich, “so we are moving guys around. “Morgan Henry is a good example. He is transitioning from a pure receiver role to a hybrid receiver role where he will also line up as a running back.”

With all of its great resources, especially as a 4A level school because of the size of its enrollment near 1,500, Watauga High School has a significant challenge vs. other 4A schools in the larger metropolitan areas.

“Some of those 4A schools in Raleigh, Charlotte, Greensboro… have as many as 2,600 enrolled students, so they already have a distinct advantage in terms of numbers compared to a 4A school like Watauga with 1,500 students.” said Habich. “But beyond that, in a metropolitan area most of the students live pretty close to their high school campuses whereas Watauga’s students live all around the county. Transportation becomes pretty important. In Charlotte, a kid might be able to catch a ride with a buddy or have a short walk to and from practice. Here, your buddy living in Deep Gap may not have the time or resources to give you a lift home to Bethel.”

With the transportation challenges, the more rural county schools like Watauga may not have the number of players coming out so suffer from a lack of roster depth.

“We will play against teams this year that have completely distinct offense, defense, and special teams units,” Habich pointed out. “They have so much depth that no one has to play both ways or even three ways for the team to be competitive. Here, as we do every year, we will once again have our top players competing on both offense and defense, like Maddox Greene at quarterback and defensive back or Jackson Pryor at wide receiver and outside linebacker.

“We have so many wonderful resources here at Watauga, from the stadium with its lights and turf to what the students have in their classrooms,” said Habich. “In some respects, you might think of us as an ‘Ivy League’ school but we have to have a military school mentality when it comes to football if we are to compete at a high level. We have to do things differently.”

Watauga looks to polish its execution in all three phases of the game before the regular season opener on Aug. 18, at home against longtime rival, T C Roberson (Asheville).

RANDOM CAPTURED MOMENTS FROM THE SCRIMMAGE

All photographic images by David Rogers

By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. —The North Carolina Baseball Coaches Association announced the organization’s high school “all state” teams on June 7, and the High Country was well represented with Watauga shortstop Maddox Greene’s selection to the large school, “4A” All State Team.

Greene was one of two Northwestern Conference student athletes to make the list of 31 players named to the list. The other NWC representative is Mason Reising of South Caldwell.

Luke Stevenson of Wake Forest High School was named “4A Player of the Year,” while Nathan Teague of Southern Alamance was tabbed “4A Pitcher of the Year.”

NCBCA 4-A All-State Team

• Jaxon Matthews (Hough)
• Jimmy Lovelace (Wake Forest)
• Luke Nixon (New Hanover)
• Sean Smith (New Hanover)
• Bromley Thornton (New Hanover)
• Bristol Carter (NW Guilford)
• Tristan Potts (Cuthbertson)
• Briggs McKenzie (Corinth Holders)
• Jett Music (Corinth Holders)
• Maddox Greene (Watauga)
• Jaxon Lucas (Garner)
• Colby Wallace (Pinecrest)
• Sam Harris (Broughton)
• Levi Strahm (Reagan)
• Tyler Stillson (Chapel Hill)
• Micah Simpson (TC Roberson)
• Nick Parham (TC Roberson)
• Steele Lee (East Forsyth)
• Brady Thopson (Providence)
• Garrett Crum (Ragsdale)
• Chace Chaplin (Middle Creek)
• Cooper Cavanaugh (Topsail)
• Tyler Howe (Hopewell)
• Jaxon Matthews (Hough)
• Mason Reising (South Caldwell)
• Bryant Kimbrell (Pinecrest)
• Harrison Lewis (West Forsyth)
• Brantley Truitt (East Mecklenburg)
• Luke Wolff (Providence)
• Jacob Kirby (Ardrey Kell)

By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — As befitting the league champions, Alexander Central nearly swept the individual honors and had a whopping 12 student athletes receive all-Northwestern Conference recognition.

The Cougars, coached by “Coach of the Year” selection Pete Hardee, were second place Watauga’s nemesis in the 2023 season, serving up the only two conference losses experienced by the Pioneers.

With an 18-7 overall record and an 8-1 conference record, the Pioneers enjoyed their best season since 2009-10 — when Hardee was the Pioneer coach. Having just finished their second season under head coach Mike Windish, the Watauga hardballers seem to be on a roll and had eight student athletes receive all-Northwestern Conference recognition for the 2023 season.

• Conference Champion – Alexander Central
• Player of the Year – Mason Raising – South Caldwell
• Co-Pitchers of the Year – Maddox Jack and Caleb Williams,  Alexander Central
• Coach of the Year – Pete Hardee – Alexander Central

All Conference Team

ALEXANDER CENTRAL

• Jaret Hoppes
• Maddox Jack
• Sawyer Chapman
• Caleb Williams
• Mason Chapman
• Bubba Pope
• Cam Chapman
• J.D. Little
• Dyson Lewis
• Spencer Oram
• Honorable Mention: Alex Sloan, Grayson Anderson

WATAUGA

• Jacob Dilley
• Tristan Salinas
• Cooper Riddle
• Maddox Greene
• Johnny Ray
• JT Cook
• Jameson Hodges
• Honorable Mention: Cooper Critcher

SOUTH CALDWELL

• Mason Reising
• Tristan Mearns
• Elias Morales
• Graham Watters
• Davis Brown
• Easton King
• Honorable Mention: Walker Hartley, Luke Williams, Zane Dorsey

HIBRITEN

• Jake Absher
• Connor Woodward
• Ryan Winkler
• Honorable Mention: Dillan Earp, Micah Dalton

ASHE COUNTY

• Canyon Pennington
• Sam Tibbs
• Colin Estes
• Honorable Mention: Jordan Tibbs

FREEDOM

• Carson Dyson
• Eli Wolfe
• Honorable Mention: Jagger Bailey

By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — It may not have been Watauga’s best softball season, but five student athletes were recognized for their performances, earning all-Northwestern Conference honors. Three were named to the all-conference team and two getting “honorable mention” nods.

The 2023 all-conference selections were dominated by the co-league champions, Alexander Central (21-5 overall, 10-1 NWC) and South Caldwell (17-5, 9-1), each with nine student athletes named to the all-conference team and each with one honorable mention.

• Co-Champions: Alexander Central and South Caldwell
• Player of the Year: Kadie Becker, South Caldwell
• Pitcher of the Year: Laney Wike, Alexander Central
• Coach of the Year: Justin Wood, Ashe County

All Conference Team

ALEXANDER CENTRAL

• Lainey Russell
• Laney Wilke
• Ava Chapman
• Alyssa Chapman
• Kenzie Church
• Kensley Davis
• Anna Jordan
• McCartney Harrington
• Kirstyn Herman
• Honorable Mention: Macy Law

SOUTH CALDWELL

• Kadie Becker
• Kennedy Crouch
• Brooklyn Johnson
• Kaylee Anderson
• Liz Jarden
• Chloe Phillips
• Kenzie Clontz
• Sydnee Bumgarner
• Emily Coffey
• Honorable Mention: Sydni Woodward

ASHE COUNTY

• Maleah Lovell
• Ally Greer
• Becka Wonsick
• Hannah Osborne
• Hadilyn Eason
• Honorable Mention: Isabella Farmer, Adaline Bowers, Abby Sheets

HIBRITEN

• Emma Poarch
• Zoey Walker
• Honorable Mention: Sydney Wike, Katie Story

WATAUGA

• Jordin Greene
• Chloe Wilson
• Kara Brooks
• Honorable Mention: Katie Jo Matheson, Dagan Newsome

FREEDOM

• Lani Campbell
• Destiny White
• Honorable Mention: Mikhayua Lingafelt