By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — It might have been Watauga High School’s varsity volleyball team’s biggest challenge before state playoffs begin later in October, a non-conference tilt vs. High Country rival, Ashe County — but the Pioneers breezed through with a 3-0 sweep (25-12, 25-18, 25-18).
The win was not without a test, however. Unlike previous sweeps in which head coach came close to emptying her bench in getting as many as 15 rostered players court time, in this one she deployed only nine.
Statistical leaders included Ashlyn Smith (4 service aces, 15 digs, 15 serve receives, 6 kills), Emma Pastusic (22 kills, 9 serve receives, 1 service ace), Lainey Gragg (30 assists, 9 digs, 2 kills, 1 service ace), and Caroline Childers (16 serve receives, 12 digs, 1 service ace).
Next up for Watauga is a trip to Hudson to resume Northwestern Conference play against South Caldwell, the first of four matches over the next 10 days to complete conference play. To follow: vs. Alexander Central (Oct. 2), at McDowell (Oct. 7), vs. St. Stephens (Oct. 9). In their first league encounters of the home-at-home series, Watauga recorded 3-0 sweeps against all four conference opponents, with the Cougars of Alexander Central offering the biggest challenge.
Now 17-1 on the season, overall, and 6-0 in conference play, the Pioneers are currently ranked No. 14 in all of North Carolina by MaxPreps, and No. 3 in the NC 6A classification, behind only J.H. Rose and Kings Mountain.
SELECTED MATCH STATS
Kills: Emma Pastusic (22), Ashlyn Smith (6), Addie Stough (3), Julia Rowan (3), Kora Knight (2), Lainey Gragg (2)
Service Aces: Ashlyn Smith (4), Lainey Gragg (1), Caroline Childers (1), Emma Pastusic (1)
Blocks: Addie Stough (4), Julia Rowan (3)
Digs: Ashlyn Smith (15), Caroline Childers (12), Lainey Gragg (9), Lilli Combs (4), Emma Pastusic (2), Kora Knight (1), Addie Stough (1), Graycie Collins (1)
By David Rogers. BOISE, Idaho (remote) — At least Appalachian State didn’t commit turnovers in the red zone during its game against Mountain West Conference frontrunner, Boise State, on Sept. 27 (like it did on Sept. 13, at Southern Miss.). And yet, there were still plenty of self-inflicted wounds to help explain a lopsided, 47-14 win by the host Broncos.
Four turnovers (three pass interceptions and a lost fumble) and 11 drive-killing penalties (94 yards) killed any kind of forward offensive momentum the Mountaineers might have mustered.
One bright spot for App State on Sept. 27 at Boise State was this TD catch by Dalton Stroman. Photographic image by Jared Everett, processed by David Rogers for High Country Sports
In a word, the Mountaineers were outmatched in all three phases of the football game. Boise State jumped out to a 21-0 lead by midway through the second quarter, a tally that included a 26-yard “pick six” interception and return for a TD by senior cornerback A’Marion McCoy for the Broncos’ second score in the first quarter. App State quarterback A J Swann’s short pass to the right flat was intended for WR William Fowles, but McCoy read the play perfectly and dashed in front of Fowles for a clean INT and untouched dash to the end zone.
Whether on offense or defense, applying pressure is a relevant difference maker in just about any sport, especially in football. The Broncos limited App State’s offense to just 174 total yards, well below the 586 total yards the Mountaineers rolled up in the opening win vs. Charlotte, the 503 total yards in the win No. 2 vs. Lindenwood, and even the 470 yards gained in the loss to Southern Miss. Besides the four takeaways (one fumble and three pass interceptions), Boise State also recorded five quarterback sacks, five QB “hurries,” and five tackles for loss.
On offense, the Broncos both applied pressure and defused most of the attempts by App State in applying pressure. Behind a stalwart offensive line, Boise State’s junior QB Maddux Madsen had plenty of time for most of the evening, completing 25 of 37 pass attempts for 321 yards and four TDs. He was sacked by App State’s defense just once.
Much of the credit to Boise State’s defeat of App State on Sept. 27 goes to the Broncos’ dominant line play, offensively and defensively. Photographic image by Jared Everett, processed by David Rogers for High Country Sports
Although App State running back Rashod Dubinion rushed for 133 yards on 17 carries — his third performance in which he passed the century mark in the first four games of the season (he was held to 95 yards at Southern Miss) — the Mountaineers netted only 109 yards on the ground after subtracting QB sacks and tackles for loss, -21 yards for starting QB A J Swann and – 6 yards for 4th quarter replacement Billy Wiles.
App State will attempt returning to its winning ways on Saturday, Oct. 4, when the Mountaineers host a former “Power 5” opponent in Oregon State, competing in the reconfigured Pac-12. The Beavers are one of the two remaining members (the other being Washington State) from the previous Pac-12, which saw a mass exodus of members last year to what are now considered “Power 4” conferences (SEC, ACC, Big 10 and Big 12).
Oregon State is 0-4 to start the season, including two close losses to Houston (Sept. 26, 27-24, in overtime) and Fresno State (Sept. 6, 36-27), while getting thumped by No. 2-ranked Oregon (Sept. 20, 41-7) and No. 11 Texas Tech (45-14).
Pac-12 Reorganization
The departing Pac-12 members included Oregon, Washington, UCLA and Southern Cal, all to the Big-10; Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah, all to the Big-12; as well as Cal-Berkeley and Stanford to the ACC.
New full members of the Pac-12 will include Boise State, Fresno State, Colorado State, Gonzaga, San Diego State, Texas State and Utah State. Affiliate members for wrestling will include Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo, Cal State Bakersfield, and Arkansas-Little Rock.
SELECTED GAME STATS
BONUS PHOTOS (click on any image for larger version and Slide Show Mode)
All photographic images by Jared Everett, process by David Rogers for High Country Sports
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Led by sophomore Cali Townsend finishing No. 1, a full minute and 16 seconds ahead of runner-up Annabelle Hanson of Forsyth Home Educators, Watauga High School captured eight of the top 10 spots in the women’s division of the Blue Ridge Mountain Rentals High Country Cross Country Classic on Sept. 27. The course distance was 5,000 meters
In the high school men’s division, Watauga had six runners among the top 10, with senior Elliott Taft crossing the finishing line No. 2, roughly 15 seconds behind Sattler Hancox of Forsyth Home Educators over the 5,000 meters course. The Pioneers ran away with the Men’s team title. Also in the top 10 were No. 4 Grady Gates, No. 5 Levi Anderson, No. 7 Jonah Anderson, No. 8 James Bostrom, and No. 9 Calvin Zwetsloot, Pioneer freshman Sean Rea and junior Brian Newmark were not far behind at No. 12 and No. 13, respectively.
In the women’s race, Townsend was the leader among a pack of Watauga athletes that included freshman Josie Mayo at No. 3, senior Janie Beach-Verhay at No. 4, junior Lainey Johnston at No. 5, sophomore Lily Kimbrough at No. 6, junior Susanna Goff at No. 7, and sophomore Nora Price at No. 8. Rounding out the top 10 was freshman Sophia Stull.
In the Junior Varsity men’s division, Watauga had eight of the top 12 finishers in No. 1 Holden Womak, No. 2 AJ McAuley, No. 4 Cormac Walker, No. 6 Ike Mance, No. 8 Tallon Abrams, No. 10 Cole Gray, No. 11 Caleb Duvall, and No. 12 Andrew Weikert.
Ashe County was well represented among the JV men, including No. 3 Bryson Roten, No. 5 Jamie Barker, and No. 7 Sam Pyles, all sophomores. The Huskies’ Brody Denny, a freshman, finished No. 9.
Reflecting the depth of the Watauga cross country roster, the Pioneers swept the first seven spots in the Junior Varsity women’s division: No. 1 Zoey Stille, No. 2 Riley Benson, No. 3 Claire Nance, No. 4 Grace Scantlin, No. 5 Julia Benson, No. 6 Noelle Bollman, and No. 7 Carrie Bradbury. Ashe County senior Emily Lewis was No. 8, just ahead of Watauga’s Anna Norris (No. 9) and Julian Martin (No. 10).
Liberty Prep eighth grader Noah Weber prevailed as No. 1 in the Middle School Boys Division, ahead of a trio of Grace Academy of Boone runners (Evan Gordon, Micah Arnold, and Brandon Gordon). Watauga Middle School’s top performers in the boys division were seventh grader John Braxton at No. 14 and eighth graders Yates Hodges and Kailu Rodli-Bost, No. 16 and No. 18, respectively.
Watauga fared better in the Middle School Girls Division, where eighth grade Kate James Moore dominated as the No. 1, finishing the 2-mile course 39 seconds ahead of her nearest competitor, Legacy Athletics’ Ainsley Landry. Watauga’s Eden was No. 6, while Lilliana Resendiz was No. 8.
By David Rogers. ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Five non-conference football games, five running clocks and five wins — an undefeated non-conference slate for Watauga High School’s football team in 2025.
After a poignant ceremony remembering the lives lost and widespread damage of Hurricane Helene just a year ago and recognizing the many who aided the victims and the regional recovery, Watauga wasted little time in dispatching a young Cougars team, 49-7.
UPDATE TO FOLLOW
BONUS PHOTOS (Click on any image for larger version and Slide Show mode)
All photographic images by Jared Evered, processed by David Rogers for High Country Sports
By Katherine Jamtgaard. BOONE, N.C. — The App State volleyball team (10-2, 1-0 SBC) opened Sun Belt play on Friday with a 3-1 (21-25, 25-23, 25-19, 25-23) victory over James Madison (7-6, 0-1 SBC). Friday’s victory marked the program’s third consecutive win over JMU.
App State 3, James Madison 1
Senior Keionna Mackey led the Mountaineers with 15 kills, followed by fellow senior Maya Winterhoff, who tallied 14. Mackey and Winterhoff were also responsible for the Mountaineers’ two solo blocks. Sophomore Bella Hutchens also played a key role in Friday’s match, slamming down 10 kills. Redshirt senior Addison Heidemann made 43 of App State’s 48 assists, while sophomore MeMe Davis led the team with 11 digs. App State served up nine aces compared to JMU’s two.
James Madison commanded the first set after jumping ahead 6-0 early. The Mountaineers narrowed the deficit to 17-13 with a 5-0 run. With blocks from the duos of Mackey and sophomore Lou Johnson, and Hutchens and Johnson, as well as a Mackey kill, App Stat cut the deficit to three (21-18). Winterhoff managed to hold JMU at set point, but it wasn’t enough as the Dukes took the first set, 25-21.
Johnson was quick to open the second set with a kill for the Mountaineers. Throughout the set, App State and James Madison knotted the score on 13 occasions, but only traded the lead four times. The Mountaineers broke a 16-all tie with a run that included a Mackey ace and kills from Hutchens and senior Ali Morris. JMU answered with a 5-0 to take a 21-20 edge, but the Mountaineers regained the lead with a JMU error and back-to-back kills from Morris. Heidemann set Winterhoff up for a kill to cap the set, 25-23, for the Mountaineers.
Early in the third set, App State and JMU fought through several ties. With a 4-0 run that included a pair of Mackey kills, the Mountaineers took an 11-8 lead. The Black and Gold leapt ahead, 16-10, with a 5-0 run as Mackey, Morris, and Hutchens made kills, Heidemann served up an ace, and the duo of Johnson and Hutchens went up for a block. Kills from Hutchens, Winterhoff, and Morris kept App State ahead, 21-14. JMU found momentum with a 4-0 run to narrow the deficit to 21-18. The Mountaineers secured the second set, 25-19, with a Winterhoff kill, JMU error, and Winterhoff ace. Over the course of the third set, App State held JMU to a hitting percentage of .075 while maintaining a hitting percentage of .226.
The Mountaineers’ momentum carried into the fourth set as Mackey went to work slamming down a kill and serving up an ace. Davis made one of her two kills to help App State to an early 3-0 lead. In the final set, App State and JMU tied on six occasions, but only swapped the lead twice. With a 5-0 run that featured kills from Morris and Winterhoff, as well as Mackey’s solo block, the Mountaineers established a 10-6 lead. The Dukes managed to meet the Mountaineers at 19-all, but a JMU error and consecutive aces from Winterhoff pushed App State ahead, 22-19. JMU managed to knot the score once more at 22-all before App State reached match point with back-to-back kills from Mackey and Hutchens. Davis made the Mountaineers’ final kill as App State took the set, 25-23, and the match, 3-1.
Looking Ahead
          Â
The Mountaineers and Dukes return to the court at 2 p.m. on Saturday for Youth Day. All kids aged 12 and under will receive free admission.
By Layne McNary. LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The App State field hockey team took down the Bellarmine Knights 2-0 on Friday in the second shutout of the season.
The Mountaineers (7-1, 2-0 MAC) held a majority of ball possession in the game, finding the back of the cage in the second half of the contest. App State did not allow a single shot in the game, with the Mountaineers outshooting the Knights (0-8, 0-2 MAC) 16-0.
Sophia Baxter and Lise Boekaar both scored against Bellarmine, keeping the Mountaineers undefeated in conference play.
How it Happened
1st Quarter:Â It was scoreless in the first period, with the Mountaineers dominating much of the ball. Although generating two corners and getting four shots up, the Mountaineers failed to convert to begin the game.
2nd Quarter:Â It was more of the same for the Mountaineers, dominating the ball with five shots on goal and two corners. Despite multiple times in front of the cage, the Mountaineers remained scoreless heading into the break.
3rd Quarter:Â The Mountaineers ended the scoreless draw, with Boekaar scoring her ninth goal of the season off a penalty corner. The Mountaineers also tallied two shots on goal and two corners.
4th Quarter: To close out the game, Baxter found the back of the cage for her seventh goal of the season, doubling the Mountaineer lead to two. The Mountaineers closed out the game earning two more corners in the 2-0 win over Bellarmine.
By Matt Present. BOONE, N.C. — Strong defense and a penalty kick score from graduate forward Izzi Wood helped lead App State Soccer to a 1-0 victory over the South Alabama Jaguars at The Valley on Friday. It was the Mountaineers’ (5-5-1, 1-2-0 SBC) first clean sheet on defense since posting back-to-back shutouts against Davidson and Miami in August.
Wood’s game-winning goal was the 29th of her career, placing her one goal back of the program record of 30 set by Casey Cleary.
Anna Claire Jacobi was lights out between the posts on Friday, saving five shots and posting a clean sheet. South Alabama (7-3-0, 2-1-0 SBC) came into the game having outscored its opponents 11-1 in Sun Belt play and 24-8 overall this season. App State’s shutout marked just the second time this season that South Alabama didn’t record a goal, with the last instance occurring in its season opener at LSU.
The Jaguars generated the first chances in the game, seeing Aliya Gomez attempt two shots in the 12th and 20th minutes. Both were saved by Jacobi, with the second one being a kick save on a breakaway chance.
Shortly after Jacobi’s save, Wood sent one on goal that threatened the net, but her shot was saved by the Jaguars. The Mountaineers took two shots in the first half as Kyli Switalski took the game’s first shot in the 11th minute.
As the contest went into halftime scoreless, App State saw its offense spark to begin the final frame. In the 54th minute, Wood tallied back-to-back shots, one of which hit the right post off a rebound chance, but South Alabama was able to clear it, and play moved on.
Another chance generated by the Mountaineers’ strong second-half push led to a shot by Hayden Petrick that went high. Six minutes later, Wood found herself with the ball deep in South Alabama territory and turned to make a shot, but was fouled before she could take it. Attempting App State’s fourth penalty kick of the year, Wood shot toward the left post, and the keeper dove right, leading to a score. The Mountaineers are now 4-4 on penalty kicks this season.
The Mountaineer defense continued its stellar showing, forcing another tough South Alabama shot that led to Jacobi’s fifth save of the game in the 89th minute. Wood’s penalty kick score turned into the decider as the Mountaineers claimed a huge win, their first over South Alabama since 2016 and second all-time.
App State will next take the field in Conway, S.C., for a Thursday night tilt with the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Hardin Park’s middle school volleyball team made short work of Bethel, 2-0 (25-11, 25-10) on Sept. 25, then repeated their league leading performance against Valle Crucis, 2-0 925-7, 25-7).
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — It might have been stormy outside of Lentz Eggers Gym on Sept. 25, but it was business as usual for the Watauga varsity volleyball team. The Pioneers had little trouble in sweeping visiting Freedom in a Northwestern Conference matchup, 3-0 (25-4, 25-12, 25-16).
Starting the second half of conference play, Watauga all but duplicated its dominating performance at Freedom’s home court on Sept. 9, when they defeated the Patriots 25-9, 25-10, 25-9.
The Watauga Pioneers recorded 19 service aces on Sept. 25 vs. Freedom, including four by junior outside hitter Ashlyn Smith. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
The Pioneers dominated in every phase, but nowhere was it more telling that this contest was a mismatch than in serving, in which Watauga, as a team, recorded an astonishing 19 service aces in the three sets, led by sophomore libero Caroline Childers (7 aces), senior outside hitter Emma Pastusic (6), and junior outside hitter Ashlyn Smith (4).
To their credit, the Patriots appeared to make some adjustments and got better against the Pioneers’ prolific offensive attack as the match wore on, but the visitors from Morganton were largely kept off balance by whichever combination of Watauga players was on the floor.
Now 16-1 overall, 6-0 in Northwestern Conference play, the Pioneers will look to maintain momentum as the season winds down toward the state playoffs, for which Watauga is almost certain to secure a high seed. Next games include a final non-conference tilt on Monday, Sept. 29 vs. High Country rival Ashe County, followed by a road trip to South Caldwell (Sept 30), a home match vs. arguably the toughest conference opponent, Alexander Central (Oct. 2). The Pioneers close out the regular season with a trip to Marion to face McDowell (Oct. 7) before returning home to host St. Stephens (Oct. 9).
We look for the state playoffs’ brackets to be announced Oct. 11.
WATAUGA’S INDIVIDUAL STAT LEADERS vs. FREEDOM
Kills: Emma Pastusic (18), Kora Knight (8), Gracyn Phelps (3), Addie Stough (3), Rae Coffey (3), Ashlyn Smith (2), Hannah Adams (1), Julia Rowan (1)
Service Aces: Caroline Childers (7), Emma Pastusic (6), Ashlyn Smith (4), Lainey Gragg (1), Lilli Combs (1)
Blocks: Lainey Gragg (4), Kora Knight (2), Athena Elliott (2), Rae Coffey (2), Addie Stough (1), Hannah Adams (1)
Digs: Caroline Childers (15), Lilli Combs (8), Lainey Gragg (7), Emma Pastusic (4), Ava Zaragoza (3), Ashlyn Smith (3), Athena Elliott (1), Gracyn Phelps (1), Kora Knight (1)
Assists: Lainey Gragg (27), Caroline Childers (5), Ava Zaragoza (2), Ashlyn Smith (1), Lilli Combs (1)
Serve Receive: Caroline Childers (10), Ashlyn Smith (8), Emma Pastusic (8), Graycie Collins (1), Lilli Combs (1)
BONUS PHOTOS (Click on any image for larger version and Slide Show mode)
By David Rogers. HICKORY, N.C. — Balanced offensive and defensive performances by the Watauga High School varsity volleyball team proved too much for host St. Stephens on Sept, 23. The Pioneers recorded their twelfth sweep of the still young 2025 season, expanding their overall record to 15-1, 5-0 in Northwestern Conference.
Watauga corralled the Indians, 3-0 (25-14, 25-10, 25-19).
Watauga’s Gracyn Collins serves at St. Stephens on Sept. 23, 2025. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
Testament to Watauga’s roster strength was clearly evident. A total of nine different Pioneers recorded kills in attacking the Indians’ side of the net. Defensively, there was a similar statistical result: nine different Watauga players tallied digs on the night.
“We came into the game knowing that St. Stephens is a little bit unpredictable after watching some film on them for a couple of recent games,” said junior outside hitter Ashlyn Smith. “So we expected their very best. We came out tonight playing our very best. That showed in our consistency, our communication and our execution. We were just having fun out there today. You can really see that when we play together, we win.”
Watauga head coach Kim Pryor described a similar scouting report on St. Stephens as they previously saw in McDowell.
“They have a very athletic middle and libero. Their defense is scrappy. So we knew we had to be on top of our game. We played well and we had fun. That’s one of the common characteristics of this team, having fun. Across the board, up and down the roster, there is unity. They love each other,” said Pryor.
One of the interesting observations on this night was the elevated, more visible (and audible) leadership of Smith, barking out pre-serve observations about the adversary’s front row as well as back row alignments. Asked about her communications after the match, Smith acknowledged her role and purpose.
Watauga outside hitter Ashlyn Smith barks out alignment observations at St. Stephens, Sept. 23, 2025. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
“I am a really big believer in (creating) high energy in a team. That can’t happen without communication, including what you see on the other side of the net as well as on our side of the net. Our communication during a match can be intimidating for the other team. When I am calling out the numbers of players on the other side of the net, they are looking at me. I am calling out where the setter is on the other side, back row or front row and I am calling out the hitters, so we know who is on the front row,” said Smith.
Smith admitted that she was not instructed to be so vocal.
“This is an element that I am bringing to the team, I think. This level of communication has two purposes, intimidating the other team as well as getting our team in a groove,” Smith added.
Pryor confirmed Smith’s growing role.
“That level of communication is important,” said Pryor. “It is a role that Ashlyn has taken on herself. As a leader, that isn’t (surprising).”
Emma Pastusic (18) powers a kill shot past a would-be blocker on Sept. 23, 2025, at St. Stephens in Northwestern Conference play. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
Watauga is now ranked No. 2 in MaxPreps’ North Carolina 6A classification rankings, behind Greenville, N.C.’s J.H. Rose High School. The Pioneers are ranked No. 12 in the state across all classifications. The higher rankings bring prestige, of course, but also puts a target on their proverbial backs as they approach the second half of the conference season, heading into the state playoffs.
Up next, the Pioneers host another league contender in Freedom (Morganton) on Thursday, Sept. 25, then High Country rival Ashe County on Sept. 29 in a non-conference tilt. Both matches are slated for around 6 p.m., after junior varsity curtain raisers.
SELECTED INDIVIDUAL STATS
Kills: Emma Pastusic (15), Ashlyn Smith (8), Kora Knight (5), Addie Stough (3), Rae Coffey (2), Julia Rowan (2), Gracyn Phelps (1), Hannah Adams (1), Lainey Gragg (1)
Service Aces: Caroline Childers (3), Ashlyn Smith (3), Emma Pastusic (2), Lainey Gragg (2), Ava Zaragoza (1), Jillian Martin (1)
Assists: Lainey Gragg (29), Ava Zaragoza (2), Ashlyn Smith (1), Emma Pastusic (1), Caroline Childers (1), Jillian Martin (1), Lilli Combs (1)
