SALEM, Va./CHARLESTON, S.C. — App State Wrestling opened its 2024-25 schedule over the weekend with 27 wrestlers in action across two tournaments, highlighted by Luke Uliano’s individual title at the Southeast Open in Virginia on Saturday, Nov. 2.
Tomas Brooker’s runner-up finish at the Battle at The Citadel in South Carolina led the Mountaineers on Sunday, Nov. 3.
SOUTHEAST OPEN
Uliano captured the title at 174 pounds on Saturday in Salem, going 4-0 in his bracket and claiming a 7-1 decision against Morgan State’s Darrien Roberts in the final.
Uliano won a tournament title for the second time, pairing this one with his 2023 title at the Appalachian Open.
In a semifinal match with four reversals, a conceded escape to Uliano to open the third period was the difference in a 5-4 win against North Carolina’s Isaiah Estrada. He won his first two matches in the Open Division by major decision.
The other top results from App State’s six entries in Salem, Va., were runner-up finishes from Carson Floyd (197 pounds, Open Division) and true freshman Stephan Monchery (heavyweight, Freshman/Sophomore Division). Chad Bellis dropped his first match but took fifth at 133 pounds with a 5-1 record, while Jeremiah Price was fifth at 157 pounds with a 5-2 record.
Floyd overcame a 9-3 deficit entering the third period against West Virginia’s Rune Lawrence in the semifinal round, forcing overtime on takedowns with 50 seconds left and seven seconds left, then advanced via a medical forfeit. Virginia Tech’s Sonny Sasso won the final by fall.
Monchery won his first collegiate match by fall and advanced to the final of his bracket with a 5-1 decision.
Bellis’ last two wins came against 2024 SoCon semifinalists Blake Boarman of Chattanooga (17-7 major decision) and Dyson Dunham of VMI (5-2 decision).
BATTLE AT THE CITADEL
Brooker went 2-0 with a head-to-head win against teammate Dalton Battle in a 184-pound semifinal before falling 4-2 in the final against The Citadel’s Billy Janzer, who was an NCAA qualifier for Rutgers in 2020 and 2021. Janzer recorded a tiebreaking takedown with 33 seconds left.
The Mountaineers got third-place finishes from true freshman Jarvis Little (4-1 at 133 pounds), Aldo Hernandez (3-1 at 141 pounds) and Logan Eller (3-1 at 184 pounds), while Anthony Conetta placed fourth at 157 pounds with a 3-2 record.
The 2024-25 season is presented by Hungry Howie’s and Penn Station.
By Lance McNary. HARRISONBURG, Va. – The App State field hockey team defeated James Madison by a score of 4-3 on Nov. 3. With Sunday’s win, the Mountaineers are back-to-back MAC Regular Season Co-Champions and earn a first-round bye in the MAC Tournament.
The Mountaineers (11-7, 7-1 MAC) came into today’s matchup after previously defeating Queens, and App State’s win against James Madison (13-5, 7-1 MAC) is the third consecutive win against the Dukes.
Lise Boekaar, Kassie Paul and Florine Koopman all found the back of the cage against the Dukes, with Paul tallying two on the day.
The Mountaineers played both sides of the ball extremely well, holding a James Madison team that is first in the MAC in goals to seven shots for the game. The Mountaineers earned 10 corners in the contest, a sharp comparison to the two from James Madison.
How it Happened
1st Quarter: The Mountaineers opened the game putting pressure on the Dukes, tallying five shots and earning four corners in the period. Boekaar put the Mountaineers on the board first six minutes into the game, giving App State a 1-0 lead going into the second.
2nd Quarter: It was more of the same for the Mountaineers, tallying three shots and earning a corner. Both teams were held scoreless in the period, as both teams battled for possession before heading into the halftime break.
3rd Quarter: It was an offensive clinic for both teams, with four goals scored in the period. Paul scored her first goal of the game early in the quarter, but James Madison answered back with 2 goals of their own. Paul ended the quarter with her second goal of the game, giving the lead back to the Mountaineers. App State earned three corners and three shots, as they dominated a lot of the possession. App State held a 3-2 lead going into the final period of the game.
4th Quarter: The final period was a thrilling one, as Koopman scored her fifth goal of the season early in the period. James Madison answered back on a penalty corner, trimming the lead back to one with five minutes left in the contest. The Mountaineers held firm in the final minutes of the contest, even being down one on a Frederique Grimbergen yellow card. App State prevailed in the end, defeating the Dukes 4-3.
The Mountaineers will travel to Oxford, Ohio to play in the MAC Tournament on Thursday. The Mountaineers will have a first-round bye in the tournament and will play the winner of Game 2 of the tournament.
By David Rogers. KERNERSVILLE, N.C. — With 175 of North Carolina’s best high school cross country athletes competing, Watauga finished with three women harriers in the top 48 scorers, including freshman Cali Townsend at No. 8, senior Annabelle Stewart at No. 22, and junior Janie Beach-Verhay at No. 48.
Sofi Alexander, a junior at Asheville, topped the field, running the 5,000 meters’ distance in 18:01.23. Townsend was one of three freshmen finishing in the top eight, including Ragsdale’s Elle Dawson (No. 2, 18:02.74) and Cuthbertson’s Colby McCollum (No. 5, 18:13.90). At No. 8, Townsend was less than 15 seconds behind the leader, finishing in 18:16.09.
The other two Watauga scorers were freshman Lily Kimbrough (No. 99, 20:58.61) and sophomore Susanna Goff (No. 127, 21:49.58).
Other Pioneers competing included sophomore Josephine Walker and sophomore Lainey Johnston.
As a team, the Watauga athletes’ five top scores earned them No. 12 out of the 22 full teams in the 4A class, headed by Cardinal Gibbons, Cuthbertson and Marvin Ridge.
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — In a Nov. 2 game featuring what have been two high-powered offenses in Old Dominion and Appalachian State, defense was the difference maker for the Mountaineers’ 28-20 win — including the Monarchs coughing up the football four times with turnovers (three fumbles and one interception), while the only turnover blemish for the Mountaineer offense was a single pass interception.
Both the Mountaineers and the Monarchs had running backs rushing for over 100 yards. App State’s Ahmani Marshall surpassed that mark for the second consecutive game, carrying the ball 23 times for 120 yards. Old Dominion RB Aaron Young toted the pigskin 14 times for 110 yards.
Ahmani Marshall ran for over 100 yards for the second consecutive game on Nov. 2, in the 28-20 win over Old Dominion. Photo by Flaco Rafael-Suarez for High Country Sports
For both sides, the scoring damage came through the air. The Mountaineers’ quarterback, Joey Aguilar, threw that one pass INT, but otherwise completed 13-of-24 passes for 212 yards and four TDs. Old Dominion’s Colton Joseph was a little more pass-happy, completing 17 of 42 passes for 332 yards and two TDs, as well as one interception.
On the opening play from scrimmage, Old Dominion flexed its offensive prowess with a 61 yard pass from Joseph to wide receiver Isaiah Paige but, just three plays later, the Monarch drive stalled when Joseph fumbled the ball near the Mountaineer 6-yard line and inside linebacker Brendan Harrington alertly jumped on it. It was only ODU’s first drive and first turnover, but it set the tone for what would be the Monarchs’ proverbial albatross for the rest of the game.
Zyeir Gamble poaches a pass in the closing seconds of App State’s Nov. 2 game vs. Old Dominion, to seal a 28-20 victory. Photo by Flaco Rafael-Suarez for High Country Sports
Meanwhile, App State responded on its first play with an Aguilar pass to favorite wide receiver Kaedin Robinson, for 46 yards and getting the ball into Monarch territory. From there it would take only six plays for the Mountaineers to find a reward for the turnover, a 23-yard pass on 3rd-and-12 from Aguilar to Robinson, caught in the end zone for the redshirt senior receiver’s first TD catch of the season.
Although Old Dominion rallied to take a 17-7 lead with under five minutes to go in the first half, a 46-yard strike from Aguilar to redshirt junior Dalton Stroman brought the deficit to a manageable 3 points, 14-17, as the teams headed into their respective locker rooms for intermission.
The Mountaineers took the lead midway through the third quarter when Aguilar found tight end Kanen Hamlett for a 4-yard TD, the tight end’s second touchdown catch in as many weeks.
Mountaineer QB Joey Aguilar extended drives with his feet several times in the 28-20 win over Old Dominion on Nov. 2. Photo by Flaco Rafael-Suarez for High Country Sports
With the clock winding down on the third quarter, ODU closed to within a point (21-20) with a 25-yard Ethan Sanchez field goal. Then the Monarchs stopped the Mountaineers’ first drive of the final period, giving them a chance to retake the lead with either a field goal or a TD. Although they drove to the App State 36-yard line, the Monarchs came up empty when Joseph was sacked by defensive lineman Shawn Collins and lost the ball in the process, the third turnover of the day recovered by redshirt junior outside linebacker, Thomas Davis.
App State immediately capitalized, eating up a lot of the remaining game clock before another tight end, redshirt freshman Max Drag, recorded his first career TD reception as a Mountaineer — on his first career catch. With Jackson Moore’s successful PAT kick, App State had a 28-20 lead but was not quite out of the proverbial woods in leaving 2:29 on the clock for ODU’s Joseph & Co. to work with. A TD and 2-point conversion would tie the game and send the outcome into overtime.
But that didn’t happen, thanks to the Monarch’s final turnover of the afternoon. Although the ODU offense knocked off three first downs to get the ball into App State territory, on 4th-and-11, with just 48 seconds remaining, Joseph’s desperation pass downfield was overthrown — and App State redshirt freshman safety Zyeir Gamble leapt high to pluck it from the air for the interception, sealing the visitors’ fate and the Mountaineers’ second win in as many games.
Makai Jackson catches a Joey Aguilar pass during the Mountaineers’ 28-20 win over Old Dominion on Nov. 2. Photo by Flaco Rafael-Suarez for High Country Sports
In his post-game press conference with media, Appalachian State head coach Shawn Clark credited his team’s ability to win the turnover battle as a major reason for the victory. He also noted that the Mountaineers’ offensive linemen, all new this year, have found some cohesiveness now eight games into the season and that has also been a major factor in the team’s recent resurgence.
Now 4-4 overall, the Mountaineers need two more wins to become bowl eligible. By improving to 2-3 in Sun Belt Conference play, App State can mathematically still represent the SBC’s East Division in the Dec. 7, Sun Belt Championship game — but they need to win out against Coastal Carolina (away, Thursday, Nov. 7), vs. James Madison (home, Saturday, Nov. 23) and against Georgia Southern (away, Saturday, Nov. 30) and probably get a little help along the way.
In the tight East Division race, at 2-3 in Sun Belt play App State is in fifth place behind Georgia Southern and Marshall (both 3-1), Old Dominion (3-2) and James Madison (2-2), ahead of Coastal Carolina (1-3) and Georgia State (0-4).
The West Division is currently led by Louisiana (4-0), Arkansas State and South Alabama (both 3-1), ULM (3-2), Texas State (2-2). Troy (1-4) and Southern Miss (0-4) are all but eliminated from the West Division race.
GAME STATISTICS (courtesy of App State Athletics and StatBroadcast)
By Katherine Jamtgaard. ATLANTA, Ga. — The App State volleyball team defeated Georgia State in a five-set thriller (15-25, 25-14, 19-25, 25-19, 15-7), on the road Nov. 2.
The Mountaineers, who have won five of their last six matches, are 14-7 on the season and 8-2 in Sun Belt play. With the pair of wins on the weekend, App State moves to the top spot in the Sun Belt’s East Division.
“I’m so proud of our team,” said head coach Sarah Rumely Noble. “I say it all the time, but the belief is high, the grit is high, and the resiliency is high. That was a gutsy road performance in both matches this weekend. We can’t wait to be back in Holmes for Senior Weekend. We need all of App Nation out to support this team.”
App State 3, Georgia State 2
Junior Maya Winterhoff led the team with a career high 20 kills. She also recorded a hitting percentage of .390 on the afternoon. On the weekend, Winterhoff recorded a hitting percentage of .464 and averaged 4.22 kills per set. Following Winterhoff was senior Lulu Ambrose, who made 16 kills. Redshirt junior Addison Heidemann registered her eighth career double-double, leading the Mountaineers in assists (40) and matching with freshman Elise Marchal for the team highs in digs (11) and aces (4). Heidemann and Marchal combined for eight of App State’s 11 aces. Heidemann also averaged 9.67 assists per set for the weekend. Sophomore Ava Leahy went up for a team high six blocks in addition to her seven kills. Leahy totaled 10 blocks on the weekend (two solo, eight assists).
App State outpaced Georgia State in aces (11-6), kills (56-51), and assists (50-49).
In the first set, Georgia State found momentum early, taking a 10-3 lead. The Mountaineers chipped away at the deficit with kills from Hutchens, Winterhoff, and Leahy and a block from the duo of Heidemann and Leahy over the course of the set. Despite a last kill from Winterhoff, the Panthers took the set, 25-15.
The Mountaineers knotted the score eight times and traded the lead three times in the third set.
App State found momentum in the second set, jumping to a 6-0 lead after kills from Winterhoff and Marchal as well as three Heidemann aces. A pair of back-to-back kills from Winterhoff, as well as a Panther error extended App State’s lead to 9-2. Kills from Ambrose, Marchal, and Heideman, put the Mountaineers up 13-5. The Mountaineers went on a 7-2 run, extending the deficit to 21-10 after kills from Hutchens, Winterhoff, and Ambrose, and a pair of blocks from the duo of Marchal and Winterhoff. A Leahy kill followed by a block from Leahy and Heidemann brought the Mountaineers to set point, 24-12. The Panthers held the Mountaineers to two set points, but Ambrose slammed down a kill to seal the set for App State, 25-14.
The Mountaineers and Panthers knotted the score eight times and traded the lead thrice in the third set. App State managed to meet GSU at 12 all after a kill from Leahy. A kill from Roper gave the Mountaineers a 13-12 edge. Marchal tied things up at 15 all with a kill, but the Panthers broke the tie with a 6-0 run to take a 21-15 lead. Despite a solo block from Winterhoff, a block from Leahy and Heidemann, and a pair of kills from Ambrose, Georgia State took the set, 25-19.
The win puts the Mountaineers in first place in the Sun Belt’s East Division.
The Mountaineers flipped the script in the fourth set, clinching the set, 25-19 to push for a fifth. Winterhoff opened the set with a kill. The Panthers only managed to meet the Mountaineers once at 1-1, before App State pulled away, 4-1, with a block from Marchal and Winterhoff, a GSU error, and a kill from Ambrose. After a kill from Hutchens, another GSU error, and a kill from Winterhoff, App State took a 11-6 lead. Georgia State managed to come within one of App State’s lead (14-13), but the Mountaineers jumped ahead 18-15 after a pair of Leahy kills, and kills from Ambrose and Winterhoff. The Panthers managed to come back within one of the Mountaineers’ lead at 20-19, but App State clinched the set, 25-19, with a 5-0 run that featured kills from Winterhoff and Ambrose, as well as a Winterhoff ace, and a block from the duo of Leahy and Marchal.
In the fifth and final set, App State tied things up at two all after Heidemann served up an ace. Winterhoff managed to keep things tied at three all with a kill, but Georgia State managed to edge ahead, 5-3. Winterhoff slammed down her 20th kill of the match to cut Georgia State’s lead to one (5-4). Georgia State took a 6-4 edge with a kill, but a GSU error and Ambrose kill tied things up at six all and marked the start of an impressive 10-0 run for the Mountaineers that brought App State to set and match point (14-6). Marchal served all four of her aces within the 10-0 run, which also included two additional kills from Ambrose. Heidemann set Ambrose up for one final kill that sealed the set, 15-7, and clinched the match for the Mountaineers, 3-2.
Looking Ahead
The Mountaineers return to Boone to host Marshall for their final pair of home matches on Nov. 8 and 9. Friday’s match is set for 6 p.m. and will celebrate Most Valuable Professors Day. Saturday’s match is slated for 1 p.m. and will honor the Mountaineers’ graduating seniors: Lulu Ambrose, Cierra Huntley, and Lauren Pledger.
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Look closely at the golden leaf fallen to rest against the blue-painted football turf. Surely it is a sign of grand things to come for Watauga when Mother Earth forges a “W.”
Just like the Watauga players form a ‘W’ with hands and fingers, Mother Nature creates a W at the top of this golden leaf. Photographic image by Jared Everett for High Country Sports
For the last home game of the regular season, Watauga played almost perfect complementary football vs. Freedom at Jack Groce Stadium, winning in dominating fashion, 42-6.
When head coach Ryan Habich moved to the High Country to take over the Pioneers’ program in 2013, his son, Matthew, was in first grade along with a bunch of the other 20 now seniors.
Watauga’s Dillon Zaragoza eyes incoming TD pass on Nov. 1, 2024, vs. Freedom. Photographic image by Jared Everett for High Country Sports
“I watched all these kids grow up. So many of them are friends with my son. They are all great, good character young men. I know their parents. So, on a personal level this is a very special group,” said Habich after going through the pre-game Senior Night rituals with all of the other parents and players.
Photographic image by Jared Everett for High Country Sports
And what a way to celebrate Senior Night on the field, rolling up 338 yards of total offense while limiting the Patriots to just 111. On offense and special teams, Freedom fumbled the ball seven times, losing two of them, and threw one pass interception.
True to form, the Habich-crafted offense dominated time of possession, 21:16 to Freedom’s 16:17. Equally important, when the Pioneers had the football, they did something with it, only punting one time. When Freedom wasn’t punting (three times), they were turning the ball over: two lost fumbles, one pass interception, and two failures to convert in “going for it” on fourth down.
Evan Burroughs (12) attacks space around the right side on Nov. 1, 2024, vs. Freedom. Photographic image by Jared Everett for High Country Sports
The Pioneers’ senior quarterback Maddox Greene was again the game’s leading rusher, with 11 carries for 99 yards and two TDs. He also completed five of seven passes for 51 yards and another TD. Through this Nov. 1 game vs. Freedom, Greene has carried the ball 103 times for a net of 919 yards gained rushing — and scored 15 rushing TDs. He has completed 53 of 76 passes (69.7 percent) for 890 yards for another 12 TDs vs. just one interception.
“Maddox may be the best high school football player in western North Carolina,” said Habich after the game. “And our center, J T Cook, may be the second best player in western North Carolina.”
QB Maddox Greene leaps for a first down vs. Freedom. Photographic image by Jared Everett for High Country Sports
On this night, Greene had plenty of help from playmakers all around him, as well as from his offensive linemen, including Cook. Junior running back Everett Gryder carried the ball 12 times for 75 yards. Mostly in the second half, junior running back Matthew Leon carried the ball six times, for 46 yards and two TDs. And with some razzle dazzle, another junior, Nyle Peays, carried the ball just one time but it was outmaneuvering and outsprinting the Patriot defenders for 23 yards and a TD.
Greene only passed seven times in this game, completing five of them, but they were all in critical situations to extend drives. Burroughs was target three times, hauling in all three for a game-high 24 receiving yards. Dillon Zaragoza and Landon Smith each caught one pass, for 17 and 10 yards respectively, with Zaragoza recording a diving TD catch.
Two of the best football players in western North Carolina, according to Watauga head coach Ryan Habich, quarterback Maddox Greene finds time to pass thanks to protection from J T Cook (58). Photographic image by Jared Everett for High Country Sports
Watauga will turn the page pretty quickly in the coming week, with a light practice on Saturday (Nov. 2) and a full practice on Monday before traveling to West Jefferson on Tuesday (Nov. 5) where they will face Ashe County and the Huskies’ “Air Raid” offense. Three days later (in the Hurricane Helene-condensed schedule), the Pioneers end their regular season in Hudson, at 4A rival South Caldwell.
Habich told reporters after the game that coaching offense was relatively easy compared to coaching defense, especially in the Northwestern Conference.
“You run your offense pretty much the same every week. Sometimes you run a little more, other times you pass a little more. The defensive coaches? Against Ashe County they are preparing for the Huskies’ ‘Air Raid’ offense. A couple of days later, they are preparing for a completely different (offensive scheme) at South Caldwell.”
BONUS PHOTOS
Photographic image by Jared Everett for High Country Sports
Everett Gryder (44) turns upfield Nov. 1, in Watauga’s 49-6 win over Freedom. Photographic image by Jared Everett for High Country Sports
Evan Burroughs (12) attacks space around the right side on Nov. 1, 2024, vs. Freedom. Photographic image by Jared Everett for High Country Sports
QB Maddox Greene leaps for a first down vs. Freedom. Photographic image by Jared Everett for High Country Sports
Just like the Watauga players form a ‘W’ with hands and fingers, Mother Nature creates a W at the top of this golden leaf. Photographic image by Jared Everett for High Country Sports
By Katherine Jamtgaard. ATLANTA — The App State volleyball team defeated Georgia State, 3-1 (25-17, 21-25, 25-15, 25-21) in Atlanta on Friday.
The Mountaineers, who have won four of their last five matches, are 13-7 on the season and 7-2 in Sun Belt play. Friday’s victory also moves App State to the top of the league’s East Division.
The Mountaineers return to the court at 2 p.m. on Saturday (Nov. 2) for their second match against Georgia State.
App State 3, Georgia State 1
Four Mountaineers made double figure kills, led by junior Maya Winterhoff, who tallied 18 kills for a hitting percentage of .571. Winterhoff was one kill away from matching her career high (19), which was set on Sept. 15, 2023 against Wake Forest. Winterhoff and sophomore Caroline Farthing combined for four of the Black and Gold’s six aces, each serving up two. Sophomore Ava Leahy made 13 kills for a hitting percentage of .458. She also went up for a team high four blocks. Freshman Bella Hutchens matched her career high 12 kills, which she originally set against Georgia Southern on Oct. 19. Seven of Hutchens’ 12 kills against the Panthers were made in the third set. Senior Lulu Ambrose made 11 kills on the night.
Redshirt junior Addison Heidemann made 47 of the Mountaineers’ 57 assists in addition to 12 digs for her seventh career double-double. Junior Kenady Roper led the team with 15 digs and was followed by freshman Elise Marchal, who made 14 digs.
App State outpaced Georgia State in kills (60-48), aces (6-3), assists (57-45), and digs (64-55). The Mountaineers also edged past the Panthers with seven blocks to six. App State recorded a team hitting percentage of .312 on the evening. The Mountaineers and Panthers knotted the score five times over the course of the match and only traded the lead twice during the match (once in the second set and once in the fourth set).
App State commanded the first set, jumping ahead 2-0 after back-to-back kills from Marchal. The Mountaineers pulled ahead, 7-3, after kills from Heidemann, Leahy, and Hutchens. Steadily extending the deficit to 14-7, the Black and Gold built off a trio of Winterhoff kills and back-to-back kills from Leahy and Ambrose. As Georgia State chipped away at the Mountaineers’ lead, kills from Winterhoff, Ambrose, and Marchal, in addition to a Winterhoff ace, pushed App State ahead, 22-16. The Mountaineers sealed the set, 25-17, after a 3-0 run that featured kills from Ambrose and Leahy. App State recorded a team hitting percentage of .571 in the first set.
The Mountaineers jumped to an early lead in the second set, building off an early 3-0 run that included a kill from Winterhoff and a Farthing ace. App State extended the lead to 9-4 and held to a tight lead over the course of the set, but Georgia State steadily chipped away at the deficit, meeting App State at 18 all. A GSU error and block from the duo of Ambrose and Leahy moved the Mountaineers ahead, 20-18. Georgia State managed to take the set, 25-21 after a late 7-1 surge.
In the third set, App State once again took command, only allowing Georgia State to knot the score once at 1-1. Building off kills from Ambrose and Leahy, as well as a Marchal ace, App State pulled ahead, 4-2. Hutchens slammed down back-to-back kills to extend App State’s lead to 6-3. A 5-0 scoring run that featured kills from Hutchens and Winterhoff, as well as a block from the duo of Winterhoff and Marchal, put the Mountaineers up, 11-4. The Black and Gold jumped ahead, 16-9, as Hutchens and Winterhoff made kills and Winterhoff served up an ace. With a pair of 3-0 runs, App State took a 23-13 lead. A kill from Hutchens brought the Mountaineers to set point, 24-14. The Black and Gold took the set, 25-15, after a Marchal kill.
Despite leading two sets to one, App State trailed Georgia State throughout the fourth set. The Mountaineers worked to chip away at the Panthers’ lead despite the deficit. Down 14-7, the Black and Gold narrowed the deficit to three (16-13), with a Farthing ace, and kills from Winterhoff, Leahy, and Ambrose. GSU jumped ahead, 20-15, but the Mountaineers answered with a 7-0 run to take the lead, 22-20, for the first time in the set. The 7-0 run featured an ace from Heidemann as well as a kill and solo block from Hutchens. Georgia State mustered one final kill before Winterhoff brought App State to set point (24-21) with back-to-back kills. A kill from Ambrose clinched the set, 25-21, and the match, 3-1, for the Mountaineers.
By Layne McNary. BOONE, N.C. — The App State field hockey team defeated Queens by a score of 5-0 on Friday.
The Mountaineers (10-7, 6-1 MAC) came into today’s matchup after previously falling to No. 22 Old Dominion. The win against Queens (2-13) is theMountaineers’ seventh shutout of the season.
Freshman Darby Reyburn, junior Henriette Stegen, sophomore Florine Koopman, freshman Franziska Heyltjes and freshman Baylie Phillips all found the back of the cage against Queens, with Phillips’ goal the first of her collegiate career.
Claire Grenis and the Mountaineer defense held firm in today’s contest, holding Queens to one shot on the game. This is the second App State shutout in three games.
How it Happened
1st Quarter: The Mountaineers opened the game tallying two quick shots, both saved by Queens goalkeeper Madison Destefano. App State tallied five shots on goal to Queens zero, leaving both teams scoreless going into the second.
2nd Quarter: App State began to put on the offensive pressure, scoring two goals. Reyburn and Stegen found the back of the cage, extending the Mountaineer lead to two before the break. The Mountaineers tallied four shots in the period, in comparison to Queens only shot of the game with one.
3rd Quarter: The Mountaineers came out of the break with more offensive pressure, earning three penalty corners and eight shots. Florine Koopman scored her fourth goal of the season, coming off a Charlotte Bosma pass. Destefano tallied three more saves for the Royals, bringing her total to eight.
4th Quarter: It was more of the same for App State in the final period, earning five corners and 11 shots. Heyltjes found the back of the cage early in the period, scoring her second goal of the season on her birthday. Phillips scored the first goal of her collegiate career late in the contest, coming from an Emma Rondou pass. The Mountaineers finished the game winning 5-0, and out-shooting the Royals 30-1.
Up Next
The Mountaineers travel to Harrisonburg, Va. to take on conference opponent James Madison on Nov. 3. A win in regulation gives the Mountaineers the No. 2 seed in the MAC Tournament, along with being named MAC Regular Season Co-Champions. First touch is slated for 1 p.m.
By Katherine Jamtgaard. FOLEY, Ala. — The App State men’s cross country team clinched back-to-back Sun Belt team titles while the women’s squad capped a sweep by securing its first team title since 2018 at the Sun Belt Cross Country Championships on Friday.
It was the first time that the Mountaineers have swept both titles in the program’s Sun Belt era. App State previously swept both league titles in 2012 as a member of the Southern Conference.
“I am extremely proud of the coaches and the team,” App State director of track & field/cross country Damion McLean said. “They have worked hard to get to this point and our coaches prepared the women and men properly for success.”
Photo by Kristin Shaffer, courtesy of App State Athletics
MEN’S RECAP
With five scoring runners crossing consecutively in the fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth spots, the men’s squad repeated as the league champion by totaling 30 points, two points more than last year’s total of 28 (the lowest total at the Sun Belt Championships since 2013). It was the first time since the program’s six consecutive SoCon titles (from 2005 to 2010) that the App State men have recorded back-to-back titles. Six Mountaineers finished in the top 10 of Friday’s 8K race to garner all-conference honors.
We faced a lot of challenges this season, including a hurricane. These men were focused on the mission.
“We had a really great team effort and a 16-second gap from our one through five runners,” men’s distance coach Brad Herbster said. “Junior Ethan Lipham put himself in it and just stuck in earning his first all-conference spot. Redshirt junior Chase Burrell had a big day being in the top five. Redshirt senior Calbert Guest just returned and did a great job leading the two freshmen, Thomas Wlazlowski and Henry Stark, to a top-10 finish along with graduate student Ethan Turner.”
Photo by Kristin Shaffer, courtesy of App State Athletics
Lipham led the Mountaineers, stopping the clock at 24:40.60 to finish fourth overall. Following close behind was Burrell, finished at 24:47.20 to place fifth, and Guest, at 24:55.20.
The first freshman to cross the finish line was Stark, completing the course in 24:56.40 to record a personal-best time and a seventh-place result. Wlazlowski followed, placing eighth with a time of 24:56.90. Rounding out the top 10 was Turner, who recorded a time of 25:02.10.
Photo by Kristin Shaffer, courtesy of App State Athletics
“We faced a lot of challenges this fall with roster changes, sickness, some injury setbacks and the hurricane,” Herbster said. “The men stayed focused and earned back-to-back championships in a true team fashion. I want to thank our director of track & field/cross country, Damion McLean, for the support and the entire staff. I want to thank our director of athletics, Doug Gillin, and our senior associate athletics director, Erika Cheung, for attending and my wife for allowing me to put so much time into it. I’m proud of Coach (Annie) Richards and the women’s team and also want to extend my thanks to the Firetower Project for their support. Today was a true team effort.”
Freshmen Rowan Gwin and Aaron Kidd also competed for the Mountaineers, who finished 16 team points ahead of runner-up Arkansas State, which had the top two individual finishers but had its No. 3 runner place behind all five App State scorers. Arkansas State’s Jacon Pyeatt took the individual title with a time of 23:52.80.
Based on his performance, Stark was named the Sun Belt’s Freshman of the Year.
Photo by Kristin Shaffer, courtesy of App State Athletics
WOMEN’S RECAP
The App State women clinched the team title with 45 points, a whopping 61 fewer than runner-up Arkansas State’s total of 106, and saw four Mountaineers finish in the top 15 to earn all-conference accolades.
All fall, this group has been hardworking and trailblazing — and now they are champions.
“Winning a championship requires an entire team,” App State women’s distance coach Annie Richards said. “This fall, our whole roster helped push the eight women who competed today toward achieving this goal. Our win today is symbolic of what can happen when we all work hard together. Our approach going into competition today was to run to our strengths and compete the way that works best for our team, which meant building toward a fast finish and packing up with teammates. I am incredibly proud of this group of women. All season, this group has been hardworking and trailblazing, and now they are champions.”
Photo by Kristin Shaffer, courtesy of App State Athletics
Senior Jasmine Donohue, who placed third overall, was the first Mountaineer to cross the finish line with a personal-best 5K time of 17:18.85. Fellow seniors Lauren Johnston and Emma Russum clocked times of 17:43.92 and 17:46.34 to finish sixth and seventh, respectively. Senior Lana Farris finished 13th with a time of 18:01.82, and Breanna Budzinski rounded out the scoring for App State by being the first freshman across the finish line, leading to a Freshman of the Year honor from the Sun Belt. She placed 16th with a time of 18:14.25.
Photo by Kristin Shaffer, courtesy of App State Athletics
Senior Catherine Breault (17th) and sophomore Rhys Ammon (19th) gave App State seven finishers in the top 20. Karsyn Kane also competed for the Mountaineers.
“We have had unusual circumstances this fall with the impact and aftermath of Hurricane Helene,” Richards said. “This made a victory today more special because I know the team wanted to represent our community back home. I especially appreciated the support or our director, Coach McLean, and our director of athletics, Doug Gillin, and senior associate athletics director Erika Cheung, who all were at the course today cheering and supporting our team. Sweeping the men’s and women’s race alongside Coach Herbster was a huge accomplishment, and it’s great that our team shared in the wins.”
Marshall’s Kylee Mastin used a strong final kick to win the women’s individual crown with a 5K time of 17:06.43.
The App State sweep occurred 35 days after Hurricane Helene hit western North Carolina, causing widespread damage to areas that include Boone and Watauga County.
“Please as a community do not forget about the people impacted by the hurricane and the continued support they need in western North Carolina,” Herbster said. “Sending the trophies back up the mountain is important, and if it can make people smile for a moment, we are proud of that.”
Up Next
The NCAA Southeast Regional is slated for Nov. 15 and will hosted by Winthrop in Rock Hill, S.C.
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Controlling possession in the attacking half of the field for an estimated 80 percent of a soccer match is a good start. You also have to score goals.
BONUS PHOTOS at bottom of article (click any image for slide show mode)
On Oct. 31, Watauga did one and not the other in the first half against Ashe County. In the second half, the Pioneers were able to do both en route to a 3-1 Northwestern Conference win.
In a counterattack, Watauga defender David Ganley (6) looks to pass vs. Ashe County on Oct. 31 in Jack Groce Stadium. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
The victory elevated the Pioneers’ overall record to 16-3-2 and guaranteed its place as the conference champion. With two more league matches remaining, Watauga is now 8-0 in the Northwestern Conference. Only South Caldwell on Monday and Tuesday next week stand between the Pioneers and an unblemished 2024 conference record.
While Watauga was controlling possession in the first half of Thursday’s game against the visiting Huskies, Ashe County took advantage of its rare opportunities by scoring a goal midway through the opening period. On a counterattack by Ashe County and breakaway in transition, a Watauga defender made the initial tackle but the ball bounced outside and other Husky player was able to push the ball past Watauga goalkeeper Jude Jackson.
Watauga midfielder Thomas Moss avoids an Ashe County tackle, looking to cross the ball to center. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
On the night, Watauga’s brilliant defensive effort limited the Huskies to just four shots on goal, with Jackson credited with three saves. On the other end of the field, the Pioneers crafted 11 shots on goal, three of which made it through.
The other thing the Huskies did was play strong defense by “packing the box” — bringing just about the whole team into the Pioneers’ attacking third of the field, satisfied with relatively few counterattacking opportunities.
“We were moving the ball pretty well tonight,” said Watauga head coach Josh Honeycutt after the game. “Our short, possession type passes up and down and around the field were working. You have to credit Ashe County for their defensive game plan, at least in the first half. By packing the box, they made it very difficult for us to score. We finally broke through in the second half.”
Ben Myers Go-Ahead Goal Sequence
All photographic images by David Rogers for High Country Sports
A game of inches
For the tying goal early in the second half, Gavin Lapinski was credited with a hard shot that was actually caught by the Ashe County goalkeeper — but the ball’s momentum carried him across the front line of the net. Initially ruled a save by the referee, after a protest by Watauga he conferred with the near side linesman who confirmed that the goalkeeper had broken the plane of the goal face, stepping across and slightly into the goal space.
A few minutes later, Ben Myers found himself alone with the ball approximately 13 yards out and between the hash marks (for football), with the goalkeeper coming out. Myers punched the ball along the ground between a closing defender and the goalkeeper’s left side — and it rolled briskly into the net for Watauga’s go-ahead score.
Watauga’s Asher Hampton (22) narrowly misses being able to punch in a second half goal vs. Ashe County on a nice save by the GK. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
Later in the half, Watauga’s short passing game worked to perfection in getting the ball up field. The Pioneer midfielders worked the ball across to an open Quincy Honeycutt on the right wing, approximately 20 yards from the goal. The sophomore’s shot at goal arched over the goalkeeper’s head and into the net for the final score.
“Us having possession didn’t seem to matter to them,” the Watauga head coach said later. “Their aim was to prevent us from scoring. It worked early. It makes it difficult to work the ball around the way we like to (in the attacking third). When there are so many bodies in the box… credit to them and their defense. They made it hard on us.”
Next Up
In a finish to Northwestern Conference play, Watauga has a condensed schedule next week, with two more games against 4A rival South Caldwell. Monday, Nov. 4, will find the Spartans in Boone, challenging the Pioneers in Jack Groce Stadium for the final regular season home game. Then, on Tuesday, Nov. 5, Watauga will travel to Hudson.
Now 9-8-1 overall and 3-5 in NWC play, South Caldwell split its home and away series with 5-14, 1-8 Freedom, losing 2-1 in Hudson and winning 1-0 in Morganton this week.
“South Caldwell has been up and down this year,” said Honeycutt. “Catch them on the right day and they can be trouble.”
