The Transylvania Times, Brevard, N.C., Monday, November 24, 2014–Page 17A
2014
WINTER SPORTS
GUIDE
2014
FALL SPORTS REVIEW
Page 18A–The Transylvania Times, Brevard, N.C., Monday, November 24, 2014
Sports
Black Knights Hold Off Tigers 28-14
In 1-A Football Second Round By Scotty Ruff Sports Writer
The Smoky Mountain Conference is loaded with football talent and usually at least one team is representing the West in the state finals. Four out of the five teams from the conference won in the first round of the 1A state play-offs that started last week. Hayesville was the only school to get knocked out but that was by the undefeated Robbinsville Black Knights, also the number one team in the state. Friday night featured another SMC match up with the Black Knights, this time in the second round of the 1A playoffs with the Rosman Tigers. The Black Knights scored 14 points in the first quarter but the Tigers stayed the course as Andreas Villagomez and Neil Tesnow woke the Tigers defense up in the second quarter. Josh Rice and the Tiger offense marched down the field to open up the second quarter with short runs by Gage Orr, Keen Jones, and keepers by Rice. Rice then went to the air for 30 yards which would have moved the football to the 15-yard
Rosman quarterback Josh Rice (#10) picks up a key block from Manuel Suarez (#66) while Andres Villagomez (#73) clears the field behind him. (Times photos by Scotty Ruff) line but a personal foul nullified the play, leading to a Tiger turnover. The Black Knights got the ball back with less than a minute on the clock and marched down the field. Skylar Matheson then hit Jesse Frank for a 19 yard touchdown as time expired in the first half. Robbinsville led 21-0.
The Tigers came out of the gate fired up as they racked up 67 yards in nine plays to open the second half. Rice ran into the end zone from 3 yards out as Rosman cut the lead to 21-7 with 8:00 left in the third quarter. The remainder of the quarter and the beginning of the fourth became a defen-
sive battle. Emotions ran high after several flags ignited both schools’ fan bases. With a high level of security, the battle went back to the field late in the fourth quarter. Robbinsville took the ball near the 30-yard line and started a long 13-play drive, striking hard in the air. Matheson hit Lane Millsaps
for a 7-yard touchdown, putting the Black Knights up 28-7 with 7:44 left to play. The Tigers were not finished as they drove for 80yards in nine plays in the air and on the ground. Orr rumbled down to the 14 yard line. Rice then went to the air, hooking up with Tesnow for a 14-yard score. Manuel Suarez’ kick cut the
lead to 28-14 with 41 seconds to play. After the Black Knights recovered the onside kick they sealed the win, moving on to the third round, squaring off with another SMC team, Murphy, this Friday night. The Tigers matched Robbinsville’s potent running game as they had 267 yards on 43 carries while Robbinsville had 291 yards on 44 carries. Rice added 34 yards in the air, while Matheson had 119 yards. The Tigers were penalized 7 times for 74 yards and Robbinsville was hit 12 times for 105 yards. Rosman averaged 5.6yards per carry compared to 7.3 for the Black Knights. The Tigers’ leading rusher was Orr with 85 yards on 16 carries He finishes the year with 1,520 yards rushing. Rice added 81 yards on the ground and 34 yards in the air. Rice finishes the season with 1,083 yards rushing and 550 yards in the air. The Tigers’ leading tackler was Andreas Villagomez with 12 and Neil Tesnow with 10. Aaron Newman added nine. The Tigers finish the season with a 6-7 overall record and 3-3 in the SMC.
Tornado Men Fall To Third-Ranked Newberry 101-72
The Tigers’ junior tailback Gage Orr slices between a pair of Robbinsville defenders for positive yardage. He rushed for 85 yards Friday.
By Randall Stewart BC Sports Information
Facing its third regionally ranked opponent in its first four games, the Brevard College men’s basketball team was unable to come up with its first victory of the season, falling to preseason conference runner-up Newberry 10172. Newberry’s (4-0, 2-0 SAC) up-tempo style of play and bench that goes well over 10 players deep proved to be too much for
Rosman senior lineman Aaron Newman battles up front for the Tigers Friday night. He had nine tackles on the evening.
the Tornados (0-4, 0-1 SAC). Brevard’s Darius Moose had a double-double in the losing effort, notching game-highs with 25 points and 10 rebounds. The Tornados were aided by a 16-point effort from Phil Wallace and 10 points from Trayvon Shaw. But Newberry countered with four players in double figures, led by 21 points from Mitch Riggs, to stymie the Tornados’ upset bid against the Southeast Region’s fourth-ranked team according to the latest Division II Media Poll.
Fourteen Wolves saw action in the contest, with 13 of them tallying at least a point, and Newberry never trailed in the contest. The Tornados hung tough with Newberry’s breakneck pace throughout much of the opening stanza, with the Wolves’ lead hovering between two and five points throughout the first ten minutes before the hosts began to distance themselves from Brevard. A brief 8-0 spurt, keyed by a free throw and layup from Riggs and a triple by James Stepp, increased the lead to double
digits. The Wolves were unable to increase their separation beyond 14 points for most of the remainder of the first half, until a three-point play from James Ashby keyed an 8-1 Newberry run that made the Wolves’ advantage 5334 at the break. The second half played out in a very similar fashion. Brevard cut the lead to as few as 15 points less than 90 seconds into the half on one of Wallace’s four threepoint field goals of the game before consecutive three-point field goals by
Newberry stretched the lead back to 21 points. The Tornados were able to trim the deficit to 17 points on two occasions, but the Wolves began to pull away as the second half wore on, outscoring Brevard 48-38 in the second stanza. Newberry shot at a 53.1 percent clip on the afternoon, notching assists on 24 of its 34 field goals, while limiting Brevard to 21-of-36 from the floor for a .375 shooting percentage. Brevard outrebounded the Wolves 40-36, led by
Moose and Jaylon Debardlabon with 10 apiece. Debarlabon also had a team-high three assists. The teams were even with 13 second-chance points, but Newberry outpaced Brevard 28-10 in points off turnovers, and its reserves outscored the Tornados’ reserves 62-11. Brevard returns to action on Tuesday night in the conference home opener against Tusculum. Tipoff for the game, which will be a doubleheader with the schools’ women’s teams, is scheduled for 8 p.m.
Shelby Wolfe finished with nine points on four-for-nine shooting while grabbing three boards and classmate Hadara Bannister finished with six points and an assist. Sophomore Madison Lenox had four points and led Brevard with three assists while classmate Chelsea Turner had six points with two rebounds. The Wolves were led by junior Samantha Creed who led all scorers with 24 points, including four threepointers on seven attempts. Creed also had seven rebounds and two assists. Sophomore Jaya Shultz
finished with 14 points on eight-of-19 shooting while freshman Nicola Handreck had 16 points, three rebounds and two assists. The Tornados shot 32 percent from the field on 16-for-50 shooting compared to Newberry’s 40 percent while Brevard shot 80 percent from the free throw line. Newberry had a 47-29 advantage on the boards but had a narrow 18-15 edge in bench points. The Wolves came out strong in the opening half, building a 10-4 lead in the opening 7:07 and then adding to its lead for a 17-6 lead, going on a 7-2 run
over the next 1:12. The Tornados and Newberry traded baskets before Turner made consecutive three-pointers to bring Brevard within six points with 10:05 remaining. However Newberry went on a 19-9 run, holding the Tornados to just two field-goals over the final 8:11 for a 39-23 halftime lead. In the second half the teams traded baskets to open the frame but the Tornados were unable to score again until freshman Claudia Arcega, who made her collegiate debut, made a lay-up with just 3:21 into
the half. Newberry still lead the lead at 46-27, and the Tornados never came within single digits the rest of the game. The closest they came was 15 with 13:48 left in the game on a jumper by Bannister, but the Wolves stilled had a 4732 commanding lead. Newberry put the game out of reach, knocking down four three pointers and field goals the rest of the game to build a lead as big as 29. Brevard returns to action on Tuesday, Nov. 25 to face the Pioneers of Tusculum as part of a double-header for the home-opener. The game is scheduled for 6 p.m.
The special section of winter sports previews and fall sports wrap-ups would not have been possible without help from many individuals, most notably Randall Stewart, Jaimen Romano and Paul Morgan. Every effort was made to include all sports, however Rosman boys’ basketball and wrestling could not be included because the Tiger football team was still in the 1-A playoffs. Their previews, schedules and rosters will appear in a later issue.
BC Women Fall To Regionally-Ranked Newberry By Jaimen Romano BC Sports Information
The Brevard College women’s basketball team dropped its regular season opener to Newberry, 76-49, on Saturday afternoon in Eleazer Arena during South Atlantic Conference (SAC) play. The Wolves, who were ranked 10th in the latest Southeast Region poll, improve to 4-0 overall and 20 in the conference. Sophomore Katie Williams led the Tornados (0-1, 0-1 SAC) with 12 points and eight rebounds in 33 minutes of action. Junior
About This Section
The Transylvania Times, Brevard, N.C., Monday, November 24, 2014-Page 19A
Sports
Blue Devils Under New Hoops Leadership
The 2014-15 Brevard High School boys’ basketball team. (Times photo by Robbie Robertson)
Boys Basketball Preview By Robbie Robertson Sports Editor
If the Blue Devil basketball team thought they were going to have it any easier under new head coach David “Bush” Siniard, they might (as the saying goes) have another think coming. Siniard, a fixture around the Brevard coaching community, uses the word “push” a lot. Siniard has a goal — to bring Blue Devil basketball back to its heyday. At the program’s peak, a seven-year span that ended in 2005, Brevard went 12018. “I want that back,” Siniard said. “It’s been since 2006 that we’ve put anything on our championship banner. I told the kids ‘y’all are going to start it this year.’” Siniard has also warned them to expect a verbal lashing or two. “I asked them the other day if they ever watch ‘Shark Week,’” Siniard said. “They said they did and I said, ‘Good, because I’m going to be chewing on you. It’s going to be ‘Hell Week.’” Xs and Os Siniard plans for his Blue Devils to run an up-tempo style of offense and defense, with an emphasis on the fast
No. 4 11 12 15 20 21 23 25 30 31 32 33 41 45 55
break. Even still, he will grant the players some autonomy on the court. He wants the team to look for the easy basket first. “I told them the first 10 seconds is their time, but after that, I’m putting a fishing pole on them and reeling them in,” Siniard said. “I’m giving them the keys to a Ferrari. If they wreck it, then we’ll have to make some changes.” “We want to push the ball up the floor,” he added. [There’s that push word again.] The Blue Devils have had just one chance to shine on the court — a jamboree scrimmage Nov. 15. Siniard did not like what he saw there, despite missing out on one with an injury and two more on official college visits. “I told the guys it’s my fault,” Siniard said. “I’m just trying to figure you guys out. “I’ve got to get them to realize they can be good, but there is a big difference between can and are.” Siniard doesn’t want the team relying on sheer athleticism or a hot-shooting hand because that will fail when hard work can carry a team and cause them to gel. “We have to rely on each other to pick ourselves up,”
“I’m giving them the keys to a Ferrari. If they wreck it, then we’ll have to make some changes.” --Brevard head boys’ basketball coach David “Bush” Siniard
Siniard said. “The other night we were more worried about picking ourselves up. “I put that on me. I’ve got to coach my but off and get them better.”
Returning Seniors The Blue Devils are blessed with the return of 10 seniors, giving Brevard plenty of experience and leadership potential. Coming back for their final campaign: Collin McCracken, Hunter, Johnson, Austin Williams, Isaac Bingle, Tanner Brooks, Caleb Hicks, James Cover, Austin Adams, Jacob Smith and Matt Gasperson. “Collin’s got great leadership skills,” Siniard said. “He’s a great all-around player.” “Jake Smith is a great kid and a wonderful all-around player,” Siniard added. “Hunter Johnson has God-given talent, but he’s got to use it,” Siniard said. “Isaac Bingle has a great shot and a great attitude,” he said. “Williams and Cover,”
Brevard High School 2014-15 Boys Basketball Roster
Name Collin McCracken Hunter Johnson Austin Williams Isaac Bingle Luke Netherton Tanner Brooks Caleb Hicks James Cover Hamilton Lopez Lane Pressley Austin Adams Nick Cabe Matt Gasperson Jacob Smith Alex Lane
Head Coach: Assistant Coaches:
Pos. F, W, C W, F W, F G F, W W F, C W PG, W W F, W F, W F,W F, C, W F, W
Ht. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Jr. So. Sr. So. Sr. Sr. Jr.
Yr. 6-2 6-1 6-0 5-10 5-10 5-8 6-2 5-10 5-10 5-8 5-10 6-0 5-10 6-3 5-9
Wt. 185 180 165 155 140 160 175 145 155 160 170 160 165 175 140
David Siniard (1st Year) Jonathan Owen, Cody Siniard
Siniard said, “have both come a long way in the offseason. “Tanner Brooks is the ‘Energizer Bunny,’ Siniard said. “Even when he makes a mistake, he’s going full tilt.” Adams, Siniard hopes, will evolve into a physical presence inside. Caleb Hicks will likewise be expected to battle inside. “Caleb’s a tough kid, a banger, and I need him to be this year,” Siniard said. Gasperson, a newcomer to the team, was welcomed by teammates at the 11th hour. “Matt wanted to play,” Siniard said. “He’s done real well in practice and will bring a lot to the team.” Other Contributors Siniard has just three juniors on the squad: Hamilton Lopez, Luke Netherton and Alex Lane. Hamilton he
hopes to develop into the Devils’ point guard. Netherton and Lane will put in time at the forward-wing position. A pair of sophomores, Lane Pressley and Nick Cabe, round out the roster. Conference Outlook The split 3-A/2-A WNC Athletic Conference is in a state of flux this season, Siniard said. Pisgah lost two of their best players to Carolina Day, and perennial power Smoky Mountain picked up a 6-8 transfer. West Henderson should also be better, Siniard said. “All the teams are going to be better,” Siniard added. “The kids are going to have to learn to deal with adversity — everything’s not going to be a piece of cake.”
About The Coach Siniard is a fixture around Transylvania County coaching circles, with more than 30 years leading teams of all age groups. He currently works at Davidson River School. Most recently, he was an assistant during the Blue Devils’ heyday of 20042006. Before that, Siniard
David Siniard
was the girls’ varsity coach and the coach of the junior varsity programs. He is joined by son, Cody, the point guard on the 2005 team, and Jonathan Owen, last year’s assistant coach and a forward on the 2005-06 teams. “I want to thank [former coach] Tim Trantham,” Siniard said. “He coached my son and did some wonderful things here. He had the program at its highest point and he’s been a big help.”
Brevard High School 2014-15 Boys Basketball Schedule
Date Nov. 29 Dec. 2 Dec. 5 Dec. 6 Dec. 9 Dec. 12 Dec. 16 Dec. 17 Dec. 19 Jan. 6 Jan. 8 Jan. 9 Jan. 16 Jan. 20 Jan. 23 Jan. 27 Jan. 29 Feb. 3 Feb. 6 Feb. 10
Opponent North Buncombe Polk Asheville North Buncombe #Franklin #Tuscola #East Henderson Asheville #West Henderson #Smoky Mtn Owen #North Henderson #Pisgah #Franklin #Tuscola #East Henderson #West Henderson #Smoky Mtn #North Henderson #Pisgah
# Denotes Conference Game Home Games In Bold 4 p.m. J.V. Start Time
Location Away Away Away Home Away Away Home Home Home Away Away Away Home Home Home Away Away Home Home Away
Time 4:30 6:30 6:30 4:30 6:30 6:30 6:30 6:30 6:30 6:30 6:30 6:30 6:30 6:30 6:30 6:30 6:30 6:30 6:30 6:30
Page 20A–The Transylvania Times, Brevard, N.C., Monday, November 24, 2014
Sports
Lady Blue Devils Welcome New Head Coach
The 2014-15 Brevard High School girls’ basketball team. (Times photo by Robbie Robertson)
Girls Basketball Preview By Robbie Robertson Sports Editor
Basketball at Brevard High School welcomed a pair of new coaches for 2014-15 — one on the boys’ side, the other on the girls’ — longtime junior varsity boys’ skipper Chad Owenby. Owenby, also the assistant softball coach the past several seasons, took the job earlier this year when the former coach, Corey Cunningham, decided to stick to the classroom. The program has struggled for nigh on a decade, but Owenby is determined to turn their fortunes around. “They’ve worked real hard,” Owenby said. “They’ve been in here every morning, at nights and on weekends. Owenby took the position in July, meaning the Lady Blue Devils had little or no chance to make summer workouts. “We’ve playing catchup,” he said. “They’re hav-
ing to learn a new system in 15 days.” Owenby said he plans for the defense to play manto-man, morph into a zone and press. “We’ve got to try and play defense without getting into foul trouble,” he said. On offense, he looks for the Lady Blue Devils to play an up-tempo game where the girls look for easy fast-break layups. “We’re going to try and dictate the pace of the game and play a little faster than usual,” Owenby said. Owenby used his connections from the softball season to recruit a few players who haven’t played basketball before. “We’re seeing some athletic overlap,” Owenby said. “We’re getting the two and three sport athletes that we haven’t been getting the past few years. “Everybody’s willing to learn, though. They’ve bought into the system.” Returning Players Owenby returns five
seniors and a starter from last year’s squad that went 8-12 overall, 6-8 in the WNC Athletic Conference. The senior class consists of Meleah Owens, Ashanti Conley, Morgan Gash and Ansley Sales. All are expected to contribute this season. “Morgan Gash can fly,” Owenby said. “She can just about outrun our boys. She’s quick — she can blaze.” Conley will likely spend most of her time in the paint. “Shanti started in the post and I look for her to carry the load inside,” Owenby said. “Meleah’s got some ball-handling skills and court prowess,” Owenby said. “She and Ansley are both hard workers. I’ve asked them to step into leadership roles. Sales brings a muchneeded outside shot to the table. “I’ve told her to take what the defense gives her.” Nijayah Cruell, a sophomore, returns as the team’s
Brevard High School 2014-15 Girls Basketball Schedule
Date Opponent Nov. 24-25 Blue Flame Classic Nov. 29 North Buncombe Dec. 2 Polk Dec. 5 Asheville Dec. 9 #Franklin Dec. 10 North Buncombe Dec. 12 #Tuscola Dec. 16 #East Henderson Dec. 17 Asheville Dec. 19 #West Henderson Dec. 22 Polk Jan. 6 #Smoky Mtn Jan. 8 Owen Jan. 9 #North Henderson Jan. 16 #Pisgah Jan. 20 #Franklin Jan. 23 #Tuscola Jan. 27 #East Henderson Jan. 29 #West Henderson Feb. 3 #Smoky Mtn Feb. 6 #North Henderson Feb. 10 #Pisgah # Denotes Conference Game Home Games In Bold 4 p.m. J.V. Start Time
Location Pickens, SC Away Away Away Away Home Away Home Home Home Home Away Away Away Home Home Home Away Away Home Home Away
Time TBA 4:30 6:30 6:30 6:30 6:30 6:30 6:30 6:30 6:30 6:30 6:30 6:30 6:30 6:30 6:30 6:30 6:30 6:30 6:30 6:30 6:30
second leading scorer. She averaged nearly 12 points per game in her freshman campaign, which was just
the teams to beat — they’re tough,” Owenby said. After that it’s a toss up of teams that Brevard beat at
one year removed from an undefeated stint on the Brevard Middle School team. “Everybody’s attitude has been really good,” Owenby said. “They’ve had positive attitudes throughout practice.”
least once last season: Smoky Mountain (2-A), Tuscola (3-A), North Henderson (3-A), East Henderson (3-A). One of the losses to West Henderson was by a single shot and a loss to North Henderson was by a mere five points. “I’ve got realistic goals,” Owenby said. “But I think we can make the playoffs. I think once we get a taste of winning, this group can make the adjustments they need to make.”
“Everybody’s attitude has been really good. They’ve had positive attitudes throughout practice. I’ve got realistic goals. But I think we can make the playoffs.” --Brevard head girls’ basketball coach Chad Owenby
Conference Outlook The split 2-A/3-A Western North Carolina Athletic Conference has been dominated the past two years by two teams: 3-A Pisgah and 2-A Franklin. Owenby looks for that trend to continue. “Franklin and Pisgah are
No. 2 10 11 12 13 14 15 20 21 22 23 34 35 40 52
About The Coach Owenby is a 1994 grad-
Chad Owenby
uate of Brevard High School and played baseball for Mars Hill College. He’s now in his 16th season at the helm of one team or another at BHS. He coached the junior varsity boys for a decade and has assisted softball coach David McNeill for the past four years. Those Lady Blue Devils have made deep runs into the 2-A softball playoffs the past two years.
Brevard High School 2014-15 Girls Basketball Roster
Name Casey Gilbert YaaQoa Ivey Meleah Owens Kinsey Wright Elena Tuckey Makayla McNeill Ansley Sales Shea Williams Erika Brittain Morgan Gash Ashanti Conley Nijayah Cruell Callie Green Carina Perez Kaishaila Benjamin
Head coach: Assistant coach:
Pos. G G G G G G G F G F F G F F G
Ht. 5-4 5-3 5-3 5-6 5-5 5-7 5-6 5-8 5-6 5-7 5-7 5-7 5-7 5-7 5-6
Chad Owenby (1st season) David McNeill
Yr. Jr. Jr. Sr. So. Jr. Jr. Sr. So. Sr. Sr. Sr. So. Jr. Jr. Jr.
The Transylvania Times, Brevard, N.C., Monday, November 24, 2014-Page 21A
Sports
Lady Tigers Look To Rebuild In 2014-15
The 2014-15 Rosman High School varsity girls’ basketball team. (Times photo by Robbie Robertson)
Girls Basketball Preview By Robbie Robertson Sports Editor
Fans of Lady Tiger basketball would have to go back 12 years to find a losing season, all the way back to before the playing days of their celebrated coach, Ashton Hughes (then Ashton Barton). The 2015 version of the team has some big shoes to fill, as five seniors departed Rosman due to graduation, leaving Hughes and company to fill the ranks with two returning starters and three less experienced players. Returning are just one senior and a pair of junior starters with significant playing time from the 201314 campaign in which the Lady Tigers went 18-10 overall, 7-6 in the hotlycontested Smoky Mountain Conference. Now in her sixth year, Hughes has set her expectations no lower for this group than in years past, while at the same time being realistic. “The things we’ve talked about so far is keeping everybody in perspective, and focusing on getting bet-
ter everyday,” Hughes said. “With five seniors lost, the conference may overlook us.”
Returners Mary Grace MorrowJohnson is the team’s only senior. Dubbed “OMG” (Oh, Mary Grace) by her teammates, Johnson will be looked upon for senior leadership skills. “She’s a worker,” Hughes said of her lone senior. “She’s impoved tremendously. She also keeps things in perspective for the other players. “One of her best qualities is she doesn’t care who gets the credit — she doesn’t care if she goes into the game or not — but she’ll be the most involved player on the court.” A pair of starters — Callie Chappell and Rachel Owen — both juniors — will have to step into a scoring role. Chappell averaged 9 points and 5 rebounds per game in her sophomore campaign. Owen, a physical inside presence for Rosman, averaged 6 points and 5 rebounds per game. Running the point for
Rosman this year will be either Chappell, Haley Parker or Allie Whitmire. “I feel pretty confident putting any of those players at the point, depending on who we’re playing,” Hughes said. “We’re still going to run an up-tempo game and try to get layups.” Hughes said her Lady Tigers will likely press for 3/4 of the court, using their quickness to harry offenses. “For the most part we’re pretty quick, but we’re going to have to get it up and down the court. “Staying disciplined and out of foul trouble will be key for us.” One of Rosman’s secret weapons, Hughes said, is having the middle school campus in the same facility as the high school. The middle school runs the same drills and the same plays as the junior varsity and varsity squads. “By the time they get here, they know what to expect,” Hughes said. Conference Outlook In the SMC, Cherokee looks to reload this season. Competing for the top spot will also be Robbinsville
Rosman High School 2014-15 Basketball Roster
No. 10 11 12 15 20 21 22 25
Name Callie Chappell Madison Holden Haley Parker Abby Ammons Dakota Curtis Mary Grace Morrow-Johnson Allie Whitmire Rachel Owen
Head coach: Assistant coaches:
Pos. G F G G G/F G G F
Ht. 5-10 5-11 5-7 5-8 5-8 5-0 5-8 5-8
Ashton Hughes (6th season) Amanda Lewis, Kim Green
Yr. Jr. Jr. Jr. So. Jr. Sr. So. Jr.
(“always in the hunt”) and Hayesville, which has a collegiate-level player who has already committed.
from Rosman in 2004, was one of western North Carolina’s leading scorers for the Lady Tigers. She played
“It’ll be us competing with those top three teams again,” Hughes said.
four years at UNCA before returning to take over at Rosman for Joe Carrington. She enters her sixth year as head coach of the Lady Tigers.
“The things we’ve talked about so far is keeping everybody in perspective and focusing on getting better every day.” --Rosman head girls basketball coach Ashton Hughes
About The Coach Hughes, who graduated
Rosman High School 2014-15 Basketball Schedule
Date Nov. 25 Nov. 26 Dec. 3 Dec. 6 Dec. 10 Dec. 13 Dec. 14 Dec. 19 Dec. 26-28 Jan. 7 Jan. 10 Jan. 11 Jan. 14 Jan. 17 Jan. 21 Jan. 24 Jan. 25 Jan. 28 Jan. 31 Feb. 4 Feb. 7 Feb. 11 Feb. 13-21
Opponent Blue Ridge North Henderson Cherokee* Hayesville* Murphy* Robbinsville* Liberty, S.C. Tamassee Salem Carolina Day (Girls) Swain* Highlands* Liberty, S.C. Andrews* Cherokee* Hayesville* Murphy* Tamassee Salem Robbinsville* Blue Ridge Swain* Highlands* Andrews* SMC Tourney
Home Games In Bold
Location Home Away Away Home Away Away Home Home Away Home Home Away Away Home Away Home Away Home Away Away Away Home Swain
Ashton Hughes
Time 5 p.m. 4 p.m. 4 p.m. 4 p.m. 4 p.m. 4 p.m. 2 p.m. 5 p.m. TBA 4 p.m. 5 p.m. 2 p.m. 4 p.m. 4 p.m. 4 p.m. 4 p.m. 4 p.m. 4 p.m. 5 p.m. 4 p.m. 5 p.m. 4 p.m. TBA
* Denotes SMC Game
Page 22A–The Transylvania Times, Brevard, N.C., Monday, November 24, 2014
Sports
Blue Devils Young Again For 2015 Campaign
The 2014-15 Brevard High School wrestling team. (Times photo by Robbie Robertson)
Wrestling Preview By Robbie Robertson Sports Editor
For the second straight year, the Blue Devil wrestling team can be described as “young.” Part of that is carryover from last year’s youthful squad, part of it is fresh recruits from the middle school and part of it is due to defections to other sports. With nine freshmen on the squad head coach Vernon Bryson knows he will have to bring them along slowly. “I see a lot of prelims and jayvee tournaments to get their mat legs under them,” Bryson said. “We’re a couple of weeks from that, a couple months from our peak.” Bryson knows that experience often wins out, that a senior will mostly likely beat a freshman, although the occasional exception
exists. “It’s good to have wrestlers who play two or three sports,” Bryson said. “But they have to catch up, which takes a month or two over the ones who wrestle all year long.”
Returners The Blue Devils return a pair of state qualifiers from the 2014 squad — senior Nick Siniard (182 pounds) and sophomore Logan Roth (132 pounds). “Logan stepped in as a freshman and became a state qualifier,” Bryson said. “A lot of that has to do with his athletic ability, and a lot has to do with his wrestling year round. He doesn’t get rusty.” Siniard is another who focuses on wrestling in the offseason. “Nick wrestled some on the weekends,” Bryson said. “When he was younger, he would wrestle
Brevard High School 2014-15 Wrestling Roster
Wt. Class 106 126 132 138 145 152 160 170 182 195
285. Head coach:
Name Jacob Fulp Chad Johnson Josh Nofsinger Ray Montandon Logan Roth JQ Whitesides Daniel McJunkin Jose Guitierez Chase Crump Dylan Harris Jackson Owen Eric Stewart Tanner McCandless Blake Stephens Riley Smith Nick Siniard Tanner Ellenberger Ashton Adams Caleb Gilbert Corey Mackey
Yr. Fr. Fr.
Jr. So. Fr. So. Fr. Jr. Fr. Fr. Jr. Jr. Jr. So. Sr. So. Fr. Jr. Fr.
Vernon Bryson (15th season)
year round.” Blake Stephens (170) is the only other senior on the roster and will be looked on to compete in his final campaign, Bryson said. Bryson expects contributions from Chase Crump (junior, 145), Tanner Ellenberger (sophomore, 195), Caleb Gilbert (junior, 285), Tanner McCandless (junior, 160) and Daniel McJunkin (sophomore, 138). “They’re hungry,” Bryson said. “We’re looking to fill a couple of holes down low — 120 and 126.” Conference Outlook Last year the Blue Devils finished third in the mixed 2-A/3-A Western North Carolina Athletic Conference, despite the overall youth of the squad. Bryson expects similar results this year, but the main focus will be on fellow 2-A schools Franklin and Smoky Mountain in
Date Nov. 29 Dec. 2 Dec. 5 Dec. 6 Dec. 12 Dec. 13 Dec. 18 Dec. 20 Dec. 23 Jan. 6 Jan. 16 Jan. 17 Jan. 19 Jan. 20 Jan. 23 Jan. 27 Jan. 31 Feb. 3
order for Brevard to earn a higher seed in the dual-team tournament. “Neither of those were
we can be, and improve on last year,” he added. “We need to do better at the conference tournament and put
gimme matches,” Bryson said. “We’ve still got a tough road to go through.” Pisgah and North Henderson again look to be the top two teams in the conference, but come out of the 3A ranks. “We always look at those two as the top of the conference,” Bryson said. “Our goal, again, teamwise is to be as competeive as
more wrestlers on the podium this year, and hopefully that will translate into being competitive at regionals.” Bryson then hopes the team will make a deep run into the 2-A team tournament. “We’d love to be traveling on Thursday,” Bryson said, “which means we won on Tuesday. “We’ve just got to climb
“Our goal, again, team-wise, is to be as competitive as we can be and improve on last year. We need to do better at the conference tournament and put more wrestlers on the podium this year.” — Brevard High School head wrestling coach Vernon Bryson
Vernon Bryson
the ladder one rung at a time with these young guys.”
About The Coach Bryson enters his 15th year at the helm of the Blue Devils, his 23nd year overall as a coach.
Brevard High School 2014-15 Wrestling Schedule Opponent N. Henderson Knights Tourney Dual Meet: Erwin Falcon Frenzy Tournament Falcon Frenzy Tournament Dual Meet: N. Henderson NEO Tournament Tri Meet: H’ville, W. Henderson Blue Devil Duals Walhalla Dual Team Tourney Dual Meet: Smoky Mountain Dual Meet: Pisgah TC Roberson Duals Enka JV Tournament Dual Meet: Franklin Dual Meet: Tuscola Dual Meet: E. Henderson Conference Tournament 1st Round State Duals
Home Matches In Bold * Denotes WNCAC Match
Location N. Henderson HS Clyde A. Erwin HS W. Henderson HS W. Henderson HS HOME Tuscola HS HOME HOME Walhalla HS HOME Pisgah HS TC Roberson HS Enka HS Franklin HS Tuscola HS HOME West Henderson TBD
Time All Day 6 p.m. 6 p.m. All Day 6 p.m. All Day 6 p.m. All Day 9 a.m. 6 p.m. 6 p.m. All Day All Day 6 p.m. 6 p.m. 6 p.m. All Day 6 p.m.
The Transylvania Times, Brevard, N.C., Monday, November 24, 2014-Page 23A
State Sports
Miami Heat Survive Hornets’ Buzzer Shots By Tim Reynolds Associated Press
So much intrigue, crammed into 14 seconds. A pair of former Connecticut stars, going 1-on-1 as if they were willing to decide it themselves. A one-point game, one team about to end a losing streak and a tip-in try that added more drama with every bounce off the rim. “Definitely an experience,” Luol Deng said. For the Miami Heat, a welcomed one. Deng scored 26 points, Chris Bosh and Mario Chalmers each added 20 and the Heat watched Charlotte miss three potential go-ahead shots in the final seconds on the way to beating the Hornets 94-93 on Sunday night and snapping
Katy Perry Tapped For Super Bowl Associated Press
Will Katy Perry be a firework at the Super Bowl? Will she show them what she's worth? Will she let her colors burst? NFL announced late Sunday — after rumors swirled for weeks — that the pop star will headline the Pepsi Super Bowl halftime show on Feb. 1 at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Arizona. It will air on NBC. Perry, 30, has dominated the Billboard charts since releasing her debut in 2008, including nine No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Her sophomore effort, 2010’s multiplatinum “Teenage Dream,” matched the record Michael Jackson set with “Bad” for most songs from a single album to hit No. 1 with five. Perry released “Prism,”another platinum effort, last year. It includes the No. 1 smashes “Roar” and “Dark Horse.” The Grammy-nominated star's upcoming performance is the fourth consecutive halftime show to display the NFL's push to include younger acts on its large stage: Bruno Mars had a show-stopping set at this year's Super Bowl at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey; Beyoncé electrified in 2013 in New Orleans; and there was Madonna, with Nicki Minaj and M.I.A., and the Black Eyed Peas in 2012 and 2011 respectively. Other halftime performers in the last decade have included the Rolling Stones, Prince, Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen and the Who. The girl-power singer will also be performing at the culmination of a season where critics have assailed the NFL for its response to domestic violence cases involving women; its initial handling of former Baltimore Ravens star Ray Rice's assault on his thenfiance with just a twogame suspension caused a national outrage, and led the league to toughen its penalties for such crimes. It later suspended Rice indefinitely. Perry is currently on her Prismatic World Tour. Her other hits include “I Kissed a Girl,” “California Gurls,” “'Firework” and “Wide Awake.”
a three-game home slide. “It was a good step,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. Chalmers had 10 assists for his second double-double of the season and Shabazz Napier scored 14 for the Heat. Al Jefferson finished with 22 points and 12 rebounds for Charlotte, which got 17 points from Lance Stephenson and 16 from Kemba Walker but wound up seeing its skid reach five games. The Hornets trailed by nine at the half and then led by as many as eight in the fourth, before Miami rallied. “The stretch of games we’ve played has definitely taken their toll on our confidence,” Hornets coach Steve Clifford said. Working from the right side of the lane, Bosh spun
free from Cody Zeller and scored from the right baseline to give Miami a 94-93 lead with 31 seconds remaining. That’s when the fun started. Walker missed with 26 seconds left and Charlotte down by one. The Heat got the rebound and the Hornets appeared to be trying to foul Chalmers near midcourt. No foul was called, the ball got knocked away and after a deflection out of bounds the Hornets had possession with 14 seconds remaining. Walker went at Napier — UConn great vs. UConn great — and missed a short jumper, Jefferson got a good try at the tip, and the ball bounced off the rim as the horn sounded. “I got a pretty good look,” Walker said.
Said Bosh: “I’m just glad we won. For real.” Charlotte’s lead was eight midway through the fourth, and the Heat were mired in a stretch where they had two field goals in more than 9 minutes. But Miami put together a flurry, setting up the back-and-forth finish. Bosh hit a 3-pointer, Napier had a pair of free throws after a steal and then — off a drive-and-dish by Chalmers — Napier added a 3-pointer to cap an eightpoint, 43-second burst and give Miami an 87-86 lead. There were four more lead changes from there. “We had our shots,” Jefferson said. “We had the shots we wanted. We just didn’t make them.” Tip-Ins Hornets: Stephenson isn’t exactly a fan favorite
in Miami, given his role in the Pacers-Heat rivalry in recent seasons. “They hate me everywhere,” he told fans sitting courtside during a fourth-quarter stoppage. Charlotte isn’t planning on having F Michael KiddGilchrist (right foot) back anytime soon, and G P.J. Hairston (ankle) is also likely out for “a few more days,” Clifford said. Heat: Guard Dwyane Wade (left hamstring) missed his sixth straight game. Guard Norris Cole (dislocated finger) sat for the second straight game and F Chris Andersen departed with 2:59 left in the first quarter with a right ankle sprain. Houston Astros draft pick Bryan Radziewski, a former University of
Avalanche Rally To Blow By Hurricanes 4-3 In NHL Action By The Associated Press
DENVER (AP) — The Colorado Avalanche’s frantic finish more than made up for a bad first period. Zach Redmond scored his second goal of the game with 1:35 remaining, and the Avalanche rallied to beat the Carolina Hurricanes 4-3 on Saturday night. Jarome Iginla had a goal and an assist, and Erik Johnson also scored for the Avalanche, who have won three of four. Calvin Pickard had 17 saves in relief of Reto Berra to earn his first NHL win. “With the time I’ve been here I’m feeling more and more comfortable,” Pickard said. Colorado trailed 3-2 late but controlled play for most of the third period. Iginla tied it 3-3 at 14:43, and Redmond pinched in from the blue line to record his first career multi-goal game. “The puck was kind of moving down low,” Redmond said. “Me and Iggy had talked about it earlier on the power play, me creeping down there. I was able to time it right, and he put a perfect pass on my tape and made it easy for me.” Carolina pulled goalie Cam Ward for an extra skater with a minute left, but couldn’t tie it. Ward finished with 31 saves. Nathan Gerbe, Andrej Nestrasil and John-Michael
“It’s 3-1 and the puck is on the goal line, and Sems has a shot there. Maybe it goes to 4-1 and it turns out different.” — Carolina Hurricanes head coach Bill Peters
Liles scored for the Hurricanes, who have lost five of six after a 5-0-1 stretch. The Hurricanes struggled to score during their recent slide, managing just two goals during a threegame losing streak. Their offense woke up in the first period, but was silent the rest of the way against the banged-up Avalanche. They had a chance to go up three goals early in the second period but Pickard made a glove save on Alexander Semin’s shot from in close and then scooped the puck off the goal line. “It’s 3-1 and the puck is on the goal line, and Sems has a shot there,” Carolina coach Bill Peters said. “Maybe it goes to 4-1 and it turns out different.” Colorado’s injury woes forced the Avalanche to recall an entire line from Lake Erie of the AHL. Tomas Vincour, Andrew Agozzino and Ben Street made their debuts after the team was hit hard by injuries. Dennis Everberg (separated shoulder) and Alex Tanguay (facial fracture) were hurt on Thurs-
day. Jamie McGinn is battling back pain, and John Mitchell sustained a leg injury in practice on Friday. That is on top of the injury to No. 1 goalie Semyon Varlamov, who is out because of a groin strain. Berra struggled in his second straight start and gave way to Pickard after allowing three goals on 10 shots. Pickard’s performance helped prevent Carolina from getting its first win in Denver. The last time the franchise won here was Feb. 9, 1996, when the team was the Hartford Whalers. “He stood on his head,” Redmond said of Pickard. The Hurricanes looked like they would end the drought with a big first period. Liles beat Berra 3:48 in, and Gerbe made it 2-0 just 82 seconds later with a shot through traffic. It was Liles’ first goal of the season, and it came in his first game against his former team. “It was pretty emotional,” said Liles, who was with the Avalanche from 2004-11. “A lot of friends, a lot of good memories and
it’s a different feeling on this side. It would have been nice to get the win along with the goal, but it was still a nice feeling coming back to this building and getting the start from coach, too.” Colorado got some life when Redmond scored midway through the first. His centering pass to Agozzino went off the skate of Carolina defenseman Andrej Sekera and past Ward to cut the lead in half. Nestrasil chased Berra with a soft goal to the short side at 16:50 of the first to put the Hurricanes ahead 3-1. Johnson cut the lead to one with his fourth goal at 8:25 of the second period. His shot from the left circle beat Ward 2 seconds after the Avalanche’s second power play expired. Nathan MacKinnon had three assists, and Gabriel Landeskog added two for Colorado. Notes: Carolina D Brett Bellemore left the game in the first period after being checked into the boards by Colorado RW Cody McLeod. He didn’t return. The Avalanche placed Everberg, McGinn (back) and D Brad Stuart (hamstring) on the injured list. Liles is 15th in Avalanche history with 275 points. Tanguay could return to action as soon as Tuesday. Mitchell is out indefinitely.
N.C. State Survives Scare From S. Florida By Aaron Beard Associated Press
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina State put itself in a position to earn a tough home win only to bumble its way to the horn. It wasn’t the way coach Mark Gottfried wanted to see his team finish, even though the Wolfpack stayed unbeaten. Trevor Lacey scored 21 points to help North Carolina State hold off South Florida 68-65 on Sunday, earning the program’s first 4-0 start under Gottfried. But the Wolfpack (4-0) blew most of an 11-point lead in the final 3 minutes, missing free throws and committing turnovers that ultimately helped the Bulls (3-1) get one final shot to force overtime. “My first thought is we’re always happy to win, but I think we need to play a lot better than we did today,” Gottfried said, “especially down the stretch.”
N.C. State went 3-for-8 from the foul line in the final 75 seconds, didn’t manage a field goal in the final 4 minutes and had a couple of late turnovers against pressure. N.C. State appeared to have the game in hand after Des Lee’s two free throws made it 65-54 with 2:57 left. But the Bulls clawed back in it and got within 6765 on Corey Allen Jr.’s layup with 3.8 seconds left. Lee hit 1 of 2 free throws with 2.6 seconds to go to push the margin back to three. The Bulls had one more chance but Allen’s heave for the tie from a step or two inside half court clanged off the rim as the horn sounded. Before Sunday, N.C. State’s closest win had been 12 points. “We needed that,” Lacey said of the tough finish. “We haven’t had a close call like that this year. ... We have to be better at executing toward the end and finishing and making free throws.” Anthony “Cat” Barber finished with 10 points for the
Wolfpack but missed three free throws late, while Kyle Washington scored all eight of his points during a critical second-half stretch in which N.C. State pushed ahead by 10. Ralston Turner added nine points but went 1-for-6 from behind the arc. Allen finished with 14 points to lead South Florida, which trailed 33-29 at halftime but shot 54 percent in the second half to keep the pressure on. “I’m very proud of our fight and our resilience,” firstyear USF coach Orlando Antigua said. “There’s a bunch of things that obviously we can correct. ... We’re seeing improvement. That’s what we want to try and we preach to them: try to get better every day a little bit, and we’re doing that.” Tip-Ins South Florida: The Bulls were going for their second straight 4-0 start. South Florida lost guard Troy Holston Jr. to an apparent left ankle injury late in the first half. He was on the bench
after halftime with the aid of crutches and a walking boot. Antigua had no update on his status afterward. Nehemias Morillo had 11 points and seven rebounds. N.C. State: BeeJay Anya, who set a school record with 10 blocks in Thursday’s win against Jacksonville, had five to go with eight points and nine rebounds. Lennard Freeman had his third straight double-figure rebounding game with 10. Rebounding N.C. State finished with a 40-33 rebounding advantage and turned that into 15 second-chance points. Lacey chipped in seven from the backcourt. Fewer Turnovers South Florida had averaged 20 turnovers in the first three games, including 24 in the last outing against UAB. But the Bulls finished with just 10 against the Wolfpack, their lowest total of the young season. Up Next N.C. State hosts Richmond on Wednesday.
Miami star left-hander, was part of the sold-out crowd. Big Third Charlotte opened the second half on an 11-2 run, on the way to outscoring Miami 28-14 in the first 12 minutes following intermission. The Heat won despite shooting 38 percent in the second half. Closing Unit Partly because of injuries, partly because the unit was working, Spoelstra didn’t make a single substitution in the final 7:28. Chalmers got to the foul line 10 times in the fourth quarter and Miami got 15 free throws to Charlotte’s three in the final period. Up Next Hornets: Host the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday. Heat: Host Golden State on Tuesday.
Football’s Top Four Unchanged By Ralph Russo Associated Press
Florida State is No. 1 in The Associated Press college football poll, followed by Alabama, Oregon and Mississippi State. The top four teams were unchanged for the first time since late September. The gap between the Seminoles and the Crimson Tide narrowed after another close call by Florida State, which beat Boston College 20-17 on a field goal in the waning seconds. Florida State received 37 first-place votes and 1,458 points, down six first-place votes and 18 points from last week. Alabama has 21 first-place votes 1,445 points. No. 3 Oregon received two firstplace votes, one more than last week. Mississippi State is fourth, followed by Baylor and TCU. Baylor and TCU swapped places. Ohio State remained No. 7. No. 22 Minnesota, No. 23 Clemson, No. 24 Louisville and No. 25 Boise State moved into the rankings. Nebraska, Utah, Southern California and Duke dropped out. The Gophers are ranked for the first time since 2008.
UNC Women Top Ducks 76-59 Associated Press
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Stephanie Mavunga scored 23 points and career-highs of 16 rebounds and 6 blocked shots and No. 11 North Carolina overwhelmed Oregon in the second half for a 7659 win on Sunday. The Ducks (1-1) had a nine-point lead in the first half and were up 29-28 at the break but Alisha Gray had six points as the Tar Heels (4-0) scored the first 12 points of the second half and never slowed down. Gray finished with 18 points and Xylina McDaniel added 14 for the Tar Heels, who shot 56 percent in the second half. Jillian Alleyne had 18 points and 17 rebounds and Lexi Bando added 14 points but Katelyn Loper, who had eight 3-pointers and 33 points in Oregon's opening win, was just 2 of 11, all from behind the arc. The Ducks shot 30 percent.
Page 24A–The Transylvania Times, Brevard, N.C., Monday, November 24, 2014
Sports
Callie Chappell, a junior, led the Lady Tigers in kills with 299 and digs with 294. (File photos by Robbie Robertson)
Senior Hannah Reese, the Lady Tigers’ go-to Senior setter Hannah Sanders was a triple hitter, was a formidable threat from either the threat, leading the team in sets, but putting in front or back row. time as both a defender and outside hitter.
Trio Of Lady Tigers Named All-Conference
Three More Earn Honorable Mention By Robbie Robertson Sports Editor
An 18-4 mark, 10-2 record in the Smoky Mountain Conference — just another year for Rosman High School volleyball. The Lady Tigers set high standards for themselves and year in and year out they excel in both conference and non-conference play. As a result, Rosman dominated all-Smoky Mountain Conference selections for the fourth year in a row, placing three players on the all-league team, with three more receiving honorable mention. Callie Chappell, Hannah Reese and Hannah Sanders were named all-conference by league coaches. Chappell put up monster numbers in her junior campaign, leading the team in kills with 299 and in digs with 294. She also had 60 blocks. “She’s the player that when she rotates to the front
row, the opponent is like ‘oh crap, here she comes,’” said Lady Tiger head coach Amanda McCall. “She hits the ball so hard, but she’s also a defensive threat. She touches almost everything from the front row, but also when she rotates to the back row. “She’s just good. She can play all the way around,” McCall added. “I’m excited to have her back next year. Expecting big things out of her next year.” Reese, a senior, was second on the team with 293 kills and second on the team with 215 digs, playing all the way around for the Lady Tigers. “Hannah is kind of our go-to girl, an awesome threat from the back and the front this year. Consistent. Dependable. Led our team as one of the team captains — definitely our most vocal captain,” McCall said. Sanders performed double duty for the Lady Tigers, splitting her time at
Claire Harris blocked and killed from the middle position, “stepping up her game in 2014.”
setter and recording 244 assists in her senior year. She also was a solid defender with 121 digs. “Sanders had kind of big shoes to fill working on rebuilding the right side. She and Alex [McNeely] did that and didn’t miss a beat. “Hannah played through some injuries there at the end of the season, but it was her senior year and she wanted to stick it out and play, and we’re thankful for that. “She was also a big leader for us. No matter where the defense put the ball, she was going to get to it and give our hitters a good set.” Coach-Of-The-Year Head coach Amanda McCall was once again named Smoky Mountain Conference coach-of-theyear. She led the Lady Tigers to a 18-4 overall mark and fourth straight run deep into the playoffs. This year the team lost to fourth-seeded Community
School of Davidson in the third round. The Lady Tigers have a 64-8 record under McCall’s tenure. “I’d rather have a playerof-the-year,” McCall said of the girls’ efforts.“It should be given to one of the girls.” The future continues to look bright for the Lady Tigers, as many of them will continue club volleyball in the offseason. “We’ve got a lot of girls that are going to have a volleyball in their hands all year,” McCall said. “That’s exciting for us to come into the gym early preseason next year and start working from there and not having to relearn what they lost in the off-season. “I don’t think we’ll miss a beat.” Honorable Mention Senior Claire Harris and a pair of juniors — Alex McNeely and Haley Parker — were named all conference honorable mention. Harris was a solid per-
Alex McNeely, one of two juniors honored, split time at the setter position. (Courtesy photo)
former at the net, recording 110 kills to go with 40 blocks. “She’s a hard worker and she is determined to be good,” McCall said of Harris. “She stepped up for us this year. She was way more of an offensive threat this year than she has been in the past. “The games that we needed her she really turned it on.” McNeely, the Lady Tigers’ second setter, had 304 assists to go with 112 digs. “Alex, being kind of our underclassmen setter, had big shoes to fill,” McCall said. “We’ve always been a strong team on the right side of the court and nothing really changed this year. “Alex had to speed up the sets moving up to varsity and did really well with the transition. She’s going to be a huge asset to our team next year.” Parker had 175 digs for Rosman as a versatile “allaround player” who takes
Amanda McCall SMC Coach-Of-TheYear
coaching very well. “You tell her what you want her to do and that’s what she’s going to do,” McCall said. “She works really hard to get better. “You ask her and she’ll do it. We have her back again next year and we’re excited about that.”
Haley Parker was one of the Lady Tigers’ allaround players.
The Transylvania Times, Brevard, N.C., Monday, November 24, 2014-Page 25A
Sports
Trio Of Lady Devils Named All-Conference Kjersti Anderson’s senior leadership was as Sophomore Ashley McBee, who burst onto important as her hitting ability, according to the scene as a freshman, led the team in kills coach Cori Bryson. with 330.
By Robbie Robertson Sports Editor
It’s not often a team welcomes a new coach, revamps its lineup due to defection and still hardly misses a beat, but that describes the 2014 Lady Blue Devil volleyball team to a T. Thanks to that effort, a trio of Lady Blue Devils were named to the all-WNC Athletic Conference team for 2014: Kjersti Anderson, Ashley McBee and Mac McNiel. Anderson, a senior, rebounded nicely from a season-ending knee injury early in the 2013 season to lead the team in digs with 311, while putting up impressive offensive numbers with 250 kills. She also had 25 blocks at the net. “Kjersti was exactly what I thought she was going to be — what I wanted her to be,” said Lady Blue Devil head
coach Cori Bryson. “She was definitely one of our best defenders, as well as one of the top players on the front row. “Kjersti was also someone we could go to when we needed a point. Her senior leadership definitely helped us win some games.” McBee blasted onto the scene as a freshman in 2013 and carried that momentum into the 2014 season. She led the team in kills with 330. She made up for her height deficiency with a superior vertical leap and power on the outside that confounded defenses. McBee was also a solid defender with 222 digs, and she split time at the setter position, racking up 448 assists. “Ashley, as a sophomore, I felt like she stepped up so big, especially our playoff games,” Bryson said. “Ashley wrote a letter to
the team before each playoff game and I think that definitely helped. “I expect really great things out of her in the future. Again, she was one of those players we wanted to go to for a critical point.” McNiel, the final senior honored, was likewise a triple threat for the Lady Blue Devils. Her main talent lies in setting, where she tallied 514 assists. She also put up respectable offensive numbers from the outside, scoring 203 kills. On defense, McNiel had 257 digs to go with 19 blocks. “I don’t think my team would have been the same without her on the court,” Bryson said. “She is such a dymnamic player, always a step ahead of the ball, always in the right place. “She brought so much to our team — great athletic ability. I loved having her out on the court.”
Mac McNiel contributed on offense in the outside hitter position, but set for her teammates 514 times in her senior campaign.
WNCAC Coach-Of-The-Year In answer to the team’s success, Bryson was named
son and emergent power North Henderson. The Lady Blue Devils also dropped a pair of con-
WNC Athletic Conference Coach-of-the-Year by her fellow league coaches. In the past the honor defaulted to the conference champion (in this case West Henderson), but Bryson’s peers voted to honor her in 2014. In her first year as head coach, Bryson led the team to the aforementioned 20-6 mark, 11-3 in the WNCAC, losing twice to eventual 3A runner up West Hender-
tests to defending and eventual 2-A state champion Hendersonville. That’s rarefied company, more impressive because Bryson and the team improved on 2013’s record of 18-6 overall, 8-6 in the conference. “It really came as a surprise and I greatly appreciate the honors,” Bryson said. “I really think the team helped me receive that award. “We had a great season,
but it definitely wasn’t just me, it was the players, the support and a lot of other people who helped me get where I am.” “I think it says a lot that we finished as conference runner up in a 2-A 3-A conference, which says a great deal about our program.”
Headwaters Outfitters Outdoor Adventures has announced a Euro Nymphing Seminar coming this December. Fly Fishing guide and competitive fly fisherman Chris Grose will host a seminar on European Nymphing techniques Friday, Dec. 12 starting at 7 p.m. Euro Nymphing techniques are relatively new to the fly fishing scene in the U.S., and have long been relied upon by expert European anglers to, simply said, catch more fish. Grose, will explain why this system is more productive and discuss various aspects of equipment, rigging,
and technique. In fly fishing, technique and presentation far outweigh the importance of fly selection. Chris will also demonstrate tying a very simple nymph pattern that if fished correctly will produce consistent results. This style of Nymphing is utilized by the best fly fishermen in the world and it will work for you too. The seminar will take place at Headwaters Outfitters and is free to the public. Snacks and beverages will be provided. For more information call (828) 877-3106 or email ryan@headwatersoutfit ters.com.
“I think it says a lot that we finished as conference runner up in a 2-A 3-A conference, which says a great deal about our program.” — Brevard High School head volleyball coach Cori Bryson
Chris Groce, a fly fishing guide and competitive angler, will hold a Euro Nymphing techniques class at Headwaters Outfitters Dec. 12 at 7 p.m. (Courtesy photo)
Cori Bryson WNCAC Coach-OfThe-Year
Nymphing Seminar Slated For Dec. 12 At Headwaters
Page 26A–The Transylvania Times, Brevard, N.C., Monday, November 24, 2014
Sports
Tornados Looking To ‘Step Up’ In 2015
The 2014-15 Brevard College men’s basketball team. (Courtesy photo)
Men’s Basketball Preview By Randall Stewart BC Sports Information
Head men’s basketball coach Lee Burgess is excited about this year’s version of the Tornados. It’s by far the most excited he’s been since he took over the program in May of 2012. “I think we’ve got a chance to be better than people think this year,” Burgess remarked pensively, the picture of calm in his office on a sunny afternoon just two days before the start of what he hopes could become the best season in recent memory at Brevard. The Tornados were picked to finish ninth in the South Atlantic Conference (SAC) in this year’s preseason coaches’ poll, one spot out of a bid to the postseason conference tournament. But the coaches mean no disrespect to a program that’s labored through consecutive 4-22 seasons. After all, they did tab senior forward Darius Moose as a first team preseason all-conference selection. “Darius is the unquestioned leader of our team,” said Burgess of his 6-3, 220 pound stalwart. “The guys really respect both his voice and his ability on the floor.” The entire conference, it would seem, respects his ability on the floor. His 19.8 points per game last season ranked third in the SAC. He also had 3.2 assists per
No. 1 2 3 4 5 10 11 14 21 23 24 41 44
game to finish ninth in the league and pulled down 5.8 rebounds per contest, good for 14th in the conference. He led the team in all three categories. The Tornados played 26 games last season, with Moose scoring in double figures in all but two of them. In a win at Tusculum last November, he set career highs with 10 assists and five steals, and then had 33 points and a Brevard NCAA-era record 18 rebounds in the Pioneers’ return trip to Boshamer Gymnasium in January. He notched four double-doubles on the year. “He’s got such a big responsibility to be a leader for this team,” Burgess continued. “Whether he has a good day or a bad day, the team often follows suit. It’s immense pressure on him, but he’s handled it extremely well so far.” Fortunately for Brevard, Moose will be surrounded by a supporting cast that gives Brevard the most depth it has enjoyed in the Burgess era. The Tornados expect to return several players from last year’s team while welcoming a host of newcomers that will factor heavily in the playing rotation. Sophomore Trevon Shaw, who averaged 12.7 points per game a season ago, is the lone returning guard. Junior forward Miles Leathers has been ham-
pered by lingering eligibility issues, but his impending return, complete with his 13.1 points and nearly five rebounds per game from last season, would provide a large boost for the Tornados. Phil Wallace, a transfer from Cape Fear Community College, enters the season as the Tornados’ starting point guard. In Brevard’s lone exhibition contest thus far, an 81-58 loss to Division I UNC Asheville, the junior dished out a game-high 10 assists and came up with a steal. An interesting battle has broken out at the center position, as freshman Brayden Masten appears to have the edge over junior Alex Moe as the season begins. Both big men scored eight points against the Bulldogs and exhibited soft touch from the perimeter, combining for four triples in the contest. In fact, Burgess contends that Brevard’s skill on the perimeter will prove to be one of its most valuable assets again this season after the Tornados finished 11th in the country last year with 9.9 three-point field goals made per contest. “We hope to spread the floor on opposing defenses, and everyone on the court can shoot from deep. We think we’ll be able to create some matchup problems,” he said. Those same matchup
Brevard College 2014-15 Men’s Basketball Roster
Name Fred Rambert Evan Dunham DeJon Neal D.J. Bostick Miles Leathers Phil Wallace Stevie Williams Trevon Shaw Brayden Masten Darius Moose Jaylon Debardlabon Alex Moe Mark Schmitt
Head coach: Assistant coaches:
Pos. G G G F G G G G F F F C C
Ht. 6-3 6-1 6-0 6-3 6-3 6-1 6-1 6-1 6-9 6-3 6-4 6-8 6-9
Wt. 170 160 165 185 210 170 185 185 180 220 175 240 250
Yr. Fr. Fr. So. Fr. Jr. Jr. Fr. So. Fr. Sr. So. Jr. Fr.
Lee Burgess (Samford, 2000) Kaylin Johnson, George Williams
.
problems, however, may become a liability on the defensive end. One of the team’s biggest question marks revolves around
will likely see increased minutes as the season progresses after the duo combined for eight points in Asheville.
whether the Tornados can battle in the paint and on the board against teams that have bigger bodies at their disposal. Freshman guard Stevie Williams figures to be the first player off of Burgess’s bench. The High Point native led the team in scoring in its exhibition at UNC Asheville, scoring 13 points by knocking down five of his eight field goal attempts in the game. He also had pairs of steals and assists. Sophomore junior college transfer Jaylon Debardlabon and true freshman D.J. Bostick, both forwards,
So what was Coach Burgess’s biggest takeaway from Saturday’s exhibition, which gave his team a chance to battle against a Division I opponent in front of more than 1,500 fans? “It’s encouraging to get so many newcomers experience in a real college game. We had a lot of opportunities for the younger guys, and we had a couple that really stepped up for us,” he said. And the theme of stepping up may best encapsulate what Burgess hopes this season can become for the Tornados. They’ll need
“I think we’ve got a chance to be better than peple think this year.” --Brevard College head men’s basketball coach Lee Burgess
Lee Burgess
to show that they can step up to tough competition within the conference. They’ll need to have individual players step up into expanded roles. And, if all goes according to plan, they’ll “step up” their place in the conference standings and earn a SAC Tournament bid for the first time since the 2010-2011 campaign.
Brevard College 2014-15 Men’s Basketball Schedule
Date Nov. 25 Nov. 29 Dec. 3 Dec. 7 Dec. 13 Dec. 15 Dec. 17 Dec. 31 Jan. 3 Jan. 7 Jan. 10 Jan. 14 Jan. 17 Jan. 21 Jan. 24 Jan. 28 Jan. 31 Feb. 4 Feb. 7 Feb. 11 Feb. 14 Feb. 18 Feb. 21 Feb. 25 Feb. 28
Name Tusculum* @ Gardner-Webb (Ex) Anderson* @ Lenoir-Rhyne* @ Queens* @ Lees-McRae Pfeiffer @ Kentucky Wesleyan @ Coker* @ Tusculum* @ Catawba* Carson-Newman* Newberry* @ Anderson* Wingate* @ Lincoln Memorial* Lenoir-Rhyne* Mars Hill* Queens* @ Carson-Newman* Coker* Lincoln Memorial* Catawba* @ Mars Hill* @ Wingate*
Location Brevard Boiling Springs Brevard Hickory Charlotte Banner Elk Brevard Owensboro, Ky. Hartsville, S.C. Greeneville, Tenn. Salisbury Brevard Brevard Anderson, S.C. Brevard Harrogate, Tenn. Brevard Brevard Brevard Jefferson City, Tenn. Brevard Brevard Brevard Mars Hill Wingate
Home Games In Bold * Denotes South Atlantic Conference Game Current record: 0-2 (0-1 SAC)
Time 8 p.m. 2 p.m. 8 p.m. 4 p.m. 4 p.m. 4 p.m. 4 p.m. 3 p.m. 4 p.m. 8 p.m. 4 p.m. 8 p.m. 4 p.m. 8 p.m. 4 p.m. 8 p.m. 4 p.m. 8 p.m. 4 p.m. 8 p.m. 4 p.m. 8 p.m. 4 p.m. 8 p.m. 4 p.m.
The Transylvania Times, Brevard, N.C., Monday, November 24, 2014-Page 27A
Sports
Tornados Looking For Tournament Berth
The 2014-15 Brevard College women’s basketball team. (Courtesy photo)
Women’s Basketball Preview By Jaimen Romano BC Sports Information
The Brevard College women’s basketball team looks to make improvements from last year and return to the South Atlantic Conference (SAC) Tournament for the first time since 2010 under seventh year head coach Shannon Reid. The Tornados had an overall record of 7-19 last winter including a 6-16 conference mark, their best conference performance since joining the SAC. Six of the 16 conference losses, however, came by one possession. Reid hopes with a veteran leadership group, Brevard can turn that around. This year the squad was picked 11th in the SAC preseason coaches’ poll. Brevard also has already
No.
Name
3
1 4 5
10
competed in two exhibition contests against Division I opponents UNC Asheville and High Point, which has prepped them for their regular season schedule. “It’s an exciting time for Brevard College women’s basketball,” said Reid. “Entering my seventh season, we are coming off our best performance in the SAC with six league wins. We have our starting five back from a year ago, including three double-figure scorers in sophomore Madison Lenox and juniors Katie Williams and Shelby Wolfe, as well as five returning letter winners.” Lenox led the team last year with 356 points, averaging 13.7 points per game while also guiding the team in shot blocks (21) along side 117 rebounds. Lenox also grabbed a team-leading 93 defensive boards.
Williams was second on the squad with 338 points (13.0 points per game), while Wolfe led the team in rebounds with 140, including 65 on the offensive glass. “Our staff and players have been working diligently to improve on our shot selection, defense, and rebounding to be specific,” said Reid. “We have added six key players who we feel can help us in those areas and to go along with a solid core, we now find ourselves more experienced and talented than we've ever been.” Additional returners include junior Hadara Bannister, who dished out a team best 73 assists while senior Taylor Hiatt averaged 6.1 points per game and grabbed 94 rebounds, averaging 3.9 per game. With a few more veteran
Brevard College 2014-15 Women’s Basketball Roster Pos.
Height
Yr.
Lynsey Crisp
F
5-10
So.
Kathryn Beasley
G
5-7
Fr.
Nicole Graham Taylor Hiatt
Kelsie Rhyne
G
G/F G
5-4
5-10 5-8
So. Sr. Fr.
11
Kadijah Watts
G
5-4
Jr.
13
Kyley Clark
G
5-7
So.
Chelsea Turner
G
5-10
So.
Jennifer Martin
F
6-1
Sr.
F
6-0
Fr.
F
6-2
Fr.
12 22 23 24 25 31 32 33 44
Katie Williams Hadara Bannister Madison Lenox
G G
G
Ariadna Simon
C
Shelby Wolfe
F
Whitney DeMoss Claudia Arcega
Head coach: Assistant coach:
5-8 5-6 5-9 6-2
5-9
Jr. Jr.
So. Jr.
Jr.
Shannon Reid (Pfeiffer, 2003) Donald Hudson
players returning to the fold and a solid group of incoming students, Reid hopes the team can use
who along with Arcega will get their first look at American collegiate basketball.
their mix of experience and new talent to reach their goals this season. Newcomers include freshmen forwards Whitney DeMoss, and Spain native, Claudia Arcega. The Tornados also added firstyear guards Kathryn Beasley, and Kelsie Rhyne, and Ariadna Simon, a junior from Barcelona, Spain,
“The growing stages are always a process and I feel blessed to coach a great group of young ladies who now understand what it will take for us to be successful. This team is disciplined, passionate, and hungry for success,” said Reid. The Tornados open their regular season on the
It’s an exciting time for Brevard College women’s basketball. We have our starting five back, including three double-figure scorers.” --Brevard College head women’s basketball coach Shannon Reid
Shannon Reid
road against Newberry in SAC play on Saturday, Nov. 22, at 2 p.m. before their home opener against Tusculum, which is slated to start at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 25.
Brevard College 2013-14 Womens’ Basketball Schedule
Date Nov. 25 Nov. 29 Nov. 30 Dec. 3 Dec. 7 Dec. 13 Dec. 15 Dec. 17 Jan. 3 Jan. 7 Jan. 10 Jan. 14 Jan. 17 Jan. 21 Jan. 24 Jan. 28 Jan. 31 Feb. 4 Feb. 7 Feb. 9 Feb. 11 Feb. 14 Feb. 18 Feb. 21 Feb. 25 Feb. 28
Name Tusculum* @ North Georgia @ USC Upstate Anderson* @ Lenoir-Rhyne* @ Queens* @ Campbell (Ex.) Converse @ Coker* @ Tusculum* @ Catawba* Carson-Newman* Newberry* @ Anderson* Wingate* @ Lincoln Memorial* Lenoir-Rhyne* Mars Hill* Queens* @ Converse @ Carson-Newman* Coker* Lincoln Memorial* Catawba* @ Mars Hill* @ Wingate*
Current record: Home Games In Bold
Location Brevard Dahlonega, Ga. Spartanburg, S.C. Brevard Hickory Charlotte Buies Creek Brevard Hartsville, S.C. Greeneville, Tenn. Salisbury Brevard Brevard Anderson, S.C. Brevard Harrogate, Tenn. Brevard Brevard Brevard Spartanburg, S.C. Jefferson City, Tenn. Brevard Brevard Brevard Mars Hill Wingate
Time 6 p.m. 2 p.m. 3 p.m. 6 p.m. 2 p.m. 2 p.m. TBA 2 p.m. 2 p.m. 6 p.m. 2 p.m. 6 p.m. 2 p.m. 6 p.m. 2 p.m. 6 p.m. 2 p.m. 6 p.m. 2 p.m. 7 p.m. 6 p.m. 2 p.m. 6 p.m. 2 p.m. 6 p.m. 2 p.m.
0- (0- SAC) *Denotes South Atlantic Conference Game
Page 28A–The Transylvania Times, Brevard, N.C., Monday, November 24, 2014
Sports
Ye Ladies Of Spain
International Recruits Should Add Dimension Of Height By Joshua Cole Special To The Times
Brevard College is home to more than 50 international students, with two from Spain playing basketball for its women’s team and, at 6-2, ranking among the tallest of coach Shannon Reid’s 2014 Tornados. Freshman Claudia Arcega from Zaragoza in Central Spain, and junior Ariadna Simon from Barcelona on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, were recruited by coach Reid for both their on-court skills and to fill a need for more height under the basket. Simon is studying health science. First year student Arcega has not yet declared a major, but believes that she will study either health science or biology. The two women did not know each other prior to arriving in Brevard, but have formed a close friendship over the fall semester. The two are often spotted eating in the cafeteria, or walking to class together. They are hard to miss, given their height. Both miss homemade Spanish foods like Paella, a national dish made of rice, meats, seafood, vegetables, olive oil and a variety of spices like saffron and rosemary. Their diet in Spain involves more vegetables than are usually served here. Asked about potatoes, Arcega quipped, “I don’t think I’d ever seen hash browns before I came here!” There are many interesting cultural differences between the United States and Spain. Arcega and Simon explained that at home they eat much later than is typical in America. Lunch is usually served at around 2
p.m. in Spain and dinner can be as late as 9 p.m., 10 p.m., or even 11 p.m. “Five o’clock is our nap time,” Arcega said with a laugh. Simon added that “shops close at 10 p.m. in Spain. I think that’s because we receive more daylight than most of the U.S.” In addition to the cultural differences, there are also marked differences in the way basketball is played in the two countries. “The way they play here is very different,” Arcega said. “Here, one of the most important things is the strength you have. You have to be really strong,” Simon added, “In Spain, it’s more about making good decisions and playing like a team. We pass the ball more and take more time before taking a shot.” Simon mentioned that in Spain, teams practice only a few times a week, which is a lot different from coach Reid’s demanding practice schedule at BC. Arcega, the slighter of the two, says that she has already seen a big difference in her game since being introduced to weight training for the first time. The training has helped her adapt to the faster, more strengthbased American game. Simon said that one of the reasons she likes BC is because it is small. “All the people know you and can help you,” she said. “BC has a faculty that seems to always want to find ways to help students succeed in a way that works best for the individual.” Both Simon and Arcega will make the long flight home for the Christmas holiday break, and are excited about seeing their families. Arcega mentioned that she plans to practice basketball with her father while at
Ariadna Simon and Claudia Arcega, both from Spain, will bring muchneeded height to the Tornados’ roster this season. home. “He is also tall, around 68, and played the game professionally in Europe,” she
said. Being far from home has given the two women a new appreciation for things often
taken for granted. Before leaving Spain, Arcega was excited to get away, but she now misses her family.
“In Spain many young adults live at home until they start their own family,” she said. “It’s not normal for people around college age to move. My sister is 23 and studying medicine, but still lives at home with my parents.” Both players agree that having to live on their own as students in America has forced them to mature faster. “Ariadna and Claudia bring an asset to our team that we have not had in the past,” coach Reid said. “You can’t teach size, and at 6-2 each, they add a dimension that will give us more of a competitive advantage. The thing that most stood out when evaluating these two was certainly the size that we needed, but also the fact that each has her own specific basketball skill set. “Both young ladies had other opportunities, but chose Brevard. Since they arrived, our practices have been more competitive. We see shot blocking and aggressive rebounding, and team chemistry seems to be much better. They’ve also brought personality and a touch of comedy to the team. I hear younger players saying things to them in Spanish, and we all find it funny when they don’t quite understand something said in our English slang. “Early on,” coach Reid added, “it was a struggle to get comfortable with them, but they’ve come a long way in a short time. I’m excited about their futures and I love the fact that they are using Brevard College as the platform to fulfill their dreams. It's a win-win for everyone.” Joshua Cole writes for the BC student newspaper and is a member of the cycling team.
Hall Of Fame Wrestler, Minister, Has Ties To Brevard Many in this community remember Rev. Mike Jordan as a minister, a pastor and an endless source of support to those in need. The 67-year-old Jordan served as minister of Brevard’s First United Methodist Church from 2007 to 2010. As did his father before him, he also served as a member of the Brevard College Board of Trustees. Jordan’s former local parishioners remember him as an incredibly energetic man who cared deeply about people and was a pastor in every sense of that word. What some know, but many may not, is that Jordan was also a champion wrestler who later volunteered countless hours coaching the sport he loves at a number of high schools across the state. The Methodist Church practices what is called itinerancy, the regular
moving of ministers from location to location to insure that every church has a pastor, and every pastor has a church. For that reason, Jordan, who retired after 41 years in 2013, served as a volunteer coach at Franklin, Wilkes Central, Beaver Creek, Ashe Central, Eastern Guilford, Statesville, Asheboro, Rockingham County, Brevard and Pisgah High School. He and wife Margaret, parents of three, now live in Lake Junaluska, near Waynesville. Jordan grew up in Winston-Salem, graduating from R.J. Reynolds High School in 1965, where he wrestled, first in the 95-lb class, then at 103-lbs, and qualified for the state finals three times. He jokes that he had “a truly massive body” in those early days. He enrolled at Duke University in the fall of 1965, graduating four years later. Jordan then earned a degree from Duke’s Divinity School in
1972. A health problem kept him off the wrestling mat as a freshman, but Jordan joined the Blue Devil team as a sophomore, wrestling for his last three years. As a senior, he was the Atlantic Coast Conference champion in the 123-lb class. He remains the only North Carolina native to win an ACC wrestling championship in Duke history, and he followed that achievement by working as the university’s assistant varsity wrestling coach during his three years as a Divinity School student. Jordan’s contributions to wrestling in the Tar Heel state were publicly recognized last May, when he was given a Lifetime Service Award and inducted into the North Carolina Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame at a ceremony in Chapel Hill. “That honor was more than fitting,” a former local parishioner said.
“Mike is a special guy. He has touched countless lives over many years of
service, and we in Brevard were fortunate to have him pass our way.”
Paul Morgan is a retired journalist and journalism professor.
The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission’s Home From The Hunt™ campaign reminds everyone who is hunting during the holiday season to make safety the top priority. “Thanksgiving and Christmas are traditional times for family and friends to go hunting,” said Travis Casper, the state hunter education coordina-
tor with the Wildlife Commission. “In the excitement of a holiday hunt, don’t overlook the safety aspects. Make it a part of your planning. Stress the importance of everyone being careful.” Before the hunt, Casper advised: • Get back to basics — review hunter education training and equipment in-
structions. • Know the rules — read applicable requirements, licensing and season information in the Regulations Digest before going afield. • Inspect all equipment — repair or replace equipment, especially tree stands, before use. “We recommend a fullbody safety harness anytime you use a tree stand,”
Casper said. “Maintain three points of contact when climbing up and down, and never carry anything as you climb.” When hunting with a firearm, Casper advised: • Always keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction. Be certain of your target and what is beyond. • Keep your finger off the
trigger until ready to shoot. • A blaze orange cap, hat or outer garment that is visible from all sides must be worn when hunting bear, feral hogs, deer, rabbit, squirrel, grouse, pheasant or quail with a firearm. Anyone hunting deer during a deer firearms season, regardless of method, must wear blaze orange. Hunters also are required to wear
blaze orange while hunting with archery equipment during the black powder and gun seasons, including Sundays. For more information on the Home From The Hunt™ campaign, Hunting Heritage Apprentice Permits and the Hunter Education Program, go to www.ncwildlife.org or call 919-707-0031.
By Paul Morgan Special To The Times
Margaret And Mike Jordan
‘Home From The Hunt’ Program Advises Safety First
The Transylvania Times, Brevard, N.C., Monday, November 24, 2014-Page 29A
Sports
BC Football Featured Formidable Rushing Attack
Although its final record left something to be desired, the Brevard College football team can celebrate a bevy of accomplishments in the 2014 season. The Tornados finished the year with a 1-10 overall record and went winless in South Atlantic Conference play. But the season ended on a high note as the Tornados set a new school record by racking up 562 rushing yards in a 66-0 win over College of Faith, representing the second-most points scored in school history and the second-most prolific rushing output of any Division II team this season. The single-game rushing mark was far from the only record-setting performance the Tornados accomplished this season. Brevard set or extended an eye-popping 41 individual school records and rewrote 17 team records, bringing the total number of new entries in the Brevard NCAA-era record book to 58. The staggering number of records this season is a testament to Brevard’s prolific rushing offense. The Tornados set school highs with 3,538 rushing yards and 321.6 rushing yards per game, a figure that ranked sixth in Division II this season. The Tornados also set a school record with 5.1 yards per carry and fell one touchdown shy of setting a new scoring record with 38 scores on the ground. The Brevard offensive line is to be commended for its outstanding efforts on the year. No contributions were bigger than those of freshman left tackle Josh Turner, who was named to the all-conference first team. Jordan Ollis, a senior fullback from Columbus, played a major role in helping Brevard’s ground game attain new heights. Ollis set
a new school record with 1,224 rushing yards this year, eclipsing a mark set by fellow senior Kelvin Jeter in 2010. Ollis scored a BC record 16 rushing touchdowns on the season, which tied him for the SAC lead and was 14th nationally, and set single-game records with 38 carries and 228 yards on the ground against North Greenville Sept. 27. His exploits earned him second team honors from the conference’s head coaches. Jeter had the secondbest year of his career in 2014, rushing for 838 yards and five touchdowns on the season. He will depart Brevard as the school’s alltime leading rusher (3,358 yards), second in rushing touchdowns (21) and rushing yards per game (74.6), and tops the Brevard record books with 4,626 all-purpose yards, the 11thhighest total among active Division II players. The second team allconference selection concludes his career ranked seventh in Division II and 16th across all NCAA classifications with 6.6 yards per carry, ranking ahead of notable names like Georgia’s Todd Gurley, Alabama’s T.J. Yeldon, and Nebraska’s Ameer Abdullah. Division II’s 12thranked player in career allpurpose yardage, just 19 yards shy of Jeter’s school record, is Tryon’s Andre Overholt. The senior slot back, who became Brevard’s first-ever Academic All-District selection two weeks ago and is eligible for Academic All-America honors, tops the Brevard record books with 2,545 kick return yards and accumulated 4,607 all-purpose yards in his career. His 1,268 rushing yards rank third all-time in Brevard history, and he is second in school history in receptions, receiving yards, and
receiving touchdowns. A semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy and National ScholarAthlete Award, Overholt is viewed as a leader on campus and was named AstroTurf SAC Special Teams Player of the Week for his efforts Sept. 13 vs. Division I Liberty. While he doesn’t hold the same number of records as many of his counterparts, quarterback Tanner Wright wrapped up a jack of all trades-type career with his final performance against College of Faith. Wright began his career as a defensive back and has also seen significant time as a punter before becoming Brevard’s primary signal-caller during each of the last two seasons. Wright, who hails from Clayton, Ga., is eighth alltime in rushing yards, third in passing yards, fourth in completions, third in both rushing and passing touchdowns, and fourth in total points scored on the offensive side of the ball. He is third in interception return yards and fourth in punting average from his time at various other positions. Brevard’s defense spent much of the season unable to match the prowess of the Tornados’ high-powered rushing attack, but the most significant bright spot on the unit was inside linebacker Michael Gruber. The first team all-conference linebacker and Harlon Hill Trophy candidate broke the school’s tackles record in the third game of the season and added nearly 100 more to his total. The Walterboro, S.C. native ends his career with 392 career tackles, 98 more than his next-closest competitor, and is second among active Division II players in the category. He owns three of the top four tackling seasons in school
history and added an interception, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery to his exploits this season. Second team all-conference placekicker Alex Noboa rounds out Brevard’s list of honorees at the conference level this season. Noboa was 42-of43 on point after touchdown attempts this season and connected on seven of eight field goal tries, setting records for total PATs, PAT efficiency, and field goal efficiency. He was named AstroTurf SAC Special Teams Player of the Week after setting a Brevard record with 12 points scored by kicking in the season finale. The Tornados also found team success on several other fronts. Brevard boasted the nation’s best red zone offense, scoring on 93.2 percent of its trips inside the opponents’ 20yard line. The Tornados were among the nation’s 10 best teams in fourth down conversions, yards per completion, and time of possession. Continuing a trend under head coach Paul Hamilton, Brevard was also among the most disciplined teams in the nation, finishing the year as the eight-least penalized team in Division II. The 2015 Tornados will benefit from a solid stable of backs, a significantly more experienced defense, and a game-tested quarterback under center, and will look to improve upon the foundation laid by this year’s team and become a contender in the South Atlantic Conference.
Five Tornado Footballers Earn All-Conference Honors Michael Gruber
Kelvin Jeter
Alex Noboa
Jordan Ollis
Josh Turner
By Randall Stewart BC Sports Information
tied a career high with 19 stops and picked off a pass against then-No. 21 Carson-Newman Sept. 20, a game in which he became Brevard’s all-time tackles leader. His 392 career stops rank second among all active Division II players and 10th among active players across all NCAA divisions. He has received invitations to play in two collegiate all-star games following the season. This marks Gruber’s third all-conference selection and second time named to the first team. Turner has been a mainstay in Brevard’s starting lineup this season as the freshman has anchored the left side of the offensive line from his tackle position. His play contributed greatly to an offense that set five school records this season, including rushing yards, yards per carry, and total offense, and led the nation in red zone efficiency at
93.3 percent. Brevard’s 321.6 rushing yards per game ranked sixth in Division II this season, and the Tornados rushed for at least 250 yards in a game eight times. In the final game of the year against College of Faith, Brevard set a school record with 562 rushing yards, the second-highest singlegame total in Division II this season. The largest contributor to the prolific Tornados’ rushing attack was Ollis. The fullback set the Brevard single-season rushing record with 1,224 yards this season, which ranked third in the SAC and 18th in Division II. He set Brevard records with 38 carries and 228 yards against North Greenville Sept. 27 and topped 100 yards on six other occasions in 2014. Ollis shared the conference lead with 16 rushing touchdowns on the season and accounted for
36 total touchdowns in his career, 34 of which came on the ground. He leads the Tornados in all three categories. Ollis will depart as Brevard’s second-leading rusher, with 2,568 yards over three seasons in royal blue and white. This is the first all-conference selection for the 2012 Third Team All-American. Brevard’s all-time leading rusher, Kelvin Jeter, had the second-best season of his career in 2014. The Gastonia native ranked eighth in the conference by rushing for 838 yards this season, giving him three of the top four rushing seasons in school history and a school record 3,358 career yards. Jeter concludes his career ranked seventh among active Division II players and 16th across all NCAA divisions with 6.6 yards per carry, and his 4,626 career all-purpose yards top the Brevard record books and rank
11th in Division II. This is the third all-conference selection for the 2010 SAC Offensive Freshman of the Year and marks Jeter’s second consecutive year on the second team. Alex Noboa rounded out the list of all-conference performers for the Tornados with his firstever all-conference selection. The junior was nearly perfect on the season, connecting on 42 of his 43 point after touchdown attempts and seven of his eight field goal tries. He set Brevard records for successful PATs, PAT efficiency, and field goal efficiency. Noboa set the all-time Brevard record for points scored in a game by kicking against College of Faith Nov. 15. He was perfect on all 10 of his attempts, making nine extra points and a field goal, en route to earning AstroTurf SAC Special Teams Player of the Week honors.
Five Tornados were named all-South Atlantic Conference for their performances during the 2014 season, with senior inside linebacker Michael Gruber and freshman left tackle Josh Turner headlining the group by garnering first team laurels. Senior fullback Jordan Ollis, senior slot back Kelvin Jeter, and junior placekicker Alex Noboa joined Gruber and Turner as allconference selections with second team honors. Gruber has proven himself to be among the nation’s elite defenders. This season, he leads the SAC and ranks 33rd nationally with 113 tackles, an average of 10.3 stops per game. He recorded at least 10 tackles on six different occasions and had at least 15 tackles three times. He
Page 30A–The Transylvania Times, Brevard, N.C., Monday, November 24, 2014
Sports
Tornado Soccer Saw Improvement This Season By Jaimen Romano BC Sports Information
Even though the season did not go as planned, Brevard College men’s soccer head coach, Bradley Morrison believes it was one that could have gone in a completely different direction if four games had a different outcome. The team finished with a 4-13-1 record and finished 2-9 in the South Atlantic Conference (SAC). Brevard had eight losses that were decided by two goals or less including four games that were one-goal games. The Tornados were also a young team and Morrison said that even though the year didn’t go as planned, each game the team got better as the season went on. “Against Lenoir-Rhyne, Erskine, Mars Hill, and Coker, we were in the match but either couldn’t find the equalizer late or had lost it in the last few minutes,” explained Morrison. “Against Mars Hill and Coker we had a lead in each of the games but they were both decided in overtime and the outcome went in the opponent’s favor. Those games could have changed our record from a four win year to an eight win season.” Brevard also faced off against a Wingate team that finished the year ranked 16th in the final National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Na-
BC’s Jesse Omezi heads down the field in men’s soccer play this past season. The English native had two goals and three assists in his inaugural season with the Tornados. (File photo by Robbie Robertson) tional poll and went toe-totoe with them as each team finished with seven shots, before falling 2-1 back on
Oct. 11. Morrison said that defensive mistakes led to the two goals for the Bulldogs but later said to the
team that they stuck with the game plan and executed it perfectly despite the loss, and that is all he could have
asked of his team. Individually, Morrison said senior Augusto Isern was a strong leader for the
team and proved that by playing in all 18 games on the year with 15 starts while finishing with a goal and an assist. Freshmen Sergi Monso, who led the team with five goals and 12 points, and Gabriel Pastrana stood out as players that really came through during their rookie campaigns. Sophomore goalkeeper Heath Turner registered two shutouts and had a goal’s against average of 2.19 in just under 1,400 minutes starting in 17 games. “Heath developed well and as his junior and senior years come, he will definitely fit the role of a strong team leader throughout his career,” said Morrison. “We as a staff are looking for him to be more commanding and work on the positive mentality for down the road.” Other players that were effective and performed well was junior Andrew Gallowitch, who was second on the team with three goals and also had an assist, and freshmen Jesse Omezi and Robert Ferrer, who each had two markers. Omezi also had three assists, which led the team, and Ferrer, had two. Daniel Wheldon was also a strong contributor as a sophomore defender and also notched a pair of goals and a couple of assists. The Tornados have a strong group of young players that are only going to get better, which will be something to look forward to for the 2015 campaign.
BC Women’s Soccer Ended 2014 On A High Note By Jaimen Romano BC Sports Information
Head coach Shigeyoshi Shinohara felt that even though the season ended without a postseason berth, the Brevard College women’s soccer team still had its best years since joining the South Atlantic Conference (SAC) with three conference wins, going 6-11 overall and 3-8 in the league. Senior Lizzie Graham was the first women’s soccer player named SAC Player of the Week while juniors Alexis Griffis and Katherine Nickels were both All-SAC honorable mentions. Graham and Nickels each had four goals, which were tied for the team lead, and eight points. Coach Shinohara thought that this team was competitive in many of the games with a strong group of veterans and a reserves program that helped the student athletes understand their roles. “This was the first year of the reserves program which really helped out for them to develop as a team and individuals,” said Shinohara. “This helped out with team chemistry throughout the season and
the assistant coaches, Juan Mascaro and Kristin Rosato, contributed to this with their on-going support and abilities to help the team.” Brevard’s first conference win came against Carson-Newman during a 1-0 victory Sept. 27. The next four conference games were tough but the Tornados regrouped and were more competitive in their final five contests, which were decided by two goals or less. Besides Graham and Nickels, senior Megan Jenkins and sophomore Anita Maryskova each had two goals. Juniors Shannon Bava and Alexis Griffis each dished out two assists, which were good for best on the team while freshman goalkeeper Jocelyn Springer had a solid rookie season in net, playing over 1,500 minutes with four shutouts and a GAA of 2.28. “Against Catawba and Anderson, we were still in the games and were competitive,” explained Shinohara. “One of those games went to double-overtime while the second game against Anderson, we were still in it until late when they scored a goal with under four minutes left.” Brevard ended the sea-
Tornado freshman Katlin Burns goes toe-to-toe with a defender this past season. The BC women ended the 2014 season on a three-match win streak. (File photo by Robbie Robertson) son on a strong note with three straight victories, two of which came in conference play. A double overtime victory against Mars Hill Oct. 25 secured by a penalty kick by Graham began the streak, before a
2-0 win three days later over non-conference opponent Chowan. The Tornados then celebrated their final home game of the season with a 3-1 win over Coker Nov. 1.
nounced via webcast Dec. 19. The Harlon Hill Trophy recipient for the 2014 season will then be honored with a luncheon on the campus of the University of North Alabama in Florence, Ala. Jan. 9, 2015. Gruber wrapped up a remarkable career with the Tornados by leading the conference and ranking fourth in Brevard history with 113 tackles, giving him three of the top four tackling seasons in school history. He was named first team
all-South Atlantic Conference by the league office on Wednesday. Gruber had six games this season with at least 10 tackles and reached 15 tackles on three occasions. He tied a career high with 19 stops against then-No. 21 CarsonNewman on September 20, the same day that he became Brevard’s all-time tackling leader. Gruber also picked off a pass against the Eagles and added a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in Brevard’s game against Newberry on Nov. 1.
“The team was in a fight for the conference tournament berth late in the season, which is something that hasn’t happened here a lot,” said Shinohara. Shinohara hopes the
BC’s Gruber Nominated For Harlon Hill Trophy By Jaimen Romano BC Sports Information
Senior inside linebacker Michael Gruber has been named one of 36 candidates for the Harlon Hill Trophy, which is awarded annually to the top college football player in Division II. Gruber, who is Brevard’s all-time leading tackler with 392 stops and ranks second in career tackles among active Division II players, is one of six nominees from Super Region 2, which en-
compasses the South Atlantic Conference, Gulf South Conference, Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, and footballplaying independents from across the Southeast. Two candidates from each of the four Super Regions will be named finalists for the award when regional voting concludes Nov. 28. Division II sports information directors at all 168 football-playing institutions will have the opportunity to vote for the national winner, which will be an-
late season surge will help carry momentum into Brevard’s spring training and ultimately through next season to continue the success and to contend for a berth in the conference tournament.
Reduce, Reuse Recycle
Michael Gruber
The Transylvania Times, Brevard, N.C., Monday, November 24, 2014-Page 31A
Sports
BC Volleyball Ended 2014 Season On High Note
Middle hitter Rachel Ruble swats a kill from the outside position. BC Canadian Fatima Gharachorloo was a key component to the Tornados’ offense this season. (Courtesy photos by Neil Hayes/hayespix.com) did not have a single senior on the 2014 roster.
By Jaimen Romano BC Sports Information
Despite having a roster populated with 12 newcomers, second-year head coach Kelly Burdeau engineered a remarkable turnaround for the Brevard College volleyball team as the Tornados improved by five wins over their 2013 total and doubled their number of South Atlantic Conference victories. Brevard finished the year at 12-17, its best overall record since going 15-15 during the 2009 season. Brevard’s 6-16 mark in SAC play and ninth-place finish in the conference standings, just one position from a berth in the conference tournament, were its best results since transitioning to full NCAA membership in 2008. Aleksandra Vrvilo, who hails from Beaverton, Oregon, finished the year as Brevard’s top player. The sophomore libero was second in the conference with a school-record 583 digs in 2014. Her 5.55 digs per set, as well as her total digs and digs per set figures in conference matches, were tops in the league. She was second among all SAC liberos with 105 assists and had 22 service aces on the season. Despite playing only two seasons, Vrvilo tops the Brevard record books with 5.08 career digs per set and is second in school history with 996 career digs, 355 shy of surpassing Rebecca Schoonover for the all-time lead. Vrvilo provided a steadying influence and a defensive presence on the court as Brevard’s stable of new players discovered
BC’s Bri Vargas digs up a ball and passes to a teammate in play last season. The Tornados started the season by winning six of their first seven matches and expectations are high for next year. their roles as the season wore on. The Tornados started the season in remarkable fashion, winning six of their first seven matches in neutral-site invitationals hosted by Winston-Salem State and Columbus State. The Tornados’ only loss in its first seven games came at the hands of Erskine, which earned a No. 8 seed in the NCAA Tournament by winning the Conference Carolinas regular season and tournament championships.
The Tornados’ record crept back toward and eventually dipped below .500 as play continued in the Southeast Region’s most difficult conference, but Brevard had several bright spots in its league slate. A pair of emotional fiveset wins over Catawba, including a thrilling comeback from a 2-0 deficit in front of Boshamer Gymnasium’s rowdiest crowd, provided the high points of the season. Rachel Ruble, a fresh-
man that quickly morphed into one of Brevard’s most consistent contributors from her outside hitter position, led the team with a .256 hitting percentage and provided another significant highlight in a sweep over Coker on Sept. 20. Ruble finished the match with 20 kills, the most in a three-set match in program history, and committed just three errors on 26 attempts. Her attack percentage of .654 for the match ranks No. 2 all-time at
Brevard. The team also ended the season on a high note, winning each of its final two matches against Catawba and Queens to secure its place among the best teams in Brevard’s NCAA era. And in perhaps the clearest sign that bright days are ahead of the program, the Tornados were on the wrong end of an officiating technicality against thenNo. 8 Wingate in the third set of a tied match, eventually falling 3-1 after coming
tantalizingly close to pushing the Southeast Region’s No. 1 seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament to the brink of a rare conference loss. While the Tornados enjoyed several memorable moments in competition, arguably the team’s most significant moment came off the court. Brevard held several fundraisers to benefit cancer research throughout the season, donning pink jerseys during much of the month of October to raise breast cancer awareness and collecting donations for the Side-Out Foundation. The Tornados also wore special jerseys with teal lettering and numerals multiple times throughout the season to raise awareness for ovarian cancer and honor the memory of Meme Brown, a former LeesMcRae middle hitter and best friend of assistant coach Jordan Raye who passed away from the disease two years ago. Over $550 was collected for the Meme Brown Fight Like a Girl Scholarship Fund, which serves in part as a fund for ovarian cancer research. The team’s compassion and love of service were both its most defining and most admirable characteristics. Brevard expects to return its entire roster next season after completing the 2014 campaign with no seniors and just two juniors on the team. Expectations are sure to run high for next year’s Tornados, who will look to earn a bid to the South Atlantic Conference Tournament for the third time in school history.
Page 32A–The Transylvania Times, Brevard, N.C., Monday, November 24, 2014
Sports
Reindeer Run Slated For Dec. 6 Downtown
Runners brave the cold to race in last year’s Reindeer Run 5K, a benefit for The Center For Women. (File photo by Robbie Robertson)
5K Race To Benefit Center For Women Start the holidays right with invigorating exercise in the cool crisp mountain air of Brevard. The Center for Women is hosting the 10th Annual Brevard 5K Reindeer Run on Saturday, Dec. 6 starting at 9 a.m. on Jordan St. next to the First Baptist Church.
The race is fun, festive, and family-friendly. Many runners don their Santa hats and holiday wear as they race—some just for fun, and some for warmth. It’s a tradition to start the race with a rendition of Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer. Walkers and runners of
all ages are welcome. Early registration is $28 for adults, $23 for children and seniors, and starts at 7:15 a.m. in the warm First Baptist Church gym. There is plenty of parking in the area. Please register by Dec. 2 to receive a free T-shirt. All children 12 and under will receive a medal, and
medals will be given for the top three finishers in each age category, male and female. Runners may also register on the day of the race ($5 additional charge). After the race runners may enjoy an abundance of snacks and drinks. Race timing is managed by Jones Racing Com-
pany. Register at www.brevard womenscenter, www.active. com , or call 828-885-7885. All proceeds benefit The Center for Women which provides pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, peer counseling, information, education, mentoring, parenting classes, and baby supplies—all free of
charge and completely confidential. The center is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization serving the women of Transylvania county for the past 24 years. Race sponsors are: Comporium, Brevard Piano, Carolina Mountain Surveying, and First Baptist Church.
Shafts of early morning sun filter through forest cover in the Appalachian Highlands. The sunlight catches a glint of swirling line as an angler casts for brook trout in a recently restored stream. A tiny rush darter finds improved habitat among the riffles and eddies of a restored creek in Winston County, Ala., where excessive sedimentation once placed it in peril of being listed as an endangered species. The creek has one of the last surviving populations of rush darters in the world. In sunny Florida, a
kayaker paddling past a restored spring surprises a manatee drawn to the fresh, free-flowing water, now that the spring has been reconnected to the Hillsborough River. These are just a few success stories in a decadelong regional effort in the Southeastern United States, led by the Southeast Aquatic Resources Partnership (SARP) to preserve globally significant aquatic species and the habitats they need to survive before they are lost forever. In 2004, 14 state fish and wildlife agencies, including the N.C. Wildlife Resources
Commission, signed a Memorandum of Understanding that acknowledged their official SARP membership and participation to leverage resources and expertise to strengthen conservation of fish and other aquatic resources. The conservation vision of Gary Myers, former director of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, established SARP “to do for fish what the North American Waterfowl Management Plan did for ducks.” In the 1980s when waterfowl populations plummeted to record lows, the governments of Canada and the
United States developed a strategy to restore waterfowl populations through habitat protection, restoration and enhancement. With the support and involvement of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (SEAFWA), the National Fish Habitat Partnership, and a variety of federal agencies, councils and commissions, conservation organizations and businesses, SARP has served as a successful catalyst and network builder for habitat restoration, conservation and scientific research in the southeastern United States.
These accomplishments and habitat conservation case studies, including work conducted in North Carolina, are recognized in a recently released 10-year anniversary report titled, “Conserving Fish Habitat From the Rivers to the Sea: The Story of the Southeast Aquatic Resources Partnership.” This report can be read in its entirety by visiting http://www.southeastaquat ics.net/resources/sarps-spe cial-reports/conservingfish-habitat-from-rivers-tothe-sea-the-story-of-the-sou theast-aquatic-resourcespartnership-1/view.
The Southeast Aquatic Resources Partnership (SARP) works with partners to protect, conserve and restore aquatic resources, including habitats throughout the Southeast, for the continuing benefit, use and enjoyment of the public. SARP’s collaborative, regional, multi-agency approach galvanizes the efforts of state and federal agencies, conservation organizations and businesses to conserve aquatic habitats from whitewater to bluewater, from rivers to the sea. To learn more about SARP visit www.southeast aquatics.net.
A summer of improvements has set the stage for a winter of top-notch skiing and snowboarding at Beech Mountain Resort. The resort continued its recent trend with summertime upgrades both on and off the slopes. On the slopes, a half dozen SMI Super PoleCat snow guns have been added, bringing to 46 the resort’s total of these high-tech guns. The PoleCats – along with dozens of
smaller guns – provide the resort with the best snowmaking capability in its 47year history. Also on the slopes, the lighting system for night skiing has been upgraded, while an aging J-bar beginner lift has been replaced by a new Magic Carpet conveyer lift. “The new lift is a bigticket item for beginners, who will really notice the improvement,” said resort general manager Ryan Costin.
Off the slopes, the resort continued to focus on amenities by completely renovating the View Haus cafeteria, adding a Burton Learn-toRide Center for snowboarders, partnering with Rossignol on a new fleet of ski rental equipment, and expanding teaching programs across the board for skiing and snowboarding. The View Haus, a focal point with its Bavarian turret, received an interior redesign
with a mountain lodge decor. The project replaced all carpet, tables, chairs and railings; added state-of-the-art lighting; plus renovated bathrooms with automated fixtures. The Burton Learn-toRide Center in the ski village offers expert half-day and full-day snowboard lessons for juniors and adults, a first for the resort. The center also allows boarders to upgrade their rentals to the latest tech-
nology available. For skiers, the Rossignol Experience Center is stocked with a brand new fleet of skis, poles, boots and bindings. “Anytime you have new equipment, it’s not only a good feeling for customers, but also for our staff because they are proud of it,” Costin said. “It’s definitely a huge improvement.” As a bonus this winter, complimentary lessons will be given to everyone age
eight and older who rents ski or snowboard equipment Monday through Thursday, excluding holiday periods. “People are seeing that we’re truly invested in making this one of the top ski resorts in the Southeast,” Costin said. “ All these upgrades are steps in that direction.” For more info, visit: www.beechmountainre sort.com, or call (800) 4382093.
NCWRC Celebrates Aquatic Habitat Conservation
With Southeast Aquatic Resources Partnership
Summer Improvements Pay Off In Winter At Beech Mtn.
Turkey Trotters
Saturday’s “Turkey Trot” 5K was more than a race, it was a fundraiser for the Sharing House to raise money and food to restock the shelves at the local pantry. More than $100 and 100 cans of food were collected, vastly outnumbering the runners who braved the cold to circle the 3.1 mile course around campus. (Times photos by Robbie Robertson)