CATAMOUNT WOMEN'S BASKETBALL | 3 2022-23 CATAMOUNT BASKETBALL – FAST BREAK POINTS >>>>> 7.................................... Catamount Head Coach Kiley Hill 8 ...................... WCU Women's Basketball Coaches & Staff 10 ..............................................Athletics Clear Bag Policy 12 ............................WCU Athletics Director & Senior Staff 16 ...... 2022-23 WCU Women's Basketball Schedule / Results 19, 21 ...................................................Opponent Rosters 25 2022-23 Western Carolina Women’s Basketball Roster 26 ....... 2022-23 WCU Women’s Basketball Radio / TV Roster 29 .............................. Catamount Athletics Head Coaches 30 ............. Catamount Athletics Assistant Coaches & Staff 32 .............................................Catamount Athletics Staff 34 ........................... Court at the Ramsey Center 37................. WCU Women’s Basketball – Did You Know...? 38 .............................................. the Cat House Pep Band 42 .................................................. the WCU Dance Team 44 ............................................. Catamount Cheerleaders
HEAD COACH KILEY HILL
Fourth Season as Head Coach
KILEY HILL is amidst his fourth season as the head women's basketball coach at Western Carolina. A veteran coach with more than 25 years experience in collegiate women’s basketball including 21 as a head coach, Hill scored his 300th career coaching victory on the Catamount sidelines during the 2020-21 season.
The former associate head coach at Southern Mississippi and head coach at both West Alabama and Valdosta State, Hill was named head coach at Western Carolina on July 8, 2019.
In his first three seasons on the WCU sidelines, six Catamounts earned postseason accolades including two collecting All-Southern Conference plaudits in Jewel Smalls (2019-20) and Nadia Marshall (2020-21). Joi Reid earned a spot on the 2022 SoCon All-Defensive Team, a first in program history. Three first-year players have earned SoCon All-Freshman honors including Andrea Martin Ruiz and Alyssa Walker in 2019-20 and Zanoria Cruz in 2020-21.
His 2021-22 squad scored the most seasonal wins for Catamount women's basketball since 2016-17 with the 2020-21 team garnering the program's highest SoCon tournament seed since 2015-16.
During his career, Hill's experience also includes a 16-year stint as the head coach at Valdosta State in Georgia, and a four-year term at West Alabama in Livingston, Ala. – one as head coach preceded by three as the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator.
As the associate head coach at Southern Miss, Hill helped the team amass a record of 56-40 including a 23-11 tally in the 2016-17 season that finished with a return to the Conference USA championship game.
Hill made the move to Southern Miss following a 16-year stint as head women’s basketball coach at Valdosta State where he compiled a 279177 record. He established himself as one of the top NCAA Division II coaches in the nation and was recognized as the 2012 Women’s Basketball Coaches Association’s (WBCA) South Region Coach of the Year. He stacked that on top of being named the Gulf South Conference (GSC) East Division’s Coach of the Decade. During his time at Valdosta, Hill garnered the GSC East Coach of the Year twice.
A four-year letter winner on the baseball diamond and a 1995 graduate of Arkansas Tech in Russellville, Ark., Hill got his start in collegiate coaching at his alma mater as a graduate assistant.
Hill is married to the former Molly Longing of Russellville, Ark., and the couple has two children; Whitley and Skyler.
THE KILEY HILL FILE
PERSONAL:
Hometown: Hot Springs, Ark. Family: Molly Longing (wife); Whitley (daughter) and Skyler (son)
EDUCATION: Arkansas Tech, 1995 & West Alabama, 1997
COACHING EXPERIENCE:
WESTERN CAROLINA ........ Head Coach .......... 2019-present Southern Mississippi Associate Head 2016-19 Valdosta State Head Coach 2000-16 West Alabama Head Coach 1999-2000 West Alabama Assistant Coach 1997-99 Arkansas Tech Graduate Assistant 1995-97
CATAMOUNT WOMEN'S BASKETBALL | 7 2022-23 CATAMOUNT BASKETBALL – FAST BREAK POINTS >>>>>
8 | FAST BREAK POINTS <<<<< 2022-23 CATAMOUNT BASKETBALL – FAST BREAK POINTS CATAMOUNT WOMEN'S BASKETBALL >>>>> COACHES & STAFF
CATAMOUNT WOMEN'S BASKETBALL STUDENT ASSISTANTS (L-R): MADISON COPE, RICHIE McKERCHER, HEAD COACH KILEY HILL, CLARA HEINS, AND SARA RHONEY
CATAMOUNT WOMEN'S BASKETBALL | 11 2022-23 CATAMOUNT BASKETBALL – FAST BREAK POINTS >>>>>
WESTERN CAROLINA ATHLETICS – DEPARTMENT SENIOR STAFF
ALEX GARY DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS
Alex Gary, a former student-athlete on the Western Carolina baseball team was dubbed the director of the Catamount athletics program in late February 2020 by WCU Chancellor Kelli R. Brown.
Selected following a national search conducted by a 15-member committee working with the assistance of the North Carolina-based executive search consulting firm Collegiate Sports Associates, Gary had most recently served as senior associate athletics director for development at Oregon State.
During his first couple of years as the Athletics Director at WCU, Gary successfully navigated the department through the COVID-19 pandemic while also overseeing the hiring of 50 employees including three high-profile sport head coaches – men's basketball head coach Justin Gray; Kerwin Bell, head football coach; and Alan Beck, head baseball coach.
Gary was appointed to both the NCAA Division I Baseball Rules Committee and the NCAA Division I Women's
Basketball Committee with terms running through 2026 and 2027, respectively.
Gary served as senior associate director of athletics and the department’s chief development officer at Oregon State from September 2017 through 2020. He previously served as associate athletics director for development and external relations at the University of Maryland from 2014 until 2017. He also has held development positions at the University of Michigan and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
Gary’s professional experience in major collegiate athletics conferences, such as the Pac-12 and Big Ten, combined with his personal familiarity with WCU as a former student-athlete make him a perfect fit to take over the helm of the Catamount athletics program, Brown said.
A native of Knoxville, Tenn., who grew up in Charlotte, Gary was an outfielder on the Catamount baseball team from 2001 until 2004, earning Southern Conference Player of the Week honors in March 2004. During his junior year of 2003, he was a member of WCU’s regular season and SoCon Tournament championship team and participated in the NCAA regionals held in Wilson, N.C.
While at Oregon State, he was a member of the executive leadership team responsible for the athletics department’s $85 million budget, 150 employees
and more than 500 student-athletes. He oversaw the 16-member athletics development team, which raised nearly $26 million in 2019, a record for the Beavers’ athletics program. That fundraising effort included a $3.5 million sports performance center renovation, $2.3 million women’s locker room renovation, and $2.6 million baseball stadium expansion.
During his stint at the University of Maryland, Gary chaired a committee focused on the financial sustainability of the athletics department, and he led annual giving growth in the Terrapin Club by 22 percent in 2015 and 13 percent in 2016. As a member of the development team at the University of Michigan from 2010 until 2014, he worked closely with the university’s athletics department, raising $12.8 million to support the Wolverines’ athletics program’s capital and endowment needs. He began his career in 2009 as assistant director of annual giving at UNC Charlotte.
He earned a degree in business administration in 2005 from Virginia Commonwealth University and his master’s degree in business administration at UNC Charlotte in 2009.
Gary and the former Katie Mavis of Saint Joseph, Mich., were married in a mountain-top ceremony in Oregon on Aug. 28, 2020. The couple has a daughter, Gianna.
12 | FAST BREAK POINTS <<<<< 2022-23 CATAMOUNT BASKETBALL – FAST BREAK POINTS
Daniel Hooker Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations
Julie Miller Associate Athletic Director for Development
Travis Chandler Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance
Ashleigh Simmons Associate AD for Academics & Compliance (SWA)
Kyle Pifer WCU Deputy Athletics Director
Amanda Murchie Assistant Athletic Director for Business
Chad Gerrety Associate Athletics Director for External Affairs
CATAMOUNT WOMEN'S BASKETBALL | 15 MEMBERS RECEIVE: - Free Admission to: 1 Home Football Game 4 Home Basketball Games 6 Home Baseball Games - Free “Silver Cats” T-Shirt ONLY $25 FOR CATAMOUNT FANS OVER 55 YEARS OLD Working with a Financial Advisor Help create a better future with a financial advisor who puts you at the center - New investors - Military professionals and veterans - Business retirement plans - Entrepreneurs & business owners - Portfolio reviews - Retirement income strategies PRESENTED BY EDWARD JONES: JUSTIN CASTLE Interested in joining? Please contact the Catamount Ticket office
DATE OPPONENT
LOCATION TIME/RESULT
NOV. 7 BLUEFIELD STATE CULLOWHEE W, 63-46
NOV. 10 WINTHROP CULLOWHEE W, 48-47
Nov. 13 at #16 LSU Baton Rouge, La. L, 107-34 Baton
Nov. 15 at Presbyterian Clinton, S.C. L, 68-67 S.C
Nov. 18 at USC Upstate Spartanburg, S.C. W, 58-48 S.C
Nov. 23 at Charleston Southern Charleston, S.C. L, 62-43 S.C
Nov. 28 at UNC Asheville Asheville, N.C. L, 64-51
DEC. 1 QUEENS (Education Day) CULLOWHEE W, 68-59
DEC. 3 UAB CULLOWHEE L, 71-58
DEC. 6 CAMPBELL CULLOWHEE W, 49-46
Dec. 10 at Clemson Clemson, S.C. L, 81-42 S.C
DEC. 11 MONTREAT CULLOWHEE W, 69-51
DEC. 19 NC CENTRAL CULLOWHEE L, 74-66
DEC. 21 vs. UNCW (Cherokee Invitational) Cherokee, N.C. L, 60-51
DEC. 30 SOUTHERN WESLEYAN CULLOWHEE W, 64-46
Jan. 5 at Samford * Birmingham, Ala. L, 59-47
Jan. 7 at Mercer * Macon, Ga. L, 76-40
JAN. 12 WOFFORD * CULLOWHEE 7 PM
JAN. 14 FURMAN * CULLOWHEE 2 PM
JAN. 19 UNCG * (Back The Cats Night) CULLOWHEE 7 PM
Jan. 26 at ETSU * Johnson City, Tenn. 7 pm Tenn.
Jan. 28 at Chattanooga * Chattanooga, Tenn. 2 pm
FEB. 2 MERCER * CULLOWHEE 7 PM
FEB. 4 SAMFORD * CULLOWHEE 5 PM
Feb. 9 at Furman * Greenville, S.C. 7 pm
Feb. 11 at Wofford * (Play4Kay Pink Game) Spartanburg, S.C. 2 pm S.C
Feb. 18 at UNCG * Greensboro, N.C. 4 pm
FEB. 23 CHATTANOOGA * CULLOWHEE 7 PM
FEB. 25 ETSU * (Senior Day / Pack the RAC) CULLOWHEE 7 PM
MAR. 2-5 @ SoCon Championships Asheville, N.C. TBA
16 | FAST BREAK POINTS <<<<< 2022-23 CATAMOUNT BASKETBALL – FAST BREAK POINTS
–
Dates & Times are subject to change / HOME = ALL CAPS * denotes Southern Conference game
MYA LOVE
KYLA ALLISON
ENDIA HOLLIDAY
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
JACEY JUSTICE
2022-23 SCHEDULE / RESULTS CATAMOUNT
WOFFORD TERRIERS
No. Name (Pronunciation) Pos. Ht. Cl. Hometown (Previous School / High School)
0 Ja’Rae Smith (JUH-ray) G 5-6 Jr. Piedmont, S.C. (Woodmont HS)
1 Annabelle Schultz G 5-7 Jr. Asheville, N.C. (Erwin HS)
2 Jessie Parish (PAIR–ish) F 6-2 Fr. Dacula, Ga. (Hebron Christian Academy)
3 Sydnee Richetto (ree–KET–oh) G 5-8 So. Mt. Juliet, Tenn. (Green Hill HS)
5 Helen Matthews G 5-10 Jr. Kaiapoi, New Zealand (Kaiapoi HS)
10 Libby Privett G 5-8 Fr. Hunstville, Ala. (Madison Academy HS)
12 Rachael Rose G 5-7 So. Scranton, Pa. (USC Upstate / Scranton Prep)
14 Lilly Hatton F 6-1 Sr. Georgetown, Ind. (North Harrison HS)
20 Indiya Clarke (India) G 5-11 Fr. Wasilla, Alaska (Cony HS)
22 Sophie Smith G 5-7 Fr. Cumming, Ga. (Denmark HS)
30 Jackie Carman G 5-8 5th Twinsburg, Ohio (Hathaway Brown HS)
40 Abbey Crawford F 6-1 Jr. Blountville, Tenn. (Sullivan Central HS)
HEAD COACH: Jimmy Garrity (Elon, 1989) • 7th season
ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH: Mike Merrill (UNC Wilmington, 2007) • 7th season
ASSISTANT COACH: Trent Bunn (North Carolina, 2001) • 6th season
ASSISTANT COACH: Ashley Raley-Ross (Queens, 2010) • 6th season
ATHLETIC TRAINER: Anthoni Taylor (Charleston Southern, 2021) • 1st season
QUICK FACTS:
LOCATION: Spartanburg, S.C.
ENROLLMENT: 1,750
PRESIDENT: Dr. Nayef Samhat
ATHLETICS DIRECTOR: Richard Johnson
ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE: Paul Koier WEBSITE: WoffordTerriers.com
FURMAN PALADINS
No. Name (Pronunciation) Pos. Ht. Cl. Hometown (Previous School / High School)
1 Evie DePetro (E–VEE–da–pea–TRO) G 5-9 Jr. Knoxville, Tenn. (Carter HS)
2 Janay Outten (ja–NAY OUT–en) G 5-6 So. Fort Myers, Fla. (Fort Myers HS)
3 Jada Session (JAY–dah) F 6-1 So. Locust Grove, Ga. (Luella HS)
4 Tate Walters G 5-9 Jr. Buford, Ga. (Buford HS)
5 Jaeyden Hill-Mims F 5-7 Jr. Greenville, S.C. (Greenville HS)
10 Kennedy Grier G 5-4 Jr. Charlotte, N.C. (Charlotte Country Day School)
13 Paraskevi Koilia (para–ski–VEE kill–EE–ah) G 5-8 Jr. Athens, Greece (Moraitis HS)
14 Grace van Rij (van RYE) F 6-2 Gr. Knoxville, Tenn. (Bearden HS)
20 Sydney Ryan G 5-11 Fr. Nashville, Tenn. (Brentwood HS)
21 Niveya Henley (nah–VAY–ah) G 6-0 So. Seattle, Wash. (Montverde (Fla.) Academy)
24 Jaelyn Acker G 5-7 R-Fr. Richfield, Wis. (Germantown HS) 35 Sydney James G / F 6-0 Jr. Ocala, Fla. (West Port HS) 42 Kate Johnson F 6-3 Fr. Canton, Ga. (Cherokee HS)
HEAD COACH: Jackie Carson (Furman, 2000) • 13th season
QUICK FACTS: ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH: Pierre Curtis (James Madison, 2010) • 10th season
LOCATION: Greenville, S.C. ASSISTANT COACHES: Ashley Johnson (LSU, 2010) • 2nd season
ENROLLMENT: 2,700 Amber Reeves (UNC Wilmington, 2017) • 2nd season
PRESIDENT: Dr. Elizabeth Davis
ATHLETICS DIRECTOR: Jason Donnelly DIR. OF PROGRAM ENGAGEMENT: Kristen James (Furman, 2021) • 1st season WEBSITE: FurmanPaladins.com ATHLETIC TRAINER: Alexa Beaumont
DIRECTOR OF OPS: Lauren Bornstein (Florida, 2016) • 2nd season
CATAMOUNT WOMEN'S BASKETBALL | 19 2022-23 CATAMOUNT BASKETBALL – FAST BREAK POINTS >>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
UNCG SPARTANS
No. Name (Pronunciation) Pos. Ht. Cl. Hometown (Previous School / High School)
0 Mikyla Mitchell G 5-5 Jr. Glenville, N.Y. (Mekeel Christian Academy / Hartwick HS)
1 Faith Price G 5-7 Sr. Jamestown, N.C. (Campbell / Ragsdale HS)
2 Antoniette Emma-Nnopu F 5-11 Fr. Melbourne, Australia (The Geelong College)
3 Nasia Powell (NAY–szha) G 5-7 So. Ocala, Fla. (Vanguard HS)
4 Anna Terron (AH–nuh TURR–ron G 5-9 Sr. Tarragona, Spain (Laramine (Wyo.) CC)
5 Jordan Releford G 5-5 Sr. Decatur, Ga. (Collins Hill HS)
11 Excellanxt Greer (like Excellent) G 5-6 Sr. Clinton, Miss. (Zebulon B. Vance HS)
12 Akira Wiggins G 5-7 Gr. Knightdale, N.C. (Barton College / Knightdale HS)
14 Kennedy Simpson G / F 6-2 So. Charlotte, N.C. (Mallard Creek HS)
15 Khalis Cain (kuh–LEASE) F 6-3 Jr. San Jose, Calif. (Mt. Zion Christian HS)
20 Amber Redmond G 5-8 Sr. Asheville, N.C. (Asheville HS)
21 Nitzan Amar (NITS–ahn uh–MAR) G 5-10 So. Yiron, Israel (Chof Hasharon Shfayim HS)
22 Isys Grady (EYE–sis) G 5-11 So. Ormond Beach, Fla. (Mainland HS)
23 Jailah Clark-Jones (JAY–luh) G 5-11 So. Birmingham, Ala. (Collins Hill HS)
44 Nia Howard (KNEE–uh) G 5-8 So. Durham, N.C. (Jordan HS)
45 Jay’lin Hastings (JAY–lynn) F 6-1 Jr. DeLand, Fla. (DeLand HS)
HEAD COACH: Trina Patterson (Virginia, 1987) • 7th season
QUICK FACTS: ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH: Cetera DeGraffenreid (North Carolina, 2010) • 5th season
CHANCELLOR: Dr. Franklin D. Gilliam, Jr.
LOCATION: Greensboro, N.C. ASSISTANT COACHES: Alex Miller (North Carolina, 2009) • 3rd season ENROLLMENT: 19,764 Jodi Paige (San Jose State, 1989) • 1st season
DIRECTOR OF OPS: Ariel "AC" Caraway (McNeese State, 2010) • 5th season
WEBSITE: UNCGSpartans.com
ATHLETICS DIRECTOR: Brian Mackin DIR. OF PLAYER DEVELOPMENT: Abby Vampatella (Gordon College, 2021) • 2nd season
CATAMOUNT WOMEN'S BASKETBALL | 21 2022-23 CATAMOUNT BASKETBALL – FAST BREAK POINTS >>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
ingles-markets.com
Good Luck, WCU!
WESTERN CAROLINA CATAMOUNTS 2022-23 WOMEN’S BASKETBALL ROSTER
No. Name (Pronunciation) Pos. Ht. Cl. Hometown (Previous School / High School)
0 Tamori Plantin (tah–MORE–ree) F 6-0 Fr. Buford, Ga. (Buford HS)
1 Reagan Trumm (RAY–guhn) G 5-9 Fr. Powell, Tenn. (Powell HS)
2 Kehinde Obasui (KAHN-day AHB-ah-suey) G 5-5 Fr. Villa Rica, Ga. (Carrollton HS)
3 Kyla Allison (KYE–luh) G 6-0 Gr. Orlando, Fla. (Middle Tennessee / Wekiva HS)
4 Mya Love (MY–uh) G 5-8 Jr. Jonesboro, Ark. (Arkansas State / Nettleton HS)
12 Joi Reid (JOY) G 6-0 Jr. Ellenwood, Ga. (Forest Park HS)
14 Jacey Justice (JAY-cee) G 5-8 So. Peebles, Ohio (Peebles HS)
15 Ewa Kielar (EV–uh KEY–uh–lar) F 6-1 Jr. Pabianice, Poland (South Plains College)
23 Erin Stack F 6-3 Fr. St. Charles, Ill. (St. Charles HS)
24 Zanoria Cruz (zuh-NORE-e-uh) G / F 5-10 Jr. Orlando, Fla. (Lake Highland Prep School)
25 Bailey Trumm G 5-7 So. Powell, Tenn. (Appalachian State / Powell HS)
31 Audrey Meyers G / F 6-0 Jr. Columbia, S.C. (Cardinal Newman HS) 32 Endia Holliday (like India) F 6-1 Sr. Ellisville, Miss. (Jones College / South Jones HS) 33 Shayane Poirot-Allard (PWARR–oh AH–lard) G 5-8 So. Cavalaire-sur-Mer, France (Western Nebraska / Leonard de Vinci Calais)
HEAD COACH: Kiley Hill (Arkansas Tech, 1995) • 4th season at WCU ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH: Kendra Samuels-Eaton (Western Carolina, 2009) • 2nd season at WCU ASSISTANT COACH:
Eileen Van Horn (Marist, 2016) • 1st season at WCU ASSISTANT COACH:
Megan Brown (Southern Miss, 2017) • 4th season at WCU
DIRECTOR OF BASKETBALL OPERATIONS: Jordan Worrell (NC State, 2021) • 1st season at WCU
Aurora Goujon (Plymouth State, 2021) • 1st Season at WCU SPORTS PERFORMANCE:
Connor Owens (Lynn University, 2020) • 1st Season at WCU
CATAMOUNT WOMEN'S BASKETBALL | 25 2022-23 CATAMOUNT BASKETBALL – FAST BREAK POINTS >>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
..........................................
.....................................
ATHLETIC TRAINER: ....................................
...............................
26 | FAST BREAK POINTS <<<<< 2022-23 CATAMOUNT BASKETBALL – FAST BREAK POINTS WESTERN CAROLINA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL – 2022-23 Radio / TV Chart Audrey MEYERS G/F | 6-0 | Jr. Tamori PLANTIN F | 6-0 | Fr. Reagan TRUMM G | 5-9 | Fr. Kehinde OBASUYI G | 5-5 | Fr. 31 0 1 2 Kyla ALLISON G | 6-0 | Gr. Mya LOVE G | 5-8 | Jr. Joi REID G | 6-0 | Jr. Jacey JUSTICE G | 5-8 | So. 3 4 12 14 Ewa KIELAR F | 6-1 | Jr. Erin STACK F | 6-3 | Fr. Zanoria CRUZ G/F | 5-10 | JR. Bailey TRUMM G | 5-7 | So. 15 23 24 25 Endia HOLLIDAY F | 6-1 | Sr. Shayane POIROT-ALLARD G | 5-8 | So. 32 33
CATAMOUNT WOMEN'S BASKETBALL | 29 2022-23 CATAMOUNT BASKETBALL – FAST BREAK POINTS >>>>>
CAROLINA ATHLETICS >>>>> CATAMOUNT HEAD COACHES
WESTERN
ALAN BECK baseball
JUSTIN GRAY mens basketball
KILEY HILL womens basketball
CAITLIN DAVIS cheerleading
KERWIN BELL football
TIM ECKBERG mens golf
COURTNEY GUNTER womens golf
CHAD MILLER soccer
JIM CLIFT softball
BRET BEAVER tennis
JESSE NORMAN xc / track and field
KAREN GLOVER volleyball
30 | FAST BREAK POINTS <<<<< 2022-23 CATAMOUNT BASKETBALL – FAST BREAK POINTS WESTERN CAROLINA ATHLETICS >>>>> ASSISTANT COACHES & STAFF
Jeff Korte Assistant Coach Baseball
Derek Beasley Assistant Coach Baseball
JD Mundy Volunteer Assistant Coach Baseball
Jayson Gee Assistant Coach Men's Basketball
Ryne Lightfoot Assistant Coach Men's Basketball
Zack Freesman Assistant Coach Men's Basketball
Director of Operations Men's
Molly Bachand
Basketball
Graduate Assistant Men's Basketball
Jaylen Gore
Video
Men's
Cody Cohen
Coordinator
Basketball
Seth Graves Director of Player Development Baseball
Hailey Schenk
Assistant Coach Cheerleading
Lauren Brooks Assistant Coach Cheerleading
/ OC
/ DC
Kade Bell Assistant Coach
Football Chazmon Scales Assistant Coach
Football
Chris Norris
Assistant Coach / SPTM Football
JJ
Laster Assistant Coach Football
Brian Cochran Assistant Coach Football
Jeremy Darveau Assistant Coach Football
Todd Shealy Director of Football Operations
Jeff Burger Volunteer Assistant Coach Football
Larry Murphy
Assistant Coach Football
Trent Turknett
Director of Player Personnel Football
On-Campus
Sydney
Spears Director of
Recruiting Football
Rudi Small
Assistant Coach Football
Associate Head Coach Women's Soccer
Nick Whiting
Rylan Wells Assistant Coach Football
& Field
Daniel Haakenson
Assistant Coach Track
Greg McGruder
Quality Control – Offense Football
DeAirus Whitney Quality Control – Defense Football
Ashley Gasaway Assistant Coach Volleyball
Cody Edwards Assistant Coach Football
Taylor Svehla Assistant Coach Volleyball
Gillian
Urycki Assistant Coach Track & Field
Madison Armstrong Assistant Coach Softball
Maryanne Kilgore Assistant Coach Women's Soccer
32 | FAST BREAK POINTS <<<<< 2022-23 CATAMOUNT BASKETBALL – FAST BREAK POINTS
Director of Media Relations
Denise Gideon
Director of Media Relations WESTERN CAROLINA ATHLETICS >>>>> DEPARTMENT STAFF MEMBERS
Steven Grandy
Director of Athletics Marketing & Fan Engagement
Tyler Pope
of
Ticket Operations
Jonathan Sessoms
Director
Athletics
Athletics Ticketing Operations & Marketing Assistant
Michael Gilbert
Director of Corporate Sponsorships
Ric Sisler
Director of Video Operations
Evan Ellis
Assistant Director of Video Operations
Patrick Mullaney
Director of Athletic Facilities
Mark Conlin
Assistant Director of Academics for Football
Arman Jones
Assistant Director of Academic Support
Haley Mitchell
Senior Academics Advisor
Matt Sawyer
Director of Game Operations & Facilities
Rory Jimerson
Game Operations & Facilities Assistant
Trey Fisher
Athletics Department Administrative Assistant
Assistant Director of Development, Events & Stewardship
Reyburn Associate Head Athletic Trainer (FB)
Daniel Assistant Athletic Trainer (XC/T&F) JP Hill Assistant Director of Development / Catamount Club
Kim Jamison
Lauren Rhyne
Rob
Julia
Assistant Director of Development / Catamount Club
Taylor
Holman
Director of Sports Medicine (FB)
Steven Honbarger
Head Equipment Manager
Mike Taylor
the
Todd Lawing
Director of
Ramsey Center
Kaylyn Norville Assistant Athletic Trainer (MBK)
Athletic
Intern (WSOC / WTEN)
Haley Bennington
Training
Aurora Goujon
Assistant Athletic Trainer (WBK)
Assistant
Trainer (BASE)
Tyler Spain
Athletic
Assistant Athletic Trainer (SB)
LeeAnn Grayson
Director of Sports Performance & Nutrition
Assistant Director of Sports Performance
Ben Jacobs
Austin Davis
Director of Development / Catamount Club
Mark Warren
Assistant Sports Performance Coach
Connor Owens
Assistant
of Operations –
Nick Mashburn
Director
Ramsey Center
Sports Performance Intern
Cody Jones
RAMSEY
DEDICATION: December 6, 1986
First Game / First Women’s Basketball Game: Western Carolina 65, Mars Hill 61 (12/4/86)
First Men’s Basketball Game: N.C. State 96, Western Carolina 75 (12/6/86)
First Men’s Basketball Win: Western Carolina 90, Tusculum 58 (1/5/87) Top Men’s Basketball
34 | FAST BREAK POINTS
QUICK FACTS:
CENTER
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
FOLLOW CATAMOUNT BASKETBALL >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> ALL SEASON LONG FB.COM/CATAMOUNTSPORTS @CATAMOUNTS | WCU_CATAMOUNTS
Attendances:
8,114 North Carolina State (12/6/86)
6,024 Appalachian State (2/06/10)
4,765 College of Charleston (1/25/10)
4,603 No. 16 Kansas (12/3/87)
4,577 Appalachian State (2/26/96)
4,343 Chattanooga (1/14/06)
4,217 Georgia Southern (2/10/07)
4,178 Davidson (1/24/13)
4,121 Appalachian State (2/28/04)
4,107 Appalachian State (1/28/02) Top Women’s Basketball Attendance: 2,178 - vs. Chattanooga (02/10/07)
CATAMOUNT WOMEN'S BASKETBALL >>>>>
DID YOU
• Western Carolina’s 1969 women’s basketball team made history on March 22 as the first team to compete in the CIAW Championship, facing West Chester State (Pa.) in the title game, falling 65-39 ... Coached by BETTY WESTMORELAND, the team finished its fourth season with a 14-3 record, losing only to UNC Greensboro twice and West Chester in the final game ... the 1969 Catamount women’s basketball team was inducted into the WCU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2003;
• JAYNE ARLEDGE was the first female student-athlete to receive athletic grant-in aid at WCU in 1976 and was later the first female student-athlete to have her jersey retired in school history ... In 1992, Arledge was inducted into the Western Carolina Athletics Hall of Fame ... Arledge coached at North Greenville University for 36 years, remaining on-staff as the Senior Woman Administrator ... She was inducted into the Crusaders’ Athletics Hall of Fame in 2019;
• JAYNE ARLEDGE is the program’s all-time leading scorer, finishing with 1,928 career points, averaging 21.7 points per game over four seasons ... Arledge scored 30 points five times and owns 11 Western Carolina game, season and career records ... Arledge led the Catamounts to four-consecutive winning seasons and was twice named All-State;
• Under the leadership of head coach KELLIE HARPER, WCU won its first Southern Conference tournament title in 2005, outlasting fifth-seeded Georgia Southern, 97-95, in double overtime to earn the program’s first trip to the NCAA Tournament ... WCU also became the first team in SoCon history to reach and win the tournament championship after playing in the opening round;
• In 2007, Western Carolina won its first SoCon regular season title ... the Catamounts won a school-record 15 league games and tied Chattanooga for the regular season title, earning the program’s first-ever No. 1 seed in the SoCon tournament ... WCU went on to play in the postseason WNIT;
• It took three overtime periods, 101 points and clutch free throws down the stretch, but WCU weathered it all to capture the 2009 SoCon Tournament title, the second in program history ... No. 3 seed WCU defeated No. 5 seed College of Charleston, 101-87, in the come-from-behind victory ... the game was the third-highest scoring game in SoCon Tournament history and also the first triple OT game in the tournament ... WCU earned a No. 13 seed in the NCAA tournament, the highest in school history;
• LAURA ECHOLS (1998-2002) and JENNIFER GARDNER (2001-05) were both named to the SoCon's 100th Anniversary Women's Basketball team at the end of the year-long celebration in 2021 ... Both Echols and Gardner were three-time, first-team All-SoCon selections in their WCU careers.
CATAMOUNT WOMEN'S BASKETBALL | 37 2022-23 CATAMOUNT BASKETBALL – FAST BREAK POINTS >>>>>
KNOW...?
LAURA ECHOLS
KENDRA EATON
KELLIE HARPER
JAYNE
ARLEDGE
JENNIFER GARDNER
BETTY WESTMORELAND
CAT HOUSE PEP BAND
38 | FAST BREAK POINTS
CATAMOUNT WOMEN'S BASKETBALL | 41 2022-23 CATAMOUNT BASKETBALL – FAST BREAK POINTS >>>>>
42 | FAST BREAK POINTS 2022-23 WCU DANCE TEAM 1211009 Friends. Family. Community. We’re all in this together. Get to a better State ® State Farm, Bloomington, IL Charles Wolfe, Agent 180 Webster Road Sylva, NC 28779 Bus: 828-586-4026 charles w wolfe bwll@statefarm com State Farm® has a long tradition of being there. That's one reason why I'm proud to suppor t Western Carolina Universit y
FRONT ROW (L-R): Skylar Poulos, Naidelyn Cruz and Nicole Stauffer MIDDLE ROW (L-R): Matigan Rowe, Alex Henry, Kenzie Davis, Kimberly Hydrick, Alyssa Malgrat and Megan Normandin BACK ROW (L-R): Liv Wiesenhart, Samantha Harp, Bailey Burk, Julia Gerrer, Ashley Avant, Michelle Davis and Madison Tadlock
44 | FAST BREAK POINTS 2022-23 CATAMOUNT CHEERLEADERS
FRONT ROW (L-R): Hannah Wing, Airica Anderson, Caroline Lopp, Molly McAvoy, Sara, Grace Smith, Olivia Hawkins and Sarena Burrell MIDDLE ROW (L-R): Riley Ledford, Lindsey Mendzoa, Emma Shue, Kate Ammend, Marissa Clontz, Becca Kilpatrick, Kamdyn Anderson, Scotting Branning and Tiana Scarchilli
At United Community Bank, we keep our eye on the ball to bring you the best financial solutions. Member FDIC. © 2018 United Community Bank | ucbi.com UNITED WE PLAY. UNITED WE WIN. SYLVA 1640 East Main Street 828-631-9166
BACK ROW (L-R): Isabella Fazio, Savannah Jones, Catie Osborne, Nathan Campbell, Riley Sanz, Kasi Jones and Makenna Shipley
