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2023 Outdoor Hockey Classic

November 21, 2023 On the night of November 17th, 4,200 fans gathered at Truist Field in Charlotte, NC for the 2023 Outdoor Classic between Appalachian State and UNC Charlotte’s hockey teams. It marked the first time in the 25-year history of App’s hockey program that they played a match outdoors.  By Josh Floyd

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The Boys of Summer

September 19, 2023 Since it was first codified in the middle of the 19th century, the uniquely American game of baseball has largely survived the winds of change. Technology brought instant replay to TV monitors, digitized strike zones, and aluminum bats, but the bases are still roughly 90 feet apart, and the pitcher’s mound is 60 feet from home plate.  By David Rogers

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Field of View: ASU v ECU

September 19, 2023 Growing up, I lived in Craven County, just a county away from East Carolina University. To say I knew some ECU fans would be an understatement, my sister even studied there and played the piccolo in their marching band! So, when I heard that ECU was coming to Boone to play one of my favorite teams in the world, I was beyond excited! I had a gut feeling that I was going to witness an epic game, and I was not disappointed. By Josh Floyd

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Avery County native Paul Johnson to be Inducted into Georgia Sports Hall of Fame 

September 5, 2023 Avery County native and Paul Johnson has been selected for a Sports Hall of Fame induction for the second time in the past nine months. After being chosen last January for enshrinement into the 2023 College Football Hall of Fame on December 5 at the National Football Foundation’s Annual Awards Dinner in Las Vegas, Nevada, the State of Georgia Sports Hall of Fame announced September 1 that Johnson is one of eight to be inducted into its 2024 Class.  By Tim Gardner

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2023 Tommy Burleson Basketball Camp Has a Record 105 Participants

July 27, 2023 The 2023 Tommy Burleson Basketball Camp held July 17-21 at the Old Rock and adjacent auxiliary Newland Elementary School gymnasiums was the largest in number of campers during its 40-year history. 105 male and female players from the third through the ninth grade of school, attended. From the beginning of, and to the end of camp each day, throughout its five days, campers were exposed to intense basketball instruction and motivation that benefited both beginners and experienced players. By Tim Gardner

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Hannah Bateman Names WHS Lacrosse Coach

July 10, 2023 BOONE — Watauga High School Athletics is excited to announce Coach Hannah Bateman as the new Women’s Lacrosse Coach at Watauga High School. She has served as an assistant Women’s Lacrosse Coach at the school for the past two seasons.Watauga High School Athletics Director Dustin Kerley said Bateman had quickly built a great reputation at WHS due to her hard work, positive attitude, passion for coaching and passion for the sport of Lacrosse.

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Online Sports Gambling Bill Reaches Governor’s Desk

June 12, 2023 Sports gambling in North Carolina is a step away from becoming reality after the N.C. House of Representatives overwhelmingly voted to approve a bill legalizing it Wednesday. The bill will now move to Governor Roy Cooper’s desk. He’s expected to sign the measure as he’s previously stated support for legalized sports gambling and the bill. By Zack Hill

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EQUIP 13U REACHES GOLD BRACKET IN TENNESSEE STATE TOURNAMENT

June 5, 2023 KINGSPORT, TN – The Equip 13U baseball team competed in the Tennessee State Tournament over the weekend of June 4-5, reaching the Gold Bracket before incurring their first loss on the season. Fifteen teams from across Tennessee, along with the Equip team from Boone and a team from Virginia competed for the title of Tennessee State Champions.

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EQUIP 13U WINS SALUTE TO THE MOMS TOURNAMENT IN MORGANTON

May 16, 2023 MORGANTON, NC – The Equip 13U team continued their tournament winning streak in a one-day tournament for a Mothers Day ‘Salute to the Moms’ sweeping all three games on Saturday, May 14. Equip defeated the Buncombe County Diamond Mine 13U team 10 to 1.  Bryce Scheffler went 3 for 3 at the plate with a triple and two singles, scoring once and knocking in an RBI.  Devan Shook earned the win, pitching three innings and striking out 5 of the 12 batters faced.  Jack Bridgeman tallied the save, facing 10 batters and yielding only one hit.  The Diamond Mine learned the hard way that Equip’s team defense could erase runners, with three baserunners picked off on attempted steals. 

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AMOREM Patient Receives Phone Call from Peyton Manning

April 27, 2023 MORGANTON — Peyton Manning made a special phone call on March 3 to one of his biggest fans, Tammy Haga. Haga was admitted to AMOREM services in early February with a diagnosis of metastatic bone cancer. Not long after meeting Haga, her AMOREM care team learned of her admiration for NFL legend, Peyton Manning.

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Watauga WSOC powers past Alexander Central, 5-0

April 19, 2023 BOONE, N.C. — With goals by five different players on April 18, Watauga women’s soccer took full advantage of Alexander Central, defeating the Cougars, 5-0. The Pioneers got goals from Georgia Parker, Kate Sears, Katie Durham, Savannah Duvall, and Maya Nelson, all with assists recorded by Nelson, Morgan Flynt, Charlotte Cuthbert, and Parker. For Duvall, it was a major milestone evening: her first career goal on the Pioneer varsity. By David Rogers

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North Carolina High School Athletic Association Member Schools Approve Moving from Four to Seven Classifications Although State Senate Bill Could Void the Change

April 19, 2023 Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) commissioner Que Tucker notified its more than 400 member schools Tuesday (April 18) that the organization will expand from four classifications to seven beginning in the 2025-26 school year. 
According to the NCHSAA, which is headquartered in Chapel Hill, votes were submitted by principals of member schools with input with their local superintendents and Boards of Education as well as other school officials. Deadline for votes on the proposal was April 14.  Three-fourths of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) member schools had to vote “yes” on the proposal in order for it to pass. By Tim Gardner

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From Pioneer to Falcon, Colin Phelps commits to play golf at Pfeiffer University

April 17, 2023 BOONE, N.C. — In roughly a month, Colin Phelps will have completed his time as a Pioneer. In less than six months, he will become a Falcon. There was undoubtedly a point in the Watauga High School senior’s young life that he dreamed of going to college on a baseball or football scholarship. A football injury sidelined those ambitions but it turns out that he is still going to be “playing at the next level” — as a college golfer. He signed a commitment letter to Pfeiffer University on April 6, in an after-school ceremony with friends, teammates, coaches and family members looking on. By David Rogers

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Blowing Rock’s Colley, Tuxbury lower their legal PRs in Rotterdam Marathon

April 17, 2023 Rotterdam, Netherlands — Even in elite distance running where the competing athletes are highly trained, different race patterns evolve. In the NN Rotterdam Marathon on April 16, two Blowing Rock-based ZAP Endurance team members used different approaches to recording new (legal) personal bests for the 26.2 miles distance. By David Rogers

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North Carolina High School Athletic Association’s Proposed Realignment Change Vote Deadline April 14th

April 14, 2023 The North Carolina High School Athletic Association–the governing body of prep sports in the state–has proposed expanding from four to seven classifications beginning with the 2025-2026 school year. If the measure passes from its school membership, the number of classifications would be based solely on the number of schools in the association, with no class exceeding 64 schools.

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Watauga stays unbeaten, sweeps Draughn, 3-0

April 4, 2023 VALDESE, N.C. — After sweeping Draughn on April 3, 25-23, 25-18, 25-18, a few trends are obvious in the Watauga men’s volleyball team’s first season. First, the young Pioneers are quick learners and know how to win. After less than a month in existence and after the first three matches they are undefeated, 3-0. By David Rogers

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Movin’ on: Appalachian FC advances in Open Cup after win over Fusion in OT

March 23, 2023 BOONE, N.C. —Another chapter in Appalachian FC’s storied beginning was written on March 22. Call them the Sasquatch Armada, if you will, or even call them a motley crew, but the Boone-based, semi-pro soccer team is for real after a stirring, double overtime win decided with penalty kicks against North Carolina Fusion at Ted Mackorell Soccer Stadium.  By David Rogers

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Strong showing by Watauga high school and middle school cycling teams in ‘Crankin’ at the Creek’

March 22, 2023 Special Report. ELIZABETHTOWN, N.C. — The Watauga Pioneers High School and Middle School mountain bike team had a strong team and individual results at the first 2023 NC Interscholastic Cycling League series race, “Crankin at the Creek” at Browns Creek Trail in Elizabethtown, NC. The Pioneers high school team placed 11th out of 47 teams and the middle school team placed 19th out of 44 teams competing. By David Rogers

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