By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — In the crazy world of high school athletics, a single “happening” at the Watauga Community Recreation Center generated a dozen dual meet scores across 24 individual and relay races on Jan. 12. The four-team event hosted by Watauga High School was dominated by the Pioneers in both the men’s and women’s divisions.
Swimmers from University Christian (Hickory), as well as familiar Northwestern Conference foes Hibriten and Freedom competed. Once again, Watauga’s roster depth, even though comprised of many freshmen and sophomores, proved a valuable asset in determining the team scores, with several impressive individual performances.
TEAM SCORES – MEN
- Watauga 91, University Christian 68
- Watauga 105, Freedom 57
- Watauga 126, Hibriten 25
- University Christian 78, Freedom 71
- University Christian 96, Hibriten 30
- Freedom 92, Hibriten 35
TEAM SCORES – WOMEN
- Watauga 107, Hibriten 55
- Watauga 117, University Christian 40
- Watauga 129, Freedom 40
- Hibriten 93, University Christian 60
- Hibriten 102, Freedom 53
- University Christian 85, Freedom 65
SELECTED INDIVIDUAL WATAUGA PERFORMANCES
Women’s 200 Yard Medley Relay (7 entries)
- 1st – Watauga A, team of Maggie Cheves, Lauren Patterson, Elise Rasco, and Athena Elliott
- 2nd – Watauga B, team of Lola Herring, MK Riddle, Macie Kent, Georgia Parker
Men’s 200 Yard Medley Relay (6 entries)
- 2nd – Watauga A. team of Vaughn Ladd, Ryan Wood, Michael Makdad, Wes Coatney
Women’s 200 Yard Freestyle (12 entries)
- 3rd – Virginia St. Clair
- 4th – Elise Rasco
- 6th – Cadence Smith
- Other Watauga competitors included Maddy Elmore and Katu Nyzoki
Men’s 200 Yard Freestyle (8 entries)
- 4th – Drew Jasper
- Other Watauga competitors included Trathan Gragg, Arden Jackson, and Silas Powell
Women’s 200 Yard Individual Medley (8 entries)
- 1st – Lauren Patterson
- Other Watauga competitors included Iyla Freed, Abi Pitts
Men’s 200 Yard Individual Medley (4 entries)
- 2nd – Wes Coatney
- 3rd – Sam Rex
Women’s 50 Yard Freestyle (41 entries)
- 1st – Athena Elliott
- 2nd – Maggie Cheves
- 4th – Macie Kent
- 5th – Georgia Parker
- 7th – Annabelle Stewart
- 9th – Abbi Shuman
- Other Watauga competitors included Austin Dyer, Ella Anderson, Coco Mente, Sarah Green, Grace Lesesne, Autumn Gardner, Claudia Hooker, Savannah Auton, Marley Woodard, Emmy Martinez, Bridget Flaherty, Ava Curtis, Emma Lewis, Annie Willis, and Adela Garmendia
Men’s 50 Yard Freestyle (29 entries)
- 3rd – Vaughn Ladd
- 5th – Levi Temple
- 7th – Ben Parker
- Other Watauga competitors included Thomas Moss, Haines Heistand, Nick Lyons, Tasman Orkiszewski, Kole Denny, and Ezekiel Walker
Women’s 100 Yard Butterfly (6 entries)
- 2nd – Athena Elliott
- 3rd – Elise Rasco
Men’s 100 Yard Butterfly (7 entries)
- 3rd – Vaughn Ladd
- Other Watauga competitors included Michael Makdad, Sam Rex
Women’s 100 Yard Freestyle (23 entries)
- 1st – Virginia St. Clair
- 2nd – Lola Herring
- 4th – Austin Dyer
- 5th – MK Riddle
- 6th – Georgia Parker
- 8th – Abbi Shuman
- 9th – Abi Pitts
- Other Watauga competitors included Ella Anderson, Coco Mente, and Katu Nzyoki
Men’s 100 Yard Freestyle (24 entries)
- 1st – Ryan Wood
- 4th – Ben Parker
- 5th – Summit Allan
- 6th – Drew Jasper
- 7th – Paul Gamiel
- 10th – Thomas Moss
- Other Watauga competitors included Silas Powell, Haines Heistand, Kole Denny, and Ezekiel Walker
Women’s 500 Yard Freestyle (6 entries)
- 1st – Annabelle Stewart
- 2nd – Iyla Freed
- 3rd – Maddy Elmore
Men’s 500 Yard Freestyle (5 entries)
- 1st – Michael Makdad
- 2nd – Wes Coatney
Women’s 200 Yard Freestyle Relay (11 entries)
- 2nd – Watauga A, team of Georgia Parker, Austin Dyer, Annabelle Stewart, Virginia St. Clair
- 3rd – Watauga B, team of Iyla Freed, Cadence Smith, Abi Pitts, Abbi Shuman
- 6th – Watauga F, team of Coco Mentes, Grace Lesesne, Maddy Elmore, Ella Anderson
- 7th – Watauga C, team of Sarah Green, Autumn Gardner, Savannah Auton, Claudia Hooker
- 8th – Watauga D, team of Bridget Flaherty, Emma Lewis, Annie Willis, Ava Curtis
- 9th – Watauga E, team of Adela Garmendia, Emmy Martinez, Marley Woolard, Katu Nyzoki
Men’s 200 Yard Freestyle Relay (10 entries)
- 3rd – Watauga B, team of Nick Lyons, Sam Rex, Drew Jasper, Summit Allan
- 5th – Watauga C, team of Trathan Gragg, Thomas Moss, Haines Heistand, Arden Jackson
- 7th – Watauga D, team of Silas Powell, Ezekiel Walker, Kole Denny, Tasman Orkiszewski
- DQ – Watauga A, team of Levi Temple, Paul Gamiel, Ben Parker, Vaughn Ladd
Women’s 100 Yard Backstroke (10 entries)
- 1st – Maggie Cheves
- 2nd – Lola Herring
- 5th – Cadence Smith
- 7th – Annie Willis
Men’s 100 Yard Backstroke (7 entries)
- 1st – Ryan Wood
- 3rd – Arden Jackson
- 4th – Nick Lyons
Women’s 100 Yard Breaststroke (8 entries)
- 1st – MK Riddle
- 5th – Grace Lesesne
Men’s 100 Yard Breaststroke (8 entries)
- 2nd – Summit Allan
- 4th – Paul Gamiel
- 7th – Trathan Gragg
Women’s 400 Yard Freestyle Relay (7 entries)
- 1st – Watauga B, team of Elise Raso, Annabelle Stewart, Ilya Freed, Athena Elliott
- DQ – Watauga A, team of Maggie Cheves, Lola Herring, Cadence Smith, Virginia St. Clair
Men’s 400 Yard Freestyle Relay (6 entries)
- 2nd – Watauga A, team of Wes Coatney, Ben Parker, Michael Makdad, Ryan Wood
- 5th – Watauga B, team of Drew Jasper, Nick Lyons, Trathan Gragg, Paul Gamiel
