This historic school year started strong with the fall season sports. From individual top 10 in women's golf to State Champions in football, every single fall sport went above and beyond in achieving greatness. Not a single team fell short of glory. Continue reading about the fall season below.

Chloe Weigl playing golf at the Boone Golf Course Photo Creds: Watauga Yearbook

Women's Golf

Abbi Clark, Sports Desk Lead for The Powderhorn

The hard work that goes into golf is often overlooked thanks to the sport’s calm and professional atmosphere. This year however, senior Chloe Weigl, was able to represent the Watauga’s Women’s Golf Team in the State Championship, making the sport hard to overlook.

The NCHSAA Women’s Golf 6A State Championship is the highest level of competition for high school golfers in that division. Girls from all over North Carolina were able to compete and play their best golf.

“I really enjoyed the tournament,” said Weigl. “I had the opportunity to compete with players from all across the state who are similarly passionate about golf, but also have different backgrounds and motivations.”

On the day of the actual tournament, the weather was less than desirable, since it was cold and rainy. However, this didn’t stop Weigl, she had fun competing with the extra challenge. By the end of the tournament she had shot a 120 on the 18 hole course which was 7 over par. This impressive performance placed her 10th overall in the State Championship.

“Placing well at States was an extremely rewarding way to round off my high school golf career,” said Weigl. “When I started sophomore year I didn't make regionals, so I set that as my goal for the junior year, and then junior year I didn't make states so I set that as my goal for senior year.”

Weigl did so much more than just place well in states. She made her whole team, school, and community proud. The hard work and dedication to her sport paid off and she has the scores to prove it.

“I think much of my success in golf can be attributed to those around me,” said Weigl. “Coach Tasha has been super supportive, my teammates encouraging, and Boone Golf Course has been so generous over the years, letting me play and practice. This process challenged me to grow in so many ways and I am forever grateful for the relationships I have made through high school golf.”

Women's Tennis

Abbi Clark, Sports Desk Lead for The Powderhorn

In October of this year, Watauga Women’s Tennis sent their number 1 doubles team, Larson Berry and Abby Talton, to compete at the state level in the NCHSA 6A Individuals Tournament. There the girls were able to place runner-up for the 6A conference.

When playing doubles the relationship between partners is important. Since the responsibilities are equal for each player, trust and friendship are key in making a good team.

“Communication, trust, and good sportsmanship are just a few qualities in choosing the right doubles partner,” said Talton. “It is much easier to play the game when these qualities are present.”

Talton and Berry worked hard all season to be able to take their talents so far. On and off the court, the pair remained friendly which contributed strongly to their success. Without a strong friendship like theirs, they wouldn’t have been able to get where they did.

“At this level it's very important that you know how to work well with your doubles partner. It's not about your individual talent but about working together to outsmart and outplay your opponents,” said Talton.

Abby Talton(left) and Larson Berry(right) celebrate winning a point during round 4 of the Dual Team Playoffs. Photo Creds: Sydney Moretz

The Freshmen Headlining the Future of Watauga XC: Jonah Pearson and Sean Rea

Sean Rea (left) and Jonah Pearson (right) compete at the Friday Night Lights Invitational in their 8th-grade season. The venue for this meet, Ivey Redmon Sports Complex, is also the venue for the NCHSAA 6A state meet.

Photo Credits: Jonah Pearson

Isaac James, Staff Writer for The Powderhorn

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The transition from middle to high school isn’t easy. When transitioning from middle school athletics to high school athletics, the difference in competition can be overwhelming. For middle school standouts, the pressure to succeed at the next level can be difficult, but freshmen Jonah Pearson and Sean Rea took their momentum from middle school and ran with it, fast. The two have been running together for years, and in any race they were in, you could be sure to see them up at the front working as a unit. Now that they’re in high school, the two have started strong, running for the Watauga Men’s XC team at one of the highest levels: the state meet.

“Since in middle school we went to states every year, I almost felt like I was guaranteed to go,” said Sean Rea. “When I got closer to the end of the season, I kind of realized that I might not actually go because I was around 9th or 8th on the team. I was like, okay, this might be a little different from middle school.”

Luckily for Rea, he did end up running at states alongside his middle school running partner, Jonah Pearson. The two put on strong performances at states, with Pearson and Rea finishing 39th and 49th, respectively. Having had this opportunity as freshmen, the duo learned what to expect at championship races.

“In middle school, we didn’t really do much at states. It was kind of like we just went, ran, and left,” said Jonah Pearson. “But in high school, things feel more exciting. You can point [notable] people out in races. Seeing the girls win was really awesome too.”

The difference in competition wasn’t the only thing the pair had to get used to. The number one way to get faster is to run more, and for talented middle schoolers used to running 3 or 4 days a week, weekly mileage can more than double.

“The difference in intensity was insane,” said Pearson. “The shift from 15-mile weeks to 30 or 40-mile weeks was huge. With high school, you also do stuff outside of running, too, like weight training.”

After such a strong first season, there’s no doubt that plenty of eyes will be on Pearson and Rea to be a big part of the team’s future. The two of them know their potential and are excited to see how they can progress over the coming years.

“I want to get more into training over the summer,” said Rea. “I didn’t hit as many long runs this year as I could have. If I can lock in and run a little more, I think I can improve a lot.”

Rea and Pearson aren’t the only people who show plenty of promise for the future. Their fellow freshman Parker Williams was just 1 spot off from running alongside them at states. This year’s XC season was Williams’s first, and the way he progressed throughout the season shows a lot of potential for success on the team.

“Next year on varsity we’re gonna lose Zeke [Walker], Levi [Anderson], Elliott [Taft], and Calvin [Zwetsloot], but I think we can still be really strong,” said Rea. “I think if we can focus more on consistency in our times, we can improve a lot.”

With 3 more years of high school cross country left, Pearson and Rea show no signs of stopping anytime soon. As they continue to gain valuable experience, the two are likely to keep climbing up the ranks of North Carolina’s top runners.

“I’m really looking forward to running with these boys and this team over the next couple years,” said Pearson. “I’m excited to see where our track season this year will take us”.

It’s a Team Sport: Watauga Volleyball Success Comes From Their Team Bond

Principal, Dr. Scott Strickler presents Watauga Women’s Volleyball with the 6A Western Region Champions plaque. Photo Creds: Charlie Stumb

Abbi Clark, Sports Desk Lead of The Powderhorn

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Hundreds of people are in the stands, girls are screaming from the bench, the coach is yelling, “Come on girls!” But to the girls on the court, the gym is silent. This moment means everything, and all they can hear and see is the court they are playing on.

On Tuesday, October 28, 2025 Watauga High School’s volleyball team came head to head against King’s Mountain in the Final Four Regional Playoffs. This home game filled the stadium with Watauga students and families. And, the crowd hollered as the Watauga Volleyball team won the match 3-2. This gave them the chance to play in the State Championship, and allowed other Watauga students to be bussed to Raleigh to watch the match.

“This year we were able to accomplish being runner-up in the NC 6A State Championship,” said Junior Ashlyn Smith. “We were able to, for the 1st time in almost 20 years, win our region, 6A West. We were able to become conference champions, and I think that that was because of our team chemistry.”

Though there is little to no physical contact in volleyball, it is still a team-oriented sport. Whether they are winning or losing the team makes sure to come together in a supportive “huddle” after each point.

“There's something to celebrate in every point because even if you lose the point, you still learn something,” said Smith

Coming together after each point pushes the team to do their best, and keep in mind that volleyball is more than just one player. That support and coming into the huddle shows everyone just how close the volleyball team is.

“The start of the year was different than any other season because we had that bond and we were so close,” said Junior, Lainey Gragg. “As the season went on, we could see our potential game by game, and as we began to win. We began to see that we had the potential to go to the state championship.”

The team can contribute their tight bond to more than just volleyball. Every year Coach Kim Pryor takes the volleyball team on a beach trip. They spend the weekend focusing on nothing but growing closer. The only rule of the beach trip is no volleyball.

“We also have sister groups, like little pods of girls. And throughout the year, we go on, team bonding with those, just to hang out, eat food, get to know each other better. And that just strengthens our team bond,” said Smith. “The balance between having discipline, skill work, as well as fun, competitive drills, really helped make everyone look forward to practice and look forward to getting better.”

This drive was able to help push the volleyball team to win the final four match against Kings Mountain High School. The team coaches and all of Watauga felt pride watching the volleyball team win again and again.

“Everyone has talked about the final 4 games,” said Gragg. “Even in basketball games, parents still talk to us, and they hadn’t seen the gym that full in so long. That environment, the loud, competitive environment, the pressure, it's just so, so cool to be able to play in that.”

Though drive and effort are needed in any sport, one won’t get anywhere without support. And the volleyball team knows this better than anyone. They are supported by each other as well as the whole of Watauga High School.

“After the game, celebrating with everyone, seeing the stand so hype, and the student section coming down to celebrate with us, that was so fun,” said Smith. “Our students also attributed to the fun and they bring the noise. The students were also kind of a part of our success too, because they created that fun, competitive environment for both sides of the net.”

A Fairytale Story with a Fairytale Ending

From left to right: Head Coach Ryan Habich, Captains Everett Gryder (4), Thomas Dieters (11), Cade Keller (10), and Brady Lindenmuth (56) posing for a picture with the 6A State Championship trophy after defeating the Middle Creek Mustangs 47-25. Photo Credits: Alex Gonzalez Silva

Alex Gonzalez Silva, Watauga10 Staff

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The Watauga Pioneer Football Team, who many said were “past their prime,” not only exceeded expectations but defied them. From losing the likes of senior star quarterback Maddox Greene, defensive stand-out Trathan Gragg, and stand-out wide-receiver Landon Smith, it seemed like this season was just going to be a year for growth and improvement for the Pioneers, or worse yet, a season to forget. It ended up being everything but a season of improvement, rather, excellence, and a season to never forget.

Although the Pioneers lost several key players, the team was able to keep Brady Lindenmuth, who, alongside Matthew Leon, led the team in sacks, and Evan Burroughs, who led the team in receiving yards per game and interceptions per game. Former quarterback Bowen Mayo joined the Pioneers from Jamestown High School in Williamsburg, Virginia, and would prove to be a great asset for Watauga’s Head Coach Ryan Habich, even while playing a different position than he did during his 3-year spell in Virginia.

In late August, the Watauga Pioneers kicked off their non-conference play against fierce rivals, the Ashe County Huskies. It was nothing short of dominant play from the Pioneers as they scored 35 points before halftime, still awaiting a response from the Huskies. It was not until late in the fourth quarter that the Huskies scored their first touchdown of the night, but the Pioneers had already scored an emphatic 56 points on the Huskies to cap off their victory on the night.

Continuing their 3-game sequence of playing on home turf at the beginning of the season, the Pioneers went on to beat T.C Roberson in a 42-0 shutout win, then thrashed championship-studded side Mount Airy 61-7, coming off of 2 undefeated 1A state championships in the past 3 seasons. Watauga’s Ryan Habich named Mount Airy a “powerhouse” and a “star-studded team”, but that would only serve as a testament to his own team as the season kept progressing.

During the one-month period away from Jack Groce Stadium, the Watauga Pioneers came off a few major victories: first, having a bye week, then 2-straight away games remaining on the non-conference slate. The Pioneers pulled off assertive victories against both Erwin and Asheville, with the Pioneers scoring 49 points in both games. Senior wide receiver, Nyle Peays, stood out in the Asheville game with a kickoff return touchdown in the first few seconds of the game.

The Pioneers had begun their conference play with an intense away matchup at Freedom High School. This year, it would be a slightly different conference than the Pioneers were used to. The NCHSAA had expanded the classifications, which meant that the Pioneers went from the 4A to the 6A conference. At the mere beginning of conference play, this matchup at Freedom would go on to determine the winner of the 6A/7A Northwestern Conference. Both teams were undefeated leading up to the night, and both teams had players who could turn a game around. For the Pioneers, it was quarterback Cade Keller, cornerback Evan Burroughs, and running back Everett Gryder. For the Patriots, it was quarterback Kaden Davis, wide receivers Kobe Johnson and JuJu Dominguez. Undoubtedly, the Pioneers came up on top as they thumped the Patriots 42-20 and had a 21-point lead at halftime. Senior running back, Everett Gryder, was heavily relied on throughout the game, having 16 carries, 123 rushing yards, and 2 touchdowns on the night. The Freedom Patriots had struggled heavily on defense, especially against the Pioneers’ running game, with their hands firmly slipping away from the 6A/7A Northwestern Conference title.

After over 35 days away at other venues, the Pioneers were back at Jack Groce Stadium to face off against South Caldwell. The Spartans were left wondering about what went wrong after a horrific 56-0 defeat against the Watauga Pioneers. The Pioneers would once again go back on the road to face off against Alexander Central, then return to Boone to face off against McDowell, and then, once more in the regular season, travel to St. Stephens to wrap up 6A/7A Northwestern Conference play with the Watauga Pioneers comfortably in the driving seat, winning all of their conference matchups.

The 6A State Playoffs had officially kicked off, and all roads were leading up to the 6A State Championship at Kenan Stadium on the campus of UNC Chapel Hill. The Pioneers were handed the first seed, which also gave them a first-round bye. After other teams participated in the first round, the Pioneers were set to play a reverse fixture against familiar conference foe St. Stephens who the Pioneers had faced off against that week prior. Unlike last time, St. Stephen's would have to travel up to Boone to face off against the Pioneers, and there were no surprises about the winner of this game. The Pioneers had majorly improved the score differential from a 28-18 victory at St. Stephens to a rampant 47-6 win in Boone.

The state playoffs would only get more difficult for the Pioneers. During the third round of playoffs, the Pioneers were scheduled to play the Charlotte Catholic Cougars in Boone. The Cougars were the favorites going into the matchup in Boone, as it was a tight game between the Pioneers and the Cougars, with the Pioneers barely hanging on in the fourth quarter before senior Matthew Leon sealed a pick-six in the waning seconds of the game. The Cougars tried to make the best of the last drive on the field before a pass was picked off by senior Everett Gryder, which sealed the game for the Pioneers.

The Fourth Round of the state playoffs was only more of a challenge than the last playoff matchup. Sun Valley was also heavily favored to win the matchup between the Spartans and the Pioneers in Boone. The matchup in Boone was a heavily contested matchup; the Pioneers and the Spartans were practically fighting back and forth, with the Pioneers being down by 7 at the end of the third quarter. The Pioneers fought back with a late touchdown pass from quarterback Cade Keller to wingback Bowen Mayo and a winning field goal from junior kicker Miller Hankins, who was a dual athlete throughout the fall season, participating in playoffs with both the soccer and football programs.

For the first time in 47 years, the Pioneers had made it to the Western Regional Championship against Northern Guilford. The Pioneers were the first seed and were playing in a regional championship in Boone. The Nighthawks from Greensboro were a powerful team, being the second-seeded team in the Western region. The Nighthawks and the Pioneers were back and forth for the entirety of the game where eventually the Pioneers fell behind in the fourth quarter before late game heroics from senior Matthew Leon that had put the game within one point reach before Bowen Mayo caught a 2-point conversion attempt from quarterback Cade Keller which had put the Pioneers up by one point with 47 seconds left in the game. The Nighthawks quickly stormed down the field and eventually attempted a winning field goal from 36 yards that was missed by Northern Guilford’s Kobe Guadardo to send the Pioneers to the 6A State Championship at Kenan Stadium on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

The Pioneers had written history. Competing in a state championship for the first time in 47 years alone was a milestone achievement for the Pioneers. It wasn’t just a school effort, it was a community effort. Parents, students, and fans had lined up in front of the doors of Watauga High School to send off the championship team from their home in the mountains to the infamous Kenan Stadium at Chapel Hill. Students loaded buses, people lined down Highway 421 with banners and flags to support the Pioneers, all in an effort to hopefully witness their high school football team win their first state championship after a grueling 47 years. An estimated 2,000 people had arrived to support the Pioneers. The clock had struck 4:00 pm, and the state championship had officially kicked off.

The Middle Creek Mustangs had taken an early advantage in the first quarter, but the Pioneers had something else in mind for the Mustangs. Senior Evan Burroughs, committed to Duke University for baseball, scored three rushing touchdowns, a receiving touchdown, and a pick-six touchdown return, along with two interceptions. Even when the Pioneers were up 41-25 late in the fourth quarter, quarterback Cade Keller connected with wide receiver Nyle Peays to add the final nail in the coffin for Middle Creek, making it 47-25, still awaiting an extra point attempt.

Just moments before officially having this moment sealed in the history books, Head Coach Ryan Habich wanted to end this season in a fairytale fashion. Senior Cade Keller was shouted at to take a knee just before the snap of the extra point attempt as the Pioneers scored 47 points in their first state championship appearance in 47 years, the Saturday prior having the game sealing touchdown/2-pt conversion with 47 seconds left on the clock and lastly 47 seconds left on the clock when junior Miller Hankins had kicked the winning field goal against the Sun Valley Spartans in the fourth round. After a star-studded performance, Evan Burroughs won the overall MVP award, Cade Keller won the offensive MVP award, and John Wilson Mills won the defensive MVP award.

It was more than a state championship; it was a rural town in Western North Carolina that fought back from a year of rebuilding from the damages of Hurricane Helene, and it was a county that showed up for their high school football team in the most important circumstances of them all. It wasn’t always easy for the Pioneers to reach the pinnacle of North Carolina High School football. The week that the Pioneers were scheduled to compete in a state championship, Jack Groce Stadium and Boone as a whole were covered in snow, barring the soon-to-be state champions from practicing and eventually making practices optional. Regardless of the circumstances, the Pioneers followed their motto of “Attack” to accomplish an unprecedented feat in the program’s history.