April 6, 2023 MATTHEWS, N.C. — In many respects, the U.S. Open Cup second round soccer match between Charlotte Independence and Appalachian FC was Goliath vs. David. Unlike Biblical times, Goliath prevailed on this occasion. By David Rogers
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
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
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
March 22, 2023 By David Rogers. HUDSON, N.C. — If Watauga third baseman had only hit a triple, he would have accomplished one of baseball’s most prized feats for a single game: “hitting for the cycle. He still had a big night at the plate on March 21 at South Caldwell, slugging a double, hammering a home run and lacing a single into the outfield. His stat line included three RBIs and three runs scored By David Rogers
March 20, 2023 BOONE, N.C. — Centerfielder Mary Pierce Barnes went 3-for-3 and App State teammates Taylor Thorp and Ambry Lucas clubbed a pair of doubles on March 18, but it wasn’t near enough firepower to overcome a late innings hitting barrage by Marshall at Sywassink/Lloyd Field. The Thundering Herd won the Sun Belt Conference season opener, 8-0. By David Rogers
March 20, 2023 MAMMOTH MOUNTAIN, CA. — By sweeping the top two places in the Snowboard-Cross event, Lilly Kamp (No. 1) and Nicole Yoos (No. 2) propelled Lees-McRae College to first place in the Alpine Combined women’s team competition on March 9 at the 2023 U.S. Collegiate Ski and Snowboarding Championships hosted by Mammoth Mountain. By David Rogers
March 20, 2023 Gaylord Perry, a professional baseball Hall of Famer, who is considered to be one of the greatest pitchers ever and who for years lived in the Town of Spruce Pine, passed away on Thursday, December 1, 2022 of natural causes. He was 84 years old. By Tim Gardner
March 15, 2023 Whether it be at men’s & women’s basketball games, football games, wrestling matches, or other university events, there is a team of around 18 women who are always present with one goal in mind – to promote spirit and pride, while generating crowd involvement at Appalachian State University. By Harley Nefe
March 10, 2023 WILKESBORO, N.C. — Asked to choose the most impactful play in Watauga baseball’s 17-0 win over Allegheny in the third round of the non-conference tournament at West Wilkes, the answer might be one of several. And, truth be told, the Pioneers’ Maddox Greene likely was involved, directly or indirectly. Was it Greene’s fielding a sharply hit ground ball and throw to first to get a third out in the first inning, with Allegheny having the bases loaded? Instead, they left three men stranded on base. By David Rogers
March 6, 2023 BOONE, N.C. — App State’s Jon Jon Millner flashed four fingers on each hand as he exited the mat following another conference title. Millner’s swan song in a dominant SoCon career contributed to another team championship in a dominant 2022-23 season for head coach JohnMark Bentley’s program. By Bret Strelow, App State Sports
March 6, 2023 BOONE, N.C. — Appalachian State only needed to score two late touchdowns to defeat Gardner-Webb on March 5. If only they were playing football instead of baseball. The visiting Bulldogs scored runs in every inning except the 3rd and the 8th but they saved the best for last, scoring six runs in the top of the 9th for a runaway, 19-6 win over the Mountaineers to split the weekend series. By David Rogers
March 6, 2023 BOONE, N.C. — For a college baseball slugfest, it was icing on the cake. Appalachian State catcher Hayden Cross ripped a 2-out, 2-RBI double to centerfield in the bottom of the 9th inning to give the Mountaineers a 12-11 win over Gardner-Webb in Smith Stadium, on March 4. By David Rogers
March 2, 2023 With temperatures hovering in the high 30s, it was almost cold enough for the persistent rain to be called a “wintry mix.” The three dozen athletes aspiring to gain a roster spot in the 2023 edition of Appalachian FC weren’t concerned about the weather on Feb. 25. By David Rogers
March 2, 2023 What began nearly a decade ago as a successful annual fundraiser for the Hope Center in Boone was, like many events, put on hold during the Covid-19 pandemic. But, the good news is, the fast-paced, exciting tournament known as Dodgeball for Hope is returning next week — and it promises to pick up where it left off. After a two-year hiatus, the staff, volunteers and clients of Hope Center are happy to announce that Dodgeball for Hope will take place on Saturday, March 11, at Watauga High School. By Sherrie Norris
March 2, 2023 BOONE, N.C. — Watauga women’s basketball was defeated by Charlotte Catholic, 60-49, on Feb. 28, in the quarterfinals of the 2023 North Carolina High School Athletic Association 4A Women’s Basketball Championship tournament. If there is any consolation, they “won” the second half, 39-29. “In the fourth round of the state playoffs, you have to play all four quarters,” said Watauga head coach Laura Barry after the game. “Tonight, we didn’t do that. Credit Charlotte Catholic.” By David Rogers
February 15, 2023 The North Carolina High School Athletic Association State 1-A Wrestling Championship Tournaments could as aptly be called the Avery High Wrestling Invitational in recent years with the successes the Vikings have earned in them. By Tim Gardner
February 20, 2023 The North Carolina Athletic Directors Association (NCADA) has announced its 29th Hall of Fame (2023) class, and Avery County Schools Athletic Director Jay Smith has been chosen for induction. Smith is one five athletic directors who will be added to the Hall this year. The others include Neil Blankenship of Swain County, Michael Gainey of Rocky Mount, Troy Lindsay of Fayetteville and Jim Taylor of Shelby. By Tim Gardner
February 15, 2023 The University of Georgia’s 1983 National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Eastern Regional Championship and Final Four team coached by Avery County resident and College Basketball Hall of Famer Hugh Durham was honored at halftime of the school’s 75-68 Southeastern Conference victory over Kentucky February 11 in Athens, GA. By Tim Gardner
February 14, 2023 The 2023 Sugar Mountain Adult Racing League’s 17th season came to its conclusion on Monday night. Races have been held every Monday night for the past six weeks. See the final results and team winners all right here!
February 7, 2023 The 2023 Sugar Mountain Adult Racing League’s 17th season completed its fifth night on Monday. Races will be held every Monday night for 1 more week. See week five results and team standings all right here!
February 2, 2023 BOONE, N.C. — Early in the second quarter on Jan. 31 at Lentz Eggers Gym, Watauga’s junior varsity men trailed Alexander Central, 17-7. In the blink of an eye the Pioneers went on an 11-0 run, erased the deficit and took an 18-17 lead into halftime. By David Rogers
February 2, 2023 BOONE, N.C. — Although Alexander Central has one of the best women’s basketball teams in the Northwestern Conference and challenged Watauga on Jan. 10 in a low-scoring defensive battle before losing, 38-25, in Taylorsville, they couldn’t keep up in the Jan. 31 rematch at Lentz Eggers Gym. The Pioneers ran away with this one, 52-39, before a full house of fans on both sides of the gym floor. By David Rogers
February 1, 2023 BOONE, N.C. — After battling back to tie or go ahead of Alexander Central’s men’s basketball team on Jan. 31, at the end there was nothing more Watauga could do. With time ticking away in regulation and the score tied 37-37, the Cougars’ Chad Lasher took pass from the perimeter and laid the ball up and in, beating the buzzer by 0.1 seconds to secure Alexander Central’s win over the Pioneers, 39-37, in front of a packed crowd filling Lentz Eggers Gym. By David Rogers
February 1, 2023 CHARLOTTE, N.C. — While the sentimental favorite as the next Carolina Panthers head coach might well have been Steve Wilks (after leading the team to a near-berth in the NFL playoffs upon taking the reins during a chaotic mid-season), the Frank Reich hire makes a lot of sense — and on a couple of different levels. By David Rogers