By David Rogers. EUGENE, Ore. — Blowing Rock-based ZAP Endurance elite distance runner Amanda Vestri spent the early laps of the Women’s 10,000 Meters championship final among the top three leaders in the 20-athlete field of the 2025 Toyota USATF Outdoor National Championships at Hayward Field, July 31. She remained among the top five leaders for three-quarters of the 10,000 meters’ distance, but was overtaken in the final two miles of the 6.2+ mile journey.
Vestri, who gained sponsorship from Brooks Running last year, crossed the line No. 8 among the top women’s distance runners in the United States, in 32:28.90, just 45 seconds behind the winner, Emily Infield, also sponsored by Brooks running (31:43.56).
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — It was hot, hot, hot for a mid-morning summer day in the High Country — but the Watauga High School football team’s players and coaches embraced the moment.
Close to 100 eager student-athletes were put through their paces on July 30 on the lower athletic field named in honor of former Watauga lacrosse coach, Leigh Cooper Wallace.
Head coach Ryan Habich addresses the varsity and junior varsity teams combined at the end of the first day of practice, July 30. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
The activity was fast and furious, the only breaks coming for periodic hydration opportunities or when one of the coaches stopped drills to bark out instructions, correct mistakes, or offer a ‘thattaboy’ in high praise for a job well done.
Having lost a brigade of seniors to graduation this past spring, Watauga will be looking for younger guys to step up around key, rising senior playmakers like quarterback Cade Keller, offensive and defensive line anchor Brady Lindenmuth, running backs Everett Gryder and Matthew Leon, as well as speedsters Evan Burroughs, Kyle Williams and Nyle Peays.
New assistant coach Hamilton Castle gives instructions to players on the first day of Watauga football practice, July 30. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
Head coach Ryan Habich admitted that a lot of area fans may be looking at the 2025 season as a rebuilding year for the Pioneers, but added that the other teams in the Northwestern Conference may think otherwise after Watauga earned its seventh consecutive, undefeated conference championship in 2024.
Beyond the conference competition, the 2025 season offers a unique opportunity if things come together on the field. With the North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) reorganizing the competition levels to take effect this fall, going even deeper into the state playoffs is withing the realm of possibility.
Previously, Watauga competed in the statewide large school category (4A), often running into much larger, Charlotte, Winston-Salem and Greensboro schools — with deeper rosters — in the playoffs. This year, the NCHSAA has expanded the number of classifications, to include from 1A to 8A. Watauga was assigned to the 6A category, so will compete against schools more similar in size.
The 6A/7A Northwestern Conference in 2025 includes Watauga, Alexander Central (Taylorsville), Freedom (Morganton), South Caldwell (Hudson), and St. Stephens (Hickory), all classified 6A, and one 7A school in McDowell.
“In the playoffs,” noted Habich, “we could still face (good programs) like Dudley in Greensboro, Charlotte Catholic, and Asheville’s A.C. Reynolds, but not the much larger 8A schools like Mallard Creek, Independence and Hough. from the more densely populated urban areas.”
Watauga is bringing a large number of freshmen into the high school program from the very successful Watauga middle school program, but it is yet uncertain who, if any of them will have developed into varsity players.
“This is going to be a great opportunity for guys who may have been younger last year and very good, but playing behind one of those really good seniors we had. Guys like Thomas Dieters, a very versatile athlete who can play on both offense and defense,” said Habich.
Habich suggested that senior Cade Keller at quarterback may surprise a lot of people because he is an accomplished athlete who happened to play behind last year’s senior phenom, Maddox Greene. Keller got a lot of second half snaps last season when the Pioneers ran up early scores, showing exceptional promise as both a runner and a passer in Habich’s system.
As previously reported, Watauga will be without a Breitenstein on the sideline as an assistant coach for the first time since 1978, when Steve Breitenstein joined the coaching staff under former head coach Bill Mauldin. He stepped away for a couple of years, but came back in 2013 with Habich’s arrival. His son, Eric Breitenstein, was a standout running back for the Pioneers, going on to star at Wofford and even getting some interest from NFL teams, but eventually came back to the High Country to teach high school and joined Habich’s assistant coaching staff in 2019. He has taken a student-athlete advisory position at App State, so is unavailable to coach football at Watauga this year.
Habich is excited about the opportunity to add Hamilton Castle to his coaching staff this year. Castle was an all-Northwestern Conference quarterback and defensive back for Watauga, and the first quarterback Habich coached for all four years in playing for the Pioneers. The head coach indicated that Castle will work primarily with the wide receivers this year.
The Pioneers officially open their 2025 campaign with three consecutive non-conference home tilts against Ashe County (Aug. 22), T.C. Roberson (Aug. 29) and Mount Airy (Sept. 5). Kickoffs are scheduled for 7:30 at Jack Groce Stadium.
After a bye week, Watauga then goes on the road for its final non-conference tilts at Erwin (Sept. 19) and Asheville (Sept. 26), before starting Northwestern Conference play at Freedom on Oct. 3.
The remainder of the regular season schedule includes home vs. South Caldwell (Oct. 10), away at Alexander Central (Oct. 17), home vs. McDowell (Oct. 24), and away at St. Stephens (Oct. 31).
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — ‘Tis the season of annual optimism on every FBS-level campus in College Football Land. After an offseason of transfer portal openings and freshman recruiting commitments, rosters are now set, even if depth charts are still uncertain.
Whether speaking at a school-specific or conference-organized “Media Day,” players and coaches are enthusiastically optimistic about the fresh start a new season offers. They have a chance to win a conference championship. Some have loftier ambitions, like the expanded College Football Playoffs or even a national championship.
Returning App State running back Kanye Roberts speaks to a return on App State’s Media Day. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
Truth is, however, college football has evolved as a topsy-turvy marketplace of massive roster turnover from one year to the next, creating a lot of questions about which guys fit and which ones don’t in each individual school’s game plans. Have they done enough in this still evolving marketplace to put a quality “product” on the field?
At Appalachian State, the normal questions are magnified by a whole new coaching regime — but the optimism and expectations are enhanced, too, because of the NFL and major college coaching pedigrees brought to Kidd Brewer Stadium — not just that of head coach Dowell Loggains, but his staff of coordinators and assistants, too.
They are not chasing NIL money. They are chasing opportunity.
According to numbers compiled by App State Athletics, Loggains and his staff combine for 60 years of NFL coaching experience and 142 years of college coaching experience, including several major college stops. It gives an App State football fan pause to see members of the Mountaineer staff with coaching stops that include the Dallas Cowboys, Tennessee Titans, Chicago Bears, Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins, Carolina Panthers, Green Bay Packers, Oakland Raiders, Arizona Cardinals, Philadelphia Eagles, and New England Patriots.
Watauga High School alums Carter Everett (29) and Orlando Leon (52) were on hand to speak to reporters on Media Day for App State Football. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
Read further and there are college names like Penn State, Arkansas, South Carolina, Clemson, Ole Miss, Maryland, Missouri, Texas, Washington, Michigan, North Carolina, Georgia Tech, and Virginia Tech, among others.
Collectively, that is a rich coaching pedigree for a mid-major football staff, especially when you see the number of offensive coordinators and defensive coordinators along with position coaches. These are guys who have coached the likes of Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Andrew Luck, Marvin Harrison, Jameis Winston, Spencer Rattler and a host of other big names in the football world. Most of the coaches played college ball, some even played in the NFL.
More than ever, college football is a growing marketplace.
In this age of NIL and revenue sharing, a mid-major school like App State (without the deep pockets of an Alabama, Ohio State, USC, Michigan and the like) has to find other ways to compete. They can’t fill their rosters by buying talent, so they must look for other ways to put a talented team, their “product,” on the field. Part of App State’s effective strategy may well prove to be the opportunity to play under the supervision of coaches with extensive NFL and major college experience.
“Our recruiting has been pretty smooth,” said Loggains during his Media Day press conference, “because App State Football has a strong brand.”
Loggains applauded his staff’s efforts to recruit both through the transfer portal and incoming freshman commitments.
“I’m excited about the future,” he said. Later, he noted, “In recruiting, we don’t promise spots. We promise opportunity (to compete for a role)… In practices, we are trying to create as many reps as we can for every player so that our evaluation can be more accurate.”
By transferring to App State — beyond the opportunity for a great education — the appeal for a student athlete is the hope for more playing time, to show what they can do and put it on tape for evaluators to see. And then there’s the bonus: They are still playing at the FBS level. For those redshirt seniors with aspirations to play at the next level, the season ahead represents important opportunity.
Loggains confirmed as much when he said, “It’s guys looking for opportunities. They are not chasing NIL money or other things. They are simply asking, ‘Where can I go to get good tape? Where can I go to have an opportunity to advance my potential career in the National Football League? Where can I go to have a (realistic) chance to start, to play?’ For whatever reason, they are not happy with their current circumstance.”
More than ever, college football is a growing marketplace. The player-sourced demand is for opportunity and that is what Loggains and his staff are selling. Adding all of the NFL and major college coaching talent only serves to enhance the “product” being sold.
Dissecting the Transfer Roster
In reviewing the App State roster, we have divided the transfers into three categories. The potential “marquee” contributors include the highly regarded student athletes initially recruited to play at a Power 4 school, but who haven’t seen a lot of playing time in their years at the big name school either because of competition at the position, injury, or perceived scheme fit once they arrived.
A second group are those from Power 4 schools who transferred to App State in an earlier year and have chosen to continue playing for the Mountaineers and, more than likely, to earn their degree(s) from the school.
In the third group are the players transferring to App state and “moving up” from a smaller school to a higher level of competition, usually after having success at one or more of the junior college, NAIA, NCAA Division II or FCS levels. In some cases, they are making a same-level transfer, i.e. from another Sun Belt Conference member institution or another Group of Five conference school. Perhaps unhappy with their current circumstance, as Loggains put it, or maybe they just like what they heard is happening at The Rock.
App State Players Leaving a Power 4 Program to Ostensibly Get More Playing Time and Better Visibility for the Next Level (NFL, CFL, UFL, Arena)
Davion Dozier, wide receiver, transferred to App State this year from Arkansas with three years of eligibility remaining. A 4-star prospect coming out of high school in Moody, Ala.
Izayah Cummings, tight end, a 6-year redshirt senior. One season of eligibility after stops at Kentucky (2020-23) and Louisville (2024). A 6A Kentucky Football Coaches Association “Player of the Year” in high school.
AJ Swann, quarterback, transfer to App State this year after playing for LSU in 2024. Started college career at Vanderbilt. A former 4-star recruit out of Cherokee HS in white, Ga.
Emory Floyd, defensive back, transferred in this year from South Carolina (2022-24), with two seasons of eligibility. FAST: ran 100 meters in 10.86 and 200 meters at 21.33. Out of Hillgrove HS in Marietta, Ga., ranked as 44th best prospect in state and 35th-best safety in nation by 247 Sports.
Rashod Dubinion, running back, senior transfer threes seasons at Arkansas. Highly rated RB coming out of Cedar Grove HS in Ellenwood, Ga., including a state championship as a senior. Told High Country Sports: “Since I was 5 years old, I have been a part of winning teams. I am here to be part of a winner.”
Dylan Hasz, defensive back, junior transfer this year from Arkansas (2023-24) with two years of eligibility remaining. Consensus (247, ESPN, On3) 3-star prospect out of Bixby HS, Bixby, Okla.
Brayshawn Littlejohn, linebacker, redshirt sophomore with three seasons of eligibility after transferring from Missouri. Helped Gaffney (S.C.) High School to undefeated record as a junior and named to 5A all-state team as a senior.
Jackson Grier, wide receiver, transferring into App State as a redshirt sophomore from Boise State with three years of eligibility remaining. From Fort Lauderdale, Fla., helped St. Thomas Aquinas HS to third straight 7A state title in 2021.
JJ Kohl, quarterback, transfer from Iowa State (2023-24) with three years of eligibility remaining. At 6-7, 245, a 4-star rated prospect out of Ankeny, Iowa. Ranked a “top 10” QB by ESPN and Rivals. No. 12 QB prospect in the nation by 247 Sports Composite.
Khalifa Keith, running back, redshirt sophomore transferring in this year from Tennessee. Highly rated RB out of Parker HS in Birmingham, Ala.
Ja’Den McBurrows, defensive back, redshirt senior from Michigan (2021-24), with one year of eligibility remaining. Coming out of St. Thomas Aquinas HS in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., rated the No. 36 cornerback prospect in the nation.
Ronnie Porter, linebacker, redshirt senior transfer from South Carolina (2021-24), one season of eligibility remaining. The Richland County “Player of the Year” his senior year in high school at Heathwood Hall Episcopal, in Columbia, S.C., playing linebacker and running back.
Cam Fleming, defensive back, redshirt sophomore transfer from Virginia Tech (2023-24), with three seasons of eligibility remaining. In high school, first team All-State as a junior and senior playing for Trinity Episcopal, North Chesterfield, Va. Ranked by ESPN as No. 52 cornerback prospect in nation and No. 12 prospect in Virginia.
Brooks Yurachek, linebacker, redshirt sophomore transfer this year from Arkansas (2024) and, previously, Wake Forest (2023). Three seasons of eligibility remaining. In high school, earned all-state honors playing for Fayetteville (Ark.) HS. Oldest brother joined App State’s staff as offensive assistant in December 2024.
Ian Ratliff, punter, redshirt sophomore from University of Texas. Played high school ball for Atascocita HS in Humble, Texas.
Rondo Porter, defensive lineman, redshirt junior from South Carolina (2024) with two seasons of eligibility remaining. Earlier stints at Lenoir-Rhyne (2022) and Newberry (2023). Played high school ball for Heathwood Hall Episcopal (Columbia, S.C.), where he was a 2-time recipient of SCISA “Defensive Player of the Year” award.
Jackson Briley, defensive lineman, redshirt freshman transfer from Wake Forest. In high school for Wake Forest HS (N.C.), selected for the Blue-Grey All-American Bowl and four-time academic all-conference selection.
Moritz Schmoranzer, offensive lineman, redshirt freshman transfer from Pitt (2024) with four seasons of eligibility remaining. Originally from Langenfeld, Germany, played high school ball for North Cross, Va. and rated one of state’s top 25 overall prospects by all recruiting outlets (ESPN, On3, 247Sports and Rivals).
Trent Ramsey, offensive lineman, redshirt junior transfer from Cal (after earning his undergraduate degree) with two seasons of eligibility remaining. Out of Carrollwood Day (Palm Harbor, Fla.), rated a 4-star prospect by Rivals and ESPN coming out of high school.
Lance Williams, offensive lineman, redshirt sophomore transfer this year from Virginia Tech, with three seasons of eligibility remaining. For Alcoa (Tenn.) High School, helped team to four straight TSSAA 3A state championships, including as team captain and team MVP as senior.
Transfers into App State Before This Year
Shawn Collins, defensive lineman, came from Rutgers where he played for three seasons before transferring to App State for the 2023 season. 6th year redshirt senior.
Myles Farmer, defensive back, transferred into App State for the 2024 season (injury-shortened) after starting at Nebraska (2019-22), then to Syracuse (2023). One year of eligibility as redshirt senior. Highly ranked, nationally, coming out of Westlake HS in Atlanta.
William Fowles, wide receiver, transferred to App State in 2024 after freshman year at Louisville. A 4-star prospect coming out of Dade Christian HS in Hialeah, Fla.
Elijah Mc-Cantos, defensive back, redshirt junior transfer to App State from Illinois (2022-23) before the 2024 season. Appeared in all 11 games for the Mountaineers in 2024, starting two. Coming out of Edison HS in Little Haiti, Fla., ranked by Rivals as the No. 45 cornerback in the nation.
Thomas Davis, defensive lineman, played for App State the last two years after two seasons at Miami. Consensus (247, ESPN, Rivals) 3-star prospect out of Lowndes High School in Valdosta, Ga.
Jackson Moore, kicker, played for App State in 2024 after transferring from Kentucky. Redshirt sophomore. In high school at Marvin Ridge (Waxhaw, N.C.), named first team all-state by HighSchoolOT.com.
Nick Campbell, defensive lineman, played for App State in 2024 after transferring from NC State (2022-23). Two seasons of eligibility remaining. Ranked No. 49 defensive lineman nationally by 247Sports out of Lake Minneola HS in Clermont, Fla.
Griffin Scroggs, offensive lineman, transferred to App State for 2023 and 2024 seasons after true freshman year in 2022 with Georgia’s national championship team. Played high school ball at Grayson (Ga.). Named to 247Sports All-America team and helped team win 7A state championship in 2020.
Luke Burgess, offensive lineman, three seasons of eligibility remaining after transferring to App State before the 2024 season as a redshirt freshman from Louisville. Played high school ball at New Palestine, Ind., named first team all-state.
Transfers to App State after Playing in Smaller or other Mid-Major Schools
Jaelin Willis, linebacker, senior, transfer this year to App State after starring at an NAIA school, Keiser (2021-23) and then transferring to a NCAA Division II school in Lenoir-Rhyne (2024). Played high school ball for Bishop Verot in Fort Myers, Fla., earning first team all-area honors and the team’s defensive MVP three years in a row.
Joseph Bakhole, defensive lineman, redshirt senior who played with Chattanooga (2024, ULM (2023) and Coffeyville Community College (2020-22). High school all-state and all conference performer at Charlotte’s Myers Park.
Sam Mbake, wide receiver, redshirt junior transfer this year from Kilgore College, although played at Arkansas in 2022 and 2023. Rated No. 1 wide receiver recruit for 2025 at the junior college level by 247Sports. Played high school ball for North Cobb HS, in Atlanta and was No. 25 overall prospect in the state of Georgia.
Dylan Manuel, defensive lineman, sophomore transfer this year to App State from Charleston Southern. Senior year in high school, helped lead Stockbridge HS (Georgia) to state championship appearance.
Billy Wiles, quarterback, transferred to App State in 2024 from Southern Miss (2023), but was part of Clemson’s program in 2021 and 2022. In high school, led Stone Bridge (Ashburn, Va.) to state title in spring of 2021 (season moved from fall 2020 to spring 2021 because of COVID-19).
Jaden Barnes, wide receiver, junior transfer from Austin Peay with two seasons of eligibility remaining. Helped Langston Hughes HS (McDonough, Ga.) to 6A state championship. Also a member of Langston Hughes’ state champion 4×200-meter relay team and silver medalist in 4×100.
Cristian Conyer, defensive back, junior transfer this year from Coastal Carolina (2024) with two seasons of eligibility remaining, after first year at Tennessee (2023). In high school (South Warren, Bowling Green, Ky.), 5A state championship as a junior. Consensus “top 6” player in state of Kentucky by all recruiting services. Decorated sprinter in track.
Ahmad Robinson, defensive back, redshirt junior transfer from Prairie View A&M (2024), redshirted at Arkansas State as true freshman in 2022. In high school, named “Super 30” top prospect by St. Louis Post-Dispatch, after competing with East St. Louis HS.
Gabe Simpkins, long snapper, redshirt sophomore from UNC-Pembroke with three years of eligibility remaining. Was at App State for 2024, but did not play. Named all-conference in high school at Leesville Road HS (Raleigh, N.C.).
Aiden Benton, defensive lineman, redshirt sophomore transfer to App State this year after redshirt freshman year at (junior college) Georgia Military College (2024). Redshirted at West Georgia in 2023. In high school (Lovejoy HS, Hampton, Ga.), earned 6A all-state team honors (Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Georgia HS Football Daily, and Recruit Georgia).
Joshua Acord, tight end, redshirt junior transferring this year from Southern Utah (2022-24). All state selection in high school (Northridge HS, North Salt Lake, Utah).
Jared Gibble, tight end, redshirt senior transfer from Campbell to App State in 2024. Played high school ball at Oak Grove HS (Winston-Salem). Ranked as No. 65 overall player in North Carolina by 247Sports.
Shamar Jackson, offensive lineman, redshirt senior transferring in from New Mexico State (2023-24) after two seasons at Iowa Western Community College (2021-22). Iowa Western was JC national champs in 2022. Played tight end, defensive end, outside linebacker at Loris HS (Loris, S.C.).
Michael Marotta, offensive lineman, redshirt senior, transferred to App State for 2024 season from Valdosta State, where he started a center with a team that reached NCAA Division II quarterfinals. High school ball at Nature Coast Tech, Spring Hill, Fla., named a North Florida All-Star.
Will Flowers, offensive lineman, redshirt senior transfer who played four seasons at East Tennessee State (2020-23) before transferring to Valdosta State (2024). At NCAA Division II level, named first team All-American from AP, American Football Coaches Association, Walter Camp and D2 Conference Commissioners Association in 2024. Played football and baseball for LaGrange HS, LaGrange, Ga.
Tyriq Poindexter, offensive lineman, redshirt senior from VMI (2021-24). One season of eligibility remaining. All SoCon first team honors in 2024. Played offensive and defensive lines at William Fleming HS in Roanoke, Va.
Malik Berry, defensive lineman, senior transfer this year from Pittsburgh State (2023-24), after earlier playing at Butler Community College (2020-22). Played high school ball in Lawrence, Kansas-based Lawrence Free State HS, where he was a two-time 5A all state performer.
Saint Farrior, defensive lineman, as redshirt sophomore, has three years of eligibility remaining after member of Hampton University team in 2023-24. Played high school ball for Hillside HS in Durham.
Kevin Abrams-Verwayne, defensive lineman, transferred to App State for 2022 season after playing for Garden City Community College (2021). For App State, has appeared in 20 games with seven starts. Graduated from Marietta HS, Marietta, Ga.
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — For most of the last 46 years, there has a Breitenstein on the Watauga High School football team’s sideline as an assistant coach and, more recently, a pair of them. For 2025, that won’t the case.
The Pioneers lost two Breitenstein assistant coaches in the off-season — but are adding a landmark new assistant coach, too.
Steve Breitenstein became a Pioneer assistant in 1978, under then head coach Bill Mauldin. That season was the last Watauga football team to win a state championship. Officially, Breitenstein is retiring from high school football — but it didn’t take long for him to find a new football-related gig.
Steve Breitenstein, foreground left, and Eric Breitenstein, second from right in foreground, have gotten to coach together as assistants on the Watauga High School staff under head coach Ryan Habich, far right foreground, Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
“My wife will get me for the ‘honey-do’ list until about 2 p.m. every day,” Breitenstein chuckled in an interview with High Country Sports. “Then I will be going to Hardin Park School to help coach the Watauga middle school football team, as an assistant under head coach Byron Towner.”
Eric Breitenstein walks the Watauga sideline in 2025, during a game. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
After a stellar high school career at Watauga and an award-winning stint with Wofford College (including induction into the Southern Conference Hall of Fame), Steve Breitenstein’s son, Eric Breitenstein, enjoyed some interest from NFL teams but eventually pursued his other interest: teaching science. He was hired as a science teacher and assistant football coach in 2020, joining head coach Ryan Habich’s staff and getting to coach alongside his father.
He is also leaving the Pioneer football program, having taken a job as an advisor for student athletes competing for App State Athletics, with primary responsibilities for the men’s and women’s golf teams.
“Change is inevitable,” said Watauga head coach Habich, in a separate interview with High Country Sports, “but this will be a very different year without the Breitensteins on the sideline with me. They are truly special coaches, but also very special people. Steve has been a mentor for me. He is not the kind of guy that tells you what you want to hear, but a guy who tells you what you need to here. To be successful, you need that honesty and constructive criticism in your corner.”
Although both Steve and Eric have coached multiple positions, Steve started out coaching the offensive line in 1978 and for the last several years as coach of the offensive line under Habich.
“It is a funny story,” said Habich, grinning, “but last year I was walking on the track with Steve and he said, ‘In 1978, I was an assistant here and getting yelled at by the head coach (Bill Mauldin) when the offensive line was making mistakes. Fast forward a few decades and I am still getting yelled at by the head coach (Habich) when the offensive line isn’t doing its job!'”
It is faith, family and football for the Breitenstein family. Here, the Watauga team has a post-game prayer in 2024. That is Steve Breitenstein, center left in the back row. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
For Steve Breitenstein, coaching football has been nothing short of a wonderful, life-fulfilling experience. He was the son of a football coach, Bob Breitenstein, who was backfield coach for the University of Miami in Florida before taking the head coaching job at App State in 1959 for one year — which is what brought the Breitenstein family to the High Country.
“Coaching is in my blood,” said Steve. “I was recruited to play football at Catawba College but it didn’t take me long to figure out I wasn’t really good enough. So I started to serve the sport in other ways, like filming games. When I applied for a teaching job at North Davidson, they asked me what kind of extra-curriculars I could teach. I had always wanted to coach football, so that is where I got my start.”
For the elder Breitenstein, teaching and coaching have gone hand in hand.
“Mentoring young men and women and watching them grow is such a privilege,” he said.
As for football, Breitenstein said he was made to be a position coach.
“I never wanted to be a head coach and I have had an opportunity to be an assistant under some of the best,” said Steve. “That started with Bill Mauldin and the state championship team in 1978. He is now retired, of course, but he was a terrific football coach and leader of men. And here at the end of my high school coaching career, I have had an opportunity to work under Ryan Habich since 2013. Watauga was a program in transition when Habich took over the program and he turned it around almost from the get-go. Can you believe that in the last seven years we won SEVEN consecutive, undefeated conference championships? As my son, Eric, says, ‘That’s ridiculous!’
“I mean this in all sincerity,” Breitenstein added, “but Ryan Habich is a genius when it comes to football.”
Habich to Introduce “New” Assistant
As a freshman for the 2013-14 academic year at Watauga, Hamilton Castle was the first quarterback to play all four years for Ryan Habich. In 2025, he returns to the Pioneers as an assistant coach under Habich, focused on coaching wide receivers.
Hamilton Castle’s profile photo on LinkedIn.
“This is a special opportunity for me,” said Habich. “Hamilton was the first QB I had all four years, succeeding Aaron Dobbins, then giving way to his brother, Anderson Castle (now a running back at Duke after transferring from App State in the off-season for his remaining year of eligibility).”
Castle was an all-conference performer in high school, both as a quarterback and a defensive back. For the Hudl highlight reel, CLICK HERE.
According to LinkedIn, Castle graduated from App State with an undergraduate degree in business administration (banking and finance), then in 2023 earned an MBA from App State, with a combined GPA of 3.64. After graduating with his undergraduate degree and while working on his MBA, Castle was employed full-time by Lifestore Bank as a credit analyst. In 2024, he became owner-manager of 581 Consulting, a sales and use tax refund company for North Carolina-based truck companies.
“Although we hate losing Steve and Eric Breitenstein, change is inevitable and Hamilton is a welcome addition to our coaching staff,” said Habich. “He brings a wealth of knowledge about football, business and life. Just as Eric was a Watauga alum who came back to serve his alma mater and contributed in a positive way, now Hamilton is doing the same thing.”
Watauga football training officially begins on July 30.
By David Rogers. KINGSPORT, Tenn. — Make it two weeks in a row that husband and wife Andrew and Tristin Colley swept the men’s and women’ divisions of the 35th annual Ballad Health and Niswonger Children’s Hospital “Crazy 8s” 8K run. Almost 2,000 athletes competed in the hot and muggy conditions.
Both of the Colleys are members of the Blowing Rock-based ZAP Endurance elite distance running team and they were all smiles after back-to-back winning sweeps, having also won a week earlier in the Cook Medical “Beat the Heat Elite 5K” in Winston-Salem.
ZAP’s Party Central
For ZAP Endurance, the finish line was party central of sorts. Teammate Ryan Ford also had a podium finish at No. 3 (23:14), and middle distance specialist Dan Schaffer crossed the line at No. 5 (23:42).
Tristin Colley was the No. 1 female finisher (26:37) and No. 10 overall. Teammate Annmarie Tuxbury was No. 23 (28:28).
Map courtesy of Crazy 8s, 8K organizing committee.
The course started at the intersection of Fort Henry Drive and Legion Dr., and finished with a 100-yard sprint down the center of the Dobyns Bennett High School football field, in Fred Johnson Stadium.
Among other area runners competing in the event, App State cross country and track standout, Emma Russum — now living in Boone but a graduate of Dobyns Bennett High School, — was the runner-up to Tristin Colley in the women’s division and No. 18 overall (28.18). A transfer from UT-Chattanooga to App State for her senior year, Russum was named the Sun Belt Conference “Newcomer of the Year” in track and field, winning the 3,000-meter steeplechase crown and one of 10 Mountaineers to earn all-conference honors.
Pacing
Andrew Colley led the Crazy 8s race early, but broke free from the pack after two miles, clicking off each mile at about a 4:33 pace the rest of the way. For his winning effort (22:36), Colley picked up the winner’s check of $2,000, bettering his runner-up finish time from a year ago.
This year, the runner-up was North Carolina’s Graydon Morris almost half a minute later (23:02).
As the No. 1 women’s finisher in a personal best for the 8K distance (26:37), Tristin Colley also picked up a check for $2,000.
By Matt Present. GREENSBORO, N.C. – App State Baseball head coach Kermit Smith has been named a recipient of the American Baseball Coaches Association’s Dave Keilitz Ethics in Coaching Award.
The honor is presented to individuals who embody the association’s Code of Ethics. The ABCA believes that the highest calling of a baseball coach is to teach life’s lessons and model the character traits of honesty, integrity, respect and personal responsibility.
“Kermit Smith epitomizes what a leader of young people should look like,” App State Director of Athletics Doug Gillin said. “He is dedicated to the holistic development of student-athletes — academically, socially and competitively. Every day, he gives his all for Appalachian State University. A man of exemplary character, we are honored for him to represent App State as the recipient of such a prestigious award.”
Smith will be honored in January at the 2026 ABCA Convention in Columbus, Ohio.
Kermit epitomizes what a leader of young people should look like.
The award was named in honor of Dave Keilitz in 2017. A former Central Michigan head coach and athletics director, Keilitz is a member of the ABCA Hall of Fame and the ABCA Board of Directors. He served as the ABCA’s Executive Director from 1994-2014.
“I am very humbled with this incredible honor,” Smith said. “I have matured in this industry and admired coaches like Dave Keilitz, Keith Madison, Rusty Stroupe, and others who strive to develop the whole student-athlete. For my name to be mentioned among them is surreal.
“Thank you to the individuals that nominated and supported me in the selection process. This is a great representation of so many people that have impacted me over two and a half decades, spanning three institutions, countless administrators, players, and assistants.”
Across his nine seasons in Boone, Smith has become widely admired for the family atmosphere he has created around the App State Baseball program and the way in which he has immersed himself in the High Country community.
On the field, Smith led the Mountaineers to back-to-back 30-win seasons in 2023 and 2024, marking the first time since 2012-2013 that an App State team accomplished that feat.
“Kermit Smith is a phenomenal coach, but more importantly, he’s a phenomenal man,” App State Baseball alum Luke Drumheller said. “He values integrity, honesty, hard work and family. From the time I stepped on campus, I knew that he would be someone I looked up to.”
A coach will impact more young people in one year than the average person does in a lifetime.
In the wake of Hurricane Helene, Smith worked with team leaders to organize multiple clean-up and rebuilding efforts. He went on to partner with UNC Asheville to play a fall contest in which all game revenue was donated directly to each school’s hurricane relief fund.
Smith also has been honored by the App State Fellowship of Christian Athletes, which presented him with the Influence Award in April of 2024.
“In the preamble of the ABCA code of ethics, it speaks of being caretakers of our game, our families, our communities and our nation,” Smith said. “No one holds a higher responsibility to emulate what this looks like than the coach. Reverend Billy Graham once said, ‘A coach will impact more young people in one year than the average person does in a lifetime.’ This has been something that has impacted the way I speak, act and treat others throughout my 25 years in this profession. Rebecca and I have always looked at this as our mission field. Without the support of Rebecca, Maddox, Beckett and Georgia Grace, I would not be able to lead authentically.
“I am fortunate to work at a university that allows me to lead the way that I do. Chancellor Norris, Doug Gillin and Jonathan Reeder share in the vision to develop the entire student-athlete, not solely the athlete.”
Since arriving in Boone in 2016, Smith has coached 11 All-Sun Belt players, including Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year Banks Tolley in 2024, and two Freshmen of the Year, including Austin St. Laurent, who was later selected by the Seattle Mariners in the 14th round of the 2024 draft. Smith has also developed an All-American, four Freshman All-Americans, two all-region players and eight Major League Baseball draft picks.
A native of Arcadia, Fla., Smith played his college ball at Pfeiffer before going on to serve as the head coach of Belmont Abbey (2001-2009) and Lander (2009-2016), leading his teams to three combined appearances in the Division II College World Series. Smith was inducted into the Lander Athletics Hall of Fame in December 2021.
By Matt Present. ATLANTA, Ga. — App State Baseball had two pitchers selected Monday in the 2025 MLB Draft, as the Seattle Mariners picked Jackson Steensma in the ninth round and the St. Louis Cardinals chose Liam Best in the 19th round.
Steensma and Best became the 48th and 49th draft picks from App State, increasing the total to eight since head coach Kermit Smith arrived before the 2017 season. The Mountaineers have had at least one pitcher taken in five of the nine drafts during that time.
With Steensma going 272nd overall and Best being taken with the 570th pick, App State had two players selected in the top 20 rounds for the first time since 2012, when pitcher Nathan Hyatt went in the 13th round and catcher Tyler Tewell was drafted in the 14th round. The last time the Mountaineers had a pick in the top 10 rounds and then another top-20-round pick was 1985.
The 2013 draft was the last time two pitchers from App State had been selected in the same year: Rob Marcell and Sam Agnew-Wieland.
One of the top pitchers in the Sun Belt Conference in 2024, Steensma led the Mountaineers on the mound by going 6-2 with a 4.03 ERA. He finished the season ranked sixth in the league in opponent’s batting average (.235), seventh in strikeouts (74), fifth in strikeouts looking (24) and ninth in ERA (4.03). Steensma used a medical redshirt in 2025 after undergoing Tommy John surgery.
Steensma’s 2024 campaign was highlighted by a career-high 10 strikeouts against Troy during an outing in which he allowed just one run in six innings. He followed that up by tossing a career-high 6.1 innings in a victory over Arkansas State. The outings were part of a month-long stretch in which he struck out 26 while allowing just one walk.
The Byron Center, Mich., native joined the Mountaineers as a freshman in 2023, serving as the App State closer his first season. He posted a 3-1 record with a 4.28 ERA and recorded seven saves, a total that tied him for eighth-most in a single season in program history. His final save of the season came against No. 16 Southern Miss in the Sun Belt semifinals to stave off elimination.
Best, equipped with a high-90s fastball, bounced back from injury to impress for the Mountaineers in 2025. He posted a 2-5 record, a pair of saves and a 5.36 ERA, striking out 50 batters in 40.1 innings of work. After beginning the season as a high-leverage reliever, Best worked his way into the starting rotation across the final month of the season and tossed a career-high 4.2 innings, striking out six, during a start in the Sun Belt Tournament against Texas State.
Across his final five appearances of the season, Best fanned 26 batters in 16.2 innings for a strikeout rate of 14.0 batters per nine innings. Other season highlights included striking out four batters, including the side in the 10th inning, across 3.0 innings in an extra-inning win over Texas State on March 15. Best also struck out a career-high six batters in a start against No. 22 Southern Miss on April 26.
The Sterling, Va., native graduated from Potomac Falls High School, where he was twice recognized on Perfect Game Preseason All-American lists. Best began his collegiate career at George Washington in 2022 before transferring to the State College of Florida, where he competed in 2023 and 2024.
By David Rogers. WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — A record-setting performance by the High Country’s Andrew Colley highlighted the 26th running of the Cook Medical Beat the Heat Elite 5K on July 12 — and a win by his wife, Tristin (Van Ord) Colley, in the Women’s Division completed a storybook day for the Blowing Rock-based ZAP Endurance professional running team.
Andrew Colley is the first and only runner to ever finish the race under 14 minutes, crossing the finish line in 13:53.36 for the slightly more than 3.1 miles course. The previous Beat the Heat Elite 5K record was established in 2017 by Luis Vargas (14:08.40).
But Colley’s performance also establishes a new North Carolina state record for a road race 5k, previously set by Donnie Cowart on June 3, 2022, in the China Grove 5K.
While most of the 26 Men’s elite competitors were from North Carolina, the top 10 included athletes from Charlottesville, Va., Pittsburgh, Pa., and Atlanta, Ga., as well as Chapel Hill, Charlotte, Cary, Lexington, and Winston-Salem.
Colley finished more than a half-minute ahead of the No. 2 elite competitor, Graham Crawford (14:26.74), 32, of Charlottesville, Va.
The Beat the Heat Elite 5K course is fully contained within the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds with plenty of viewing options.
More than 700 recreational runners also competed in a separate race, the Beat the Heat 5K run a little earlier in the evening on a nearby different course, also including parts of the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds. Both course are USATF Certified 5K venues.
In the Women’s Division of the Cook Medical Beat the Heat 5K, former Appalachian State track and cross country star Tristin (Van Ord) Colley, now also a ZAP Endurance team member, kept things in the family by running away with the distaff title. Her time of 16:16.78, was just five seconds shy of the Beat the Heat Elite 5K women’s record of 16:11, set by Blake Phillips Russell in 1999. The North Carolina state 5K road race record for a female is 15:50, set by Laura Mykytok in the Winston-Salem hosted AT&T Long Distance 5K open division, on Aug. 27, 1994.
The No. 2 runner behind Tristin Colley in the women’s race was Cleo Boyd, of Charlottesville, Va., 27 seconds behind. ZAP Endurance had a second team member in the women’s race, Annmarie Tuxbury, who crossed the line at No. 6, in 17:31.23.
Tristin Colley’s mile pace for the completed race was 5:14.
For the wins, each of the Colleys picked up first place prize money of $1,000, plus bonus cash for certain benchmarks, according to the Beat the Heat 5K website. Andrew earned a bonus of $100 for running under 15 minutes, as well as $200 for setting a new Beat the Heat race record.
Tristin also qualified for a time standard record, $100 for completing the race under 17 minutes.
The Colley wins in Winston-Salem completed a storybook day for the Blowing Rock-based ZAP Endurance team. Earlier that morning, teammate Amanda Vestri earned her first national championship crown by winning the USATF Women’s 6K National Championship in Canton, Ohio.
By David Rogers. CANTON, Ohio (remote) — Maybe Amanda Vestri was proving the old adage, No. 2 tries harder.
Amanda Vestri (center) enjoys a podium moment with Annie Frisbie and Fiona O’Keefe. Photo by Michael Scott, courtesy of ZAP Endurance
After finishing as the runner-up in the 2024 USATF Women’s 6Km Championship, Blowing Rock-based ZAP Endurance’s Vestri, sponsored by Brooks athletic apparel, returned to Canton, Ohio a year later to finish No. 1 in the 2025 version of the event, crossing the finish line almost seven seconds ahead of the new No. 2, Annie Frisbie (Minnesota Distance Elite, Puma), 18:28.57 vs. 18:35.26.
Two other Puma-sponsored runners, Fiona O’Keefe (No. 3, 18:37.18) and Molly Born (No. 4, 18:40.01) were the only other professional runners to cross the line in under 19 minutes.
A year ago, Vestri completed the 6Km (3.728 miles) in 18:16. Weather might have played a part in the marginally slower time. When the gun went off to start the race at 8 am, the temperature was already approaching 90 degrees, with wind gusts exceeding 11 mph and 80 percent humidity.
The USATF-sanctioned national championships was run in conjunction with the Women’s 6K Festival. Vestri led from the start to the finish, running the first two miles at a 4:53 pace for each one and opening a three second lead over a group of four, including Frisbie, O’Keefe, Born and Edna Kurgat.
For the closing distance, Vestri used her High Country training to great effect, as described by the USATF account.
“Then, Vestri powered up the course’s largest hill to make the gap insurmountable. She led by seven seconds 5K and that was the margin of victory when she broke the tape at Centennial Plaza,” said the USATF account.
“I just kind of wanted to take it from the gun,” said Vestri, who moves into second place in the USATF Running Circuit point standings, according to the USATF account. “In these shorter races, I’m not really keen to just sit and run 5:15, 5:20. So, I just wanted to take it out. That’s the best way I run.”
While picking up a $6,000 check as the winner, Vestri moves on from road racing to the the track where she will compete in the USATF Outdoor National Championships in the 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters, in Eugene, Ore., July 31 to Aug. 3.
By David Rogers. QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA (remote) — Crossing the finish line ahead of some 15,000 runners to finish No. 7 and only three and a half minutes behind a sextet of marathon athletes from Japan, Blowing Rock’s Josh Izewski was the first American to finish the 26.2 miles of the legendary Gold Coast Marathon in Queensland on July 6.
Photo courtesy of ZAP Endurance
On a course staged alongside some of Australia’s most famous surfing beaches, the Gold Coast is billed as Australia’s “flattest, fastest and most scenic” marathon course.
Izewski, 33, used a strong final 10K to finish at the top American in the field, moving up from No. 14 in the final six miles, to capture the No. 7 spot at the finish line. His time of 2:11:00 was just six seconds off his personal best for the distance, 2:10:54, established earlier this year in the Houston Marathon. It was Izewski’s second time competing in the Gold Coast event. In the second go around, he bettered his No. 5 mark in 2023 by 26 seconds (2:11:26).
Yuki Takei of Japan completed the course in 2:07:33 to capture the No. 1 title and collect not only the $20,000 first place prize money, but also picked up an additional $5,000 bonus for breaking the previous course record (2:07:40).
Takei was the first of six Japanese runners to sweep the first six spots, with Izewski crossing at No. 7 ahead of an international mix in the “top 25” that included 12 athletes from Japan, three from Kenya, two from Indonesia, two from New Zealand, two from Australia, and one each from the USA (Izewski), Canada, Great Britain and Mongolia.
Izewski’s No. 7 finish was a mere nine seconds behind Japan’s Yuto Imae.
