By David Rogers. ASHEVILLE, N.C. — After a brilliant fall season, Watauga High School’s varsity men’s soccer team ran into a buzz saw on Nov. 13, falling to the NCHSAA 6A West No. 1-seeded A.C. Reynolds, 2-1, effectively bringing the season to a close for the Pioneers.
For arguably the first time in the 2025 campaign, Watauga played a team that consistently beat them to the ball, dominating not only possession but the number of scoring opportunities. The Rockets kept the Pioneers’ goalkeeper Solomon Triplett busy, their ranks fortified by arguably two of the best men’s soccer players in the state, in any of the classifications, in senior forward Christian Penland and sophomore striker Alex Golovchuk. The duo took turns sending… well, sending “rockets” at the Watauga-defended goal, eventually each finding success in spite of Triplett’s courageous efforts.
The Series: A.C. Reynolds’ “Own Goal”
AC Reynolds defender Oliver Brunner (4) inadvertently heads the ball into his own goal on Nov. 13, accounting for Watauga’s only goal of the evening. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
Watauga actually got on the board first, thanks to an “own goal” inadvertently delivered by A.C. Reynolds defender Oliver Brunner. Watauga took a free kick some 30 yards out, about 10 yards in from the left sideline. The free kick was well placed to the center of the field, to a spot roughly 8 yards in front of the Rockets’ net when an unidentified ACR player trying to clear the ball with a header instead punched it into his own goal.
The score remained 1-0 at intermission and the large number of Pioneer supporters in the grandstands were hoping for an upset of the No. 1 seeded Rockets by the No. 4 seeded Pioneers.
Ben Myers (7) had a pretty good look at a scoring opportunity off a free kick set play by Watauga, his shot sailing just wide of the post. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
A critical adjustment made by the Rockets in the second half was to apply more pressure when Watauga’s defenders had the ball, looking to force more errors.
Led by Penland and Golvchuk, the Rockets’ attack was persistent, resulting in goals by the dynamic pair of offensive-minded players.
With the win, A.C. Reynolds advances to the NCHSAA 6A West championship game (also the 6A state semifinals) while the Pioneers’ season ends.
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Cold weather soccer fans got their money’s worth on Nov. 11 at Jack Groce Stadium. Visiting No. 5-seeded Mount Tabor and No. 4-seeded host Watauga battled to a 2-2 draw in regulation, but the Pioneers claimed the night with 59.8 seconds remaining in overtime when sophomore midfielder Maddrey Long hammered home a goal to take the 3-2 win.
With the victory, Watauga advances to the fourth round of the NCHSAA 6A state playoffs. They will face No. 1 seeded A.C. Reynolds, a Round 3 winner over No. 8 Alexander Central on Nov. 11.
Watauga seemed to own the visiting Spartans in the first half, scoring a pair of goals midway through the opening period to take a 2-0 lead into intermission.
The first goal was scored by David Ganley, who started the sequence with a centering pass from the right side which senior striker Asher Hampton quickly returned. Ganley powered the ball with his left foot into the upper right corner of the net for the Pioneers’ opening salvo.
For the second goal just a few minutes later, a long throw-in across the field from the right side to the left by Miller Hankins found Koa Lancaster all alone, some 35 yards out from the goal and 10 yards in from the left sideline. A quick start down the left side past a Spartan defender put Lancaster in space, with an opening to make a centering pass. Lucas Hamilton didn’t hesitate, using his right foot for a one-touch shot to the upper left corner.
If Pioneer fans thought they had a comfortable halftime lead, it turned out they didn’t. The Spartans’ junior forward Yuto Shiozawa found a loose ball in front of the right post and hammered it to the left side of the net to narrow the Pioneer advantage.
A few minutes later, Mount Tabor’s freshman midfielder Graham Francis tied the game by cleaning up a messy ball some 15 yards out from the left post, then scooted it past Pioneer goalkeeper Solomon Triplett.
The game was as close as the score indicated, the two 6A adversaries almost a mirror of each other in their style of play: quick, short one- and two-touch passes with possession and adaptive pressure on defense.
After the first 10-minuter overtime period remained scoreless, it appeared the second would end that way, too — until Long’s goal off an alert pass by Hampton with 59.8 seconds remaining.
The 6A West semifinal match will be hosted by the higher seeded (No. 1) A.C. Reynolds in Asheville, tentatively scheduled for Thursday evening, Nov. 13.
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — It was a “Chamber of Commerce” autumn evening on Nov. 6 at Jack Groce Stadium, a rare “Beaver Moon” (also known as a “supermoon”) lighting things up over the grandstands in the night sky. The Watauga High School men’s soccer team was “feelin’ it,” often dominating possession vs. North Iredell in Round 2 of the NCHSAA 6A state playoffs. A 3-0 win vs. a strong opponent in the Raiders was the evening’s post-Halloween treat.
BONUS PHOTOS @ Bottom of Article (Click any image for larger version and Slide Show Mode)
Quincy Honeycutt led things off with a “worm burner” from in front of the net early in the first half (Ben Myers was credited with the assist) for the game’s first score. It was a tenuous lead that held through halftime intermission.
Then, in the second half, Noah Van Werkhoven headed a corner kick that first appeared to have been stopped by the Raiders’ goalkeeper — but the ball ripped through his hands and trickled through to the net for Watauga’s second goal.
The Series: Noah Van Werkhoven’s header goal
Later in the half, Luke Hamilton lofted the ball to upper right corner of the Raiders-defended goal, but the goalkeeper made a sensational save, deflecting the bullet over the crossbar. Not much later, Hamilton got another opportunity and this time sent the ball whizzing by the diving keeper for the last score and game clincher for the Pioneers.
Two things stood out in this contest. First, for a good part of the match a well-skilled, very talented North Iredell team went toe-to-toe with Watauga, turning back most of the Pioneers’ opportunities in Watauga’s attacking third of the field.
Second, and this may well have been the difference-maker, Watauga’s high level of fitness seemed to wear down the Raiders as the match evolved. The second half saw the Pioneers not only keeping possession with their one- and two-touch, short passes to open teammates, but manufacturing more relentless opportunities in the attacking third. Periodically, North Iredell developed some counterattacks, augmented by long, downfield passes, but the Watauga defenders and midfielders responded quickly to turn away any threats.
With the win, No. 4-seeded Watauga advances to Round 3 of the state playoffs and will host No. 5 Mount Tabor (Winston-Salem) on Monday, Nov. 10, with kickoff slated for 6:30 p.m. It should be an interesting, early winter test for both sides as the weather forecast on Nov. 10 is for 28 degrees Fahrenheit as the high, 18 degrees low.
The winner of the Watauga vs. Mt. Tabor match will advance to play the winner of No. 1 seed A.C. Reynolds and No. 8 seeded Alexander Central in Round 4.
BONUS PHOTOS (Click on any image for larger version and Slide Show Mode)
All photographic images by David Rogers for High Country Sports
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — It has already been an historic season for Watauga High School’s athletics program, with women’s tennis, women’s golf, cross country, and volleyball going deep into the state playoffs, but two more Pioneer teams have a chance to make history after the brackets were announced for the 6A state playoffs in men’s soccer and football over the weekend.
MEN’S SOCCER
As the No. 4 seed in the 6A West bracket, Watauga receives a bye for the first round of the state playoffs and are in the upper half of the 6A West bracket, where the No. 1 seed is A.C. Reynolds (Asheville). In the second round, the Pioneers will host the winner of No. 13-seeded North Iredell (Olin) and No. 20 Piedmont (Monroe).
The Pioneers went undefeated in Northwestern 6A/7A Conference play. In addition to Freedom, NWC-member school Alexander Central, the No. 8 seed, is also in the upper bracket.
In the lower half of the bracket, other NWC schools include No. 19 South Caldwell and No. 23 St. Stephens.
As the No. 2 seeded team, Charlotte Catholic is the top-ranked school in the lower half of the bracket.
Full Seedings and First Round Pairings
No. 1 A.C. Reynolds – BYE
No. 16 Berry vs. No. 17 Statesville
No. 8 Alexander Central – BYE
No. 9 Western Guilford vs. No. 24 Ashbrook
No. 5 Mt. Tabor – BYE
No. 12 T.C. Roberson vs. No. 21 Freedom
No. 4 Watauga – BYE
No. 13 North Iredell vs. No. 20 Piedmont
No. 3 Asheville – BYE
No. 14 Olympic vs. No. 19 South Caldwell
No. 6 Ragsdale – BYE
No. 11 Northern Guilford vs. No. 22 Ben L. Smith
No. 7 Glenn – BYE
No. 10 Asheboro vs. No. 23 St. Stephens
No. 11 Dudley vs. No. 18 Sun Valley
No. 2 Charlotte Catholic – BYE
FOOTBALL
With its undefeated overall record, 10-0 and 5-0 in Northwestern Conference play, Watauga earned the No. 1 seed, positioned in the 6A West upper bracket. Joining them in the upper bracket are three other NWC teams, including No. 16 St. Stephens, No. 24 South Caldwell, and No. 4 Freedom, which also received a BYE.
The lone NWC member school in the lower 6A West bracket is No. 19 Alexander Central. Other opponents faced by the Pioneers who earned spots in the 6A West bracket are No. 15 Asheville and No. 7 T.C. Roberson (also a bye).
FULL 6A WEST FOOTBALL BRACKET
No. 1 Watauga – BYE
No. 16 St. Stephens vs. No. 17 Mt. Tabor
No. 8 Charlotte Catholic – BYE
No. 9 A.C. Reynolds vs. No. 24 South Caldwell
No. 5. Sun Valley – BYE
No. 12 Olympic vs. No. 21 Ragsdale
No. 13 Southeast Guilford vs. No. 20 Central Cabarrus
No. 4 Freedom – BYE
No. 3 Ashbrook – BYE
No. 14 Statesville vs. No. 19 Alexander Central
No. 6 Asheboro – BYE
No. 11 Dudley vs. No. 22 Glenn
No. 7 T.C. Roberson – BYE
No. 10 Kings Mountain vs. No. 23 Ben L. Smith
No. 15 Asheville vs. No. 18 Western Guilford
No. 2 Northern Guilford – BYE
EDITOR’S NOTE: This story has been corrected to accurately reflect the prospective second round pairing for Watauga Men’s Soccer.
By David Rogers. RALEIGH, N.C. — It was a comeback win deserving of a post-match celebratory dogpile at center court.
Victorious in the 2025 6A state final vs. Watauga on Nov. 1, the J H Rose Rampants all rush to center court for a celebratory ‘dogpile.’ Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
After Watauga women’s volleyball captured the first two “nail biter” sets on Nov. 1 at Reynolds Coliseum, J.H. Rose (Greenville, N.C.) stormed back to take the final three “cliffhanger” sets to be crowned the 2025 NCHSAA 6A Women’s Volleyball champions, 3-2 (26-28, 23-25, 25-21, 25-22, 15-7).
Whether you were rooting for the Pioneers or the Rampants, the see-saw, back and forth action was enough to grind your teeth down to their nubs.
It was a mixture of smiles and tears for Watauga’s volleyball team on Nov. 1 after finishing ‘runner-up’ to J H Rose in 6A state championship final at Reynolds Coliseum. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
It’s a fact of life in any competition. There may be “ties” now in the NFL, but only winners and losers in North Carolina high school volleyball. The state championship final match between 6A West champion (Watauga) and 6A East (J.H. Rose) featured 20 lead changes and 46 tie scores across the five-set thriller. Certainly, it is hard to call anyone a lost cause. A break here or there, a reversed call undone, a ball hitting “in” instead of “just out”… and you might have a different final result. All credit to J.H. Rose for the team’s resilience in not panicking after losing the opening two sets.
In the beginning, the Rampants didn’t seem to have an answer for the Pioneers’ dynamic outside hitter, senior Emma Pastusic. As the match wore on, they were better positioned to block or dig those powerful Pastusic smashes.
“We knew Watauga had a strong outside hitter,” Rose libero Caroline Bayes noted in the post-match press conference.
If there was any fear in that knowledge, it didn’t show. While Pastusic recorded a game-high 31 kills, Bayes was the match-high leader in digs, with 25, and the team-high leader in serve receptions, with 39.
Watauga’s student section was out in force for the 6A state volleyball match on Nov. 1 at Reynolds Coliseum, part of the largest crowd of the weekend. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
Testimony to the strong defensive effort Watauga recorded, the quartet of Carolina Childers, Ashlyn Smith. Lilli Combs and Emma Pastusic combined for 72 of the team’s 86 digs on the night to keep the ball in play, most of the attacks coming off the arm of match MVP and Rampants senior outside hitter Clara Evans.
More than in any other recent match, the Pioneers were more active at the net, defensively, including nine total team blocks. Senior middle blocker Kora Knight’s four solo blocks led the way, with one solo and two assisted blocks each by junior outside hitter Julia Rowan and sophomore middle blocker Addie Stough.
J.H. Rose has been in Watauga’s shoes in recent years, including runner-up to West Henderson, 3-1, in the 2024 3A state championship under the old classifications. In 2023, they lost in the 3A East final to Orange, 3-1. In 2022, they lost to the 3A West’s North Iredell in the state championship match, in a 5-set thriller. And in the 2021 state playoffs, they lost, 3-0, to Cedar Ridge in the 3A West final.
Post-match, Rampants senior Mia Kendrick said that even in losing the first two sets, her team channeled the disappointment and frustration of the last few years with the knowledge they could come back and win, which they did.
By David Rogers. KERNERSVILLE, N.C. — With all five scoring members of the Watauga Women’s Cross Country team finishing in the Top 25 out of 139 student athletes competing in the NCHSAA 6A State Cross Championships, the Pioneers ran away with the state title on Nov. 1.
All six members of the team, including only one backup, completed the 5K Run at the Redmon Sports Complex among the Top 33. The team score of 64 easily beat the team runner-up, East Chapel Hill (82) and the No. 3, Middle Creek (107).
While senior Georgy Helmers of E.E. Smith HS (Fayetteville) won individual honors (17:21.40), followed by Asheville senior Sofi Alexander at No. 2 (17:30.41) and sophomore Elle Dawson of Ragsdale (Jamestown) at No. 3 (17:35.07), Watauga sophomore Cali Townsend’s No. 4 (18:15.46) finish led a brigade of Pioneers, including freshman Josie Mayo (No. 9, 19:00.77), sophomore Lilly Kimbrough (No. 14, 19:32.68), senior Janie Beach-Verhay (No. 21, 19:55.96) and junior Lainey Johnston (No. 25, 20:06.26).
Not counted as part of the team score (only the top 5 finishers from each school go into the team totals), junior Susanna Goff crossed the finish line in the No. 33 position, well ahead of the vast majority of the field with a time of 20:41.85.
By David Rogers. HICKORY, N.C. — It wasn’t the prettiest or most artful Watauga gridiron performance, but it was just enough to secure the program’s eighth straight, undefeated Northwestern Conference championship. The Pioneers prevailed against a big, athletic and physical St. Stephens squad, 28-18.
Given the number of seniors that graduated last year, including from key positions, there was widespread, preseason speculation Watauga would not repeat as conference champions, even with the reorganization of the Sun Belt into a 6A/7A league under the revamped NCHSAA classifications. This would be a rebuilding year, or so the pundits wagged.
To lose proven veterans like Maddux Greene (QB/DB), J.T. Cook (OL/DL), Caleb Dewey (OL/DL), Carson Gunnell-Beck (OL/LB), Dillon Zaragoza (WR/DB), Landon Smith (TE/LB), Trathan Gragg (TE/LB), Matthew Habich (WR/DB), and others left a hard-to-fill void, especially in the defensive and offensive line trenches. For the 2025 campaign, the returning juniors, sophomores and freshmen, by and large, had limited playing experience.
The Series: Evan Burroughs (12)
There were exceptions, of course, like the dynamic playmaker, Evan Burroughs (now a senior) at wide receiver and defensive back, as well as senior Brady Lindenmuth, an anchor to build around in the line on both sides of the ball.
That veteran returning group this year also included a pair of speedy, slash-styled running backs in Everett Gryder and Matthew Leon, but there were still a lot of holes to fill on both offense and defense, as well as on special teams — and they presented opportunities for the younger guys to step up and embrace their new, starring roles.
That is the nature of high school football, every year: younger guys growing, developing and taking over for the players that went before them.
With the help of what Pioneer head coach Ryan Habich describes as one of the best teams of assistant coaches in North Carolina high school football, that core group of returnees and younger players have developed into what many local pundits consider is one of the best Watauga teams to ever take the field.
That said, St. Stephens even further exposed some vulnerabilities if the often undersized players of Watauga don’t execute. Against the Indians, their big, athletic backs and receivers all too frequently broke what should have been tackles for loss on first contact, turning the plays into big gainers. On offense, run blocking was uneven, perhaps missing the aforementioned Lindenmuth, inactive because of a nagging, lower body injury.
Then there were a couple of turnovers, fumbles recovered by St. Stephens, and post-play penalties (i.e., unsportsmanlike conduct) that Habich bemoaned after the game as uncharacteristic of Watauga football. Those mental errors are costly, he said.
“We often started offensive drives with poor field position, backed up inside our 15-yard line, and that makes it (challenging) for the offense,” said Habich.
In the end, when the final buzzer had sounded, the Pioneers had done enough to secure the win. They survived a grueling season to emerge 10-0 overall and 5-0 in Northwestern Conference play.
WATAUGA STAT HIGHLIGHTS (UNOFFICIAL)
In the win, quarterback Cade Keller completed 12-of-19 passes for almost 200 yards and two TDs. Everett Gryder carried the ball 9 times for 46 yards and a pair of TDs. Matthew Leon had 5 carries after intermission for 32 yards, punctuating a key drive that used up a lot of second-half clock.
Matthew Leon (14) finds a big hole in the line of scrimmage, in the second half of Watauga’s 28-18 win over St. Stephens on Oct. 31. Photographic image by Jared Everett for High Country Sports
Gryder was also effective on defense, credited with a pass deflection and a pair of TFLs (tackles for loss).
Evan Burroughs was on the receiving end of some big aerials, five pass receptions of 10 yards or more, including an early 25-yard pickup and a 47-yard TD romp. He was also responsible for one of Watauga’s key plays, defensively, with an interception of St. Stephens’ QB Ryland Milligan’s pass near midfield and returned about 15 yards to setup rare good field position for the offense.
Bowen Mayo caught two passes for 24 yards, including a 7-yard TD reception. An even bigger contribution may have been on defense, where he recorded five tackles, including a pair of TFLs and a pass breakup.
Kyle Williams was relatively quiet on offense, but was instrumental in five tackles and a pair of defended passes.
Aidan Plemons was a menace on defense, credited with five solo or assisted tackles, a quarterback hurry that forced Milligan to throw the ball away in the second half, and a QB sack.
Nyle Peays’ night, on offense, was marred by a lost fumble after a 29-yard pass reception-and-run, but he made amends on defense with 6 tackles and a pair of pass breakups.
Not to be left out, sophomore linebacker John Wilson Mills was again all over the place, defensively, credited with at least 13 tackles, a TFL and a quarterback hurry.
SCORING SUMMARY
7-0: WAT – 6-yard run by Everett Gryder, PAT kick by Miller Hankins is good
14-0: WAT – 4-yard run by Everett Gryder, PAT kick by Miller Hankins is good
14-6: SS – 55-yard run, PAT kick is blocked
14-12: SS – 3-yard run by Izzy Payne, PAT fails
21-12: WAT – +47-yard pass from Cade Keller to Evan Burroughs, PAT by Miller Hankins is good
28-12: WAT – Pass from Cade Keller to Bowen Mayo, PAT by Miller Hankins is good
28-18: SS – +40-yard screen pass to Izzy Payne from Ryland Milligan, PAT failed
BONUS PHOTOS (Click on any image for larger version and Slide Show Mode)
All photographic images captured and processed by Jared Everett for High Country Sports
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Volleyball broke new ground in the High Country on Oct. 28. In part, it was because No. 1 seeded Watauga outlasted the North Carolina High School Athletic Association 6A West’s No. 2 seed, Kings Mountain, 3-2, in a sizzling 5-set thriller (20-25, 25-23, 25-23, 23-25, 15-9).
Sophomore libero keeps the ball in play in receiving a serve from Kings Mountain in the NCHSAA 6A West Championship match on Oct. 28. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
Mostly, though, it was because of the records broken. Let’s get the individual records out of the way, first.
Now at 565 kills and counting, the Pioneers’ senior outside hitter Emma Pastusic established a new single season record for kills on Oct. 28. At the same time, setter Lainey Gragg went over the 1,000 mark for assists in the season. She now sits at 1,023, with one more game — the NCHSAA 6A State Championship — to go, in Raleigh on Nov. 1.
Those are great accomplishments and kudos to the Pioneers’ dynamic duo, to be sure. But the “new ground?” Well, that is the opportunity for a record crowd — including opposing student sections whipping themselves into a proverbial frenzy — to watch high school volleyball at its finest.
The largest student section ever for a Watauga volleyball match came out to support Watauga’s 5-set thriller vs. Kings Mountain in the NCHSAA 6A West Championship game. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
You might have been able to squeeze a dozen more people into Lentz Eggers Gym. Kings Mountain brought a large contingent of supporters. They are arguably a little more experienced in going far into the playoffs since they previously won three 3A state titles under the old NCHSAA classification system.
Watauga had not only the largest student section in recent memory — augmented to a large degree by football and men’s soccer players — but also the largest number of supporters from the High Country communities.
In fact, it might have been the largest crowd crammed into Lentz Eggers Gym for any athletic competition, including basketball. And they all got to experience the thrills, spills and chills of a women’s volleyball, 5-set “cliffhanger” played at the highest level.
One of the most poignant moments of the evening was when the entire varsity volleyball team rushed across the court to share their moment of joy in winning the 6A West volleyball title with the massive Watauga student section. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
At first, Watauga couldn’t do anything right. Kings Mountain scored the first eight points of the first set, then jumped out to a 13-5 lead before the Pioneers were able to steady the proverbial ship. The visiting Mountaineers had early control and their grandstand supporters smelled an upset in the making.
But the Pioneers became.. well, they became Pioneers, battling back to make the first set a more respectable 20-25 loss. It was a loss, to be sure, after they had dug a hole for themselves with early errors and mishits, but the late rally spoke to what would come.
The second and third sets were both secured by the Pioneers with identical, 25-23 scores. The fourth set was won by Kings Mountain, also by the slimmest of margins, 25-23. All of them were see-saw battles with long rallies, multiple lead changes, hard to imagine digs to keep the ball in play and, of course, slamma jamma kills by both teams, especially some monstrous attacks off arms of Pastusic and junior outside hitter Ashlyn Smith.
If ever there was a set where the Pioneers bordered on comfortable, it was in the decisive fifth set, which they won, 15-9. As Watauga appeared to assert control, the Mountaineers became more mistake-prone.
Next up for Watauga is the penultimate match of the season, the NCHSAA 6A State Women’s Volleyball Championship. The Pioneers will take on the winner of the 6A East Championship match on Oct. 28, J.H. Rose, which defeated No. 2 seeded Gray’s Creek, 3-0, according the Fayetteville Observer. Set scores were unavailable.
SELECTED WATAUGA INDIVIDUAL STATS
Kills: Emma Pastusic (29), Ashlyn Smith (15), Julia Rowan (10), Kora Knight (7), Lainey Gragg (2)
Service Aces: Ember Honeycutt (2), Caroline Childers (2), Emma Pastusic (1), Ashlyn Smith (1)
Blocks: Addie Stough (3), Emma Pastusic (2), Julia Rowan (1), Lainey Gragg (1), Kora Knight (1)
Assists: Lainey Gragg (54), Caroline Childers (5), Ashlyn Smith (1)
Digs: Caroline Childers (33), Emma Pastusic (20), Ashlyn Smith (15), Lilli Combs (12), Gracie Phelps (2), Kora Knight (1), Addie Stough (1), Julia Rowan (1)
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Making it to the NCHSAA 6A West Women’s Tennis Championship final is one thing. Getting to the NCHSAA 6A State Championship match proved quite another for the Watauga High School women’s tennis team on Oct. 28 when they ran into Charlotte Catholic at the Deer Valley Athletic Center. The Cougars prevailed, 5-2, on the strength of their top singles players.
BONUS PHOTOS at bottom of article (Click any image for larger view and Slide Show Mode)
After Charlotte Catholic’s No. 1, No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4 singles players vanquished their Pioneer counterparts in competitive, but relatively dominant fashion, the writing was on the wall: it would take a miracle for Watauga to rally in the lower singles and force the match to be decided in doubles play.
The Pioneers’ Kennedy Moore (No. 5) and Neave Tuberty (No. 6) did their part, Moore besting Catholic’s Anna Groccia, 7-5, 6-3, and Tuberty getting by CC’s Ariana Valenta, 6-4, 3-6, 1-0 (10-3).
Miracle, maybe possible.
But as soon as Charlotte Catholic’s No. 1 (Ella Davis) and No. 3 (Madison McWilliams) singles players teamed up in doubles to take down Watauga’s No. 1 Addison Cohen and No. 3 Poppy Summey, 8-2, the match was over and the Cougars were declared the winners. They will now move on to the NCHSAA 6A State Championship in Burlington, on Friday, Oct. 31. As the 6A West champion, Charlotte Catholic will take on the winner of the 6A East championship match, East Chapel Hill or Terry Sanford HS (Fayetteville).
In the top singles matches, Catholic’s No. 1 Davis, a senior, defeated Watauga junior Addison Cohen, 6-2, 6-1.
CC’s senior No. 2 Carla Perezgrovas got the best of Watauga No. 2, senior Larson Berry, 6-2, 6-2.
At No. 3, the Cougars’ McWilliams, a junior, defeated Watauga’s Poppy Summey, 6-3, 6-2.
Charlotte Catholic freshman Avery Johnson only had a little trouble with Watauga No. 4, Abby Talton, winning 6-4, 6-0.
After the match, Charlotte head coach Jo Cabana described her team’s trip up the mountain as, “… it was a little rainy and cold but we made it, we got some action and we are super happy. With the win, it was a great trip.
“Watauga has a great, great tennis program,” Cabana added, “with strong players. It was a battle. We had a fight on our hands every single match. It really came down to the wire, to be hones.”
Watauga head coach Shay Casey acknowledged Charlotte Catholic’s singles strength, but also saw her team’s potential. That the lower singles matches pushed the match to the brink was not surprising.
“They were fighters, Charlotte Catholic. They definitely had a great game. They always have a strong program. We gave it our all and gave them a good challenge and we wish them well going forward,” said Casey. “We have had a deep roster this year. That (lower part of singles) was what got us through most of the year. I am so proud of them all. They were fighters for every point.
Under Casey, the Pioneers went undefeated in non-conference and league play. After receiving the No. 1 seed in the 6A West bracket and a first round bye, the Pioneers defeated A C Reynolds, 7-0, in Round 2; South Caldwell, 5-1, in Round 3; Northern Guilford, 6-3, in Round 4; before taking on Charlotte Catholic in the 6A West championship match.
SUMMARY SCORES
CC – Ella Davis def. Addison Cohen, 6-2, 6-1
CC – Carla Perezgrovas def. Larson Berry, 6-2, 6-2
CC – Madison McWilliams def. Poppy Summey, 6-3, 6-2
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Visiting St. Stephens turned away a number of Watauga assaults on their goal, Oct. 27 — but not all of them. With superb ball control in the rainy conditions, the Pioneers’ men’s soccer team secured their last regular season victory, 2-0, to remain undefeated in Northwestern 6A/7A Conference play.
The overall team defense was outstanding, limiting the Indians to negligible scoring threats of their own. Meanwhile, Watauga came away with a goal in each half:
1st Half: 27:35 – Asher Hampton, tapped along the ground into the net after a cross from the left side by Evan Mawhinney.
Second Half: 26:26 – Evan Mawhinney breaks down the center after a midfield through pass from Asher Hampton. As the goalkeeper comes out, Mawhinney pushes ball out right past a diving goalkeeper, then slams the ball into the net from about 15 yards out.
Now the Pioneers await news of the state playoffs’ seeding for the NCHSAA 6A West bracket.
At 15-3-3, the Pioneers are ranked No. 4 in the 6A classification for all of North Carolina, behind No. 1 Charlotte Catholic, No. 2 Middle Creek (Apex), and No. 3 A.C. Reynolds (Asheville). Seven of the top 10-ranked teams are in the strong 6A West division. Of the top four, only Middle Creek is in the 6A East. The 6A West representative in the ultimate championship game will likely have survived strong challenges from the beginning of Round 1 to the end.
