Draughn boys swimming wins NWFAC Championship

 Lenoir- For just the fifth time in program history and the first time since 2013, the Draughn boys swimming team wins the conference championship in their final season of the Northwestern Foothills 2A Conference Friday night at the Lenoir Aquatic Center.

"It was really special to get a conference championship in our final season in the Northwestern Foothills 2A Conference," said Draughn swimming coach David Harmon. "We've enjoyed some great competition and rivalries from our neighbors Patton and East Burke (and) this last conference meet was no exception."

The Wildcats scored 358 total points and were led by individual wins from Jaxon Smith (100 free 48.79, 100 back 55.33), Jake Hudson (200 IM 2:18.65), and the 200 medley (1:55.20) and 400 freestyle (3:53.67) relays featuring Smith, Hudson, Sean Owens, and Trey Jensen.

Jensen (50 free 2nd, 100 breast 2nd), Owens (200 free 3rd, 100 back 3rd), Clay Davis (100 fly 2nd, 200 IM 4th), and Brady Carswell (100 breast 3rd, 200 free 4th) were other key individual swimmers.

"Our team had some great swims from the entire team, Karson Ingram and Elias Phipps stepped up big filling in the gaps swimming new events just for this meet."

The Lady Wildcats finished runner-up to Hibriten scoring 258 points with Rhyannon Reasoner (500 free 6:19.61, 100 back 1:08.95), Georgia Goulding (100 fly 1:04.59), and the 400 freestyle relay (4:13.74) compiled of Reasoner, Goulding, Abby Wood, and GiGi Smith all taking first place event wins.

Goulding (50 free 2nd), Smith (200 free 2nd, 50 free 4th), Wood (100 free 2nd), and Sarah Mull (200 IM 3rd, 100 breast 4th) also made key finishes for the Lady Wildcats.

"Very proud of the girls team with only having six members to finish runner-up to Hibriten with more than double the members," said Harmon.

The East Burke boys finished third (241 pts) and were led by Landon Lennex (200 IM 2nd, 500 free 3rd), Davey Stamey (50 free 3rd, 100 free 3rd), and Robbie Stringfield (100 back 2nd).

The Lady Cavaliers placed in fourth (226 pts) with Dessie Maiella (200 free 4th, 100 back 3rd), Gracie Hall (100 free 3rd), and Rachel Stephens (200 free 5th).

Draughn and East Burke next head to 1A/2A regionals next Friday in Huntersville.

2021 Draughn Boys Basketball

Last Year's Record: 13-13, 7-7 NWFAC

Current Record: 0-4

Returners: Marshall Byrd, Brayden Schutt

Key Newcomers: Luke Rector, Elijah Pritchard, Elijah Tillery

Coach's Outlook:

"We're in the midst of a rebuild losing a fifth of our offense to graduation and transferring. We're having to season players into varsity experience and we are steadily improving a bit. We had quite a few setbacks and obstacles to deal with but we will keep our heads up and keep on playing"

-Yates Jensen

 

1/26 Burke County FCA Scoreboard

BASKETBALL

Varsity Boys

Patton 56, Draughn 43

P 10 12 17 17

D 6 13 8 16

(32nd meeting, 21-11 Patton)

Luke Rector 11, Marshall Byrd 10, Eli Pritchard 10, Tillery 6, Hill 3, Schutt 3

Varsity Girls

West Iredell 60, East Burke 42

(13th meeting, 11-2 East Burke)

JV Boys

Patton 45, Draughn 39 (Cline: 15)

East Burke 47, West Iredell 20

Foothills Power Five (2020 Volleyball FINAL)

 #1 Foard (19-0) NCHSAA 2A State Champions (back to back, eighth overall)

Owen 3-0 W

R-S Central 3-0 W

Patton 3-1 W

West Wilkes 3-0 W

McMichael 3-0 W

#2 Patton (14-3) NCHSAA 2A Third Round

#3 Watauga (11-2) NCHSAA 3A Second Round

#4 Hickory (10-4) NCHSAA 3A Second Round

#5 McDowell (8-5) NCHSAA 4A Second Round

Honorable Mention: Maiden (11-4) NCHSAA 2A First Round

Wildcats swimming sweeps Patton

 Valdese- For the second consecutive week, the Draughn swimming teams were able to sweep their Northwestern Foothills 2A opposition this time in a home meet with Patton at the Valdese Recreation Center.

The Lady Wildcats scored 59 points to Patton's 45 and were led by two event wins from Rhyannon Reasoner in the 500 freestyle (6:26.67) and 100 backstroke (1:11.09).

Abby Wood (200 free), GiGi Smith (200 IM), and Sarah Mull (100 breast) were other first-place event winners.

The Wildcat boys outscored the Panthers 74-40 behind double event wins from Jake Hudson (200 IM, 2:25.79; 500 free, 5:44.41) and Jaxon Smith (100 free, 48.56; 100 back, 55.15).

Sean Owens was another individual winner in the 200 freestyle as Owens, Smith, Hudson, and Trey Jensen teamed up to win the 200 medley (1:55.56) and 200 freestyle (1:44.29) relays.

The NWFAC Championships is set for next Friday at the Lenoir Aquatic Center.

Cross Country: Farrar places in top 40 at 2A state meet

Draughn junior Reed Farrar completed a successful season finishing in 38th place at the 2A state championships Friday.

His time of 17:55.41 was just his fifth-best time of the season out of seven total 5K races, including a winning streak of four.

Reed Farrar

@ Bunker Hill (1st, 18:54.32)

@ Patton (1st, 17:39.72)

@ Hibriten (1st, 17:04.41)

@ West Iredell (1st, 17:51.72)

NWFAC championships (3rd, 18:38.92)

2A regional (12th, 17:50.19)

2A state (38th, 17:55.41)

1/21 Burke County FCA Scoreboard

BASKETBALL

Varsity Girls

East Burke 53, West Caldwell 12

WC 0 7 5 0

EB 12 13 20 8

(50th meeting, 39-11 East Burke)

West Caldwell

Crisp 9, Manuel 3

East Burke

Marabeth Huffman 14, Allie Cooke 10, Lawing 7, Moore 6, Snyder 5, Chrisco 5, Grigg 2, Powell 2, Ch Cook 1, Bostian 1

Varsity Boys

West Iredell 68, Draughn 57

(8th meeting, 7-1 Draughn)

JV Boys

Draughn 52, West Iredell 42 (Josh Elkins 10, Landon Cox 9)

East Burke 42, West Caldwell 31 (Ian Cox 21, Jacob Dellinger 12)

2021 East Burke Girls Basketball

Last Year's Record: 27-4, 14-0 NWFAC

Current Record: 0-4

Returners: Aubrie Snyder, Aubree Grigg, Allie Cooke, Maya Chrisco, Zoie Smith

Key Newcomers: Marabeth Huffman, Ally Moore, Kamiah Lawing

Coach's Outlook:

"I see improvement every game and once we do the little things consistently and that we understand every possession matters, we will get better. We lack in the experience part but they are working hard and giving us everything they got"

-Crystal Bartlett

Wildcats sweep NWFAC swim meet

 Lenoir- In a rescheduled Northwestern Foothills 2A swimming meet from last Friday, Draughn was able to pick up their second wins of the season in a Thursday sweep of Hibriten and Fred T. Foard at the Lenoir Aquatic Center.

The Wildcats were led by another record-setting performance by Jaxon Smith in the 100 freestyle (48.55) and also winning the 50 freestyle (22.74).

Jake Hudson (500 freestyle, 5:42.13) and Trey Jensen (100 breaststroke, 1:14.49) were other individual winners along with the 200 medley (1:55.38) and 400 freestyle (4:01.11) relays compiled of Hudson, Jensen, Smith, and Sean Owens.

The Lady Wildcats were led by two individual wins from Georgia Goulding (200 freestyle 2:20.27, 100 butterfly 1:09.12) and Rhyannon Reasoner (500 freestyle 6:31.20, 100 backstroke 1:11.10).

Sarah Mull (200 IM, 2:57.04) and GiGi Smith (100 freestyle, 1:05.61) also won individual events.

Goulding, Reasoner, Mull, and Smith also teamed up on the winning 200 medley (2:12.41) and 400 freestyle (4:25.16) relays.

Draughn also joined East Burke, Patton, and West Iredell in a Friday night qualifier meet at the Valdese Rec.

Girls

Draughn 45, Hibriten 37

Draughn 49, Foard 13

Boys

Draughn 55, Hibriten 35

Draughn 59, Foard 19

1A/2A Regional Qualifying Times (1/15/21)

Girls 200 Medley Relay (2:55.99):

DRAUGHN 2:12.41

EAST BURKE 2:52.60

Boys 200 Medley Relay (2:50.99):

DRAUGHN 1:55.38

EAST BURKE 2:01.16

Girls 200 Freestyle (2:42.99):

Georgia Goulding (D) 2:16.04

GiGi Smith (D) 2:29.01

Boys 200 Freestyle (2:31.99):

Jaxon Smith (D) 1:48.67

Robbie Stringfield (EB) 2:22.78

Girls 200 IM (3:20.99): Sarah Mull (D) 2:57.04

Boys 200 IM (3:30.99):

Landon Lennex (EB) 2:24.06

Jake Hudson (D) 2:26.21

Jeremy Gray (EB) 2:53.21

Clay Davis (D) 2:55.30

Girls 50 Freestyle (31.99):

Georgia Goulding (D) 26.87

Rhyannon Reasoner (D) 28.92

GiGi Smith (D) 29.06

Sarah Mull (D) 30.54

Boys 50 Freestyle (26.99):

Jaxon Smith (D) 22.68

Trey Jensen (D) 25.34

Girls 100 Butterfly (1:37.99):

Georgia Goulding (D) 1:09.12

Abby Wood (D) 1:24.67

Boys 100 Butterfly (1:35.99):

Jaxon Smith (D) 55.11

Landon Lennex (EB) 1:09.90

Clay Davis (D) 1:25.21

Girls 100 Freestyle (1:11.99):

Georgia Goulding (D) 59.34

Rhyannon Reasoner (D) 1:04.99

GiGi Smith (D) 1:05.61

Sarah Mull (D) 1:11.90

Boys 100 Freestyle (1:03.99):

Jaxon Smith (D) 48.55

Sean Owens (D) 1:01.98

Girls 500 Freestyle (7:30.99):

Rhyannon Reasoner (D) 6:31.20

Georgia Goulding (D) 6:35.55

Boys 500 Freestyle (7:30.99):

Alex Lennex (EB) 5:40.75

Jake Hudson (D) 5:42.13

Landon Lennex (EB) 5:42.50

Robbie Stringfield (EB) 6:27.90

Girls 200 Freestyle Relay (2:40.99): EAST BURKE 2:36.30

Boys 200 Freestyle Relay (2:30.99):

DRAUGHN 2:06.45

EAST BURKE 2:29.98

Girls 100 Backstroke (1:27.99):

Rhyannon Reasoner (D) 1:11.10

Sarah Mull (D) 1:21.87

Boys 100 Backstroke (1:19.99):

Jaxon Smith (D) 55.22

Robbie Stringfield (EB) 1:07.30

Sean Owens (D) 1:11.72

Jake Hudson (D) 1:11.72

Boys 100 Breaststroke (1:26.99):

Alex Lennex (EB) 1:13.11

Trey Jensen (D) 1:13.76

Jake Hudson (D) 1:16.77

Brady Carswell (D) 1:23.83

Jeremy Gray (EB) 1:26.78

Girls 400 Freestyle Relay (6:15.99):

DRAUGHN 4:21.69

EAST BURKE 5:47.28

Boys 400 Freestyle Relay (5:30.99):

DRAUGHN 4:01.11

EAST BURKE 4:12.64

Cross Country: Farrar qualifies for 2A state championship meet

Draughn junior Reed Farrar continues a successful season placing 12th at the 2A western regional Friday at Murray's Mill.

Farrar's time of 17:50.19 was second among individual runners not on a state qualifier team.

East Burke placed 13th as a team and was led by Luke Elliott (34th) and Caleb Johnson-White (46th) finishing in the top 50.

The Lady Cavaliers finished 11th as a team and was led by Meah Walsh (19th) while Draughn's Ambria Blalock placed 47th.

The 2A state meet is scheduled for next Friday at the Ivey M. Redmon Sports Complex in Kernersville with the boys 5K race scheduled to start at 2:00.

2021 2A West Cross Country State Qualifiers

Boys Teams: North Lincoln, Franklin, Brevard

Boys Individuals: Grant Howlett (Lake Norman Charter), Reed Farrar (Draughn), Van Robbins (R-S Central), Emmanuel Paddyfote (South Point)

Girls Teams: North Lincoln, Lake Norman Charter, Brevard

Girls Individuals: Katherine Hopkins (Lincolnton),

Dylan Garcia (Franklin), Karina Coulter (Foard),

Brooke Hope (R-S Central)

Basketball: JV Cavalier boys stay undefeated

The East Burke JV boys basketball team reached a 3-0 mark in the Northwestern Foothills 2A Conference after Friday's 40-29 road win at Hibriten.

Caleb Hudson (17) and Ian Cox (13) led the way for the JV Cavaliers in double figures.

The Lady Cavaliers, unfortunately, fell to the host Lady Panthers 17-11 (JV) and 47-33 (V).

East Burke returns home Tuesday hosting county rival Patton but there will not be a varsity boys game due to the Panthers being quarantined.

Hibriten 47, East Burke 33

EB 4 14 6 9

HIB 13 5 22 7

(51st meeting, 36-15 East Burke)

Aubree Grigg 10, Moore 7, Chrisco 5, Snyder 4, Cooke 3, Huffman 3,

Lawing 1

1/12 Burke County FCA Scoreboard

 Basketball

JV Boys: East Burke 47, Foard 33 (Ian Cox: 17, Caleb Hudson: 11)

Varsity Girls

Draughn 74, Foard 63 (Monday)

D 20 23 14 17

F 16 14 18 15

(8th meeting, 5-3 Draughn)

Shea Owens 23, Ella Abernathy 19, Haley Lowman 14, Bryant 5, Kincaid 5, J Abernathy 4, Cozort 2, Powell 2

Foard 41, East Burke 32

F 15 10 3 13

EB 11 2 9 10

(48th meeting, 30-18 East Burke)

Allie Cooke 10, Grigg 9, Turner 3, Chrisco 3, Huffman 3, Smith 2, Moore 2

Varsity Boys

East Burke 72, Foard 32

F 11 8 6 7

EB 18 19 23 12

(47th meeting, 25-22 East Burke)

Aasin Lor 21, Logan Coffey 11, Jadon Cooke 10, Yarborough 8, Kanzleiter 6, Crump 6, Primm 5, Kiser 5