Around the area

Fundraiser to help Speir in marathon

One year after completing his first marathon in Nashville, Tenn., Appalachian State assistant football coach Mark Speir hits the sport’s biggest stage when he’ll runs in the Boston Marathon.

Through his participation in last year’s Music City Marathon, Speir was able to raise over $17,000 for Memorial Christian Hospital in Bangladesh. This year, he hopes to raise $26,200 ($1,000 for each mile of the 26.2-mile race) for the same cause, which will have its new surgical ward named after Boone native and ardent Mountaineer football supporter Dr. Lowell Furman.

Fans can help Speir’s effort by attending the Greenway Baptist Chicken Dinner on April 4 at Greenway Baptist Church in Boone (880 Greenway Rd.). In addition to serving chicken dinners, Appalachian State football players will be available for autographs and photos.

Pioneers blast Freedom 8-1
Watauga’s boys’ tennis team continued to roll through the Northwestern 4-A Conference with an 8-1 victory over Freedom Wednesday at the Carroll Complex. Watauga improved to 11-2 overall, 7-0 in the NWC.

All of Watauga’s singles players won their matches in straight sets. Watauga’s No. 5 seeded singles player Preston Stigall won his match 6-0, 6-0 over Tyler Avery. at No. 1 singles, Michael Smith rolled to a 6-0, 6-1 victory over Jake Walden. At No. 4 singles, Davis Roberts beat Michael Her by the same score.

Kevin Ashline added a 6-0, 6-1 win at No. 2 singles over Jonathan Lee, and Brian Geldmeier won 6-1, 6-0 over Matt Weider at No. 3 singles. At No. 6 singles, Ryan Schweitzer beat Drew Rhodes 6-1, 6-1.

Freedom won its only match at No. 3 doubles when Avery teamed with Rhodes to beat Aaron evans and Sam Littlejohn 8-6. Smith and Stigall won their No. 1 doubles mach 8-0, while Geldmeier and Roberts won 8-1 at No. 2 doubles.

Watauga 8 Freedom 1
Singles
Michael Smith (W) d. Jake Walden 6-0 6-1
Kevin Ashline (W) d. Jonathon Lee 6-0 6-1
Brian Geldmeier (W) d. Matt Weider 6-1 6-0
Davis Roberts (W) d. Michael Her 6-0 6-1
Preston Stigall (W) d. Tyler Avery 6-0 6-0
Ryan Schweitzer (W) d. Drew Rhodes 6-1 6-1
Doubles
Smith/Stigall (W) d. Walden/Lee 8-0
Geldmeier/Roberts (W) d. Pang Yang/Her 8-1
Avery/Rhodes (F) d. Aaron Evans/Sam Littlejohn, 8-6
Exhibition
Chris Ludwig (W) d. Tue Xiong 6-0 6-0