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
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
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
August 29, 2023 Leigh Cooper Wallace was a young woman who will never be forgotten in the High Country. Her sudden death, from MRSA pneumonia at the age of 43, on December 17, 2012, left the area stunned that one so healthy, so vibrant and strong, could be taken so quickly. By Sherrie Norris
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
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.
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
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.
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.
May 5, 2023 The North Carolina State Senate approved legislation Wednesday that would debilitate the authority of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association in various ways, including blocking its vote to allow athletes to profit off their name, image and likeness. By Tim Gardner
May 5, 2023 Dynasty aptly fits the Avery County High School Wrestling program in general and as a sports franchise in particular. Continue reading for evidence to back up the hefty claim. By Tim Gardner
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.
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
April 19, 2023 LENOIR, N.C. — Watauga men’s golfer Jake Warren fired a 71 to take top medalist honors on April 18 at Cedar Rock Country Club, helping the Pioneers to a third place team finish in the Northwestern Conference tournament. By David Rogers
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
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
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
April 17, 2023 Walnut, Calif. — It might have been close to “tax day” for most Americans on April 14, but a trio of Blowing Rock-based ZAP Endurance athletes overcame the taxing challenge of long distance running at the historic Mt. Sac Relays, staged in the Hilmer Lodge Stadium on the campus of Mt. San Antonio College. By David Rogers
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.
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