By David Rogers. TAYLORSVILLE, N.C. — Sixty-nine high school golfers were entered into the NCHSAA 4A West Men’s Golf Regional on May 8, at Brushy Mountain Golf Club. Only nine advanced to the May 15 state championship event at historic Pinehurst — and Watauga senior Colin Phelps is one of them after carding a 76, tying for fifth place on the day.
The nine qualifiers from the NCHSAA 4A West Regionals are:
T1 – (71) Colin Salema (Jr.), Providence HS (Charlotte)
3 – (75) Aidan Klause (Sr.), Charlotte Catholic HS (Charlotte)
4 – (75) Corey Thomas (Sr.), Hough HS (Cornelius)
T5 – (76) Colin Phelps (Sr.), Watauga HS (Boone)
T5 – (76) Henry Wilder (Jr.), T C Roberson HS (Arden)
T5 – (76) Jacob Koch (Sr.), Providence HS (Charlotte)
T8 – (77) Aidan Hollar (Jr.), Alexander Central HS (Taylorsville)
T8 – (77) Mac Helton (Sr.), South Caldwell HS (Granite Falls)
Colin Phelps is all smiles after carding a 76 to tie for 5th place at the 4A West Regionals on May 8 and qualifying for the NC4A State Championship on May 15. Photo courtesy of Watauga High School
Charlotte Catholic took top team honors, followed by Ardrey Kell and Myers Park.
According to the NCHSAA, 21 golfers advance to the state championship tournament from each regional. The top three teams automatically qualify with their best four scores. The next determining factor: the top nine players NOT in the top four of the top three teams. If a school does not finish in the top 3 teams but qualifies at least four individuals, that school will compete at the state championship as a team. A qualifying team could still qualify a fifth individual if that player finishes in the top nine, individually.
The North Carolina State Championship will be played on May 15, on the Pinehurst No. 8 course.
Phelps was the highest placing individual among competing golfers from the other two 4A schools in the Northwestern Conference, Alexander Central and South Caldwell.
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — For the first 20 minutes of Watauga’s final, regular season women’s soccer match at Jack Groce Stadium, vs. Freedom, the teams were deadlocked in a 0-0 tie. After Pioneer junior Katie Durham punched in a goal with some 14 minutes remaining for the game’s first goal, the home team’s scoring became an avalanche. The match ended only a minute into the second half, the “mercy rule” having been triggered when Watauga reached 9-0.
BONUS PHOTOS AT BOTTOM OF STORY
Photographic image by David Rogers
Had it not been for some acrobatic saves by the Patriots’ freshman goalkeeper, Gianny Regino, the “mercy rule” would have ended the game at halftime. As it was, the Pioneers scored seven more goals in the waning minutes of the first half after Durham’s first tally — including two MORE by Watauga’s most prolific attacker. The halftime score was 8-0, one short of the automatic trigger for the NCHSAA “mercy rule” when it comes to high school soccer.
No possession time records were kept, but less than three minutes are estimated to have been played in Watauga’s defensive end. In short, the Pioneers dominated once they got going.
Mattie Durham (14, dark jersey), far right, scores the final goal for Watauga in the Pioneers’ 9-0 win over Freedom on May 10. Photographic image by David Rogers
“We started a bit slow,” recalled Pioneer head coach Chris Tarnowski, “but these are a great bunch of players for fixing what might be wrong. I am very proud of this team and the big lead allowed us to get some valuable playing time for many of our non-starters.”
Tarnowski named senior midfielder Laurel Kiker as the “Player of the Game.” After Kiker entered the game in the final 15 minutes of the first half, she almost immediately found the back of the net for one of Watauga’s last goals of the session.
With the win, Watauga (9-0-1 in Northwestern Conference, 14-2-1 overall) put an exclamation mark on its being the sole conference champion for the 2023 regular season. The Pioneers now await word of who a first round opponent might be in the state playoffs, with a probable start to first round play on May 15.
Ever opportunistic, Durham has 27 goals on the season.
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — A 5-run outburst in the first inning by visiting Cuthbertson proved to be all the visitors needed to overwhelm host Watauga on May 9, 7-3, in the first round of the North Carolina state playoff tournament.
With Watauga’s sophomore pitching ace J T Cook on the mound, Cuthbertson junior right fielder Blake McKinney sliced a a 1-out double to the fence in the left field corner, just inside the foul line. That got things started for the Cavaliers and senior Thomas Paxton followed, patiently watching a low, 3-2 pitch by Cook just miss the inside corner to draw a walk.
Photographic image by David Rogers
Cook seemed to recover with a strikeout of junior Tyler Potts for the second out, but when McKinney stole third base and Paxton stole second, the Cavaliers suddenly had two runners in scoring position should the next batter, junior Calvin Douglas, come through with any kind of a hit.
Douglas came through for the visitors, ripping a single to center that scored both runners, the relay throw from the outfield arriving just a bit too late to catch the speedy Paxton diving across the plate.
Watauga looked to get out of the inning when Cuthbertson’s Ryan Greenspan knocked a grounder toward third, but a double fielding error — one by third baseman Cooper Riddle and another by first baseman David Pastusic — allowed Douglas to advance to third and then find home for the Cavaliers’ third run of the opening frame. The sequence also allowed Greenspan to put himself in scoring position by claiming second base.
Senior Ty Fratarolli put runners on the corners for Cuthbertson with a line drive single to left, the third base coach stopping Greenspan at third.
Photographic image by David Rogers
Their caution paid off on the next batter. After Fratarolli took advantage of having a teammate on third and stole second to put himself in scoring position on any kind of hit, senior Mark Salicco ripped a double to the gap in right field, plating both Greenspan and Fratarolli.
A fly out to centerfielder Johnny Ray ended the inning, but the Cavaliers had gotten all they would need in offensive production to win the day and move on to Round 2 against either No. 4 seed Hickory Ridge or No. 29, Southwest Guilford.
The Cavaliers added two more insurance runs in the second inning and that early offensive production, along with solid pitching by NC State-bound junior Tristan Potts and no errors by the Cuthbertson defense won the day for the visitors.
Photographic image by David Rogers
The Pioneers manufactured two runs in the bottom half of the 6th inning when Jameson Hodges led off with a line drive to the centerfield gap and sophomore shortstop Maddox Greene followed with a single to put runners at first and second (Hodges unable to advance on the play). Jacob Dilley loaded the bases with a shallow single to right that advanced the runners, then Tristan Salinas lifted a long fly ball to left, with Hodges tagging up and running home for the Pioneers’ first run on the sacrifice fly.
Greene was held up at second, but the speedster was able to score when Riddle singled to left. Potts wiggled out of the inning without any further damage, the score now 7-2.
Watauga got another leadoff double in the bottom of the 7th inning when Cook hammered a double to the fence in center, yielding to pinch runner Evan Burroughs. After waiting through two strikeouts, Burroughs raced home when Greene laced a grounder through the infield to left for the Pioneers’ final run.
In picking up the win, Potts’ recorded 102 pitches. Cook was credited with the loss for the Pioneers.
Photographic image by David Rogers
Key Performers
WAT – Cooper Riddle 1-3, 1 RBI
WAT – Maddox Greene 2-4, 1 run scored, 1 RBI
WAT – Tristan Salinas 0-2, 1 RBI, Sac Fly
WAT – J T Cook, 3-3, 2B
WAT – Jameson Hodges 1-3, 1 run scored, 2B
CUT – Blake McKinney 1-3, 1 run scored, 2B, SB
CUT – Thomas Paxton 1-2, 2 runs scored, 1 RBI
CUT – Calvin Douglas 1-1, 1 run scored, 2 RBIs, 3 walks, SB
CUT – Ty Fratarolli 2-4, 1 run scored, SB
CUT – Mark Salicco 2-4, 2 RBIs, 2B
North Carolina 4A Playoffs, West Bracket, Round 1 Scores
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — It is a dream come true and Watauga High School senior Grant Morrison will soon be living it.
On May 5, in front of friends, family, coaches and faculty members, Morrison signed a commitment letter to play college basketball at Southern Wesleyan University, a private, 4-year school (enrollment: 1,300) in Central, South Carolina. SWU is a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association and Conference Carolinas, competing in athletics at the NCAA Division II level. Current members of Conference Carolinas include Barton, Belmont Abbey, Chowan, Converse, Emmanuel, Erskine, Francis Marion, King, Lees-McRae, Mount Olive, UNC Pembroke, North Greenville and Southern Wesleyan.
With his parents at the front of the Watauga HS Media Center on May 5, Grant Morrison listens to athletic director Dustin Kerley tell an audience of friends, family, and faculty members about the opportunity at the next level. Photographic image by David Rogers
“A very small percentage of student athletes get to compete in their sport after high school,” said Watauga head men’s basketball coach Bryson Payne. “Not everybody has seen the extra work that Grant has put in to get to this point. It is shooting the ball at every gym he could get into, whether out at Mabel School or Watauga High School, among others. It takes a lot of work that Grant has done, behind the scenes. We do a lot of stuff here, at the high school, with workouts and skill development, but there were many nights when he has worked on his own and with help from his father, rebounding for him.”
Payne recounted Morrison’s senior year stats, which was significant considering the abbreviated time his sophomore year due to COVID-19 and a hand injury his junior year.
13.4 average points per game
334 total points
45.9% effective field goal percent
34% from behind the 3-point arc
A total of 38 3-pointers
4.1 average rebounds per game
104 total rebounds
1.7 average assists per game
43 total assists
Average 1 steal per game
25 total steals
Took 2 charges
Payne stated that rebounding was a particular area of emphasis for Morrison in his senior year.
“We told him that if he wanted to play at the next level he was going to have to get more physical and get on the glass. He made a big jump,” said Payne. “We are building a program here and Grant has had a significant role in that.”
Watauga men’s basketball head coach Bryson Payne on May 5, introducing Grant Morrison and his decision to play basketball at the next level, at Southern Wesleyan University. Photographic image by David Rogers
A Northwestern Conference all-conference selection, Payne added that Morrison was co-MVP of the Watauga team in 2022-23.
“We haven’t had a student athlete from Watauga go on to play basketball at the next level for several years,” said Payne. “He is not only a good athlete. He is also a good person.”
Watauga head track and field coach Mike Neff also offered some thoughts on Morrison’s transition to playing basketball at the next level, including some amusing anecdotes.
“I met Grant before he played basketball in high school, when he would play some pickup games with us as a middle school student,” said Neff. “That was when I could look down on Grant, which was a lot more fun… I have had a chance to watch Grant grow as a basketball player, literally, and as a good young man.
“Grant is an important piece of our track team this year,” Neff added. “He ran in middle school and he came out this year, too, for the high school. He scored points in three of the four events in which he competed in the Northwestern Conference meet the other day.”
In speaking with High Country Sports about his decision, Morrison stressed two considerations: location and coaching.
“It’s down in South Carolina, near Clemson University, so in one sense I will get both the small school experience and even the big school feel,” said Morrison. “But I really like the coaching staff at Southern Wesleyan. It felt like home as soon as I stepped on campus.”
Morrison said he was still undecided about an academic major but added there is strong desire to teach physical education and become a basketball coach.
By David Rogers. GRANITE FALLS, N.C. — Scoring four runs on four hits in the first three innings was a good beginning for Watauga on May 4 in the Northwestern Conference tournament championship game against Alexander Central, but the Pioneers could hold off an explosive Cougars nine, losing 14-4.
BONUS PHOTOS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE ARTICLE
The Pioneers were looking for revenge after dropping both regular season contests to the Cougars, Watauga’s only blemishes in league play. When sophomore shortstop Maddox Greene launched a long fly ball over the left field fence for a 2-run home run to put the Pioneers ahead 3-2 in the top of the third, followed by senior Jacob Dilley crossing the plate on a single by Johnny Ray to give WHS a 4-2 advantage going into the bottom half of the third, the many Watauga faithful in the stands saw some hope that this game might have a different outcome.
Alexander Central’s varsity baseball team was in a celebratory mood on May 4 after defeating Watauga, 14-4, for the Northwestern Conference tournament championship. Photographic image by David Rogers
But Alexander Central countered with two big innings, five runs in the bottom of the third and a whopping seven runs in the bottom of the fourth to put the game all but away. ACHS senior J.D. Little played a big role in keeping the Pioneer bats mostly silenced after coming on in place of Cougar starter Maddox Jack with nobody out in the top of the third. Credited as the winning pitcher, Little was making his first game experience after recovering from an injury that had kept him sidelined. The big lefthander also showed power at the plate, ripping a bases loaded triple to the right field fence that scored three runs and put the Cougars ahead 12-4 in the bottom of the fourth inning.
“It is hard to beat a good team like Watauga three times in the same season,” said Alexander Central head coach Pete Hardee in talking with High Country Sports after the game. “We certainly respect Watauga and knew we had to be ready to play tonight. We got down in the third inning and we had to respond. We did just that and I am proud of our guys. They played hard all tournament.”
Watauga freshman Evan Burroughs slides into second for a stolen base on May 4 against Alexander Central in the Northwestern Conference tournament championship game. Photographic image by David Rogers
Comparing this year’s Northwestern Conference tournament championship to others he has been involved in over the years, including as a longtime head coach at Watauga, Hardee said, “This is a big one. To win the league title outright in the regular season and then take the tournament title, it is good to get both in one year. That is hard to do. When we got down there in the top of the third inning, I was waiting to see how our guys would respond. I am proud of the way we battled back.”
Watauga head coach Mike Windish summed it up succinctly after the trophy presentation and all-tournament team was announced. “We got beat,” he said.
Watauga’s Jacob Dilley, Maddox Greene and Cooper Critcher were selected to the all-tournament team.
With the completion of the regular season and crowning Alexander Central as conference tournament champions, the Cougars and Pioneers are both expected to be seeded in the top half of the state playoffs’ West bracket when the pairing and seedings are announced on Sunday. The first round of the playoffs is expected to start on Tuesday, May 9.
KEY INDIVIDUAL PERFORMERS
AC – Bubba Pope: 1-1, 3 runs scored, 1 walk, Hit by pitch, SB
AC – J D Little: 2-2, 2 runs scored, 3 RBIs, 3B, winning pitcher
AC – Cam Chapman: 2-3, 1 run scored, 2 RBIs
AC – Sawyer Chapman-Mays: 2-2, 2 runs scored, 2 RBIs, hit by pitch
WAT – Johnny Ray: 2-3, 1 run scored, 1 RBI, 2B
WAT – Maddox Greene: 1-2, 1 run scored, 2 RBIs, HR, hit by pitch
WAT – Cooper Critcher: 1-2, 1 RBI
BONUS PHOTOS
All photographic images by David Rogers for High Country Sports
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Sweeping all of the relay races was a good start for the Watauga Pioneers’ men on May 3, highlighting a dominating team performance in the Northwestern Conference men’s track and field meet.
Team Scores:
Watauga 270
Alexander Central 137
South Caldwell 95
Hibriten 79
Ashe County 61.5
Freedom 41.5
Watauga’s roster depth was clearly evident in the 400 meters, where the Pioneers went 1-2-3, led by freshman Matthew Leon and followed by Jakob Crosswell and Alex Gremmell, both sophomores.
Pioneer junior Sam Nixon took top honors in two grueling events, the 800 and 1600 meters’ distances. A Watauga runner finished No. 4 in each of those events, too, including Micah Duvall in the 800 and junior Collin Anderson in the 1600.
Meanwhile, freshman Elliott Taft a trio of Pioneers in the top six of the 3200 Meter race: Taft (No. 2), Anderson (No. 5) and freshman Calvin Zwetsloot (No. 6).
Watauga senior Davis Hunt won both hurdles events, 110 and 300, with sophomore Landon Smith at No. 3 at both hurdles distances and senior Carlton Horine capturing the No. 4 spot.
Pioneer junior Lade Oguntoyinbo won the 200 meters sprint and placed second in the 100 meters.
In field events, Watauga went 1-2 in the pole vault thanks to top performances by sophomore Clayo Kulcyk (No. 1) and freshman Luke Wilson (No. 2)
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Watauga only finished first in one individual event and a pair of relays in the 3A/4A Northwestern Conference track meet on May 3, but roster depth proved invaluable in a strong team showing.
Team Scores
Watauga 239.5
Ashe County 178.5
Freedom 105
Alexander Central 61
Hibriten 59
South Caldwell 38
The Pioneers took three of the top four places in the women’s pole vault with a trio of juniors paving the way: Olivia Burroughs (No. 1, 10-00), Emma Martin (No. 2, 8-00), and Meggin Gunnell-Beck (No. 4, 7-06).
Freshman Emma Pastusic and Burroughs also scored high in the women’s discus, respectively, going No. 2 (100-08) and No. 3 (90-02), behind Ashe County’s Emily Hartsoe (No. 1, 127-06).
Led by juniors Paige Overcash and Katlyn French, Ashe County went 1-2 in the high jump, with leaps of 5-06 and 5-00, respectively. Watauga’s Olivia Foskey finished at No. 3 (4-08)
On the track, Watauga’s best performances came in the 4×400 and 4×800 relay events, finishing at No. 1 in both of them. In the 4×400, the Pioneers’ time of 4:25.19 was a full two seconds better than No. 2 Ashe County (4:27.26). In the 4×800, the Pioneers came home in 10:56.90, well ahead of the second place Huskies quartet’s 12:03.18.
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Tuesday’s (May 2) women’s soccer match may well have been a competitive afterthought, it being Senior Night and all, but Watauga scored early and often in a 9-0 romp past their Northwestern Conference 4A rivals, the Spartans of South Caldwell at Jack Groce Stadium.
A full half dozen of the Pioneers found the back of the net to score goals for host Watauga, including Maya Nelson (3 goals), Katie Durham (2), Sam Bertrand (1), Holly Needham (1), Morgan Flynt (1) and Georgia Parker (1).
“We were just so happy and excited to celebrate this year’s seniors,” Watauga head coach Chris Tarnowski told High Country Sports after the game. “These athletes have given everything to this program and served as incredible role models for the younger players. We are so proud of all that they accomplished on and off the field, and know they will continue to positively impact those around them for years to come. Tonight was really about celebrating them, and we are just so fortunate that we get to do so.”
Watauga’s 2023 seniors include Maya Nelson, Lucy Walker, Laurel Kiker, Holly Needham, and Sophie Masaid.
With the regular season completed, the Pioneers now await the seedings and matchups for the state playoffs.
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — It is now trout season but that is not the kind of “whopper” for which Lauren Patterson is angling. Still only a junior at Watauga, the young student-athlete who “swims like a fish” recently committed to compete at the next level for the University of Kentucky as soon as she graduates high school.
Competing is one thing, but what stands out about Patterson is her ambition to leverage the college education afforded to her through athletics for achieving larger, long-term professional goals. She talks with purpose and confidence — and she is still only a junior in high school.
Lauren Patterson. Photographic image by David Rogers
“I just jump in the water and find joy,” Patterson said. “I’ve always been attracted to the water — which is kind of funny because neither of my parents swim! My dad couldn’t swim to save his life; my mom is terrified of the water. They didn’t grow up around water, but they put me in a swimsuit when I was two years old and since then I have loved it.”
Patterson has been serious about swimming competitively for just about as long as she can remember. After her parents put her in swimming lessons as a toddler, by the time she was five years old, Patterson had told her mother, “I like this. I think I can be good at swimming.”
“I have always been pretty confident about things, especially sports, and I like trying new things. I had been taking swim lessons for about three years, so I was five years old when I told Mom I wanted to focus on swimming,” said Patterson. “Yep, at five I told Mom, ‘I’m ready. My goal is to swim in college. I want to swim for the U.S. in the Olympics.’”
Lauren Patterson. Photographic image by David Rogers
At five years old, kids profess a lot of what sounds like outrageous or spur-of-the-moment ambitions, like wanting to be an astronaut who goes to the moon when they grow up, or a doctor, teacher, policeman, fireman, lawyer, President of the United States, NFL quarterback, NBA star… any manner of things.
Patterson gets up at 3 a.m., every day except sunday, and drives to kernersville to train with her club team, then drives back to attend classes at Watauga high school.
Listening to Patterson today, there is no doubt that she believed she could swim and swim fast from that early age. From when she told her mother what she wanted to do, Lauren Patterson had a purpose and much of her life has since been planned around swim competitions — and the training that goes with it.
Today, Patterson gets up at 3 a.m., every day except Sunday, and drives to Kernersville (roughly two hours each way) to train with her club team, then drives back to attend classes at Watauga High School.
During the recent winter months, when she was competing for Watauga High School, she had what she described as a “breakthrough” in the 100 butterfly event but she swims all disciplines pretty well. That makes her a strong contender in any individual medley race (where you swim all disciplines): backstroke, butterfly, breaststroke, and freestyle.
Lauren Patterson. Photographic image by David Rogers
The daughter of a construction contractor and a Parkway School teacher for special needs children, Patterson was born and raised in Boone. The importance of a strong work ethic has not escaped her.
“Last year, I overtrained a bit in the breaststroke and it resulted in a hip injury, so I had to suspend that for awhile,” Patterson told High Country Sports.
Why Kentucky?
“I was always set on going to South Carolina,” Patterson admitted. “We have family down there and it is fairly close to home and Boone, only about three hours. But over the course of the recruiting process, I broadened my horizons. I started to also look at other schools, a little further away than South Carolina. I emailed the coaches at Kentucky, as I did a few other schools, and told the coaches I was looking into their program and was interested. Kentucky was the first school I heard back from in the recruiting process. I also heard back from South Carolina and Tennessee, but there was something about their coaches emailing me back real quickly, the communication stood out for me. I also heard from Queens, which has moved up to Division I, and was going to schedule a visit there. I had a couple of looks from other schools as well, but Kentucky just stood out. Kentucky’s values, morals, everything about it was what I was hoping for.”
While Patterson has been relatively dominant in Northwestern Conference swimming since she was a freshman at Watauga, the regional and state competitions have been challenging in her early high school years.
kentucky was the first school i heard back from…kentucky just stood out…everything about it was what i was hoping for.
“This past year I was 9th in the 100 butterfly at the North Carolina State Championships, and I was 11th in the backstroke,” Patterson recalled. “I have competed decently well at both the regional and state levels since I got to high school but the competition is getting faster and faster, too.”
While Patterson admits to always setting and having numerous goals, she said her growth has been far from a “linear path.”
Lauren Patterson. Photographic image by David Rogers
“Freshman year, I focused primarily on breaststroke. I overtrained and developed tendonitis in my hip, so I had to pull away from it a little bit and go through some physical therapy. So the past couple of years I have focused primarily on the backstroke and butterfly,” said Patterson, breaking into a sudden smile. “My butterfly has taken off and that is what I have been recruited for.”
Instinctively, the novice natator might think that training for one swimming discipline, i.e. the butterfly, might adversely affect an athlete’s performances in the other disciplines, such as the backstroke, freestyle or breaststroke. Patterson, the swimming analyst, says that is not the case.
“It’s actually kind of funny. It is all complementary. I like to switch back and forth between the disciplines. The more I have developed as a butterfly swimmer, the more in-line my core and hips have become, so it makes it easier for the backstroke or freestyle strokes to come together,” Patterson explained. “A lot of swimmers focus on just one event but I am very grateful. I am a very versatile swimmer. You can put me in just about any event and I can swim it. With that, I have a pretty strong IM (individual medley), too, putting all the strokes together.”
Patterson competed with the Watauga Swim Club beginning when she was five until she reached 13 years old, at the old county recreation pool. The club now trains in the new Watauga Community Recreation Center pool, just like the high school team.
“The old pool is where I got my start. When I turned 13, other than the high school team I am on a club team down in the Greensboro area, in Kernersville, called the Infinity Aquatic Club,” said Patterson.
As it turns out, Patterson’s competitive swimming interests has impacted family life, too, including sacrifices by her mother and father, all the while giving her a glimpse of other parts of the U.S.
when she was 14, covid-19 hit and patterson was idled. ‘I was stuck at home, out of the water.’
“During the summer, we don’t usually go on family vacations unless they are around my swimming. My first big meet was when I was nine years old. We went to Atlanta, Ga., for age group Sectionals. About a quarter of the country comes together there. When I was 12, I was selected to go to Midland, Texas, to represent North Carolina with 48 other swimmers of all ages. I think that meet involved about a third of the country, so it was a little bigger. When I was 13, it was the same event but hosted in Cary, N.C.,” said Patterson. “It was closer to home, not the long trip to West Texas.”
When she was 14, COVID-19 hit and Patterson was idled.
“I was stuck at home,” Patterson said. “I was actually out of the water for two months. I can’t complain because a lot of others were out longer than me, but for a swimmer two months is a long time. It has been scientifically proven that for every day you are out of the water you need two days of training to get back to where you were before. So it was really crazy. It took five or six months to get back to my previous competitive levels. Without question, COVID-19 took a toll. Getting back in the water is was almost like you were starting from scratch.”
Lauren Patterson. Photographic image by David Rogers
Patterson is especially appreciative of the new swimming facilities at the Watauga Recreation Center, which opened as the nation was getting past COVID-19.
“Before COVID-19,” said Patterson, “we were all over the place with practices for the high school swim team. Especially over the last year or two with the opening of the Rec Center, we have had a lot more kids coming out for the team because we have a quality facility in which to train that is so close, with easy access. And perfect parking! The pool is reserved for the team at specific times. We can bond with our teammates and work with our coaches. Kids are more willing to come out now and that has shown up in the number of athletes — and so many good swimmers — that we have on the team. The numbers are increasing largely because of the pool.”
‘i love the team aspect.’
The level of increased interest in competitive swimming in Watauga County has come as a surprise to Patterson — and there have been some unexpected benefits and results.
“Back in November, at the interest meeting for the high school swim team, only about 15 kids showed up. I thought. ‘Wow. We might not even have enough for a team this year.’ So when I walked into the first day of practice and saw something like 50 or 60 kids, I was amazed. I love the team aspect. There are more people to talk to and create personal relationships. For me, creating those relationships is what high school swimming is about. I am going to have those relationships for the rest of high school and beyond. I have also been able to help other kids newer to swimming grow in the activity.”
While her teammates along the sides of the pool, encouraging and cheering during a race, are not quite as animated as the new Watauga Men’s Volleyball bench, Patterson values the support.
“That is fun and it is what I love about swimming on a team. Yes, it is an individual sport but there is also the team aspect, teammates cheering you on or racing right beside you. It is great to support others and cheer for others,” said Patterson.
The Watauga junior is already looking forward to becoming part of the Kentucky Wildcats team.
“Over the past 11 years since head coach Lars Jorgerson became head of the program, Kentucky has seen extreme growth in their women’s swimming program. I feel like I fit in pretty well there but I also have a lot more room to grow. What really hit home when I spoke with them during the recruiting process was when they said, ‘We really want to help you grow and to watch you get faster,’” Patterson shared. “Compared to the other girls in my recruiting class that will join the team in about a year and a half, my times are in the top two or three in the 100 Butterfly.”
Lauren Patterson. Photographic image by David Rogers
Patterson has a number of other interests, including working on the high school yearbook and boyfriend, Eli Greene, who she supports in his playing football, wrestling and the new men’s volleyball club.
‘i already have everything all planned out… i want to be an orthopedic surgeon.’
In her work on the yearbook, she especially likes the photography aspect of it. Not surprisingly, her favorite part is sports photography.
She also credits her participation in competitive sports for bringing her closer to God.
“A lot of it is knowing someone — God — is by my side, always, guiding me every step of the way,” said Patterson. “A lot of athletes point up to God after they score a touchdown or make a good play. I actually point up before I swim each race and I pray. It is part of my routine and I don’t know how to do it any other way. Regardless of the size of the meet, I always point up and pray. I ask God for peace because I am a very anxious person. I am that person who overthinks everything. This routine has given me a sense of peace with the knowledge that I am being guided. God has a plan for me and that plan is perfect.”
Patterson did not hesitate when asked about her academic interests as a student-athlete.
“Actually, I already have everything planned out,” she said. “From an early age I always knew I wanted to be involved in the medical field. Medicine and the health sciences fascinate me. For awhile, I wanted to do physical therapy but that was until I got invited to an online medical conference two years ago, during COVID, and I got to watch a whole live shoulder replacement surgery. That is when I realized that I wanted to be an orthopedic surgeon. So that is what I am hoping for and I will be majoring in pre-med at Kentucky. For next year, when I am a senior, I have signed up for an internship and I hope to get in with either Dr. (Stephen) Anderson or Dr. (Ben) Parker at AppOrtho.”
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — With a goal from Maya Nelson in the first half and one by Katie Durham in the second half (assist by Sam Bertrand), Watauga women’s soccer (10-2-1 overall, 5-0-1 Northwestern Conference) leveraged a pesky defensive effort to run by High Country rival, Ashe County (11-3, 3-3) on April 26, 2-0.
“We moved the ball well and our defensive structure was excellent, which allowed us to control the flow of the game,” the Pioneers head coach, Chris Tarnowski, recounted to High Country Sports after the game. “Our first touch was off and that put us into some tough situations, but the players were able to adapt and find a way to get the victory. We have a lot of young players all over the field, and they are getting stronger every game.”
On Tuesday, May 2, the Pioneers will celebrate Senior Night in a final regular season contest vs. South Caldwell at Jack Groce Stadium. The seniors being celebrated include Maya Nelson, Lucy Walker, Laurel Kiker, Holly Needham, and Sophie Masaid.
