By David Rogers. CLEMMONS, N.C. — Against one of the highest ranked men’s high school soccer teams in the nation, the No. 9 team in all of North Carolina and the No. 1 ranked team in the North Carolina 4A West division, visiting Watauga battled West Forsyth to a 3-3 draw on Aug. 19.
“It was a very impressive and gutsy performance by my boys against West Forsyth,” said the Pioneers head coach Josh Honeycutt after the game. I think they made a statement to the state, but must continue to work hard and stay focused.”
Watauga got goals from Noah Van Werkhoven, Lucas Hamilton and Evan Mawhinney, while Curtis Sevensky and Gavin Lipinski were credited with assists.
Continuing a strong non-conference schedule while preparing for a challenging Northwestern Conference slate that starts Sept. 25 at South Caldwell, Watauga next faces West Iredell on the road Aug. 21 before a next home match on Monday, Aug. 26 vs. East Lincoln.
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — It was billed as among the only cross country events where senior high school girls run against other senior high school girls, junior boys run against other junior boys, freshman girls run against other freshman girls, and so on. The Pioneer Clash of the Classes was a sort of peer review — but thanks to some creative mathematics on what amounted to a side sheet type of scorecard, we have a picture of who “won” and how the teams ranked for both the boys and girls divisions.
Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
Watauga head coach Randy McDonough did the tallying, assigning numerical scores for first through tenth places in each of the eight high school races.
In the Girls division, he calculated that Daniel Boone HS (Gray, Tenn.) and Watauga tied with 23 points apiece, the Pioneers getting first place points from Cali Townsend in the freshman girls race, first place points from Annabelle Stewart in the senior girls event, and sixth place points from Janie Beach-Verhay in the junior girls race.
T1 – Daniel Boone (23)
T1 – Watauga (23)
3 – West Forsyth (22)
4 – Lake Norman (18)
T5 – Ardrey Kell (10)
T5 – University School of Johnson City
T7 – Hough (9)
T7 – West Henderson (9)
9 – North Buncombe (8)
10 – Providence Day (7)
11 – Hickory Ridge (6)
12 – A C Reynolds (5)
T13 – Mooresville (3)
T13 – West Stokes (3)
In the Boys division, Daniel Boone HS was clear winner, with 38 points, convincingly ahead of No. 2 Watauga (20). Watauga scoring was accounted for by Will Bradbury’s No. 1 finish in the Senior Boys race, Grady Gates No. 3 finish in the Sophomore Boys, and Calvin Zwetsloot’s No. 6 finish in the Junior Boys.
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Peering from behind hot pink sunglasses, Watauga’s Annabelle Stewart was all smiles following her No. 1 finish in the Senior Girls division of the Clash of the Classes cross country festival. Meanwhile, the Pioneers’ Will Bradbury had little trouble in the Senior Boys race, crushing the field by more than 30 seconds.
Annabelle Stewart finishes the Senior Girls race No. 1 among the 49 entrants in Clash of the Classes, Aug. 17, 2024. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
Stewart crossed the finish line of the 2-mile course at the State Farm Intramural Fields in 12:22.77, a little less than six seconds ahead of No. 2 Kaely Patterson of Hough High School. They were followed by top student athletes from West Forsyth, Ardrey Kell, North Buncombe, Providence Day and West Henderson
The Senior Boys race was the last of the day, finishing at roughly 1:30 p.m. Afterwards, Bradbury spoke with High Country Sports.
Before every Watauga girls race, the entire team of girls gathers near the start line to pump up their teammates about to compete. ‘It is a great tradition,’ said assistant coach Scott Townsend. Photographic image by David Rogers
“I felt pretty good today,” said the Watauga senior and veteran distance runner. “I was out there by myself pretty much the whole race but I was able to stay pretty much mentally engaged. It was my first real race this season so there is a lot to be worked on, but overall I am pretty happy to get the season started with this race.”
Muddy conditions proved a bit of a challenge.
“I’d say that for about a tenth of a mile on this starting and finishing loop it was (muddy) like you are jogging and there is nothing you could really do about it,” recalled Bradbury. “Even though it is not that long of a section, it definitely takes a lot of momentum out of your running.”
Watauga’s senior boys, led by Will Bradbury, got to the front early on Aug. 17, in Clash of the Classes. Photographic image by David Rogers
Bradbury finished No. 5 at the North Carolina state meet a year ago, as a junior, and said of his goals for the year, “Just to get back to compete at the state level again,” he said. “I did pretty well at the state championship last year and I would certainly like to replicate that performance this year, if not do even better. This was a big confidence boost, heading into the season.”
Watauga’s senior girls team for Clash of the Classes, Aug. 17, 2024. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
Top Senior Girls Finishers
1 555 Stewart, Annabelle 12 Watauga 12:22.77
2 205 Patterson, Kaely 12 Hough, William A 12:28.36
3 635 Serang, Lulu 12 West Forsyth 12:35.24
4 81 Hohenberger, Reese 12 Ardrey Kell 13:12.43
5 361 Banks, Sophia 12 North Buncombe 13:29.45
6 377 Adams, Ashlyn 12 Providence Day School 13:31.96
7 665 Houlihan, Noelle 12 West Henderson 13:36.57
8 662 Clonch, Lauren 12 West Henderson 13:43.19
9 330 Gschnell, Annika 12 Mooresville 13:43.69
10 256 Panichella, Eisabella 12 Lake Norman 13:46.89
11 154 Lewis, Kerigan 12 Daniel Boone High School 13:56.39
12 211 Wiechers, Abigail 12 Hough, William A 14:08.04
13 636 Siebert, Chloe 12 West Forsyth 14:11.82
14 92 Thornton, Evie 12 Ardrey Kell 14:52.10
15 668 Madera, Alysia 12 West Henderson 14:59.10
16 248 Gamble, Isabel 12 Lake Norman 15:14.83
17 336 Rockness, Karli 12 Mooresville 15:23.70
18 367 Wilson, Brayden 12 North Buncombe 15:27.57
19 12 Plocica, Anna 12 A.C. Reynolds 15:31.06
20 537 Llibre, Mia Grace 12 Watauga 15:34.52
21 159 Riddle, Rain 12 Daniel Boone High School 15:35.50
22 34 Fongemy, Megan 12 A.L. Brown 15:40.43
23 91 Steh, Kyra 12 Ardrey Kell 15:56.18
24 86 McAnally, Lillian 12 Ardrey Kell 16:09.14
25 383 Li, Stephanie 12 Providence Day School 16:25.34
26 672 Ruzich, Sophie 12 West Henderson 16:41.03
27 326 Anderson, Linnea 12 Mooresville 16:50.03
28 207 Ramaraju, Sonya 12 Hough, William A 16:51.33
29 590 Benoit, Mona 12 West Cabarrus 16:55.55
30 84 Labandeira, Christina 12 Ardrey Kell 17:15.96
31 89 Saricali, Almina 12 Ardrey Kell 17:17.09
32 47 Kuddie, Kahlen 12 A.L. Brown 17:34.01
33 499 Ortiz, Lemy 12 University School of John 17:44.02
34 192 Baldwin, Valerie 12 Hough, William A 18:04.24
35 93 Tobon, Samantha 12 Ardrey Kell 18:08.97
36 149 Akers, Bailey 12 Daniel Boone High School 18:09.91
37 544 Mortensen, Laurel 12 Watauga 18:13.18
38 526 Carpenter, Hadley 12 Watauga 18:17.75
39 493 Lavoie, Addie 12 University School of John 18:21.46
40 31 Acosta, Yanelli 12 A.L. Brown 19:27.75
41 197 Flores, Alejandra 12 Hough, William A 19:44.19
42 691 Castellano, Riley 12 West Stokes 19:47.02
43 203 Ogburn, Abbie 12 Hough, William A 19:49.41
44 40 Morton, Molly 12 A.L. Brown 20:34.92
45 42 Peneloza, Liha 12 A.L. Brown 20:35.83
46 204 Ogburn, Caty 12 Hough, William A 20:44.99
47 464 Gullion, Alie 12 Surry Home Educators 20:52.49
48 33 Estrada, Ally 12 A.L. Brown 21:29.24
49 600 Munene, Erin 12 West Cabarrus 29:02.00
Watauga High School’s senior boys team prepares for Clash of the Classes on Aug. 17, 2024. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
Top Senior Boys Finishers
1 564 Bradbury, Will 12 Watauga 10:13.23
2 688 Saft, Keagan 12 West Henderson 10:33.35
3 707 Mathis, Zeb 12 West Stokes 10:49.33
4 404 Hoody, Max 12 Providence Day School 10:52.96
5 279 Rabon, Triston 12 Lake Norman 10:56.99
6 420 Smith, Nicholas 12 Providence Day School 10:58.06
7 624 Williams, Paul (Heath) 12 West Cabarrus 11:00.57
8 370 Gilliland, Derek 12 North Buncombe 11:02.80
9 284 Schmidt, Ben 12 Lake Norman 11:07.18
10 371 Knauer, Bennett 12 North Buncombe 11:11.77
11 684 Hamlin, Holden 12 West Henderson 11:14.76
12 368 Ferguson, Gabe 12 North Buncombe 11:21.31
13 415 Roemer, Chase 12 Providence Day School 11:24.81
14 702 Goodman, Chad 12 West Stokes 11:25.82
15 649 Harrison, Jack 12 West Forsyth 11:26.73
16 683 Greene, Roscoe 12 West Henderson 11:39.31
17 577 Norris, Jonah 12 Watauga 11:42.87
18 579 Rex, Samuel 12 Watauga 11:43.53
19 375 Popchock Moreno, Miguel 12 North Buncombe 11:49.48
20 569 Heistand, Haines 12 Watauga 11:52.65
21 221 Glennon, Sebastian 12 Hough, William A 11:59.59
22 347 Canas-peralta, Moises 12 Mooresville 12:00.40
23 644 Cornett, Shane 12 West Forsyth 12:01.41
24 609 Carder, Mateo 12 West Cabarrus 12:08.63
25 612 Endee, Brandon 12 West Cabarrus 12:09.98
26 423 Vedantham, Anish 12 Providence Day School 12:24.31
27 460 Orozco-Flores, Sony 12 Surry Central 12:27.26
28 288 Troutman, William 12 Lake Norman 12:29.34
29 374 Oliver, William 12 North Buncombe 12:37.21
30 275 Leighton, Nate 12 Lake Norman 12:39.95
31 616 Mah, Jameson 12 West Cabarrus 12:42.38
32 52 Delgado, Johnny 12 A.L. Brown 12:42.85
33 53 Fongemy, Ian 12 A.L. Brown 12:44.64
34 341 Albaeck, Ben 12 Mooresville 12:56.56
35 451 Harris, Samuel 12 South Caldwell 13:02.54
36 213 Baker, Bennett 12 Hough, William A 13:04.58
37 642 Cheney, Jackson 12 West Forsyth 13:09.52
38 349 Dillon, William 12 Mooresville 13:30.97
39 63 Palacios, Anthony 12 A.L. Brown 13:32.83
40 583 Tincher, Owen 12 Watauga 13:38.80
41 685 Holden, Kian 12 West Henderson 13:39.27
42 148 Ward, Owen 12 Avery County 13:47.76
43 68 Sinclair, Noah 12 A.L. Brown 13:55.34
44 626 wright, Alex 12 West Cabarrus 14:02.68
45 578 Nystrom, Sam 12 Watauga 14:03.10
46 483 Overcash, Caleb 12 Surry Home Educators 14:04.17
47 572 Langley, Charles 12 Watauga 14:11.29
48 701 Cox, Devin 12 West Stokes 14:17.27
49 73 Zapata, Daniel 10 A.L. Brown 14:19.66
50 713 Westmoreland, Ryan 12 West Stokes 14:22.04
51 459 Hervert, Marco 12 Surry Central 14:22.89
52 457 Eller, Isaac 12 Surry Central 14:36.67
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — With two of the top three finishers in the Junior Boys division of Watauga-hosted Clash of the Classes cross country festival, Daniel Boone High School (Gray, Tenn.) cemented its place atop the team standings on Aug. 17.
Fisher Battel of Daniel Boone HS crosses the finish line in the Junior Boys race during Clash of the Classes on Aug. 17, at State Farm Intramural Fields. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
Fisher Battel (10:06.18)of Daniel Boone edged out North Buncombe’s Michael Ferguson (10:07.33) to capture the No. 1 position, then Brock Wilhjelm of Daniel Boone HS overtook a host of runners from other several schools to finish No. 3 (10:55.58).
The Junior Girls race featured six girls in a lead pack for most of the race before Lake Norman’s Kasey Dingman put her proverbial pedal to the medal and sped away to a convincing No. 1 finish, in 12:04.58. Watauga’s Janie Beach-Verhay ran among the leaders for the entire race, finishing No. 6 (13:23.22).
Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
After the race, Beach-Verhay expressed mixed feelings about her performance.
“The time wasn’t what I wanted today but we were dealing with a lot of mud on the course so it wasn’t ideal. That said, I competed well so I am happy with my race. I ran with the top six the entire race, so I held my position. At the very end, I tried to pass a couple of the girls ahead of me but they had a kick, too. I closed the gap, but couldn’t quite get them. Maybe if I had started by kick sooner but, overall, I am pretty happy with where I placed,” said Beach-Verhay.
The junior girls team from Watauga was the largest contingent of any single team or school in Clash of the Classes, Aug. 17. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
As a sophomore in 2023, Beach-Verhay was the 3A/4A Northwestern Conference cross country champion, leading a Watauga-dominant performance that saw nine of the top 10 finishers wearing the Pioneer colors.
Watauga’s Calvin Zwetsloot crossed the line in the No. 6 position for the Junior Boys, leading a trio of Pioneers in the top 16 (out of 88 competitors), including classmates Zeke Walker and Elliott Taft.
Top Finishers in the Junior Girls race
1 247 Dingman, Kasey 11 Lake Norman 12:04.58
2 151 Honeycutt, Sadie 11 Daniel Boone High School 12:37.10
3 671 Rice, Amron 11 West Henderson 13:00.40
4 80 Hastings, Meghan 11 Ardrey Kell 13:20.28
5 492 Johnson, Emma 11 University School of John 13:20.57
6 520 Beach-Verhay, Janie 11 Watauga 13:23.22
7 362 Jackson, Chloe 11 North Buncombe 13:51.99
8 690 Bowles, Ryley 11 West Stokes 13:58.71
9 633 Malanowski, Kate 11 West Forsyth 14:04.18
10 381 Barron, Libby 11 Providence Day School 14:15.39
11 8 Homan, Joliene 11 A.C. Reynolds 14:20.84
12 4 Cochrane, Jill 11 A.C. Reynolds 14:22.98
13 559 Walker, Josephine 10 Watauga 14:23.81
14 82 Karadkar, Radnyi 11 Ardrey Kell 14:25.07
15 629 Burgess-Baldi, Dempsey 11 West Forsyth 14:40.00
16 87 Peck, Carson 11 Ardrey Kell 14:47.87
17 252 Mann, Phoebe 11 Lake Norman 15:10.15
18 5 Elliot, Cora 11 A.C. Reynolds 15:14.03
19 9 Lang, Julia 11 A.C. Reynolds 15:14.49
20 77 Campbell, Zephyr 11 Ardrey Kell 15:14.98
21 528 Collins, Bailey 11 Watauga 15:25.51
22 601 Perkins, Addison 11 West Cabarrus 15:34.87
23 201 Kraft, Addison 11 Hough, William A 15:38.03
24 695 McGee, Millie 11 West Stokes 15:41.66
25 546 Norris, Anna 11 Watauga 15:44.29
26 558 Townsend, Sydney 11 Watauga 15:48.72
27 446 Noble, Clara 11 South Caldwell 15:55.84
28 463 Easter, Lindsay 11 Surry Home Educators 16:03.51
29 634 Newsome, Hope 11 West Forsyth 16:11.45
30 494 Mathewes, Ruth 11 University School of John 16:25.59
31 391 Picard, Avery 11 Providence Day School 16:29.11
32 45 Salazar, Jocelyn 11 A.L. Brown 16:32.80
33 10 Long, Kate 11 A.C. Reynolds 16:33.35
34 244 Clark, Bailey 11 Lake Norman 16:42.93
35 83 Khwaja, Yasmeen 11 Ardrey Kell 16:46.84
36 385 Marrino, Erin 11 Providence Day School 16:58.07
37 659 Brown, Sophia 11 West Henderson 16:58.36
38 310 Jones, Alexis 11 McDowell 17:04.13
39 500 Robinson, Kiaya 11 University School of John 17:07.41
40 200 Iswarienko, Tessa 11 Hough, William A 17:24.96
41 541 Mckinney, Julia 11 Watauga 17:41.53
42 502 Tai, Emily 11 University School of John 17:56.31
43 536 Leyendecker, Maja 11 Watauga 17:57.43
44 593 Fennell, Ella 11 West Cabarrus 17:58.74
45 152 Indukuri, Raina 11 Daniel Boone High School 18:08.34
46 530 Freed, Iyla 11 Watauga 18:20.01
47 554 Smith, Cora 11 Watauga 18:21.14
48 441 Childers, Madison 11 South Caldwell 18:24.67
49 542 Moretz, Sydney 11 Watauga 18:27.03
50 133 Holtsclaw, Addison 11 Avery County 18:44.84
51 378 Adams, Claire 11 Providence Day School 18:52.87
52 46 Watson, Keylan 11 A.L. Brown 19:00.44
Watauga’s junior boys team warms up before their Clash of Classes race, Aug. 17, 2024. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
Top Finishers in the Junior Boys race
1 163 Battel, Fisher 11 Daniel Boone High School 10:06.18
2 369 Ferguson, Michael 11 North Buncombe 10:07.33
3 181 Wilhjelm, Brock 11 Daniel Boone High School 10:55.58
4 490 Wilson, Kaleb 11 Unattached 11:01.80
5 17 Coladonato, Julian 11 A.C. Reynolds 11:06.17
6 589 Zwetsloot, Calvin 11 Watauga 11:06.88
7 506 Harker, Harrison 11 University School of John 11:07.20
8 646 Douglass, Gunnar 11 West Forsyth 11:07.60
9 686 Merrill, Brady 11 West Henderson 11:13.68
10 23 Lawson, Zach 11 A.C. Reynolds 11:18.20
11 162 Ard, Nicholas 11 Daniel Boone High School 11:19.73
12 511 Mussard, Isaac 11 University School of John 11:21.17
13 172 Guinn, Mikah 11 Daniel Boone High School 11:24.03
14 450 Corpening, Bryce 11 South Caldwell 11:25.71
15 585 Walker, Zeke 11 Watauga 11:27.66
16 582 Taft, Elliott 11 Watauga 11:28.96
17 268 Duraipandi, Tarun 11 Lake Norman 11:30.84
18 215 Bennett, Jack 11 Hough, William A 11:31.35
19 372 Marsden, Jonathan 11 North Buncombe 11:39.37
20 412 Moore, Owen 12 Providence Day School 11:43.81
21 114 Morrow, Brayden 11 Ardrey Kell 11:47.36
22 16 Card, Eli 11 A.C. Reynolds 11:50.05
23 342 Allen, Jake 11 Mooresville 11:51.74
24 352 Hensley, Hayden 11 Mooresville 12:03.35
25 26 Rawlings, Alex 11 A.C. Reynolds 12:06.11
26 654 Reutinger, John 11 West Forsyth 12:07.64
27 400 Eustis, Daniel 11 Providence Day School 12:07.99
28 169 Dorsey, Mason 11 Daniel Boone High School 12:11.45
29 480 Mauser, Isaiah 11 Surry Home Educators 12:15.04
30 343 Allmond, Jake 11 Mooresville 12:16.08
31 99 Dreier III, Donald 11 Ardrey Kell 12:24.77
32 563 Anderson, Levi 11 Watauga 12:33.79
33 376 Quade, Jacob 11 North Buncombe 12:35.09
34 710 Nickless, Luke 11 West Stokes 12:37.04
35 619 Seugling, John 11 West Cabarrus 12:37.81
36 226 Montie, Nathan 11 Hough, William A 12:38.71
37 588 Wood, Santino 11 Watauga 12:39.29
38 271 Huntz, Deakin 11 Lake Norman 12:40.03
39 587 Womak, Holden 11 Watauga 12:41.19
40 574 McAulay, AJ 11 Watauga 12:45.30
41 102 Flynn, Brian 11 Ardrey Kell 12:46.91
42 405 Kahn, Cooper 11 Providence Day School 12:52.21
43 228 Patton, Luke 11 Hough, William A 12:52.69
44 703 Hartgrove, Hunter 11 West Stokes 12:53.60
45 656 Way, Matthew 11 West Forsyth 13:02.35
46 771 Webster, Carson 11 North Buncombe 13:02.87
47 456 Doria, Jacob 11 Surry Central 13:09.76
48 48 Beaver, Myles 11 A.L. Brown 13:10.94
49 282 Riggs, Nathan 11 Lake Norman 13:11.56
50 269 Goethals, Reston 11 Lake Norman 13:18.08
51 232 Weekers, Jack 11 Hough, William A 13:20.40
52 458 Hernandez-Mata, Hernan 11 Surry Central 13:27.32
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Sophomores from Daniel Boone High School in Tennessee ruled the roost — er, 2-mile cross country course — on Aug. 17 at State Farm Intramural Fields. The Gray, Tenn. school’s student athletes won top honors in both the Boys and Girls divisions in Clash of the Classes.
Ava Nutter of Daniel Boone HS completed the muddy, 2-mile circuit in 12:35.55, about 15 seconds ahead of No. 2 Lily Baugh, from West Forsyth (Clemmons, N.C., a western suburb of Winston-Salem).
A 1-2 finish by Daniel Boone’s Joshua Estes (No. 1, 11:06.45) and Gavin Christian (No. 2, 11:08.39) was just a scant few seconds ahead of Watauga sophomore Grady Gates (No. 3, 11:15.29).
Top Sophomore Girls Finishers
1 157 Nutter, Ava 10 Daniel Boone High School 12:35.55
2 628 Baugh, Lily 10 West Forsyth 12:50.25
3 501 Smith, Lucy 10 University School of John 13:04.98
4 637 Snow, Tatum 10 West Forsyth 13:09.24
5 158 Piazza, Savannah 10 Daniel Boone High School 13:13.80
6 340 Teeter, Olivia 10 Mooresville 13:29.42
7 364 Knauer, Addie 10 North Buncombe 13:38.89
8 202 Mills-Zacapa, Juliana 10 Hough, William A 13:57.85
9 199 Hoogsteen, Sophia 10 Hough, William A 13:59.56
10 669 Manuel, Sawyer 10 West Henderson 14:01.44
11 533 Johnston, Lainey 10 Watauga 14:08.56
12 498 Mussard, Sarah 10 University School of John 14:09.06
13 673 Socha, Bailey 10 West Henderson 14:19.84
14 189 Ouellette, Caroline 10 Hickory Ridge 14:22.92
15 365 Stowe, Megan 10 North Buncombe 14:30.36
16 193 Bamford, Adelyn 10 Hough, William A 14:39.62
17 194 Beyerle, Jenna 10 Hough, William A 14:40.83
18 694 Maxwell, Abby 10 West Stokes 14:44.11
19 85 Levine, Nadia 10 Ardrey Kell 14:54.82
20 551 Rex, Katherine 10 Watauga 15:16.01
21 198 Griffith, Rachel 10 Hough, William A 15:16.41
22 156 Newell, Rachel 10 Daniel Boone High School 15:16.83
23 309 Foster, Elyse 10 McDowell 15:19.68
24 532 Goff, Susanna 10 Watauga 15:24.16
25 155 Louter, Elizabeth 10 Daniel Boone High School 15:28.65
26 74 Aboumoussa, Sara 10 Ardrey Kell 15:29.17
27 41 Navarrete Guevara, Lisbeth A.L. Brown 15:37.66
28 547 Parker, Sophie 10 Watauga 15:38.71
29 334 Newman, Ava 10 Mooresville 15:41.02
30 333 London, Olivia 10 Mooresville 16:05.03
31 258 Self, Kiley 12 Lake Norman 16:15.38
32 594 Garcia, Aracely 10 West Cabarrus 16:16.24
33 335 Nix, Angela 10 Mooresville 16:19.85
34 491 Gewelke, Rose 10 University School of John 16:23.76
35 150 Guinn, Hadassah 10 Daniel Boone High School 16:30.58
36 525 Bradbury, Carrie 10 Watauga 16:35.54
37 495 Maylock, Julia 10 University School of John 16:38.12
38 390 Orazi, Lily 10 Providence Day School 16:40.07
39 209 Tucker, Sophia 10 Hough, William A 16:43.04
40 539 Martin, Jillian 10 Watauga 16:44.44
41 246 Cuellar, Marlena 10 Lake Norman 16:49.00
42 161 Weber, Sophie 10 Daniel Boone High School 16:50.72
43 44 Ramirez Barreiro, Melissa A.L. Brown 16:52.80
44 78 Edwards, Jessica 10 Ardrey Kell 16:55.39
45 630 Dorman, Sophie 10 West Forsyth 16:56.50
46 664 Dunlap, Elianna 10 West Henderson 16:57.47
47 670 Pickard, Mia 10 West Henderson 17:05.34
48 76 Blauer, Kayla 10 Ardrey Kell 17:23.14
49 667 Kimzy, Isla 10 West Henderson 17:39.96
50 696 Pollay, Aaralyn 10 West Stokes 17:43.44
51 208 Rutherford, Kayley 10 Hough, William A 17:44.26
52 11 McCarthy-Arcos, Oakley 10 A.C. Reynolds 18:16.90
Watauga’s sophomore boys team at Clash of Classes, Aug. 17, 2024, at State Farm Intramural Fields. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
Top Sophomore Boys Finishers
1 170 Estes, Joshua 10 Daniel Boone High School 11:06.45
2 164 Christian, Gavin 10 Daniel Boone High School 11:08.39
3 567 Gates, Grady 10 Watauga 11:15.29
4 191 Rheinecker, Benjamin 10 Hickory Ridge 11:20.21
5 174 Kelley, Adam 10 Daniel Boone High School 11:22.87
6 177 Tate, Ethan 10 Daniel Boone High School 11:27.28
7 323 Wardwell, Emmett 10 McDowell 11:28.46
8 509 Lawson, Jude 10 University School of John 11:32.23
9 658 Winsor, Noah 10 West Forsyth 11:35.04
10 455 Aguilar, Aaron 10 Surry Central 11:39.58
11 56 Keasler, Logan 10 A.L. Brown 11:43.56
12 176 Quick, Christopher 10 Daniel Boone High School 11:48.19
13 773 Bostrom, James 10 Watauga 11:48.54
14 69 Sirmons, Hunter 10 A.L. Brown 12:02.04
15 708 Morrison, Bryan 10 West Stokes 12:08.51
16 652 Moran, Edward 10 West Forsyth 12:10.31
17 676 Angel, Grant 10 West Henderson 12:10.85
18 171 Francisco, Atticus 10 Daniel Boone High School 12:14.45
19 677 Bloomer, Everett 10 West Henderson 12:16.01
20 580 Roman, Andres 10 Watauga 12:19.91
21 346 Byrd, Ahmn 10 Mooresville 12:28.41
22 116 Olander, Brecken 10 Ardrey Kell 12:31.91
23 356 Little, Caleb 10 Mooresville 12:35.43
24 653 Nagy, Nico 10 West Forsyth 12:41.17
25 712 Watts, Jackson 10 West Stokes 12:46.19
26 698 Beasley, Jimmy 10 West Stokes 12:46.69
27 51 Craft, Rylan 10 A.L. Brown 12:47.20
28 229 Price, Preston 10 Hough, William A 12:50.31
29 264 Bowie, Jacob 10 Lake Norman 12:52.10
30 650 LeGrande, Jonah 10 West Forsyth 12:56.31
31 353 Hodges, Hatten 10 Mooresville 13:00.30
32 570 James, Isaac 10 Watauga 13:01.99
33 70 Stevenson, Savion 10 A.L. Brown 13:11.78
34 167 Dillon, Eli 10 Daniel Boone High School 13:12.40
35 105 Galliano, Cameron 10 Ardrey Kell 13:19.04
36 705 Lee, Harrison 10 West Stokes 13:21.60
37 227 Niblack, Preston 10 Hough, William A 13:22.69
38 59 Logan, Landon 10 A.L. Brown 13:24.53
39 469 Bunke, John David 10 Surry Home Educators 13:29.30
40 324 Waycaster, Elijah 10 McDowell 13:32.95
41 54 Guerra, Matias 10 A.L. Brown 13:41.39
42 417 Scholl, Evan 10 Providence Day School 13:43.48
43 165 Cutshall, Sam 10 Daniel Boone High School 13:43.88
44 24 Mathews, Griffin 10 A.C. Reynolds 13:45.55
45 317 Faulkner, Elijah 10 McDowell 13:50.76
46 216 Bianchi, Matthew 10 Hough, William A 13:54.43
47 147 Murtland, Tommo 10 Avery County 14:03.47
48 700 Butler, Zakary 10 West Stokes 14:04.68
49 562 Abrams, Tallon 10 Watauga 14:07.39
50 425 Wei, Max 10 Providence Day School 14:15.83
51 106 Glover, William 10 Ardrey Kell 14:29.37
52 354 Howard, Zachary 10 Mooresville 14:32.30
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Before the start of the Freshman Girls race in Clash of the Classes, Watauga assistant coach Scott Townsend was asked if his daughter, Cali, was ready.
“She is so ready,” said Townsend. “She missed all of last year’s spring track season because of a lower body injury, so she has been looking forward to this. She says she is ready to fly.”
Hough High School’s Grant Collum earned No. 1 honors in the Clash of Classes Freshman Boys race on Aug. 17. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
And fly she did in leading a strong contingent of 9th grade girls from 10 different schools across the finish line, completing the 2-mile course at State Farm Intramural Fields in 12:20.63, almost 19 seconds ahead of the No. 2 harrier, Lake Norman’s Claire Zimmerman (12:39.20).
In the Freshman Boys race, Hough High School’s Grant Collum finished No. 1 (11:53.04), a little more than three seconds ahead of West Henderson’s Obie Greene (11:56.53). The field included a total of 71 student athletes.
The Watauga Freshman Girls team for Clash of the Classes. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
Top Freshman Girls Finishers
1 557 Townsend, Cali 9 Watauga 12:20.63
2 263 Zimmerman, Claire 9 Lake Norman 12:39.20
3 190 Riley, Isabella 9 Hickory Ridge 13:23.37
4 3 Cadeau, Audrey 9 A.C. Reynolds 13:23.79
5 386 Matasic, Aubrey 9 Providence Day School 13:49.66
6 640 Tonidandel, Celia 9 West Forsyth 13:55.64
7 693 Mathis, Piper 9 West Stokes 13:58.48
8 160 Vleminckx, Brynna 9 Daniel Boone High School 14:10.92
9 639 St.Clair, Ellie 9 West Forsyth 14:19.34
10 666 Jordan, Pherson 9 West Henderson 14:20.53
11 604 Seugling, Caleigh 9 West Cabarrus 14:22.02
12 697 Shiffert, Chloe 9 West Stokes 14:24.59
13 674 Taylor, Adley 9 West Henderson 14:25.18
14 534 Kimbrough, Lillie 9 Watauga 14:27.06
15 553 Scantlin, Grace 9 Watauga 14:33.55
16 90 Satija, Ahana 9 Ardrey Kell 14:39.06
17 396 Zolak, Charlie 9 Providence Day School 14:43.18
18 332 Herrera, Camila 9 Mooresville 14:43.51
19 331 Harryman, Millie 9 Mooresville 15:03.76
20 94 Welles, Alivia 9 Ardrey Kell 15:06.86
21 210 Weaver, Clara 9 Hough, William A 15:15.22
22 631 Holabeck, Sydney 9 West Forsyth 15:29.74
23 522 Benson, Riley 9 Watauga 15:35.47
24 497 McKinney, Darcy 9 University School of John 15:46.77
25 675 Vanness, Bryn 9 West Henderson 15:47.89
26 521 Benson, Julia 9 Watauga 15:48.54
27 196 Epperson, Maddie 9 Hough, William A 15:52.75
28 6 Farthing, Kora 9 A.C. Reynolds 15:56.31
29 632 Hooker, Shelly 9 West Forsyth 16:10.17
30 384 Lozier, Emmie 9 Providence Day School 16:22.75
31 524 Bollman, Noelle 9 Watauga 16:25.56
32 14 Gillett-Hockman, Zoe 9 A.C. Reynolds 16:27.50
33 88 Roldan, Isabela 9 Ardrey Kell 16:30.04
34 395 Yancey, Elizabeth 9 Providence Day School 16:34.63
35 250 Halcomb, Kylie 9 Lake Norman 16:35.27
36 596 Gould, Keeley 9 West Cabarrus 16:35.76
37 327 Bender, Skyler 9 Mooresville 16:39.84
38 36 Hall, Raegan 9 A.L. Brown 16:40.48
39 545 Nance, Claire 9 Watauga 16:42.11
Top Freshman Boys Finishers
1 217 Collum, Grant 9 Hough, William A 11:53.04
2 682 Greene, Obie 9 West Henderson 11:56.53
3 273 Lawver, Paxton 9 Lake Norman 12:09.35
4 277 Nelson, Oliver 9 Lake Norman 12:20.17
5 510 Mathewes, Lucas 9 University School of John 12:23.00
6 97 Chiang, Lucas 9 Ardrey Kell 12:30.13
7 608 Canipe, Cole 9 West Cabarrus 12:31.93
8 772 Liu, Ethan 9 Ardrey Kell 12:37.93
9 461 Ramirez Romero, Eduardo 9 Surry Central 12:38.54
10 225 Lucy, Alex 9 Hough, William A 12:44.95
11 231 Romano, Tieran 9 Hough, William A 12:52.54
12 407 Long, Atlas 9 Providence Day School 13:00.51
13 344 Anderson, Fischer 9 Mooresville 13:01.71
14 679 Cauble, Vance 9 West Henderson 13:03.43
15 270 Honig, Tyler 9 Lake Norman 13:06.75
16 230 Rezutko, Xavier 9 Hough, William A 13:17.19
17 95 Bangaru, Shourya 9 Ardrey Kell 13:23.71
18 29 Stotz, Eli 9 A.C. Reynolds 13:29.61
19 283 Scharsu, Benjamin 9 Lake Norman 13:32.74
20 507 Cull, Aden 9 University School of John 13:38.52
21 222 Handzlik, Ryan 10 Hough, William A 13:42.11
22 613 Heglar, Charles 9 West Cabarrus 13:46.02
23 117 Pak-lin, Davis 9 Ardrey Kell 13:46.50
24 118 Pak-lin, Elias 9 Ardrey Kell 13:49.12
25 711 Wagoner, Matt 9 West Stokes 13:49.49
26 125 Studebaker, Mason 9 Ardrey Kell 13:50.21
27 422 Tappy, Brannon 9 Providence Day School 13:50.62
28 403 Hatch, Charlie 9 Providence Day School 13:54.27
29 96 Bates, Charleston 9 Ardrey Kell 13:56.37
30 651 McGlaughon, William 9 West Forsyth 13:56.89
31 416 Sadowski, Jack 9 Providence Day School 13:58.45
32 274 Lee, Landyn 9 Lake Norman 14:04.34
33 287 Smith, Finnegan 9 Lake Norman 14:09.23
34 18 Enos, Gabriel 9 A.C. Reynolds 14:15.70
35 180 Venters, Tyler 9 Daniel Boone High School 14:26.57
36 123 Scott, Cayden 9 Ardrey Kell 14:26.85
37 98 Deister, Lincoln 9 Ardrey Kell 14:30.72
38 28 Smith, Brodie 9 A.C. Reynolds 14:32.62
39 280 Renner, Raiden 9 Lake Norman 14:32.98
40 57 Lamb, Porter 9 A.L. Brown 14:33.59
41 214 Baldwin, Sawyer 9 Hough, William A 14:40.03
42 454 Yount, Gabriel 9 South Caldwell 14:40.97
43 687 Metcalf, Gavin 9 West Henderson 14:41.89
44 413 Muvezwa, Takudzwa 9 Providence Day School 14:42.52
45 568 Gray, Cole 9 Watauga 14:43.01
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Watauga’s district middle school athletic teams are known as the Wolverines and in both the boys and girls races of the Clash of the Classes, the Wolverines chewed up the competition, at least figuratively.
The Middle School Girls race got things going as the first event, with the starter’s gun going off about as close to 9 a.m. sharp as one my hope with 28 total teams and a few unattached racers among the 773 student athletes registered for the 10 events.
Jonah Pearson of the Watauga district cross country team captured the top spot in the Clash of the Classes event for the Middle School Boys race. Photographic image by David Rogers
Twenty of the competitors were wearing the Watauga colors among the almost 40 entrants in the Middle School Girls division. A young local star may have emerged in the person of Kate James Moore, still just a seventh grader, who finished the 2-mile course in 13:42.72 to capture the No. 1 title, roughly 38 seconds ahead of Watauga eighth graders Sophia Stull (No. 2, 14:19.42) and Ayla Tunstill (No. 3, 14:26.16).
Even some of the later finishers in the Middle School Girls race battled for a better place in Clash of the Classes, Aug. 17. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
In the Middle School Boys division, Watauga’s Jonah Pearson ran away from the field to finish No. 1 (12:14.17). Teammate Sean Rea, an eighth grader like Pearson, gave the Wolverines a 1-2 punch as the No. 2 (12:48.37). Keeping it local, Grace Academy of Boone’s Evan Gordon, a seventh grader, surprised the rest of the field as the No. 3 (12:55.51), and sixth grade brother Brandon Gordon finished as the No. 8 harrier in the field of 53 student athletes.
Top Middle School Boys Finishers
1 759 Pearson, Jonah 8 Watauga Middle 12:14.17 1
2 761 Rea, Sean 8 Watauga Middle 12:48.37 2
3 186 Gordon, Evan 7 Grace Academy Boone 12:55.51
4 234 Crews, Liam 8 Kannapolis Middle School 12:57.93 3
5 435 Jordan, Nash 7 Rugby Middle School 13:21.64
6 294 Bhatt, Micah 8 Lakeshore Middle School 14:10.02 4
7 297 Deschenes, Tysen 8 Lakeshore Middle School 14:13.63 5
8 185 Gordon, Brandon 6 Grace Academy Boone 14:17.02
9 296 Crawford, Ashton 8 Lakeshore Middle School 14:21.38 6
10 303 Scott, Brody 6 Lakeshore Middle School 14:23.59 7
11 434 Green, Aiden 8 Rugby Middle School 14:37.34
12 188 Willingham, Grayson 7 Grace Academy Boone 14:37.63
13 439 Epperson, Alex 6 Run Cabarrus 14:44.20
14 304 Short, Alex 8 Lakeshore Middle School 14:51.27 8
15 237 Hudson, Baylen 8 Kannapolis Middle School 14:59.24 9
16 745 Duvall, Caleb 8 Watauga Middle 15:02.22 10
17 753 Hodges, Yates 7 Watauga Middle 15:07.76 11
18 482 Mauser, Levi 9 Surry Home Educators 15:22.14 12
19 295 Cook, Colin 7 Lakeshore Middle School 15:33.88 13
20 770 Walker, Patrick 7 University School of John 15:39.95
21 487 Stovall, Milo 6 Surry Home Educators 15:41.66 14
22 739 Braxton, John 6 Watauga Middle 15:58.34 15
23 300 Leonard, Paxton 8 Lakeshore Middle School 15:59.15 16
24 302 Nervegna, Michael 8 Lakeshore Middle School 15:59.39
25 187 Slagle, Isaac 6 Grace Academy Boone 15:59.87
26 768 Lizarralde, Christian 8 Lakeshore Middle School 16:19.22
27 238 Russell, Isaac 8 Kannapolis Middle School 16:47.10 17
28 305 Wisecup, Jackson 8 Lakeshore Middle School 16:51.55
29 479 Mauser, Corban 6 Surry Home Educators 16:55.04 18
30 752 Hannon, Jax 6 Watauga Middle 17:02.83 19
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — A muddy course may have slowed down some of the times but not enthusiasm on Aug. 17 at the State Farm Intramural Fields of Appalachian State University. Among the 28 schools with 773 student athletes participating there were a number of early season personal bests, including impressive team and individual performances during the annual, Pioneer ‘Clash of the Classes.’
“It is the only high school cross country event at least in this region, if not in the state where freshman girls run only against other freshman girls, senior boys run only against senior boys, and so on. So in many respects it is an age group peer evaluation,” said Watauga head coach Randy McDonough after the last of the ten races had been run, starting with middle school girls at 9 a.m., followed by middle school boys, freshman girls, freshmen boys, sophomore girls, sophomore boys, junior girls, junior boys, senior girls and senior boys. The gun sounded for the last of the races a little after 1 p.m., making for a long but exciting celebration of all things cross country.
Watauga’s junior girls had a strong showing in Clash of the Classes, staged at the State Farm Intramural Fields on Aug. 17, 2024. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
It was a picturesque, festival-like scene as the sun broke intermittently from behind the billowing Cumulus clouds. Sometimes the multi-colored tents surrounding the race course were bathed in glittering sunlight, other times in the clouds’ deep shadows, if only for a couple of minutes. Rain-free weather in the mid-60s to mid-70s might have been “hot” for the many competing harriers from the High Country, but it was a welcome “cool” for the participants from off the mountain — where they might have been running in 90-plus degree heat.
Host Watauga had several notable performances:
Will Bradbury recorded the fastest time of the day in running away with the Senior Boys title in a sparkling, 10:13.23. The next closest of the 50 runners to cross the finish line was Keegan Saft of West Henderson, in 10:33.35.
Watauga’s Annabelle Stewart captured the Senior Girls event, crossing the line in 12:22.77, with Hough’s Kaely Patterson (12:28.36) and West Forsyth’s Lulu Serang (12:35.24) following at No. 2 and No. 3, respectively.
Pioneer freshman Cali Townsend said before her race she was “ready to fly” — and did she ever, winning the event in 12:20.63, well ahead of Lake Norman’s No. 2 finisher, Claire Zimmerman (12:39.20) out of the large field of 61 girls competing. Only one other female runner posted a faster time for the course, Kasey Dingman of Lake Norman (12:04.58), in the highly competitive, 11th grade girls race.
In the Middle School Boys race, Watauga went 1-2 with a pair of 8th graders, Jonah Pearson at No. 1 (12:14.17) and Sean Rea at No. 2 (12:48.37). Another Boone area student took No. 3, Evan Gordon of Grace Academy (12:55.51).
Watauga junior Janie Beach-Verhay ran with the lead pack most of the race, crossing the line No. 6 out of the 63 distaff harriers in the field, including a large contingent of 14 Pioneer juniors.
It was a 1-2-3 sweep of the top positions in the Middle School Girls division, with seventh grader Kate James Moore racing to the No. 1 finish in 13:42.72, followed by a pair of eighth graders in Sophia Stull (14:19.42) and Ayla Tunstill (14:26.16).
In a field of over 70 sophomore girls, Watauga’s Lainey Johnston finished in the No. 11 position as the top Pioneer competitor at the grade level, in 14:08.56. Ava Nutter of Daniel Boone High School (Gray, Tenn.) topped the field in 12:35.55.
Among the participating schools were:
Watauga
Daniel Boone (Gray, Tenn.)
West Forsyth (Clemmons, N.C.)
William A. Hough (Cornelius, N.C.)
University School of Johnson City (Tenn.)
West Henderson (Hendersonville, N.C.)
Hickory Ridge (Harrisburg, N.C.)
North Buncombe (Weaverville, N.C.)
West Stokes (King, N.C.)
Ardrey Kell (Charlotte, N.C.)
McDowell (Marion, N.C.)
A.L. Brown (Kannapolis, N.C.)
Mooresville (N.C.)
Lake Norman (Mooresville, N.C.)
West Cabarrus (Concord, N.C.)
Providence Day (Charlotte, N.C.)
A.C. Reynolds (Asheville, N.C.)
Surry Central (Dobson, N.C.)
South Caldwell (Hudson, N.C.)
Surry Home Educators (Mt. Airy, N.C.)
Avery County (Newland, N.C.)
Middle school teams included:
Watauga District Middle Schools
Grace Academy (Boone, N.C.)
Kannapolis MS (N.C.)
Rugby MS (Hendersonville, N.C.)
Lakeshore MS (Mooresville, N.C.)
Run Cabarrus (club, Concord, N.C.)
Surry Home Educators (Mt. Airy, N.C.)
University School of Johnson City (Tenn.)
There were also several unattached student athletes.
By Bret Strelow. BOONE, N.C. — With the fall semester beginning next week, App State Wrestling head coach JohnMark Bentley announced the addition of six Class of 2024 newcomers.
The six prep standouts combined for 17 individual state championships during their decorated high school careers.
Two members of the class are homegrown talents from North Carolina. The Mountaineers are also adding standouts from New Jersey, New York, South Dakota and Tennessee.
Class of 2024 newcomers (by projected weight class)
133 pounds: Charleston Baglio (Midland, N.C.; Central Cabarrus HS)
133 pounds: Jarvis Little (Spring Hill, Tenn.; Summit HS)
141 pounds: Brayden Fahrbach (Mount Sinai, N.Y.; Mount Sinai HS)
149 pounds: Grant Reece (Elk Park, N.C.; Avery County HS)
157 pounds: Ayson Rice (Harrisburg, S.D.; Canton HS)
Heavyweight: Stephan Monchery (Middletown, N.Y.; Middletown HS)
Full Bios (Alphabetical order)
Charleston Baglio — 133 pounds Midland, N.C.; Central Cabarrus HS
High School: Three-time state champion in North Carolina in the 3-A classification, winning at 138 pounds as a senior (45-1 record), 126 pounds as a junior (50-2 record) and 106 pounds as a freshman (22-2 record) … Went 25-0 as a sophomore before an injury ended his season before the state championships … Career record of 142-5.
Brayden Fahrbach — 141 pounds Mount Sinai, N.Y.; Mount Sinai HS
High School: Two-time state champion in New York with a 199-15 career record, winning at 138 pounds as a senior (43-0 record) and 132 pounds as a junior (38-0 record) … State runner-up at 126 pounds as a sophomore (42-3 record) after placing third as a freshman … Newsday’s Long Island Wrestler of the Year as a senior ended his career on a 81-match winning streak.
Jarvis Little — 133 pounds Spring Hill, Tenn.; Summit HS
High School: Three-time state champion in Tennessee, winning at 132 pounds as a senior, 126 pounds as a junior and 120 pounds as a sophomore … State qualifier at 113 pounds as a freshman … Finished his senior season 55-5 and went 156-11 over his final three seasons, becoming Summit’s first state champion with his 2022 victory.
Stephan Monchery — Heavyweight Middletown, N.Y.; Middletown HS
High School: State champion in New York as a senior who completed his final prep season with a 42-0 record after being a state runner-up as a junior … Won a national title at the National High School Coaches Association National Championships in Virginia Beach in April 2024 … Three-time Section IX champion and state placewinner, with a fifth-place finish at the state championships as a sophomore … Eastern States champion… Fargo Greco Roman All-American.
Ayson Rice — 157 pounds Harrisburg, S.D.; Canton HS
High School: Four-time state champion in South Dakota, winning at 150 pounds as a senior (46-1 record), 145 pounds as a junior (52-3 record), 138 pounds as a sophomore and 120 pounds as a freshman (40-0 record) … As a senior, also helped Canton win its seventh straight state title as a team.
Grant Reece — 149 pounds Elk Park, N.C.; Avery County HS
High School: Four-time state qualifier and two-time state champion in North Carolina at Avery County, winning at 132 pounds as a junior (44-2 record) and 126 pounds as a sophomore (47-10 record) … Career record of 167-22 … Went 49-6 as a senior, when he reached 100 career pins … State runner-up at 120 pounds during a 27-4 season as a freshman.
By Bret Strelow. BOONE, N.C. — App State senior quarterback Joey Aguilar has been named to the preseason watch lists for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award and the Manning Award.
Aguilar is one of 29 candidates for the Manning Award, which was created by the Allstate Sugar Bowl in honor of the college football accomplishments of Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning. It is the only quarterback award that includes the candidates’ postseason performances in its balloting.
Johnny Unitas, an 18-year veteran of the NFL, played his collegiate career at the University of Louisville before joining the Baltimore Colts in 1958. His career passing figures include 2,830 pass completions for 40,239 yards and 290 touchdowns.
Aguilar is also on the watch list for the Maxwell Award, which recognizes the most outstanding player in college football, and the Davey O’Brien Award, which recognizes the nation’s top returning college quarterbacks.
Aguilar’s 33 touchdown passes during the 2023 regular season allowed him to rank fifth nationally for the entire season, which he finished with additional school records of 3,757 passing yards and 4,002 yards of total offense. He’s the nation’s only returning quarterback who had 33-plus touchdown passes and 3,700-plus passing yards in 2023.
