Duo named players

of the year

in their sports
By Steve Behr
sports@wataugademocrat.com

The autumn of 2007 was extraordinary for Watauga.

The Pioneers’ athletic program churned out no less than five Northwestern 4-A Conference champions this fall, including football, girls’ tennis, volleyball, boys’ cross country and boys’ soccer.

With those championships, student-athletes received recognition as all-conference performers. Two, Eric Breitenstein in football and Chandler Butler in volleyball, were named players of the year.

Breitenstein led the Pioneers to a second-straight berth into the state 4-A semifinals. He also earned a spot on the North Carolina Shrine Bowl roster, the first Pioneer to play in the event since 1980.

Butler, a junior, led the Watauga volleyball team to a second-straight NWC championship. Watauga reached the third round of the playoffs before falling to Providence. The Pioneers are 23-1 in the NWC over the last two years.

Joining Breitenstein on the all-conference football team were David Alger, Baine Martin, Preston Oliver, Grady McKinney, Casey Augustine, Mike Farris, Adam Chiarolanzio, Jake Wallace, Cam Steury and Savva Kostis.

Breitenstein and Augustine were also both named All-State by the Associated Press.

Joining Butler on the All-NWC volleyball team were Katelyn Creed and Marissa Greene. Katie Tester and Meghan Combs were honorable mention. Kim Pryor was the league’s coach of the year.

The all-league selections in cross country were determined by order of finish at the NWC meet held at Freedom. On the boys’ side, Watauga’s Jay Weaver, Ben Vollmer, Will Barbour, Jordan Trivette, Wesley Templeton, Zeb Sanders and Dylan Carp all helped Watauga claim a conference championship with 27 points. Randy McDonough was the boys coach of the year.

Colton Rodriguez of Freedom was the runner of the year.

In girls’ cross country, Kayla Schneider, Dolly Dollars, Kristina Kanagy, Amanda Carringer and Bridgette McLean were all named to the all-conference team. The Pioneers finished second to South Caldwell by five points.

South Caldwell’s Tara Wilson was the runner of the year.

A.C. Reynolds dominated women’s golf, but Watauga’s Linzy Cook earned All-NWC recognition. Reynolds had three golfers on the team, including player of the year Stephanie Wagstaff. The Pioneers were third overall behind Reynolds and Freedom.

Jerry Moretz was co-coach of the year in the season.

In boys’ soccer, where the Pioneers won the NWC championship with a 10-1-1 league record, David Fisher, Brandon Koch, Jennings Rex, Ben Robertson, Jonathan Shine and Luke Robertson were all named all-conference.

In addition, Watauga’s Doug Kidd was named coach of the year.

In girls’ tennis, Watauga managed a tie for the conference championship with A.C. Reynolds. Shannon Herndon and Ariel Nicastro were the Pioneers’ all-conference representatives in girls tennis.

All-NWC student-athletes
Boys Cross Country
Watauga
Jay Weaver
Ben Vollmer
Will Barbour
Jordan Trivette
Wesley Templeton
Zeb Sanders
Dylan Carp
Freedom
Colton Rodriquez
James Cagle
Daniel Francis
East Burke
Ben Canipe
Aaron Causby
Runner of the year:
Colton Rodriquez
Coach of the year:
Randy McDonough
Final standings
Watauga 27
South Caldwell 74
Freedom 77
East Burke 108
A.C. Reynolds 115
Alexander Central 142
McDowell NA

Girls cross country
Watauga
Kayla Schneider
Dolly Dollars
Kristina Kanagy
Amanda Carringer
Bridgette mcLean
South Caldwell
Tara Wilson
Katelia Cooke
Adrian Cook
McDowell
Catherine Burton
Kelsea Greene
A.C. Reynolds
Deanna Butler
Lilly Clark
Freedom
Terri Jackson
Jackie Chimiak
Runner of the year:
Tara Wilson, South Caldwell
Coach of the year
Jason Childers, South Caldwell
Final standings
South Caldwell 35
Watauga 40
A.C. Reynolds 72
McDowell 107
Alexander Central 136
East Burke 164
Freedom NA

Football
Watauga
David Alger
Baine Martin
Preston Oliver
Grady McKinney
Casey Augustine
Mike Farris
Adam Chiarolanzio
Jake Wallace
Cam Steury
Savva Kostis
A.C. Reynolds
Nathan Little
Jon Thomas
Tyler McEntire
Darius Spencer
Alexander Wall
Jonathan Burrell
Shawn Tressler
DeShawn Turner
Keely McFarren
Tony Cabral
Rudy Cabral
Alexander Central
Josh Russell
Byron Mayes
Ralph Adams
Kori Kinnaird
D.J. Fortner
J.D. Latham
Jonathan Dockery
East Burke
Ricky Largent
Darion Pearsan
Justin Williams
Shawn Chapman
Dustin Belk
Jake Frogge
Tyler Shatley
Donte Bradshaw
B.J. Boughman
Ben Johnson
Kacey Carlineo
Matt hastins
Mark Bridges
Ethan Hildebran
Freedom
Teddy Rhoney
Ellis Martin
South Caldwell
Domminic DiBernadri
Rob Purus
Tyler Tramble
Josh Collins
Scott Harmon
McDowell
Terrance Kincaid
Josh Settlemyer
Honorable mention: Alexander Central—Kyle St. Claire, Dylan Tedder; Freedom—Taylor Smith, Colin Taylor, Donzale Hood, Marlen Rutherford, Garrett Wade; McDowell—Tyler Roach, Aaron Bingham, Randy Hooper, Brandon Davis.
Offensive player of the year:
Eric Breitenstein, Watauga
Defensive player of the year:
Rudy Cabral, A.C. Reynolds
Coach of the year;
Mike Biggerstaff, East Burke
Final NWC standings
Watauga 5-1
A.C. Reynolds 5-1
East Burke 5-1
South Caldwell 2-4
Alexander Central 2-4
Freedom 1-5
McDowell 1-5

Women’s golf
Watauga
Linzy Cook
A.C. Reynolds
Stephanie Wagstaff
Claire Fisher
Stephanie Parker
Alexander Central
Caitlin Price
Freedom
Samantha Patton
Ali Ford
Allison Azbell
Suzanne Murphy
McDowell
Carly Hensley
Chelsea Richardson
South Caldwell
Kristen James
Player of the year
Stephanie Wagstaff, A.C. Reynolds
Coach of the year
Steve Anders, A.C. Reynolds
Jerry Moretz, Watauga
Final standings
A.C. Reynolds 859
Freedom 895
Watauga 1,008
McDowell 1,019
Alexander Central 1,043
South Caldwell 1,059
East Burke 1,109

Boys’ soccer
Watauga
David Fisher
Brandon Koch
Channing Norris
Jennings Rex
Ben Robertson
Luke Robertson
Jonathan Shine
Freedom
Mark Bridges
Yee Lor
Frankie Pascual
Tito Vicente
Ryan Joy
Collin Taylor
East Burke
Mark Bridges
Justin Walker
Alexander Central
Choua Lee
A.C. Reynolds
Kye Grooms
Michael Nelson
Jake Sides
Reid Usedom
McDowell
Luke Burton
Player of the year
Collin Taylor, Freedom
Coach of the year
Doug Kidd, Watauga
Honorable Mention: Alexander Central—Kyle Bumgarner, McDowell—Gustavo Lemos; South Caldwell—Patrick Livingston; East Burke—Jared Pyles, Pang Vang, Peter Yang; A.C. Reynolds—Eric Vorst.
Final standings
Watauga 10-1-1 15-6-2
Freedom 10-2-0 20-2-0
A.C. Reynolds 9-2-1 19-4-2
East Burke 5-7-0 12-8-1
McDowell 4-8-0 9-9-3
Alexander Cen. 3-9-0 13-11-1
South Caldwell 0-12 0-19

Girls tennis
Watauga
Shannon Herndon
Ariel Nicastro
A.C. Reynolds
Martha Blate
Catlin Douchette
South Caldwell
Tiffany Rash
Kendall Cooke
Freedom
Jenny Nyman
Emily Rooks
McDowell
Taryn Brown
Alexander Central
Jenna Reese
Player of the year:
Marth Blate, A.C. Reynolds
Coach of the year:
Jeff Wilson, A.C. Reynolds
Honorable mention: McDowell—Megan Boone; Watauga—Mary Clemens, Tatum Rees; South Caldwell—Kayla Isbell; A.C. Reynolds—Lovie Doucette.
Final standings
Watauga 11-1
A.C. Reynolds 1-1
South Caldwell 8-4
Freedom 6-6
McDowell 4-8
East Burke 2-10
Alexander Central 0-12

Volleyball
Watauga
Chandler Butler
Katelyn Creed
Marissa Greene
A.C. Reynolds
Whitney Brinkley
Michelle Lopez
East Burke
Erin Collins
Elizabeth Ross
Callie Efird
McDowell
Kurie Washington
Alexander Central
Kristen Morris
Freedom
Jessica Anderson
Player of the year
Chandler Butler, Watauga
Coach of the year
Kim Pryor, Watauga
Honorable mention: Watauga—Katie Tester, Meghan Combs; A.C. Reynolds—Shelby Lamm, Alexander Central—Brittany Loundermilt; East Burke—Candace Robinson; Freedom—Lauren Shulz.
Final standings
Watauga 11-1
East Burke 9-3
A.C. Reynolds 8-4
Alexander Central 6-6
Freedom 5-7
McDowell 3-9
South Caldwell 0-12