By Bret Strelow. BOONE, N.C. — Mark Speir is returning to Boone for his third stint on App State’s football staff, as he will serve as senior assistant to head coach Shawn Clark, who made the announcement Friday, Feb. 9.
Speir spent nine seasons as a title-winning assistant at App State from 2003-11 before becoming an FCS head coach, and he served as a senior analyst under Clark at App State in 2021. Over the last two seasons, Speir was Scott Satterfield’s chief of staff at Louisville (2022) and Cincinnati (2023).
“We are excited to welcome Mark back to Boone,” Clark said. “He and his family are true Mountaineers. Mark’s experience as a Division I head coach and his familiarity with our program and culture will make his presence a tremendous asset to App State Football.”
As a member of Jerry Moore’s staff at App State late in the program’s FCS era, Speir helped the Mountaineers win three straight national championships and six conference titles in nine seasons. That success led to him being hired as the head coach at Western Carolina, where he was a finalist for the Eddie Robinson National FCS Coach of the Year award during his 10 years with the Catamounts.
“I am beyond humbled and blessed to be back home in Boone,” Speir said. “App State has been such a special place for my family. I am grateful to Coach Clark for the opportunity to be back as part of App Nation!”
A Kannapolis, N.C., native, Speir has spent three decades in coaching. He and his wife, Paige, have maintained close ties to App State, where their son Zeb was a quarterback under Satterfield from 2015-18 and their youngest son, Jackson, is currently a student. Zeb is the tight ends coach at Chattanooga.
In addition to serving as App State’s recruiting coordinator from 2004-11, Speir coached running backs (2003-04), defensive linemen (2005-08), defensive ends (2009-10) and inside linebackers (2011) in Boone. In 2009, he was named the national FCS Assistant Coach of the Year by the American Football Coaches Association.
App State posted a combined record of 92-28 during Speir’s nine seasons as an assistant, and he was the position coach for six All-Americans: DL Jason Hunter, DL Marques Murrell, DL Gary Tharrington, DL Anthony “Whopper” Williams, DL Jabari Fletcher and LB Jeremy Kimbrough.
Speir also coached as an assistant at Western Carolina, Presbyterian and Elon.
Off the field, Speir has made an incredible impact through his involvement in many charitable causes, including raising more than $100,000 to rebuild the Memorial Christian Hospital in Bangladesh. Part of the fundraising came through his participation in the 2008 Music City Marathon in Nashville, the 2009 Boston Marathon (which he completed in less than four hours) and the 2010 Flying Pig Marathon in Cincinnati.
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — With 10 of the 13 Northwestern Conference all-conference selections in Men’s Cross Country, Watauga dominated the post season awards just as they in the end-of-year conference meet. It was hardly a surprise that conference champ Sam Nixon and Watauga head coach Randy McDonough were named “Runner of the Year” and “Coach of the Year.” respectively.
Team Champion: Watauga Runner of the Year: Sam Nixon – Watauga Coach of the Year: Randy McDonough – Watauga
All Conference Selections
Sam Nixon – Watauga
Elliott Taft – Watauga
Calvin Zwetsloot – Watauga
Collin Anderson – Watauga
Sam Rex – Watauga
Zeke Walker – Watauga
Levi Bowman – South Caldwell
Parker Bowman – South Caldwell
Jonah Norris – Watauga
Zachary Zirkle – Alexander Central
Davis Crymes – Watauga
Grady Gates – Watauga
Roman Sibaja – Watauga
NWC Men’s CC Finish
1. Watauga
2. South Caldwell
3. Alexander
4. Freedom
5. Hibriten
No Team Score – Ashe Co
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Not to take anything away from the Watauga Pioneers’ gridiron exploits of yesteryear, but the Round 2 playoff win, 20-14, over Mallard Creek on Nov. 10 was improbable at worst — and may well be recorded as the biggest upset in Watauga program history.
In the state playoffs, seedings can be misleading. A more urban or even suburban oriented conference could have as many as four strong programs qualify for the playoffs, with little difference between the four in terms of team strength. But because those teams might have finished in second, third or fourth place within their conference, they end up getting a lower seed in the playoff bracket. Arguably, they have a tougher path to a state title.
Mallard Creek, which finished second in the 3A/4A Queen City Conference behind Hough High School of Cornelius, had a couple of tough, non-conference, out of state losses, including a narrow, 3-point loss (10-7) to nationally ranked Buford, Ga. When all was said and done, the net result was a No. 18 seed in the North Carolina 4A West bracket.
Maddox Greene turns upfield for what turned out to be a 61-yard TD run on Nov. 10 vs. Mallard Creek. Photo by David Rogers
Meanwhile, Watauga had arguably an easier schedule, even if facing some formidable non-conference opponents in A C Reynolds, Maiden and North Davidson. Going undefeated led to a favorable RPI rating and, ultimately, to the No. 2 seed in the 4A West bracket.
Without question, the home field advantage of being a No. 2 seed was at play on Nov. 10, because the Pioneers came into the game vs. the Mavericks as decisive underdogs. At least one North Carolina high school football prognosticator had Mallard Creek winning by as many as 40 points.
And the Mavericks looked like they should have been favorites, too. Top to bottom of the roster, they were bigger. Top to bottom of the roster, they seemed more athletic. Top to bottom of the roster, they looked fit and fast.
That the Mavericks had speed to spare was clearly evident. Three of the four members of last spring’s sprint relay teams that broke North Carolina state records in the 4×100 and 4×200 relays are on this year’s football team, including Benjamin Black, a senior advertised as having run the 40-yard dash in 4.3 seconds; as well as junior running back Curtis Clark and versatile junior wide receiver/running back Christian Dixon.
And that is just a sampling of Mallard Creek’s speed. Get one of those guys in space with the ball, and they are as dangerous a scoring threat as anyone in high school football.
And yet, Mallard Creek’s offense was not even Watauga head coach Ryan Habich’s biggest concern.
“Mallard Creek has probably the best defense in the state,” said Habich. “They are hard to block with their size and athleticism. We knew we were going to have to take some shots.”
Certainly Mallard Creek’s defensive braintrust did their homework on Watauga’s use of the B-back, which was sophomore Everett Gryder’s role until he got hurt three weeks ago. So up steps sophomore Matthew Leon, who last week rambled for more than 200 yards, rushing the football.
On Nov. 10, the big and physical Mallard Creek defensive line was ready, effectively containing Leon, limiting him to just 18 yards on 17 carries.
Stopping Leon was a good start, but what Mallard Creek doesn’t have is Watauga junior quarterback Maddox Greene, who seems to get better and better with each season and each game. Greene accounted for 278 yards of total offense in this one and was involved in all three Pioneer touchdowns. He completed nine of 14 passes for 157 yards and two TDs, with no interceptions. He also carried the ball 22 times for 121 yards, including the game’s first score, a 42 yard scamper by Greene emerging off of left tackle and maneuvering into the Maverick secondary where he outran all defenders.
Jackson Pryor goes up for game-winning TD catch with 1:30 left in the game vs. Mallard Creek on Nov. 10. Photo by Garner Dewey for High Country Sports
After Mallard Creek tied things up when Black showed off his speed on 17-yard TD run around the left side, Watauga’s Greene hurled a 20-yard TD pass to tight end Morgan Henry early in the second quarter to reclaim the lead, 14-7, Henry finding himself wide open when gathering in the ball as he stepped into the end zone.
With both teams finding advancement of the ball challenging for what remained of the first half, the only drama came when the Pioneers’ senior linebacker/wide receiver Jackson Pryor blocked a Mallard Creek field goal attempt.
Late in the third quarter, Mallard Creek seemed to find the formula for getting their speedy playmakers in space with the ball when junior quarterback Evan Rambert connected with the lightening-fast Black for a 42-yard TD, tying things up at 14-14 with the successful PAT.
Setting up for a dramatic finish
On Watauga’s next offensive possession, a promising drive from their own 32 took the ball into the red zone, highlighted by a swing pass from Greene to Evan Burroughs on the left side. The sophomore sprinted down to near the 10-yard line, but that is where the drive stalled, ending on fourth down when Greene passed to a wide open Trathan Gragg on the left side of the end zone, the ball thrown a little high and the junior tight end unable to bring it in for the TD.
Mallard Creek took possession at their own 7-yard line, but couldn’t get past midfield before the stingy Pioneer defense forced the Mavericks to punt as the game turned the corner into the fourth and final period.
What followed was perhaps Watauga’s most masterful demonstration of clock management. After taking possession with just under 12 minutes remaining in the game, used 17 plays to get the ball to the Maverick 16 yard line and take all but a minute and 30 seconds off the game clock. The drive included a couple of fourth down conversions where failure to convert would have given the ball back to Mallard Creek with good field position. Taking one of those “shots” Habich said they needed in order to get past the Maverick defense, Greene found Pryor in the end zone along the right side for the go-ahead TD.
With Watauga ahead and 1:30 left to play, the drama was just beginning because Jack Wilson’s PAT kick was blocked. If the Panthers could get down the field and scored a TD they would tie it, but a made PAT would win the game for them.
As masterful in clock management as Watauga was on that final drive, they almost left too much time on the clock. Taking possession on their own 30-yard line, the Rambert-led Mallard Creek offense quickly got the ball into Pioneer territory when the junior QB hit Black along the left side for a 32-yard gain. He was good two more times on passes of seven and 15 yards, getting deeper into Watauga territory.
Mallard Creek’s aim to steal victory in the last seconds was foiled on two brilliant defensive plays by the Pioneers. First, was quarterback pressure by blitzing senior linebacker Morgan Henry that resulted in an incomplete Rambert pass. Then, on the very next play Maddox Greene playing in the defensive backfield broke up another Rambert pass in the end zone. Then, with time running out, when Rambert’s last pass of the evening fluttered incomplete in the right flat, a jubilant Watauga sideline raced onto the field and the home grandstands erupted into a roar.
It has been a long time since Watauga has gotten past the second round of the state playoffs at any classification level, but now the Pioneers will host No. 23-seeded Independence (Charlotte) in the third round game at Jack Groce Stadium. Charlotte-based Independence upset No. 7 East Forsyth in Round 2, 34-28.
The Patriots completed their Southwestern 4A Conference schedule 5-1 (9-3 overall), behind No. 6 seeded Butler, which the winner of the Pioneers and Patriots might face the following week if the Bulldogs can get past their Round 3 matchup vs. No. 19 Mount Tabor. Just to show how strong the Southwestern 4A Conference is, three conference members (Butler, Independence and Charlotte Catholic) are among the eight remaining teams in the 4A West third round.
NCHSAA 4A West Scores
@No. 1 Weddington 14, No. 16 Chambers 10
No. 24 Charlotte Catholic 24, @No. 8 T. C. Roberson 21
By Zach Smith. BOONE, N.C.- It was perfect weather for playoff football in Boone Friday night (Nov. 10) and Watauga football put on a show, stunning Mallard Creek, 20-14.
Mallard Creek may have been the No. 18 seed, but the Mavericks were heavily favored coming to the High Country. Mallard Creek finished second in their conference, which includes teams such as Hough and Chambers, two teams who made their own way into the second round of the NCHSAA 4A playoffs. Early in the season, the Mavericks held Buford (GA), the current No. 16 team in the nation according to MaxPreps, to just 10 points. Watauga didn’t let any of this phase them, and played near-perfect football to move on to the third round of the playoffs.
In terms of starts, the Pioneers came out swinging. Head Coach Ryan Habich made the risky decision to go for it on fourth down on the opening drive of the game with the ball spotted at the Mallard Creek 42 yard line, and junior quarterback Maddox Greene did what he’s done all season- create magic. Greene sold the option and took the ball himself to the end zone, earning a crucial seven points in what proved to be a tight, defensive matchup. Greene went on to earn 278 total yards in the game, accounting for all three Watauga touchdowns.
Later in the game, Greene found an open Morgan Henry for a 20-yard strike after a fake end-around to Evan Burroughs, which regained the lead for Watauga after an earlier Mallard Creek touchdown. The Pioneers would hold on to their seven-point lead into halftime.
Mallard Creek struck first in the third quarter, tying the game back up. The 14-14 score held until late in the fourth quarter. With just over 90 seconds remaining, Greene found senior tight end Jackson Pryor, who made an impressive catch over the Mallard Creek defensive back, delivering the decisive blow to the Mavericks. Mallard Creek would attempt to piece together a game-winning drive, but the final pass fell to the ground as the clock hit zero, and Jack Groce Stadium erupted with cheers.
Habich was elated following the game, reminding his players of how big of a win this was for the team. He went over his gameplan post-game.
“We knew it was gonna be very difficult,” Habich said. “We had to take some shots, we had to get some quick plays and score like that.”
Habich also explained how daunting the task at hand was for the Pioneers.
“It was tough,” Habich said. “I mean, blocking those guys was tough, how athletic they were. That was like a college defense we were going against.”
Greene reiterated how tough of a defense Watauga was up against and how he, along with the rest of the offense, adapted.
“They had a great defense, we knew that coming in,” Greene said. “When they started taking Matthew [Leon], we just knew that we had to get four to five yards per play. Keep doing that, keep moving the ball slowly.”
Habich was also sure to credit his defense for holding Mallard Creek to just 14 points.
“Our defense did a tremendous job of not giving up the big play,” Habich said. “We knew they were a defensive team, but they have such good athletes, Division I talent out there. To win in the playoffs, you gotta play complimentary football, and that’s what we’re about here at Watauga. Offense, defense and special teams all playing well.”
Habich made it clear that this was not just one of the biggest wins in Watauga’s season, but in the entire state.
“This might be the biggest upset in North Carolina in a long time,” Habich said. “We shocked a lot of people in the state of North Carolina tonight.”
Watauga’s next matchup is against Independence, a team that Mallard Creek defeated in the first week of the season. The game will be back at Jack Groce Stadium and kickoff is set for 7:00p.m..
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. —What started as an old-fashioned, offensive barnburner quickly morphed into a one-sided juggernaut of discipline and multi-faceted power on Oct. 27 at Jack Groce Stadium. The host Watauga Pioneers pummeled the Ashe County Huskies, 63-27, marking the end of the 2023 high school football “regular” season.
For Watauga, it is surely not the end of the 2023 football season as they await their seeding in the NCHSAA 4A West state playoffs and an opponent, almost certainly to be in Boone. For Ashe County, the Huskies’ 6-4 overall, 2-3 in conference play may well not be good enough to make the state playoffs this year.
With big smiles to match the big hands reflecting the 10-0 regular season, Watauga celebrates after its 63-27 win over Ashe County. Photographic image by Jared Everett for High Country Sports.
For Watauga, the win over Ashe County completes the last smear of frosting on the regular season. They remained undefeated against Northwestern Conference opponents (5-0) and now go into post-season play with an unblemished, hard-fought, 10-0 record when you include the early, non-conference slate of tough opponents.
Remarkably, Watauga is now 30-0 after capturing the last of six consecutive Northwestern Conference titles, which speaks not just to the coaching staff assembled by head coach Ryan Habich, now in his 11th season at the helm of the Pioneer program, but also to the buy-in of the student athletes and their parents over the years into the culture that has been created in Boone. It is a blue color program with the acronyms to match.
Photographic image by Jared Everett for High Country Sports
Friday night’s contest was a matchup of differences: Watauga’s “NASCAR” offense vs. Ashe County’s “Air Raid” offense.
The latter is no slouch. In no way do we want to suggest that Ashe County was a doormat opponent, because they are the opposite. If they had not through realignment been thrust into the 3A/4A Northwestern Conference, they might well be competing for the 3A title this year.
In many respects, Watauga had more to fear going up against the Huskies than they did against the more athletic Alexander Central, Hibriten, and especially Freedom teams in the weeks before.
That’s because Ashe County’s attack strikes at arguably the Pioneers’ weakest position group — except for the fact Watauga overcomes the lack of roster depth by deploying several of the team’s best players on both offense and defense. That 2-way commitment and the high level of conditioning embraced by the players accepting the 2-way challenges provide at least a 1.5X roster multiple.
Maddox Greene (4) intercepts pass in the end zone during Watauga’s 63-27 win over Ashe Country on Oct. 27. Photo by Jared Everett for High Country Sports
Just as the term, “Air Raid” suggests, head coach Brian Hampton, now in his 12th year heading the Ashe County program, has modeled a high-flying aerial attack that can bring up big chunks of yardage, whether in one play or in an entire offensive series. The Huskies ran a whopping 72 offensive plays against the Pioneers, accumulating 388 yards of total offense. All but 51 yards of it was through the air.
Against many opponents at the high school level, controlling possession for 72 plays and rolling up 388 yards would be more than enough to win the day. Senior quarterback Blake Peters completed 35 of 51 pass attempts for 338 yards and two TDs, offset by delivering two interceptions into the poaching hands of Watauga defensive backs Ben Gosky and Maddox Greene.
Because of its high-octane, up tempo, “rule the roads” style, some Pioneer fans have started referring to Watauga’s offensive attack as a “NASCAR” blend, leaning toward a grinding, rushing offense but from time to time interspersing aerial strikes where the wheels all but come off. Now with a maturing quarterback in junior Maddox Greene, in whom Habich and his offensive coaches have been able to develop some effective passing skills to match his running acumen, the 2023 edition of the Pioneers evolved as a multi-headed offensive monster. If Greene, sophomore RB sensation Everett Gryder, sophomore “Swiss Army Knife” back Evan Burroughs, or senior hybrid back Morgan Henry aren’t getting the results you expected, a Greene-to-Jackson Pryor, Greene-to-Burroughs, Greene-to-Henry, or Greene to one of two capable tight ends, senior Grayson Elliott or junior Trathan Gragg are likely to get the job done.
Even with a reputation for keeping the ball on the ground, taking time off the clock and keeping opposing offenses off the field, Watauga has at times used its aerial combinations to great effect this year.
Against the Huskies, Greene directed an offense that rolled up 352 yards rushing, but showed balance with 221 passing yards to just two receivers, Burroughs (4 catches, 186 yards, and 3 TDs) and Pryor (3 catches, 36 yards).
Coming out party?
Rushing, of course Greene was a team leader in keeping the ball on the ground. In what has become characteristic production for the explosive junior playmaker, Greene kept the ball 13 times for 189 yards and three TDs, including a 2-point conversion. His longest ramble was “just” 58 yards, but that means the average yards per carry for the other 12 totes of the football was over 10 yards, or almost 11 yards per carry.
Evan Burroughs dances over and past an Ashe County defender on Oct. 27/ Photo by Jared Everett for High Country Sports.
But with sophomore running back Everett Gryder suddenly showing up on the sidelines, on crutches, in the first quarter, it was “next man up” time for the Watauga running back room. Enter fellow sophomore and emerging Pioneer track star, Matthew Leon, who as a freshman last spring won the Northwestern Conference 400 meters event, according to records publicly available at MileSplitNC
It turns out that a sprinter’s speed is useful on a football field, too. In his first night as Watauga’s lead B-back, Leon carried the ball 16 times in a little more than three quarters for 101 yards and two touchdowns. As coming out parties go, Leon’s night was a good debut.
Next up for Watauga will be to see where their unblemished regular season record will land them in the NCHSAA 4A West Football Championship seedings. Prior to Friday night games, Watauga had the No. 2 RPI, behind top-seeded Weddington.
Ashe County awaits their fate in the 3A West classification. With a 6-4 overall record and 2-3 record in conference, the Huskies are likely to be on the outside looking in.
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — First half goals by Ben Myers and Jossue Alcaraz powered Watauga men’s soccer to a halftime lead on Oct. 4 at Jack Groce Stadium. Then the Pioneers held off a determined Ashe County squad to secure a 2-0, Northwestern Conference win.
BONUS PHOTOS AT BOTTOM OF ARTICLE (click any image for slideshow mode)
It was a necessary victory for the Pioneers, to get them back above .500 for the season — and back into contention for a Northwestern Conference championship and potential playoffs berth. After getting by South Caldwell, 2-1, to open conference play on Sept. 21, the Pioneers suffered consecutive defeats to Alexander Central (4-3, in overtime on Sept. 25) and Hibriten (3-1, Sept. 27) before evening their conference record with a 3-0 win at Freedom on Oct. 3.
Within the first three minutes of play on Oct. 4, Watauga scored vs. Ashe County. Photographic image by David Rogers
Myers goal game within the first three minutes of play on Oct. 4 vs. the Huskies, a well-place worm-burner just inside the left post. Alex Aguilar was credited with an assist.
A senior, Alcaraz took a crossing kick from sophomore teammate Myers several minutes later to get the Pioneers’ second goal, another well-placed ball.
Watauga had several other scoring opportunities that were turned aside by Huskies senior goalkeeper, Henry Aguilar, who was credited with eight saves on the night as the Pioneers kept pressure on the goal.
What looked like an easy save…… didn’t turn out that way for Ashe County. But a moment later the would be Watauga goal was turned away and cleared by a Husky defender as it trickled toward the net. Photographic images by David Rogers
Afterwards, Ashe County head coach acknowledged the loss but said he was proud of his players fight.
“I expected a hard fought battle from both sides,” said Jamison Klein, Ashe County head coach after the game. “They have a senior heavy roster and I know they bring a level of physicality to their play. Out boys played really well. We are very young with several freshmen and sophomores on our varsity roster. The halftime score was 2-0. We made some adjustments at halftime and the final score was 2-0. We upped our physicality in the second half. If we had played that way in the first half, it would have been an even tighter ball game. We are looking forward to facing Watauga again up at our place.”
This guy had a bird’s eye view of the soccer action in Jack Groce Stadium on Oct. 4. Photographic image by David Rogers
Watauga head coach Josh Honeycutt values energy and effort in his players, but said afterward that some of his players were only giving a 75 percent effort in the second half.
“When we have starters giving only playing at 75 percent effort and we have guys on the bench wanting to get on the field and give 100 percent, I am going to use those guys on the bench and we did that today,” said Honeycutt.
“Ashe County is much improved,” the Watauga coach added. “Several of those guys have come through High Country United’s program and they are really helping to elevate the high school team’s play. It is a young team, getting better with each game.”
“At moments tonight, we looked really good,” said Honeycutt. “At other moments, we kind of fell into what the competition is doing, so not so good. In the first half we possessed really well and moved the ball really well. That created good scoring opportunities and we took advantage of a couple of them, which is enough to win the game. But I told the guys at the end that we have to finish. We can’t go into halftime with a lead and think that is enough.
With the win, Watauga improves its overall record to 5-10–1 and Northwestern Conference record to 3-2. With the first half of the team’s NWC schedule now complete, they’s start the final half on Oct. 9 with a trip down to South Caldwell before a first revenge opportunity at Alexander Central on Oct. 11. The next home match will also be a turn-the-tables affair vs. Hibriten, on Oct. 16. They’ll have another home match against Freedom on Oct. 18 before finishing the regular season in Jefferson at Ashe County. For any realistic hope for an NCHSAA 4A playoff berth, they must win out, especially against Alexander Central and South Caldwell.
Ashe County falls to 3-9-2 on the season, 0-4-1 in Northwestern Conference play. The Huskies host Alexander Central on Oct. 9, then travel to Lenoir to face Hibriten on Oct. 11.
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Another middle school football game, another dominating win by Watauga’s Wolverines in manhandling Granite Falls on Sept. 27, 29-0.
Watauga got on the board early and often. The Wolverines led 22-0 by intermission.
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER
WAT – Brayson Gough: TD, 5-yard run (6-0)
WAT – Chase WattsL 2-point Conversion, 3-yard pass from Coy Greer (8-0)
SECOND QUARTER
WAT – Coy Greer: TD, 55-yard run (14-0)
WAT – Isaac Bleakley: PAT kick (15-0)
WAT – Nathan Carlton: TD, 2-yard pass from Chase Watts (21-0)
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Everything about the Watauga volleyball team’s challenging non-conference slate was to prepare them for this moment, the Northwestern Conference 2023 opener. With a dominating, 3-0 sweep (25-12, 25-15, 25-14), let’s just say the now 8-1 Pioneers were well-prepared.
BONUS PHOTOS AT BOTTOM OF ARTICLE (click any image for slideshow mode)
To be sure, their South Caldwell victims had their moments, keeping the ball in play for the occasional long rally following a desperately spectacular dig on ferocious kill shot by Watauga but, overall, they just didn’t have enough firepower to overcome the Pioneers. Led by outside hitters Emma Pastusic’ and Brooklyn Stanbery’s 15 and 13 kills, respectively, and set up for those shots by Lainey Gragg (15 assists) and Madi Combs (21 assists), Watauga overwhelmed the Spartans with sheer firepower.
Photographic image by David Rogers
South Caldwell (8-2 coming into the conference opener with Watauga) had some hitters, too, but Watauga arrived at Lentz Eggers Gym ready to play defense, with strong individual efforts in keeping the ball in play that included digs by Evie Robbins (19 digs), Stanbery (9 digs), Lainey Gragg (8 digs) and Olivia Kop (9 digs).
Photographic image by David Rogers
“That’s where we start, defense,” said Pioneer head coach Kim Pryor afterwards. “I was really pleased with how our girls came out. We use (a challenging) non-conference schedule to get us ready for Northwestern Conference play. We played strong defense and our blocking came on in the second and third sets. Good defense leads to good offense and our girls were firing on all cylinders. South Caldwell had a scrappy defense and some great hitters, so we had to earn that win.”
Watauga stays at home for their next NWC contest on Sept. 18, vs. Alexander Central. The Cougars’ 1-7 record may be deceptive, since they played a strong non-conference schedule, too, including teams in the northern Charlotte suburbs.
SELECTED INDIVIDUAL STATS
Emma Pastusic: 15 kills, 2 digs
Brooklyn Stanbery: 13 kills, 9 digs
Evie Robbins: 19 digs, 2 assists, 1 service ace
Kora Knight: 5 stuff blocks, 3 kills, 1 dig
Olivia Kop: 9 digs, 1 service ace
Madi Combs: 21 assists, 1 service ace, 1 dig
Lainey Gragg: 14 assists, 8 digs, 1 service ace
Sara Marlowe: 3 kills, 1 dig
BONUS PHOTOS
Evie Robbins on a dig. Photographic image by David RogersPhotographic image by David RogersPhotographic image by David RogersPhotographic image by David RogersLainey Gragg (13) sets for Watauga varsity vs. South Caldwell on Sept. 13. Photographic image by David RogersLainey Gragg (13) sets vs. South Caldwell. Photographic image by David RogersPhotographic image by David RogersPhotographic image by David RogersPhotographic image by David RogersWatauga’s Kate McCullough (11) and Emma Pastusic (18) get up to block a South Caldwell hitter on Sept. 13 in Lentz Eggers Gym. Photographic image by David RogersSara Marlowe (10) and Kate McCullough give big efforts to block a South Caldwell kill shot on Sept. 13. Photographic image by David RogersPhotographic image by David RogersBrooklyn Stanbery (12) drives a kill shot past a South Caldwell defender on Sept. 13. Photographic image by David RogersDesignated setter Madi Combs (4) sets to an outside hitter on Sept. 13 vs. South Caldwell. Photographic image by David Rogers
By David Rogers. WILKESBORO, N.C. — Led by 15 kills from senior outside hitter Brooklyn Stanbery and eight more from sophomore Emma Pastusic, Watauga women’s volleyball cruised to a 3-set sweep of West Wilkes on Aug. 16, 25-12, 25-19, 25-11.
Libero Evie Robbins figured prominently in the win with 15 digs and four service aces, while adding four assists to her day’s stat line. Madi Combs and Lainey Gragg continued to split time as the designated setter, recording 16 and 11 assists, respectively.
Watauga will put its 2-0 record to a test on Saturday, Aug. 19, when the Pioneers host a powerful Cox Mill team. The Chargers recorded a 10-2 record in the strong, Greater Metro 4A Conference a year ago, 18-9 overall, finally losing in the second round of the state playoffs to Sun Valley (Monroe), the 4A state runner-up.
After Cox Mill, the Pioneers have six more non-conference challenges before entering Northwestern Conference play vs. South Caldwell on Sept. 13. Those matches include vs. Hickory (Aug. 22), at Draughn (Aug. 24), at Cuthbertson (Aug. 28), at Foard (Aug. 31), vs. Cuthbertson (Sept. 5), and at Hickory (Sept. 6).
KEY INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCES VS. WEST WILKES
Brooklyn Stanbery: 15 kills, 2 service aces, 9 digs
By Katherine Jamtgaard for App State Sports. BOONE, N.C. – App State Director of Track & Field/Cross Country Damion McLean announced the hiring of Brad Herbster as the Mountaineers’ men’s distance coach and Annie Richards as the women’s distance coach on July 17.
Herbster, who will be taking over the men’s cross country and distance track & field duties, has guided teams to success throughout his career, making stops at Charlotte, Clemson, Texas, and most recently, the University of Pittsburgh.
Richards will take over the women’s cross country and distance track & field duties after serving stints on the staffs at highly successful distance programs, New Mexico and Oregon.
Brad Herbster
Herbster returns to the Carolinas where he spent time as both a student-athlete and coach early in his career before successful stints as the distance coach at Texas and Pitt over the last decade.
“Brad is a very experienced coach who knows how to recruit, coach and develop student-athletes,” McLean said. “We are confident he will raise the bar for our men’s program to the next level.”
“I’m really looking forward to the opportunity at App State,” Herbster said. “The commitment of everyone involved to elevate the distance program is exciting. App State has a clear vision of what they want the distance program to become under the leadership of Coach McLean and Doug Gillin. Boone, North Carolina is a tremendous running community with access to some of the best training grounds in the United States. A brand new outdoor track and field facility that opened this spring shows that commitment to student-athlete success. I look forward to helping Coach McLean build a powerful program for years to come.”
Herbster led the distance program with the Pitt Panthers since 2018. During the 2022 season, Herbster guided Luke Henseler and Jack Miller to appearances at the NCAA Cross Country Championships — the first appearances by the Panthers at the championship meet since 1994 — and guided the women’s team to a 10th-place finish at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional. In addition to a successful season on the course and track, 15 Panthers excelled in the classroom and were named to the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team.
Herbster spent five seasons as the leader of both the men’s and women’s distance programs at the University of Texas, where he led his student-athletes to eight individual Big 12 Conference titles, 12 conference runner-up finishes, seven USTFCCCA All-America performances – including four first-teamers – as well as an individual NCAA championship.
Coaching the distance athletes at Clemson from 2009-13, he guided the Tigers to ACC Championship titles in women’s indoor and outdoor track & field each of the years he was on staff. In his time with the Tigers, the women’s team tallied eight consecutive NCAA top-20 finishes, culminating with a pair of top-five finishes in 2012 and two top-10 finishes in 2013.
From 2002-09, Herbster coached at Charlotte, guiding the 49ers to four consecutive women’s Atlantic-10 championships and three men’s A-10 team championships. Herbster spent four years as a high school coach at North Mecklenburg High School and Hopewell High School, both in North Carolina, before breaking through at the collegiate level.
Herbster earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of South Carolina in 1991 and competed for the cross country and track & field team. As a student-athlete, he was a three-time all-conference honoree and he remains ranked fifth in the Gamecocks’ all-time list for the men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase with a time of 9:08.57.
Annie Richards
Richards joins the Mountaineers after serving as the assistant distance/middle distance coach at New Mexico in 2022.
“It’s very exciting for us to add Annie to our coaching staff,” said McLean. “She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience from an elite level to assist our women’s distance runners. I am looking forward to seeing our program develop under her.
“I am honored to have this opportunity to coach the women’s distance program at Appalachian State,” said Richards. “Boone is a beautiful place to live, study, and chase goals on the trails and track. I look forward to joining this community and recruiting the next generation of Mountaineers. I am grateful for the confidence that Damion McLean and Doug Gillin have in me, and I am excited to contribute to our holistic team vision.”
While with the Lobos during the 2022 season, Richards assisted the women’s team to a national runner-up finish at the NCAA Cross Country Championships. Each of the Lobos’ top five finishers earned All-America honors as they crossed the line within 11.1 seconds of one another between the 22nd and 40th places in what was a remarkable team effort.
New Mexico’s women’s team also clinched first while the men finished ninth in the team standings at the NCAA Mountain Regional. The women clinched the Mountain West Conference title, while the men earned a sixth-place finish.
Prior to her time at New Mexico, Richards spent two years as a volunteer assistant coach at the University of Oregon. While in Eugene (Oregon), she worked with both men’s and women’s distance programs and helped them to top-25 NCAA team finishes in women’s cross country (24th in 2021), men’s indoor track & field (1st in 2021, 9th in 2022), men’s outdoor track & field (2nd in 2021, T-25th in 2022), women’s indoor track & field (15th in 2021, T-11th in 2022) and women’s outdoor track & field (T-11th in 2021, 11th in 2022).
She has also served as a coach with Nike’s Smoky Mountain Running Camp in Asheville, N.C.
Richards, a native of Eugene, Ore., is a graduate of the University of Arizona, where she earned a degree in government and public service while competing on the cross country and track & field team.
Under Herbster and Richards’ leadership, the Mountaineers will begin the 2023 cross country season at home in the Sept. 1 Firetower Project Run, on the Don Kennedy Trails course in Boone.
