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App State, UTC, Campbell grapplers head SoCon Championship tourney seeds, March 4, at Holmes Center

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App State, UTC, Campbell grapplers head SoCon Championship tourney seeds, March 4, at Holmes Center

By Bret Strelow for App State Sports. BOONE, N.C. — The SoCon Championship brackets were released Wednesday with an App State wrestler seeded No. 1 at half of the 10 weights.

The 20th-ranked Mountaineers went 8-0 in SoCon duals and possess five individuals who went unbeaten in league duals during the regular season to earn top seeds: Caleb Smith (8-0 at 125 pounds), Ethan Oakley (7-0 at 133 pounds), Jon Jon Millner (8-0 at 149 pounds), Tommy Askey (8-0 at 157 pounds) and Will Formato (8-0 at 165 pounds).

Will Miller (174 pounds) and true freshman Carson Floyd (197 pounds) are seeded No. 2 in their brackets thanks to 7-1 records in SoCon duals. Heath Gonyer (6-2 at 141 pounds) and Jacob Sartorio (4-2 at heavyweight) are No. 3 seeds, while redshirt freshman Luke Uliano (5-3 at 184 pounds) is seeded fifth despite having the fourth-best record in a bracket with three ranked upperclassmen.

The SoCon Championship will run all day Saturday at the Holmes Convocation Center in Boone, with doors opening at 9 a.m. and competition starting at 10 a.m. Semifinals are tentatively scheduled for noon, followed by consolation matches at 2:30 p.m. and consolation finals at 5:30 p.m. before the championship finals begin at 7 p.m.

There will be eight-man brackets at each weight — there are nine teams in the SoCon, but Bellarmine is not eligible for postseason competition yet.

Each champion in the 10 weight classes Saturday will qualify automatically for the NCAA Championships that will be held from March 16-18 in Tulsa, Okla. Based on pre-allocations from the NCAA, the SoCon’s second-place finishers at 133 pounds and 174 pounds will also qualify automatically — if a runner-up hasn’t faced the third-place finisher in a bracket, they meet after the championship finals to determine a true second place at that weight.

There are typically four to five NCAA at-large berths for each weight class — openings for ranked wrestlers who don’t qualify automatically.

The SoCon has as many as three ranked wrestlers at two weights: 133 pounds and 184 pounds.

That means ranked wrestlers from Campbell and Chattanooga could potentially meet in a semifinal on the opposite half of the bracket from the top-seeded Oakley. At 184, the top seeds in front of Uliano are No. 1 seed Caleb Hopkins of Campbell (ranked No. 30), No. 2 seed Jha’Quan Anderson of Gardner-Webb (ranked No. 33) and No. 3 seed Matthew Waddell of Chattanooga (ranked No. 28).

The SoCon weight classes with two ranked wrestlers are 125, 141 and 165.

WEIGHT CLASS SEEDS

125 (1 NCAA allocation)
#1 Caleb Smith, App State
#2 Dominic Chavez, Presbyterian
#3 Anthony Molton, Campbell
#4 Drew West, Gardner-Webb
#5 Blair Orr, The Citadel
#6 Logan Ashton, UTC
#7 Tony Burke, VMI
#8 Devon Diaco, Davidson

133 (2 NCAA allocations)
#1 Ethan Oakley, App State
#2 Dom Zaccone, Campbell
#3 Brayden Palmer, UTC
#4 Todd Carter, Gardner-Webb
#5 George Rosas, The Citadel
#6 Jackson Sichelstiel, Davidson
#7 Jake Brasseur, Presbyterian
#8 Dyson Dunham, VMI

141 (1 NCAA allocation)
#1 Shannon Hanna, Campbell
#2 Zach Price, Gardner-Webb
#3 Heath Gonyer, App State
#4 Franco Valdes, UTC
#5 Jacob Silka, The Citadel
#6 Freddy Junko, VMI
#7 Trent Donahue, Presbyterian
#8 Josh Viarengo, Davidson

149 (1 NCAA allocation)
#1 Jon Jon Millner, App State
#2 Noah Castillo, UTC
#3 Chris Rivera, Campbell
#4 Ryan Vigil, VMI
#5 Ethan Willis, The Citadel
#6 Noah Frack, Davidson
#7 Khalid Brinkley, Presbyterian
#8 Parker Corwin, Gardner-Webb

157 (1 NCAA allocation)
#1 Tommy Askey, App State
#2 Troy Nation, Campbell
#3 Tanner Peake, Davidson
#4 Lincoln Heck, UTC
#5 Job Chishko, VMI
#6 Anthony Allen, The Citadel
#7 Tyler Brignola, Gardner-Webb
#8 Michael Ramirez, Presbyterian

165 (1 NCAA allocation)
#1 Will Formato, App State
#2 RJ Mosley, Gardner-Webb
#3 Weston Wichman, UTC
#4 Dom Baker, Campbell
#5 Braxton Lewis, VMI
#6 Bryce Sanderlin, Davidson
#7 Tyler Chittum, Presbyterian
#8 Brodie Porter, The Citadel

174 (2 NCAA allocations)
#1 Rocky Jordan, UTC
#2 Will Miller, App State
#3 Ben Haubert, The Citadel
#4 Jon Hoover, VMI
#5 Jaden Hardrick, Davidson
#6 Cole Rees, Campbell
#7 Zach Wells, Presbyterian
#8 Andrew Wilson, Gardner-Webb

184 (1 NCAA allocation)
#1 Caleb Hopkins, Campbell
#2 Jha’Quan Anderson, Gardner-Webb
#3 Matthew Waddell, UTC
#4 Cordel Duhart, Presbyterian
#5 Luke Uliano, App State
#6 Tim Fitzpatrick, The Citadel
#7 Zach Brown, VMI
#8 Cameo Blankenship, Davidson

197 (1 NCAA allocation)
#1 Levi Hopkins, Campbell
#2 Carson Floyd, App State
#3 Sam Mora, Gardner-Webb
#4 Tyler Mousaw, VMI
#5 Jake Boyd, UTC
#6 Malcolm Wiley, Presbyterian
#7 Gavin Henry, Davidson
#8 Mark Chaid, The Citadel

285 (1 NCAA allocations)
#1 Taye Ghadiali, Campbell
#2 Jonathan Chesser, The Citadel
#3 Jacob Sartorio, App State
#4 Logan Andrew, UTC
#5 Josh Evans, VMI
#6 Jake Fernicola, Davidson
#7 Abraham Preston, Gardner-Webb
#8 Morvens Saint Jean, Presbyterian

Three Watauga grapplers earn all-conference nods

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By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — While Ashe County and Hibriten dominated the all-conference list for the 2023 Northwestern Conference season, Watauga had three wrestlers receive honors. As a team, the Pioneers place third in the 3A/4A Northwestern Conference regular season.

The Huskies of Ashe County were both the regular season and conference tournament champions and coach Brandon Dillard was named “Coach of the Year.” Alexander Central’s Dylan Dalton was the “Conference Tournament MVP,” while a pair of Hibriten grapplers shared “Wrestler of the Year” honors. Josiah Honer received the nod in the lower weight classifications while teammate Dillan Earp earned top honors in the upper weight classes.

ALL CONFERENCE SELECTIONS

  • Ashe County: Bridger Fairchild, Landen Wilson, Gabriel Smith, Luke Sheets, Luke Osborn, Ryder Phipps, Matthew Peterson, Lukas Spencer, Nathan Herman, Mason Armentrout
  • Hibriten: Josiah Honer, Ross Watts, Dillan Earp, Elijah Amaya, Rylan Davidson, Brayden Reid, Brian Reid, Chandler Wyke
  • Alexander Central: Dylan Dalton, Kanon Harrington, Aaron Longinos, Nate Dahlstrom
  • Freedom: Nathan Vue, Fredy Vincente-Perez, Jeulenea Khang, Kevin Agustin-Hernandez
  • South Caldwell: Kevin Pereira, Kaleb Martin, Damian Harkey
  • Watauga: Palmer Smith, Eli Greene, Ryder Sullivan

Final Regular Season Team Standings

  1. Ashe County
  2. Hibriten
  3. Watauga
  4. Alexander Central
  5. Freedom
  6. South Caldwell

Watauga’s thrilling second half rally falls short in 60-49 loss to Charlotte Catholic

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Watauga’s thrilling second half rally falls short in 60-49 loss to Charlotte Catholic

By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Watauga women’s basketball was defeated by Charlotte Catholic, 60-49, on Feb. 28, in the quarterfinals of the 2023 North Carolina High School Athletic Association 4A Women’s Basketball Championship tournament. If there is any consolation, they “won” the second half, 39-29.

“In the fourth round of the state playoffs, you have to play all four quarters,” said Watauga head coach Laura Barry after the game. “Tonight, we didn’t do that. Credit Charlotte Catholic.”

Caroline Farthing defends Charlotte Catholic’s Aniyah Scales (1) on Feb. 28 in the quarterfinal game of the 4A state championship tournament. Photographic image by David Rogers

The visiting Cougars used a smothering, physical defense and opportunistic, balanced offense in the first half to march out to a dominating, 31-10 lead at halftime. The defensive effort kept the Watauga shooters off balance, the close contact style disrupting the Pioneer shooters at every turn.

It didn’t help that the Charlotte Catholic starters included “twin towers” in 6-5 center Blanca Thomas (ranked No. 9 nationally in the Class of 2024 by HoopGurlz Recruiting) and 6-1 Gracynn Gough, both juniors. Thomas (22 points) and Gough (11) accounted for more than half of the Cougars’ 60 points of offensive production.

The presence of the Cougar duo in the defensive paint made it particularly challenging for Watauga guards Kate Sears and Charlotte Torgerson to attack the basket down the lane or along the baseline. And where they were able to kick the ball out to an open teammate on the perimeter, the Cougars applied immediate pressure to would-be shooters. They simply couldn’t get much going in the first half, Sears limited to just 5 points and Torgerson held scoreless.

Some of that was explained by a lengthy stretch early in the first quarter when Sears left the court with a dislocated finger on her left hand (she is primarily a left handed shooter). She re-entered the game late in the opening quarter with the finger wrapped in black tape. Whether Sears was feeling any pain from the injury, she didn’t show it — and gamely played through any discomfort — but many of her shots were off the mark, whether from behind the 3-point arc or attacking the basket in the paint. Even though she managed a team-high 16 points (thanks to 11 in the second half), it was well below her season average of 21.2 points per game.

The long and the short of it… Charlotte Catholic’s Blanca Thomas, a 6-5 junior center, proved an imposing obstacle for Watauga’shooters like Charlotte Torgerson (33) on Feb. 28. Photographic image by David Rogers

Held scoreless in the first half, Torgerson led the Pioneers with 15 points in the second half.

If there were offensive “sparks” for Watauga in the second half, they came from two players not named Sears or Torgerson. Sophomore guard Julie Matheson came off the bench to hit a pair of critical 3-pointers, one each in the the third and fourth quarters, while senior Caroline Farthing scored from both inside and outside in the second half, including a resounding 3-pointer in the fourth quarter.

Down by 21 at halftime, Watauga was able to claw back to within six points midway through the fourth quarter, threatening a run largely sparked or sustained by Matheson and Farthing.

Charlotte Catholic’s Gracynn Gough (44), a 6-1 forward and Blanca Thomas (44), a 6-5 center, were imposing figures in the paint on Feb. 28, against Watauga at Lentz Eggers Gym. Photographic image by David Rogers

After the game, Charlotte Catholic head coach Bobby Conrad was understandably feeling good about his Cougars’ team performance.

“I thought, defensively, in the first half we played our best half of the year. Kate Sears is a helluva player and we did a nice job of just containing her. We also did a good job of running Watauga off the 3-point line and rebounding,” said Conrad. “Our defensive intensity set the tone and it frustrated them for awhile, at least in the first half.”

Of Sears’ dislocated finger, Conrad had nothing but praise.

“She is a warrior and she was fighting through it,” said Conrad. “Great players, when the game is on the line like in the second half, they don’t feel pain. I’m sure she does, but she sure didn’t play like it.”

Watauga’s Pacers dance team put on a halftime show, including a Rockettes-worthy chorus line performance. Photographic image by David Rogers

About Watauga’s second half comeback, Conrad was candid.

“They threw a couple of things at us that got us out of our rhythm a little bit but they also made some shots in the second half that they weren’t making in the first half. In the third quarter, I didn’t think we did a good job of stopping the ball. They beat us in transition,” admitted Conrad. “That gave them hope and it gave them belief and they built on that. We played the fourth quarter OK except missing 15 free throws.”

Compared to the Watauga team that Charlotte Catholic faced in late December, in the Cherokee tournament, Conrad had nothing but praise for the Pioneers.

“First of all, this was a different environment, in this gym. I watched a lot of film on Watauga this week. They play hard and they move the ball so well,” said Conrad. “It is a little trickier when you are playing back to back tournament games and you are staying over in a hotel. The time to better prepare was evident tonight. Both teams were a little more organized. Defensively, they put a lot of pressure on us.”

Farthing lights things up in the critical fourth quarter for Watauga against Charlotte Catholic on Feb. 28. Photographic image by David Rogers

Summing up the Charlotte Catholic success against Watauga in this game, Conrad said, “We have a couple of guards who I think can guard anybody around. And if you beat them, then you are staring at a 6-1 forward (Gough) and 6-5 center (Thomas) in the paint. And Gough may be our best shooter. She powers inside and finishes and she can shoot threes from the outside.”

Watauga’s Barry said, “You can’t dig a hole for yourself as big as we did in the first half. Charlotte Catholic has their weapons and I thought we did a better job in the second half taking those weapons away, but early… you have to score.

“We just didn’t look like ourselves or how we wanted to at the jump, on the offensive end,” said Barry. “You have to credit Charlotte Catholic and their approach to defense. It bothered us. And having a 6-5 center hovering in the paint really bothered us and we didn’t get any open looks from behind the 3-point arc early, or at least not enough. If you told me we were only going to get 10 points in the half, I would not have expected it.”

Watauga’s Kate Sears (12) makes an acrobatic effort to get the ball to the hoop on Feb. 28 against Charlotte Catholic, That is the Cougars’ Gracynn Gough (44), defending. Photographic image by David Rogers

Barry reserved some of her highest praise for Farthing, Matheson, and Laurel Kiker.

“I thought Farthing and Kiker were very focused, defensively, and did what we needed them to do from the jump,” Barry said. “And for Julie (Matheson) to come off the bench cold and do what she does, is big. She has been used sparingly all season but she is a kid who wants to be out there. When she has that moment, she doesn’t shy away from it one bit. It shows a lot for her future. I am excited for Julie Matheson next year.”

Kiker suffered a blow to the head, an elbow under the basket delivered by the Cougars’ Thomas in the critical fourth quarter. It was an unintentional hit, but the senior guard lay on the court, sobbing in pain for several minutes while coaches and an athletic trainer tended to her, eventually helping her to her feet and able to walk off the court on her own. After the game she told High Country Sports that she had a concussion and since she had suffered previous concussions, she was unlikely to transition to soccer in the spring, as she normally does.

Charlotte Torgerson (33) attempts a short jumper over Charlotte Catholic’s Gracynn Gough in the first half on Feb. 28, in the NCHSAA 4A Women’s Basketball Championships quarterfinal matchup. Photographic image by David Rogers

 

With the loss, the Watauga women’s basketball season has come to a close and the student athletes will focus on competing for the Pioneer soccer, track, softball or lacrosse teams. Some will play travel ball while others will simply focus on their spring academic classes.

With the win, Charlotte Catholic advances to the so-called “Final Four.” First will be a 4A West bracket championship game vs. 26-0 Lake Norman on Saturday, March 4. Lake Norman defeated North Mecklenburg, 57-50, on Feb. 28.

The site for the 4A West championship game has not yet been announced, but the pre-playoffs information package suggests that the potential sites include A C Reynolds (Asheville), Freedom (Morganton), McDowell (Marion), Providence (Charlotte) or Grimsley (Greensboro).

The winner of the West championship will meet the winner of the East championship game between No. 1 seeded Hillside (Durham) and No. 3 seeded Panther Creek (Cary). All of the state championship games, including 1A, 2A, 3A, and 4A will be played March 11, at Reynolds Coliseum, NC State and at the Smith Center, UNC-Chapel Hill.

SCORING SUMMARY

  • CC Blanca Thomas (22 points)
  • WAT Kate Sears (16)
  • WAT Charlotte Torgerson (15)
  • CC Gracynn Gough (11)
  • CC Aniyah Scales (10)
  • CC Olivia Fava (9)
  • WAT Caroline Farthing (7)
  • WAT Julie Matheson (6)
  • CC Harper Mckain (4)
  • WAT Laurel Kiker (3)
  • WAT Brooke Scheffler (2)
  • CC Kate McArdle (2)
  • CC Maggie Kernodle (2)

BONUS PHOTOS

High Country Soccer accepting Youth program registrations

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High Country Soccer accepting Youth program registrations

Special Report. BOONE, N.C. — High Country Soccer Association is accepting registrations for youth players ages U4 (under 4) to U15 (under 15) for the spring 2023 season. The U4, U6, U8, and U10 Academy programs are designed to teach kids the fundamentals of soccer and prepare them for travel soccer.

All Academy Soccer programs will be held at the Ted Mackorell Soccer Complex on Brookshire Road in Boone. Each team will be assigned a licensed, paid coach. HCSA, which opened in 1986, offers soccer training to youth ranging from U4 to U19 and competes in the North Carolina Youth Soccer Association. HCSA also operates adult leagues, winter futsal youth training, and summer camps. In all, HCSA has more than 600 youth players and more than 300 adult players from Avery, Ashe, Caldwell, Wilkes, and Watauga counties.

2022 SPRING ACADEMY AND CHALLENGE FEES

  • U4 Happy Feet Academy: $50, 1 session (Fridays) per week, 4-week program, begins April 21.
  • U6 Academy: $75, 2 session per week, 6-week program, begins March 4.
  • U8 Academy: $125, 3 sessions per week, 8-week program, begins March 21.
  • U10 Academy: $205, 3 sessions per week, 10-week program, begins March 6.

U4 Academy is a 4-week program consisting of one weekly 30-minute session on Fridays. Sneakers or soccer cleats are appropriate footwear. Each player needs to wear shin guards and should bring a size 2 soccer ball and water bottle to each session. Practice begins April 24.

U6 Academy is a 6-week program consisting of two weekly 45-minute sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Sneakers or soccer cleats are appropriate footwear. Each player needs to wear shin guards and should bring a size 3 soccer ball and water bottle to each session. Practice begins March 4.

U8 Academy is an 8-week program consisting of two weekly practices (Tuesday and Thursday) and a weekly house game (Friday). Soccer cleats are appropriate footwear. Each player needs to wear shin guards and should bring a size 3 soccer ball and water bottle to each session. Practice begins March 21.

U10 Academy is a 10-week program consisting of practice twice per week (Monday & Wednesday) and a weekly house match (Fridays). There will also be games against academy teams from clubs in our region of the state (four Saturday mornings) in Statesville – March 25, TBD, Conover – April 22, Boone – May 13.

Other HCSA Upcoming events

  • Adult League spring games start March 8
  • Queen of the Mountain Soccer Tournament (Girls), April 29 & 30
  • King of the Mountain Soccer Tournament (Boys), May 6 & 7

For more information or to register a child in HCSA Academy or Challenge soccer, please visit www.hcsoccer.com or call 828-386-1215.

Step 1 in a soccer ‘path’: Appalachian FC holds tryouts

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Step 1 in a soccer ‘path’: Appalachian FC holds tryouts

By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — With temperatures hovering in the high 30s, it was almost cold enough for the persistent rain to be called a “wintry mix.” The three dozen athletes aspiring to gain a roster spot in the 2023 edition of Appalachian FC weren’t concerned about the weather on Feb. 25.

Coming from all over the East Coast and at least as far away as Ohio and New York, the prospects included several returning players from the 2022 season roster. That team earned a 7-1-3 record in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL), the 97-team semi-professional association regarded as the fourth tier of organized soccer in the U.S. — and it is expanding, adding new teams, for the 2023 season.

Appalachian FC encourages a fast, attacking style of play that is highly entertaining and the candidates trying out on Feb. 25 were owning it from the get-go. Photographic image by David Rogers

Appalachian FC formed in 2021 when the Appalachian State men’s program was disbanded due to budget concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now preparing for its third season, Appalachian FC is looking to build on a post-season appearance in only the second year of existence in 2022, a season that also saw head coach Dale Parker named NPSL “Coach of the Year.”

Returning to lead the program again in 2023, Parker was excited by the upcoming season’s prospects in speaking with High Country Sports after the tryout sessions on Feb. 25.

Appalachian FC head coach Dale Parker is returning for his third year leading the semi-professional club. In its second year (2022), the team won the Southeast Conference title of the National Premier Soccer League, made up of almost 100 clubs throughout the U.S. Photographic image by David Rogers

“Each year, we are getting better skilled and more proficient athletes wanting to become a part of what we are creating here,” said Parker. “Part of it, of course, is the location. For a summer soccer program, it doesn’t get much better than Boone, North Carolina, which we already know as a tourist destination and vacation spot, a place to get out of the oppressive summer heat off the mountain. The rest of it though, is the community support we are receiving here, from the ownership group and sponsors, to the many fans that are attending our games. And when you add to that formula that we want to play a fast-paced, exciting, and attacking style of soccer that is highly entertaining, you get a winning combination.

‘Squatchy’ is itchin’ to get on the field. ‘Put me in, Coach. I’ll show ’em what an attacking style of play is supposed to be like.’ Photographic image by David Rogers

“For the players, this is a terrific opportunity to display their talents,” added Parker. “Some are trying to get back onto the professional teams by showing their ability to still perform at a high level. Others are on their way up, having graduated from college and wanting to take their game to the next level. Some are still in college, already playing at a high level but wanting to improve their skills through a summer experience. Certainly, the college coaches love it because their guys are going to stay fit and in many cases even improve their level of fitness.”

Parker’s “day job” is as head soccer coach at Lander University in Greenwood, S.C., as of January. The former Lees-McRae soccer star was a 2-time All-American while competing for the Bobcats, including helping his team to an appearance in the NCAA Division II national championship game in 2009.

Some three dozen players from all over the East Coast met at Ted Mackorell Soccer Stadium for the Appalachian FC tryouts. Photographic image by David Rogers

After 12 years supervising a youth soccer program in the Washington, D.C. area of northern Virginia, Parker has advanced fairly rapidly through the college coaching ranks. From 2019 to 2021, he was the lead assistant coach for Lander University, was hired for the 2022 season at Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tenn., where in one year he turned around a 2-13-2 program to 10-8-1, advancing to the South Atlantic Conference championship game.

With the retirement of longtime Lander head coach Lee Squires, Parker jumped at the chance to become head coach of the Bearcats when offered the opportunity late last year.

Parker continues to find coaching success with Appalachian FC, now in his third year. In year one, building on a core group of former App State men’s team athletes, Appalachian FC garnered third place in the NPSL’s Southeast Conference. Then, in the program’s sophomore season (2022), the High Country’s finest went on a run that included an NPSL Southeast Conference regular season title, a Southeast Conference tournament championship, and a berth in the NPSL national quarterfinals.

GOOOOAAAALLLLLL! A ‘white’ team player scooted the ball past the goalkeeper for a score during the Appalachian FC tryouts on Feb. 25 at Ted Mackorell Soccer Stadium. Photographic image by David Rogers

A fixture on the Appalachian FC roster is Max Landau, a fullback who doubles as a graduate assistant for Parker at Lander University. A native of England, Landau has a passion for soccer from a very early age.

“From the time I could walk, I have had a soccer ball at my feet,” said Landau. “I love the game.”

He also is a devotee of Dale Parker.

“I am here because I believe in Coach Parker,” said Landau. “He has created an environment for success.”

The ‘blue’ team goes on attack down the sideline during the Appalachian FC tryouts on Feb. 25 at Ted Mackeroll Soccer Stadium. Photographic image by David Rogers

When asked about what is primarily responsible for Appalachian FC’s rapid ascent in the NPSL, Landau didn’t hesitate.

“Togetherness,” he explained, in one word. “We have come together from so many different places and so many different backgrounds. Different ethnicities. Some Americans and some international players. Different college programs and different top level backgrounds. But we have one common goal and that is to create the best team possible here in Boone, with Appalachian FC. It is highly athletic and a lot of fun both off and on the field with our attacking, very entertaining style of play.”

Coaches, senior executives, and members of the ownership group gathered for a photo op after the Appalachian FC tryouts on Feb. 23. Photographic image by David Rogers

Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Looms Large

As soon as Appalachian FC settles on its roster, probably within the next two weeks according to Parker’s final address to all of the candidates trying out on Feb. 25, the team will begin to prepare in earnest for an important competitive opportunity: the 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, a knockout competition that could potentially end with a match against a Major League Soccer opponent. The first round is 14 games from March 21-23, and Appalachian FC has been invited as one of eight NPSL teams looking to advance and learned on Feb. 3 that they will host the North Carolina Fusion Under-23 team in the first round on Wednesday, March 22, at Ted Mackorell Stadium, kickoff time TBA.

Other NPSL teams include El Farolito, FC Motown, Tulsa Athletic, Crossfire Premier, Cleveland SC, and Hartford City FC.

The first round is just an early step in a potential path to playing against professional teams. The first round “open division” winners will be joined in the second round by the full field of non-Major League Soccer professional teams. All of the 14 first round winners are guaranteed a second round matchup against a professional opponent.

ABOUT THE LAMAR HUNT U.S. OPEN CUP

(from ussoccer.com)

Now in its 108th edition, the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup – U.S. Soccer’s National Championship – has crowned a champion since 1914 in every year except 2020 and 2021. The history-filled tournament is conducted on a single-game-knockout basis and open to all professional and amateur teams affiliated with U.S. Soccer. In 1999, the oldest ongoing national soccer competition in the United States was renamed to honor American soccer pioneer Lamar Hunt.

The 2023 U.S. Open Cup winner will earn $300,000 in prize money, a berth in the 2024 Concacaf Champions League and have its name engraved on the Dewar Challenge Trophy – one of the oldest nationally-contested trophies in American team sports – now on permanent display at the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Frisco, Texas. The runner-up will earn $100,000, while the team that advances the furthest from each lower division will take home a $25,000 cash prize.

Orlando City SC are defending Open Cup champions, having earned the club’s first tournament title thanks to a 3-0 victory against second-division (USL Championship) side Sacramento Republic FC on September 7, 2022 in a Final played before a capacity crowd at Orlando’s Exploria Stadium.

usopencup.com is the official website of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Fans can also follow the competition on Twitter and Instagram @OpenCup and Facebook @OfficialOpenCup.

 

 

 

 

App State baseball goes extra innings to start the season 7-0

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App State baseball goes extra innings to start the season 7-0

By David Rogers. GREENSBORO, N.C. — Relief pitcher Zach Lewis only faced five batters on Feb. 26, but picked up the win after Appalachian State’s 4-hit, 4-run scoring outburst in the top of the 10th inning at War Memorial Stadium against North Carolina A & T. The 11-7 victory moved the Mountaineers to 7-0, the team’s best start since a 10-0 start to the 2010 season.

In the top half of the 10th inning, with the scored tied 7-7, Alex Reed reached first base on a fielding error by the Aggies after Luke Drumheller had opened with a fly out to center field. With pinch runner Vasili Kaloudis drifting off first, Dylan Rogers chopped an infield single to the A & T second baseman, Kaloudis advancing to second.  When Hunter Wilder singled through the right side, Kaloudis and Rogers took third and second, respectively, to load the bases and set up the drama to come.

Jonathan Xuereb followed with what proved to be the winning RBIs, with a sharp single through the right side, scoring Kaloudis from third and Rogers from second, while Wilder was held at second base. Although Andrew Terrell popped to first base for the inning’s second out, Xavier Moronta smacked a 2-RBI double to centerfield, scoring both Xuereb and Wilder.

Although Austin St. Laurent struck out looking to end the inning, the damage had been done with the Mountaineers 4-run explosion.

Lewis had faced only one batter in the bottom of the 9th inning, entering the game as App State’s fifth pitcher of the day and gaining a full count strikeout. In the bottom of the 10th inning, the second batter he faced got on base when he was hit by a pitch, but Lewis and the Mountaineer defense dispatched the other three batters he faced with a ground out, a strike out, and a final pop up to shortstop for the last out.

The Aggies actually opened the game with a 2-run first inning 1-run third to take an early, 3-0 lead, but App State tied the game with three runs in the top of the 4th beginning with a one-out rally. A single by Laurent, a Hayden Cross triple, and a single by Luke Drumheller brought home the first two runs, before Rogers drilled a 2-out double to left centerfield, scoring Drumheller to even things up.

Any Mountaineer relief was short-lived as NC A&T scored two more runs in the bottom of the 4th inning and added another in the bottom of the 6th to give the Aggies a 6-3 lead. App State manufactured one run in the 7th inning to narrow the deficit, then jumped ahead with three runs in the top of the 8th inning on a 3-RBI home run by Rogers, giving the boys from Boone a slim, one-run lead, 7-6.

In the bottom half of the inning, the Aggies sent six batters to the plate to produce one run, tying the game, while the Mountaineers deployed three pitchers in the inning, the last being Lewis for the final out.

Both teams were held scoreless in the ninth inning, sending the game into extra innings tied at 7-7.

To earn the win, App State rapped out 14 hits to score those 11 runs, while defensively committing only one fielding error. Rogers was the leading producer on offense with a double, a home run and 4 RBIs. Jonathan Xuereb contributed with a double and two RBIs, going 2-5 on the day, while Drumheller also went 2-5 with a double and 1 RBI. Moronta only had one hit in five at-bats, but his offensive production still proved valuable with a double and three RBIs.

Ryan Sleeper started the game on the mound for the Mountaineers, lasting just 3.1 innings while giving up 5 runs on 6 hits, all earned runs, with four strikeouts. Collin Welch was the first pitcher in relief, going four innings while giving up 2 hits and 2 runs (only one earned), striking out three batters he faced.

The Mountaineers travel to Johnson City on Feb. 28 for a tilt against the host East Tennessee State Buccaneers. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.

ZAP’s Tuxbury fastest woman in Wilmington Half Marathon

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ZAP’s Tuxbury fastest woman in Wilmington Half Marathon

By David Rogers. WILMINGTON, N.C. — A minute and 46 seconds may not sound like a lot time but when it is the difference between the winner and runner up in a half marathon, it may seem like an eternity while waiting for that second place finisher to cross the the line.

Blowing Rock’s Annmarie Tuxbury won the Run Wilmington Half Marathon on Feb. 25, crossing the finish line in one hour, 14 minutes and 42 seconds (1:14:42.1), well ahead of second place runner Katie Baska of Knoxville, Tenn. (1:16:28.5) and third place finisher Laura Zenger (1:18:52.2) of Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Tuxbury finished No. 13 overall among the almost 2,000 athletes competing in the half marathon. Wrightsville Beach-based Robinson Snider was first overall with a time of 1:06:33.0.

Tuxbury, a member of the ZAP Endurance elite professional running team based in Blowing Rock, picked up her pace in the second half of Saturday’s race. At the halfway point (6.5 miles), her mile pace was 5:44, but for the full race her mile pace was 5:42.

Tuxbury’s win is just the latest of top performances by ZAP runners, including Andrew Colley, Tyler Pennel, Ryan Ford, Tristin Van Ord, and Dan Schaffer.

Mountaineer softball team moves to 3-0 on young season with wins over Georgetown, UNCW

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Mountaineer softball team moves to 3-0 on young season with wins over Georgetown, UNCW

By Bobby Neal for App State Sports. WILMINGTON, N.C. — App State softball improved its weekend record to 3-0 on Feb. 25, completing the season sweep over Georgetown with a 3-1 victory before knocking down UNCW, 6-4.

The Mountaineers tallied four home runs on the day while striking out 10 batters. They posted 21 total runs compared to their opponents’ 11. Kaley Coltrain was the player of the day, bombing back-to-back home runs in App State’s rally against the Seahawks.

Game 1 Recap (App State 3, Georgetown 1)

The Mountaineers earned three runs on nine hits to start their Saturday, beginning on the fourth pitch of the game when Kayt Houston homered to center field to give her team a 1-0 advantage.

The Black & Gold allowed no hits through the first two innings with Sejal Neas in the circle. Neas struck out five batters and pitched all seven, improving to 2-1 on the season.

The next run of the game came in the fourth inning when the Mountaineers made noise at the plate. After two batters were put out, Mary Pierce Barnes singled to third base with a bunt before Kylie LaRousa sent App State’s second home run past the fence, increasing the lead to three.

Georgetown’s Kayla Dunn responded with a home run to open the bottom of the fourth inning in what would be the only score for the Hoyas. The Mountaineers allowed only one more hit through the last four innings, also by Dunn.

Barnes and Emily Parrott led the way in the hits column with two apiece.

McKenzie McCullen punched 11 of App State’s 21 putouts from first base.

Across two games over the weekend, App State out-ran Georgetown, 6-1. The Mountaineers allowed only two runs through four games (Seton Hall, Presbyterian, Georgetown [x2]).

Game 2 Recap (App State 6, UNCW 4)

The Black & Gold posted their third straight win in dramatic fashion during their second game of the day, scoring five unanswered runs to flip a two-score deficit.

App State’s offense started the game strong as Parrott singled down the left field line to open the first. McCullen followed that hit with a single that brought in her teammate, giving the Mountaineers a 1-0 advantage that lasted until the bottom of the fourth.

After allowing only two hits through the first three innings, the App State defense gave up a three-run homer by UNCW’s Morgan Britt, giving the Seahawks a two-run lead.

At the top of the fifth, App State needed momentum, and Coltrain delivered. The graduate student slammed her first home run as a Mountaineer to open the inning.

In the next inning, Houston continued the scoring momentum with a two-run single to put her team back on top. Coltrain homered once again in the very next at-bat.

Each team would record one more hit as App State remained perfect for the weekend.
Coltrain, Houston, Taylor Thorp and Addie Wray each had two hits in the second game of the day, leading the team that had 12 against the hosting Seahawks.

Kaylie Northrop pitched a complete game and punched five strikeouts.

Up Next
The Mountaineers will finish the weekend on the coast with a pair of games on Sunday. App State will match up with Eastern Washington at 9 a.m. before rematching UNCW at 2 p.m.

Making history: Watauga advances to state 4A quarterfinals with win over South Mecklenburg, 58-44

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Making history: Watauga advances to state 4A quarterfinals with win over South Mecklenburg, 58-44

By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — MaxPreps.com records don’t quite go back 20 years but there is no evidence that the Watauga High School women’s basketball team has made it past round three of the state playoffs, in any classification, over the last two decades. All that changed on Feb. 25 when the Pioneers swept past No. 7 seed South Mecklenburg, 58-44 — and into the quarterfinals of the North Carolina 4A Women’s Basketball Championship tournament.

Many in the packed Lentz Eggers Gym expected more of a contest from South Meck, perhaps even a loss after the Sabres went undefeated in the Charlotte-centered Conference 49, conference that includes historical powerhouses Myers Park and Ardrey Kell, as well as other strong programs.

Watauga sophomore point guard Kate Sears attacks on Feb. 25 against South Mecklenburg in Round 3 of the 4A North Carolina state playoffs. Photographic image by David Rogers

Led by sophomore guard Kate Sears (26 points), Charlotte Torgerson (16) and Brooke Scheffler (10), the Pioneers jumped out to a 20-11 lead after just one quarter and kept pouring it on. Errant shots and ball-handling turnovers — what have become trademarks for Pioneer opponents in recent weeks — proved to be South Meck’s undoing under pressure from Watauga’s smothering defense and alert rebounding.

“We started out strong,” Watauga head coach Laura Barry told High Country Sports after the game. “What I mean by that is this team goes into a game against a strong opponent intimidated. They know they are good and capable of beating just about any opponent on any given day. That wasn’t the case early in the season.”

When the Watauga players are hitting on 3-point attempts from behind the arc, they can dominate opponents. Against the Sabres, the Pioneers were successful on seven 3-point tries, three each from Sears and Torgerson, with Carolina Farthing chipping in an additional shot from beyond the arc in the second quarter.

Charlotte Torgerson starts to dribble the baseline toward the basket on Feb. 25 against South Mecklenburg in Round 3 of the 4A state playoffs. Photographic image by David Rogers

Both Sears and Torgerson did a lot of damage from the free throw line, with Sears making good on 6-of-7 from the charity stripe and Torgerson making 7-of-10.

Scheffler was dominant inside, often on the receiving end of a pass from Sears to go up and in. One play in the second half had onlookers’ jaws a-dropping. Sears dribbled baseline as if to go up for a shot herself, but somehow sensed that Scheffler was in the paint and open. So the “super soph” made an abrupt, 90-degree turn under the basket, under the arms of a Sabre defender, bounce passing the ball to her teammate, Scheffler. The senior forward didn’t hesitate in sending the ball to bank against the glass and fall cleanly through the hoop and net.

Diane McGlamery (13) is seeing her minutes increase as the season progresses. Here, she will go 2-for-2 from the foul line against South Mecklenburg in Round 3 action of the state playoffs. Photographic image by David Rogers

To their credit, South Mecklenburg was pesky on defense. Senior point guard Anastasia Sinclair was often marking Sears and did as well as anyone during the 2022-23 season in “containing” Sears’ offensive production. Freshman guard Gabrielle Troy-Mebane was frequently picking up a defensive role vs. Sears and Torgerson, and quite aggressive in her efforts. The Sabres probably didn’t utilize the size advantage of senior center Deidre Miller enough, although the 6-footer’s 12 points on the night was second on the team only to Sinclair’s 14.

With the win, the Pioneers will look forward to a rematch vs. No. 11 seed Charlotte Catholic, a 58-53 upset winner at No. 3 seed Northern Guilford. Just before Christmas, on Dec. 21, the Cougars won a 53-42 decision against Watauga at a neutral site tournament in Cherokee, at a time when the Pioneers were still discovering how good they are.

Charlotte Torgerson leaves no doubt about her free throws on Feb. 25 against South Mecklenburg in Round 3 of the North Carolina 4A state playoffs. Photographic image by David Rogers

At 24-6 overall and 10-2 in the 4A Conference 59, Charlotte Catholic finished second to Independence, a team that went undefeated in Conference 59 and earned the No. 8 seed in the 4A West Bracket playoffs. In the upper half of the West bracket, Independence lost to No. 1 seed Lake Norman on Feb. 25, 69-48.

Watauga will host the Feb. 28 quarterfinal game vs. Charlotte Catholic, in the friendly confines of Lentz Eggers Gym. Another packed house is expected, perhaps standing room only. If Watauga can get by the Cougars, they will play the winner of No. 1 Lake Norman and No. 4 North Mecklenburg, which defeated No. 5 seeded A C Reynolds decisively on Feb. 25, 56-37.

SCORING SUMMARY

  • WAT Kate Sears (26)
  • WAT Charlotte Torgerson (16)
  • SMK Anastasia Sinclair (14)
  • SMK Deidre Miller (12)
  • WAT Brooke Scheffler (10)
  • SMK Maggie Haupt (10)
  • SMK Betsy Burnett (5)
  • WAT Caroline Farthing (3)
  • SMK Gabrielle Troy-Mebane (3)
  • WAT Diane McGlamery (2)
  • WAT Kaitlyn Darner (1)

BONUS PHOTOS

Cross, Wilder lead Mountaineers past North Carolina A & T, 9-8

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Cross, Wilder lead Mountaineers past North Carolina A & T, 9-8

By Matt Present for App State Sports. GREENSBORO, N.C. — Hayden Cross drove in the tying run in the sixth inning and the go-ahead run in the eighth, as the Mountaineers rallied past North Carolina A&T for a 9-8 win, improving their record to 6-0 to start the season.

Cross finished the game with four hits and two RBIs, notching his second four-hit game of the season to match his career-high. Hunter Wilder added four RBIs, while Dante Chirico picked up the win in relief.

Tied at 8-8 in the eighth inning, Andrew Terrell was hit by a pitch to open the frame. After a pair of strikeouts, Cross belted an RBI double to score Terrell from first base, and put the Mountaineers in the lead.

App State entered the sixth inning trailing. 8-7. Terrell led off with a bunt single, and then stole second to get into scoring position. With two outs in the frame, Cross delivered a single up the middle, scoring Terrell, and tying the score at 8-8.

The Mountaineers came up in the clutch throughout the ballgame, going 5-for-10 with runners in scoring position, and 8-for-16 in two-out situations.

App State jumped out to a big lead early, sending ten men to the plate in the top of the first inning and scoring five runs. Austin St. Laurant began the two-out rally as he was hit by a pitch, and Cross followed with a single to center field. Luke Drumheller, who finished with a three-hit game, followed with a single to load the bases. Golston Gillespie delivered a two-run single to open the scoring, and after a Dylan Rogers walk, Wilder followed with a two-run single of his own.

After the Aggies answered with a four-run first inning, App State struck for a pair of runs in the third on a two-run single from Wilder to score Drumheller and Rogers, who reached on a single and an error respectively, making it 7-4 App State.

The Aggies scored three more runs in the bottom of the third to tie the score, chasing starter Bradley Wilson from the ballgame. Chirico (win, 1-0) was excellent in relief, tossing 4.2 innings, allowing just one run on three hits, while striking out five.

Caleb Cross (save, 1) recorded a six-out save, retiring all six batters he faced, including a pair of strikeouts.

App State is now 6-0 for the first time since 2010 when they opened the campaign 10-0 to begin the year.

The Mountaineers will go for the sweep on Sunday when they send lefty Ryan Sleeper (0-0, 0.00) to the mound to face off with Aggies right-hander Ja’Heim Brown (0-0, 0.00) in the finale at 1 p.m. on Sunday. The game will be streamed on Flo Baseball.

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