Duncan Named New Head Wrestling Coach at Mitchell High School

As it turns out, Mitchell High School hired from within to fill its head wrestling coach vacancy.

Mitchell athletic director Ed Duncan will be working closely with the man who has been named new Mountaineer head wrestling coach: Ed Duncan.

Duncan has been hired to replace James Owings, who resigned in May after 13 seasons.

Duncan, standout wrestler as a student with the Mountaineers, has previously been the coach at Hickory (from 1993 to 2004) and athletic director at Avery High School (2004-05) before returning to Ledger. Duncan has worked with three state champions and 25 state tournament qualifiers in his coaching career. Duncan had been the coach at Mitchell Middle for the past three years.

Mitchell has also hired two coaches for its cross country teams – Matt Hollifield (boys) and Misty Farmer Self (girls).

Little League Softball Falls Short in Bid for District Championship

The Avery 11 and 12 year old Little League Softball All-Star squad had to endure a Tuesday rainout in Wilkesboro and made a second trip to Memorial Park on a warm Wednesday afternoon last week to compete for the District 7 championship against Wilkes County.

Avery’s lone loss of the tournament came at the hands of Wilkes, and the ladies from the High Country fought valiantly to the final out in the rematch, but the team could not avenge its defeat as Wilkes defeated Avery 19-0 in four innings.

Avery threatened in the first inning as Kaitlyn Arbogast walked and reached second base, but the offense was unable to bring the first baseman home before the close of the frame.

Wilkes County scored a pair of runs off two hits in the bottom of the inning to lead 2-0 at the close of the first frame.

Much as was the case in the first meeting between the teams, the second inning was the point where the Wilkes squad seized the upper hand in the matchup. Avery was retired in order in the top of the inning, while Wilkes struck for ten runs that effectively put the game out of reach.

Avery could only muster one base runner via walk in both the third and fourth inning, but the Wilkes starter was dominant inside the circle, allowing no Avery hits, recording each out of the contest by strikeout, and walking three batters.

Wilkes added seven runs in the third inning to provide for the final margin of victory as the game was called due to the ten-run mercy rule.

As runners-up, each Avery player was recognized by the district after the contest and received a pin. Even though the team fell short of its goal to advance into state tournament play, the team showed great heart and talent in winning a pair of tournament contests and representing Avery with great pride.

“I thought the girls played hard as they have all series. The score is not a representation of the effort the team gave. We faced their ace pitcher today and she threw well. We made a few errors that hurt us, and it’s hard to pick yourself up at that age after making a couple of mistakes in a row,” Coach Craig Reiger said after the game. “Regardless, the girls lived up to the Little League pledge and gave their all until the end of the game.”

The team has achieved measures of success since the inception of Little League Softball in Avery County six years ago. However, the coach feels that there is more progress which is necessary to reach the level of play indicative of top-tier squads within District 7.

“Avery County needs to play more than Little League ball. For softball to be competitive in Little League, middle school, and high school, the girls need to play travel ball and weekend ball. If the teams just want to play ball during the season, the team will remain at a similar level for the next twenty years,” Coach Reiger stated. “It takes the involvement and long-term investment of coaches and parents to achieve a greater measure of success.”

Congratulations to the Avery 11 and 12 year old girls softball All-Stars on their second appearance in the District Seven championship!

Burleson Basketball Camp Teaches Hoops and Life Lessons

Each July, legendary basketball star and Avery County native Tommy Burleson, in conjunction with the Avery Parks and Recreation Department, hosts the annual Tommy Burleson Youth Basketball Camp. Boys and girls ranging from grades 3-12 spend five days at the camp learning fundamental skills such as dribbling, passing, shooting, and defense, but also acquire a wealth of knowledge from the former N.C. State University, U.S. Olympic basketball, and NBA standout.

This year the group of over 50 campers received an official camp t-shirt. Throughout the history of the camp, Burleson, as well as his special guests and camp counselors, teach campers moral truth in addition to basketball principles.

“It’s important to set an example as a role model, and we try to teach kids to be consistent in doing that,” Burleson has said regarding the camp. “We hope that with the kids who come back each year, we can teach them basketball fundamentals as well as the importance of being a positive role model and person of Christian character.”

Campers were treated to a special event at this past Friday morning’s camp session when Burleson’s former North Carolina State teammate David Thompson made his annual visit to the camp. Thompson, known as “Skywalker” during his Hall of Fame collegiate and professional basketball career, spent time speaking to the attentive group of campers, sharing with them his professional and specifically his personal highs and lows in his life from being a top professional draft pick and highly paid athlete to his past difficulties and eventual conquest over substance abuse. Thompson shared his Christian witness of how his morals guide his life today.

Thompson and Burleson formed one of the most devastating duos on the basketball court in collegiate history, culminating with an NCAA men’s basketball championship in 1974.

For the past two decades the pair team up again at the camp out of their love for the game of basketball and desire to share their talents, gifts, and experiences to help youngsters grow into productive players and citizens.

“We’re planting seeds with these kids, and it’s special to see those seeds grow over three or four years and play high school and college football or basketball,” Thompson remarked. “Not every boy and girl will grow to become a college or professional player at a high level, but here at camps like these we can impact those boys and girls to make good choices throughout their lives.”

This year’s camp featured a talented group of kids who was passionate about the game of basketball and was thrilled to learn from hoops legends. Campers learned fundamentals regarding defense, dribbling, passing, footwork, and shooting, just to name a few, and the group was impressive with their skills and ability to learn concepts throughout the camp.

“I was tickled with the players. A lot of them are skilled, and you can see that they have had parents or teachers or coaches working with them,” Burleson noted. “A number of kids have good jump shots and good jump-stop moves and play good hard defense. You can see that they enjoy the game.”

Gonzalez Garners Pre-Season Accolade

Avery Vikings wide receiver Andy Gonzalez has been named a preseason all-state selection.

Gonzalez, a rising senior, has been named to the Class 1A All-State preseason team by North Carolina Prep Football News. Gonzalez, who also plays defensive back, was an All-Western Highlands Conference selection last fall. He caught 39 passes for 746 yards and he scored seven touchdowns, including four 100-yard or more receiving games last season.

Gonzalez and rising junior quarterback Alex Villanueva were a potent combination in 2009. After finishing 2008 with a 2-10 mark, the duo helped the Big Red to a five-win season in 2009. Villanueva completed 130 passes for 1,865 yards and he threw 18 touchdown passes. The Vikings return 16 lettermen from a season ago and open the 2010 regular season campaign at home against Robbinsville on August 20.

A number of Western Highlands Conference and Western North Carolina football players join Gonzalez as members of preseason All-State squads. Others named to teams include the following:

Class 1A: Jeremiah Holder (offensive lineman-Robbinsville); LeQuon Young (defensive lineman-Hendersonville); Tyler Mulligan (defensive lineman- Murphy);Desmond Whiteside (Athlete-Hendersonville)

Class 2A: Andre Overholt (quarterback-Polk); Travis Smalling (running back-Pisgah); Tyler Philpott (offensive lineman-Polk); J.J. Maxwell (linebacker-Polk); Austin Rice (linebacker-Mountain Heritage).

Vikings Capture “Rumble on the Roan” Championship

After winning seven games to take home a passing league championship at last month’s FCA team camp at Gardner Webb University, the Avery Vikings continued to open eyes on both sides of the football. With wins in all seven of its contests at Orr Field in Roan Mountain last weekend, Avery walked away as the champions of the second annual Rumble on the Roan Passing League Tournament.

“Anytime you win anything I think it builds confidence, and I’m really proud of our kids. It was good for the kids to win, and the way we were able to win by beating Watauga in the championship was just icing on the cake,” Vikings head coach Darrell Brewer said after Saturday night’s final. “It doesn’t mean a lot toward the season, but winning an event like this builds confidence, which is nothing but positive for us.”

Avery started with round-robin play on Friday evening, earning a 30-8 victory over Coach Brewer’s good friend and former Avery assistant coach Mike Lunsford. Junior quarterback Alex Villanueva hit Andy Gonzalez with a pair of scoring tosses, while Colton Blackburn and Lane Smith each scored in the win.

Avery followed up the win with a defeat of Happy Valley to go unbeaten leading into Saturday’s remainder of pool play and single-elimination tournament.

On Saturday afternoon, the Vikings picked up where they left off by defeating Cosby by a final score of 21-12. The second contest was a nail-biter as Avery fell behind to South Greene, but rallied with a late go-ahead touchdown pass in the final minute from Villanueva to Gonzalez. Defensive back Hunter Shields intercepted the last-gasp pass from South Greene to seal a 23-20 triumph.

After round-robin play only three schools, Avery, John Battle (VA), and the Watauga Pioneers were undefeated out of the 13-team tournament. By virtue of most points scored, Avery earned the top seed for the single-elimination tournament.

Following a first-round bye, Avery took on Happy Valley in a rematch from earlier in the tournament. The Vikings offense began slowly as the team went four-and-out to begin the contest. Happy Valley did not fare much better, however, as Avery’s Tyler Buchanan intercepted a Warrior pass to stall its drive at the Avery 25 yard line.

On its second series, catches from Spencer Blackburn, Lane Smith, and Andy Gonzalez drove the football near the Happy Valley 10-yard line. Avery again came up empty, though, and the game remained scoreless with just over five minutes left in the matchup.

On its second drive Happy Valley drove the field and scored and successfully scored two points on a conversion pass to take an 8-0 lead with just 1:15 left to play.

Avery’s offense quickly answered the Warrior touchdown in the final minute as Villanueva found tight end Remington Austin for a touchdown pass to cut the margin to 8-6. Colton Blackburn caught a two-point conversion pass to tie the game at 8-8 at the end of regulation.

The tiebreaker rules for the tournament stipulated that the team who advanced the ball the deepest downfield on one single play was declared the winner. Avery was on offense first and its pass play to Austin was incomplete. A pass interference penalty was called against Happy Valley to give Avery another opportunity, and Villanueva found Colton Blackburn with a long toss to inside the Happy Valley 5-yard line. The Warriors pass play was intercepted to end the game with Avery advancing to the semifinals.

“The long layover between games was hard on us. The kids played four games, then sat around for two hours. It was difficult to get back up, but we gave them a pretty good talking to,” Coach Brewer stated. “We were up against the ropes in that game against a dang good football team, and the boys found a way to win. They don’t ever quit and just keep digging and scrapping.”

The Vikings found the going a bit easier in its semifinal contest against Unaka. Avery scored on just three plays to take an early 8-0 lead. After holding the Rangers on defense, the Big Red struck again when Gonzalez caught a TD pass to take a 14-0 lead. An extra point kick from Dustin Clark was successful for a 15-0 Avery advantage.

Unaka scored on its first play after the Viking score to trail 15-6. Neither team scored for the remaining five minutes, advancing Avery into the championship round.

Avery squared off with a familiar foe in Watauga in the championship game, who had knocked off John Battle in the other semifinal to set up the border battle.

On its first possession Avery used just under three minutes to get on the scoreboard, as Villanueva hit Taylor Potter on a crossing pattern for the game’s first score. A two-point conversion pass to Hunter Shields gave the Vikings an 8-0 lead.

Watauga dodged a bullet on its first series as a pass was simultaneously caught by a Pioneer receiver and Avery defensive back Gonzalez. The official ruled in favor of the offense, and the Pioneers scored on their next play and made its two-point conversion to tie the game at 8-8 with just over 14 minutes left to play in the 20 minute contest.

On Avery’s ensuing possession, Villanueva was picked off by the Pioneers, but the Avery defense stood tall to keep Watauga out of the end zone, turning the football over on downs.

With 5:55 left to play Avery scored again on a fourth-down pass play from Villanueva to Shields. Potter caught the two-point conversion for a 16-8 Viking edge.

Watauga answered with a score of its own at the two minute mark to draw within two points, then tied the game with a well-executed two-point pass play, knotting the affair at 16 points apiece.

Working its two-minute drill perfectly, Avery scored in just four plays from scrimmage, capping the drive when Villaneuva found Potter in the front left corner of the end zone for the touchdown and the lead at 22-16 with 1:35 left.

Needing a touchdown to tie and conversion to take a lead, the Pioneers went to work. After three plays left Watauga three yards short of a first down, the Pioneers rolled the dice with a pass to the end zone. The toss was knocked down by the Big Red to regain possession with under 45 seconds left to play. Villanueva fired a pass deep downfield to Shields on the game’s final play to put the finishing touches on a 28-16 Viking victory.

The team received a championship plaque from Cloudland head football coach and tournament organizer Robbie Turbyfill after the game, and the entire team was awarded the Most Valuable Player award for the tournament.

“I don’t know who you could’ve picked individually as MVP, because so many of the guys were deserving of it on both offense and defense,” Coach Brewer said. “I thought the team award was awesome, as all weekend it was a team effort all the way around.”

Coach Brewer also spoke highly of the Avery junior varsity team, who also took part in the weekend’s festivities. Avery won over the Tri-Cities Silverbacks 6-0 on a touchdown reception by Harley Foster. The JV Vikings played took on the varsity team from North Greene in its other game on Saturday, falling only by a 12-0 final score. Hunter Johnson, Trevor Pickens, and Jonah Tenge each had interceptions on defense for Avery during the pair of contests.

“I thought the JV kids played awfully well. It was their first time to really line up and play together. That team has worked hard all summer long, and I was glad to see the work paying off for them,” Coach Brewer said of the effort. “Our junior varsity is primarily going to be freshmen, so we’ve worked to get them started quickly. They’ve really responded and been a great group to work with.”

The Vikings tentatively have plans to return to the gridiron in a possible 7-on-7 with Mitchell in the last week of July. The first official day of fall practice is August 2^nd, and shortly afterward the Vikings will take part in a pair of scrimmages, including hosting a scrimmage on August 12^th at MacDonald Stadium.

Avery kicks off the 2010 regular season on Friday, August 20^th when it hosts the Robbinsville Black Knights.