Sports Archives

App State’s 14th annual Spooky Duke Rescheduled for Saturday, Nov. 16 at 9:30 a.m.

October 28, 2024 Appalachian State University’s 14th annual Spooky Duke 5K/10K Race and Costume Contest has been rescheduled for Saturday, Nov. 16. Races start on the Boone campus at 9:30 a.m. and the costume march starts at 10:30 a.m. Spooky Duke benefits Parent to Parent Family Support Network-High Country, a nonprofit that serves families who have a premature baby, are grieving the loss of a child, or have a child with special needs. The program, housed in the Appalachian Institute for Health and Wellness, serves Alleghany, Ashe, Mitchell, Watauga, Wilkes and Yancey counties. Last year’s Spooky Duke raised a record $31,600 for the organization. Spooky Duke is a USA Track & Field certified 5K and 10K race.

October 28, 2024 A hardened football team reunited with its hungry fan base, eager to entertain a community with a long recovery effort ahead in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. A rainbow can be a reminder that storms end, giving way to hope for a brighter future. As fans from a crowd of 33,783 departed Kidd Brewer Stadium following App State’s 33-26 victory against Georgia State on Saturday, an actual rainbow appeared above The Rock. Excuse the Mountaineers for maybe being a bit too eager to reconnect with their fans — head coach Shawn Clark accepted blame for the wall-climbing “Rock Hop” celebration with students on Miller Hill following App State’s first Boone touchdown in 37 days — but this was a long time coming. Both seeing an App State game in the High Country and witnessing an emotional win from the home team.

September 18, 2024 Sugar Mountain Ski Resort has partnered with SKIDATA to offer an RFID chip-based, digital ticket system. Come this winter season, a personalized, reloadable RFID card will offer various onsite (via ticket agents or kiosks) and online lift/slope ticket purchasing options. In addition, the new SKIDATA ticket system will modernize the tubing and ice-skating purchasing experience by offering online sales only. The Northridge slope which meanders from the Mountain’s 5,300’ summit to the famed Gunther’s Way slope or to the subtle Switchback slope has doubled in width and been outfitted with new LED lights. “Giving skiers and riders more space and brighter night session runs always makes for a more pleasurable experience,” excitedly explains Resort owner, Gunther Jochl.

September 16, 2024 App State Football’s third straight win against East Carolina required a first-half rally and plenty of fourth-quarter resolve. Traveling for their first FBS-vs.-FBS matchup against the Pirates in Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, after a 2021 win in Charlotte and 2023 victory in Boone, the Mountaineers prevailed 21-19 on Saturday despite falling behind 16-0 in the opening 10 minutes with a big crowd of 46,117 on hand for the in-state showdown. Joey Aguilar threw for a career-high 424 yards and two touchdowns, including a 36-yard, go-ahead score to Makai Jackson late in the third quarter. Jackson finished with 86 yards, compared to 129 on seven catches from Kaedin Robinson and 108 on five receptions from Christan Horn.

September 11, 2024 The annual Frank and Kay Golf Classic is set to tee off on Monday September 30, 2024, 1:30 p.m. at Hound Ears Club. This signature event, at the private, award-winning George Cobb designed golf course, supports the endowment for Hospitality House of Northwest N.C. and honors the legacy of philanthropy and leadership that Appalachian State University Chancellor-Emeritus Frank Borkowski and his multi-talented wife Kay have bestowed upon the High Country since their arrival in 1993.

September 9, 2024 Clemson made a bounce-back statement against an App State team known for its power-conference upsets and scares, as the Mountaineers had no answer for the 22nd-ranked Tigers in the early going of a 66-20 loss in Memorial Stadium on Saturday night. Before Saturday, App State’s last eight games against power-conference opponents had all been decided by seven points or less, with the Mountaineers going 3-5 in that stretch. They are now 3-3 in their last six games against ranked opponents.

September 5, 2024 Avery County High School officials would like to invite all Military Veterans and Emergency First Responders (medical, fire, law enforcement, and dispatch) to come and watch the Vikings football team play Bessemer City on Friday night, September 6, and be honored for their service during a special ceremony on the MacDonald Stadium turf. All Military Veterans and Emergency First Responders will be admitted free to the game. They will receive a complimentary meal provided by the Avery High School JROTC and Hospitality/Culinary Departments as well as be recognized at the center of the MacDonald Stadium field with the presentation of the school’s new giant 50-foot by 30-foot “Old Glory” American flag during the playing of the National Anthem. By Tim Gardner

September 4, 2024 Lees-McRae College will host the annual Homecoming celebrations this year Friday, Oct. 4 through Sunday, Oct. 6. The weekend is scheduled full of athletics events, family fun, and Bobcat cheer for all ages, and this year, Lees-McRae extends an invitation to the community to join in on the celebration. Local organizations and businesses will have booths to promote their products and services, and all-ages events will be held throughout the day on Saturday. Community events throughout the weekend are as follows:

September 2, 2024 By game’s end, App State Football had gained separation from ETSU and provided reason for celebration from another above-capacity crowd. Three consecutive scoring drives to begin the 2024 opener and three straight touchdowns toward the end of it bookended a 38-10 victory against FCS neighbor ETSU on Saturday with the third-largest attendance figure in Kidd Brewer Stadium history being recorded. The attendance figure of 36,232 ranks behind only the matching 40,168 totals from the 2022 home opener against North Carolina and the 2023 visit from East Carolina.

August 29, 2024 It’s our favorite month of the year – September – when the MST community comes together to celebrate the 47th birthday of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. Our yearly events celebrate how far the trail has come since September 1977, when Howard Lee, then secretary of the NC Department of Natural Resources and Community Development, proposed “establishing a state trail between the mountains and the seashore in North Carolina.”

August 27, 2024 The Watauga County Tourism Development Authority (Explore Boone) is thrilled to announce the completion of upgrades to Rocky Knob, a 185-acre mountain biking park home to roughly 10 miles of trails for all experience levels alongside other amenities. Enhancements include a new observation deck, refreshed branding, additional parking and state-of-the-art additions to the pump track, which reopened to the public on August 9, 2024.

August 22, 2024 The Blue Ridge Conservancy 5K and Kids Fun Run, a favorite autumn event in the high country, returns to Blowing Rock on September 21, 2024. Now in its 24th year, the run begins in downtown Blowing Rock and winds its way through the Mayview Neighborhood, challenging runners with hills and switchbacks, and rewarding participants with spectacular views and delicious treats. Proceeds benefit Blue Ridge Conservancy, a local land trust committed to protecting lands with agricultural, cultural, recreational, ecological, and scenic value.

The 34th Annual Blue Ridge Brutal Bike Ride Will Be Held in Ashe County on Saturday, August 17

August 13, 2024 The 34th annual Blue Ridge Brutal Bike Ride will be held in Ashe County on Saturday, August 17, 2024. Hosted by the Ashe County Chamber of Commerce, the ride offers 25-, 50-, 70-, and 100-mile routes, each including scenic stretches, elevation changes, and stunning long-range views throughout Ashe. After completing one’s chosen course, riders may elect to take on the Assault on Mount Jefferson. Its 1,476-foot elevation gain within 3.4 miles makes for an unforgettable ending to an already memorable ride. In recent years, each Brutal ride has had approximately 400 participants, most of whom were visitors to the High Country

August 6, 2024 The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation and Waypoint Adventure are partnering to offer adaptive kayak training for volunteers and adventures for individuals with physical or mental disabilities in August at Price Lake, milepost 297 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, near Blowing Rock, N.C. The training session for volunteers will be hosted from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Tues., Aug. 13. The free program is designed to equip volunteers with the skills and knowledge necessary to better assist individuals with a variety of disabilities on kayaking adventures. Participants will engage in exercises that cover basic kayaking skills, rescue maneuvers, and adaptive techniques. Participants are invited to use their training from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Friday, Aug. 16, by assisting in two outings for people with disabilities on Price Lake.

July 23, 2024 Sitting at just over 3,000 feet above sea level in North Carolina’s high country, mid-summer temperatures in Boone, NC, are among the most comfortable in the Southeast. Early August is a prime time to be in Boone! Nestled in the Western Carolina Appalachian Mountains the scenery in Boone is unparalleled with grand vistas stretching over 100 miles. The laid-back atmosphere of this western North Carolina college town is contagious. One of the smaller fields for a Gran Fondo National Series event, the Boone Gran Fondo has a supportive, family feel with great local food. There are distances of 24, 57 or 95 miles to suit all abilities of cyclists. The rural roller-coaster roads around Boone are a ton of fun, and quite challenging.

July 23, 2024 The 2024 Tommy Burleson Basketball Camp held July 15-19 at the Old Rock and adjacent auxiliary Newland Elementary School gymnasiums in Avery County was termed a success by its namesake. Burleson said to High Country Press: “The camp had 85 combined male and female attendees from the third through the ninth grade this year. While that is less than a year ago when it had a record number of attendees, it was still one of our highest numbers as well as one of the best camps I’ve hosted. All the players possess good basketball skills. Some are already really good players and all have the potential to become excellent players as they have the needed physical and technical tools to do so. By Tim Gardner

July 16, 2024 Nik Aston placed in the top four in all seven men’s heavy athletic events during the 2024 Grandfather Mountain Highland Games, earning him the top spot overall for the competition. This year marked Aston’s sixth competing at these games and his second as a professional. The 29-year-old from Los Lunas, N.M, is a personal trainer and strength-and-conditioning specialist. During his time as a graduate student at Appalachian State University, he approached someone at his gym with a Grandfather Mountain Highland Games shirt and asked how to get involved. This year, in his second competition as a pro, he notched first-place honors.

July 11, 2024 The Tommy Burleson Basketball Camp, one of the High Country’s most popular annual sports events, will be held Monday, July 15 through Friday, July 19 in the Old Rock and adjacent auxiliary elementary school gymnasiums, located at 185 Shady Street in Newland. The camp will run from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon each day. Each of its 41 years of existence, the Tommy Burleson Basketball Camp has been held in collaboration with the Avery Parks and Recreation Department, and it annually attracts many young players from Avery and surrounding counties as well as from several states. By Tim Gardner

July 1, 2024 One question resonated with Omar Carter as he faced an uncertain future at App State. Thinking back to that same question provided helpful perspective following a life-changing health emergency. “Do you even want to be here?” Carter, a standout for App State Men’s Basketball from 2010-12, served as the keynote speaker Friday at the 2024 Legends Gala: Forever a Mountaineer, presented by Double Wood Farm, which raised a record $340,000+ and has raised more than $1.25 million in support of App State student-athletes since its 2017 inception.

May 27, 2024 Avery County High School’s girls track team finished in a tie for second place at the 2024 North Carolina High School Athletic Association’s 1-A Track and Field State Championships, which concluded at the Marcus T. Johnson Track at Truist Stadium on the campus of North Carolina A&T University in Greensboro on May 20. By Tim Gardner

April 10, 2024 A smashing success was the consensus of how the meet-and-greet sessions sponsored by High Country Press with NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) Hall of Famer and Mitchell County native Waddell Wilson that were held in Bakersville and Spruce Pine on Saturday, April 6, transpired. The Mitchell County Historical Society and Mitchell County Economic Development and Chamber of Commerce also assisted with sessions. By Tim Gardner

April 8, 2024 Alaura Sharp, who led Presbyterian College to its first NCAA Tournament appearance and win last month, has been named the ninth head coach in App State women’s basketball history, Director of Athletics Doug Gillin announced Friday. “We are thrilled to welcome Alaura to the App State family,” Gillin said. “She is a proven leader who has recruited and developed student-athletes at a high level. Her vision for the program aligns with our core values of academic integrity, competitive excellence, social responsibility and a world-class experience. We are excited about the future of App State Women’s Basketball.”

April 5, 2024 On the heels of a record-breaking season, App State head men’s basketball Dustin Kerns has signed a contract extension that runs through the 2029-30 season, Director of Athletics Doug Gillin announced Friday. The extension was approved by Chancellor Sheri Everts and the Appalachian State University Board of Trustees. “Dustin and his staff have turned App State Men’s Basketball into a perennial contender for conference titles and postseason berths, and we are excited to see the program’s continued upward trajectory under his leadership,” Gillin said. “With 27 wins, the first regular-season Sun Belt title, historic home crowds and national television appearances, Dustin’s team showed App State can compete among the best in college basketball, and we look forward to continued success for the program and our student-athletes both on and off the court.”

April 5, 2024 On Thursday, July 4, Sugar Mountain Resort’s eighth annual Summit Crawl kicks off at 9 a.m. The one-and-one-half mile climb to Sugar Mountain’s 5,300-foot peak covers 1,200 feet of vertical via the ski slopes of Easy Street, Gunther’s Way, and Northridge. Crossing the mile-high finish line qualifies hikers for a chance to win a 2024-25 Sugar Mountain Resort season pass while complimentary water & fruit donated by Lowes Foods awaits at the summit.

March 25, 2024 Meet-and-greet visits with NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) Hall of Famer and Mitchell County native and legend Waddell Wilson will be held in Bakersville and Spruce Pine on Saturday, April 6. Wilson will be at the Southern Ridge Cafe next to the old Mitchell County Court House in Bakersville from 11:00 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. and then at the Western Sizzlin’ Steak House, off NC South 226 Highway in the Grassy Creek Community in Spruce Pine from 2:30 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. Wilson grew up on a farm on McKinney Cove Road, just off Cane Creek Road, in Bakersville. He is a graduate of old Bowman High School. Wilson also is a former resident of the Crossnore School & Children’s Home in Avery County. He currently lives in Denver, North Carolina. By Tim Gardner

+ More Articles

App State’s 14th annual Spooky Duke Rescheduled for Saturday, Nov. 16 at 9:30 a.m.

App State Rallies Late for Win in Emotional Return to The Rock with 33-26 Victory Against Georgia State on Saturday

Sugar Mountain Ski Resort Partners with SKIDATA, Widens Northridge, Adds Additional Snowmaking Machines, and Purchases a New Fleet of Snow Groomers

Inspired Rally Gives App State Dramatic Road Win at ECU 21-19

Frank & Kay Golf Classic at Hound Ears Club to Benefit Hospitality House of Northwest N.C.

App State Mountaineers Fall on Road to No. 22 Clemson 66-20

Avery High to Honor Military Veterans and Emergency First Responders at School’s Football Game Friday, September 6

Lees-McRae College to Host Homecoming 2024 Celebrations for Campus and Local Community Beginning October 4th

App State Football Pulls Away for Decisive Win to Open 2024 Season 38-10

You’re Invited to a Month-Long Celebration of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail During September

Explore Boone Unveils Upgrades to Beloved Rocky Knob Mountain Bike Park; Grand Re-Opening and Ribbon Cutting Sept. 21

The 24th Annual Blue Ridge Conservancy 5K Set for September 21st in Blowing Rock

The 34th Annual Blue Ridge Brutal Bike Ride Will Be Held in Ashe County on Saturday, August 17

Adaptive Kayaking Programs to be Offered in August at Price Lake

Come and Ride the Rural Roller-Coaster Roads at the Boone Gran Fondo on August 4

2024 Tommy Burleson Basketball Camp Termed Another Success

Nik Aston Secures Top Spot in Men’s Heavy Athletics at Grandfather Mountain Highland Games

Tommy Burleson Basketball Camp to be held July 15-19 at Old Rock and Newland Elementary School Gymnasiums in Newland

App State Legends Gala Breaks Another Record with $340,000 Raised for Student-Athletes

Vikings Win Two Individual and One Relay Team Championship… Avery High’s Girls Track Team Compiles Runner-Up Overall Finish at State Finals

Meet-and-Greet Sessions with NASCAR and High Country Legend Waddell Wilson A Success

App State Welcomes Alaura Sharp as Women’s Ninth Basketball Head Coach

Mountaineers Extend Basketball Coach Kerns Contract Through 2029-30 Season

Registration is Open for Sugar Mountain Resort’s Eighth Annual Fourth-of-July Summit Crawl

NASCAR Hall of Famer and Mitchell County Legend Waddell Wilson to appear on April 6 at Southern Ridge Café in Bakersville and Western Sizzlin’ Steak House in Spruce Pine