Perfecto! Watauga XC teams secure perfect scores in sweeping NWC XC Championships

By David Rogers. MORGANTON, N.C. — The Watauga men’s and women’s cross country teams got out their brooms on Oct. 17 and it was not to give to the Wicked Witch of the West for Halloween. No, the Pioneers had some house cleaning on their minds.

Led by sophomore Janie Beach-Verhay, the Watauga women’s team took nine of the top 10 places in the Northwestern Conference XC Championships hosted by Freedom High School, including a sweep of the top six finishers comprised of two sophomores (No. 1 Beach-Verhay and No. 6 Sydney Cate Townsend), two freshmen (No. 2 Lainey Johnston and No. 4 Maggie Visser), a junior (No. 3 Sadie Buchanan) and a senior (No. 5 Ellary Smith).

Led by senior Sam Nixon at No. 1, the Watauga men did almost as well, sweeping the top six positions and placing seven of the top 10. The Pioneers also have a bit of a youth movement going on when it comes to cross country. Two sophomores, Elliott Taft and Calvin Zwetsloot finished the 5000 meters course at No. 2 and No. 3, respectively, followed by No. 4 Collin Anderson (senior), No. 5 Sam Rex (junior), and No. 6 Zeke Walker (sophomore). After a pair of South Caldwell seniors at No. 7 and No. 8, Levi Bowman and Parker Bowman, respectively, Watauga junior Jonah Norris crossed the line at No. 9.

In the women’s race, Beach-Verhay had to be feeling good, crossing the finish line in 20:10, a full minute and 19 seconds ahead of second place Johnston. Rounding out the top 10 for Watauga were No. 8 Rachel Cathey (senior), No. 9 Winter Shaw and No. 10 Katherine Rex, both freshmen.

A total of 83 athletes competed in the women’s division, with other noteworthy Watauga performances by Keatyn Wuest (No. 13, freshman), Mia Libre (No. 14, junior), Sophie Parker (No. 15, freshman) and Elyse Rea (No. 16, freshman).

A total of 75 athletes competed in the men’s division of the NWC XC Championships. Watauga also saw strong performances by Davis Crymes (No. 11, senior), Grady Gates (No. 12, freshman), Roman Sibaja (No. 13, senior), Silas Powell (No. 15, sophomore), A J McAulay (No. 20, sophomore), Wes Coatney (No. 21, senior), Santino Wood (No. 22, sophomore), Hayden Walker (No. 23, junior) and Levi Anderson (No. 24, sophomore).

WOMEN’S TEAM SCORES

1. Watauga (15)
2. Alexander Central (81)
3. Ashe County (90)
4. Freedom (106)
5. South Caldwell (114)
6. Hibriten (133)

MEN’S TEAM SCORES

1. Watauga (15)
2. South Caldwell (61)
3. Alexander Central (73)
4. Freedom (107)
5. Hibriten (142)