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07/29/2010
Western Carolina head cross country coach Danny Williamson today released his squad’s 2010 season schedule which includes five seasonal events including hosting the season-opener and culminates with the annual Southern Conference Championship in Boone.
“This schedule will allow us to continue on our path towards the top of the Southern Conference,” said Williamson who is entering his 26th year coaching the cross country teams at WCU. “Our schedule is one that will allow us to be able to compete and develop at the same time. Each competition affords us a little tougher task. And with the every other weekend format of competition, it will give us ample time to be prepared to give our best effort.”
Cullowhee will play host to the season-opening Western Carolina Invitational on the evening of Friday, Sept. 3. The women will run a two-mile course while the men will circumnavigate the 5K course, both of which represent the shortest races of the season. Teams will hit the starting line at 6:30 pm.
The next four events will feature 5K women’s races and 8K on the men’s side. Western Carolina will take part in the Winthrop Invitational in Rock Hill , S.C. , in mid-September before running in the UNC Charlotte Invitational two weeks later on Oct. 1 at McAlpine Creek Park in Charlotte.
The NCAA Southeast Regional event which includes a 6K run for the women and a 10K men’s competition scheduled for November 13 at the Tom Sawyer Park in Louisville , Ky. , with the NCAA Championships again scheduled for Terre Haute, Ind. , on Nov. 22.
Three Catamount Football Games For Television Broadcast This Season
07/28/2010
Western Carolina University has confirmed the slate of three games that will be televised this season. A fourth is possible late in the season as the Southern Conference has announced that they will determine which late games will air. They'll take into consideration conference standings and televise the games that will have the most meaning for the league championship.
As previously reported, the Western Carolina-Appalachian State rivalry game, the Battle for the Old Mountain Jug, will be televised by SportSouth on October 23. In addition, the WCU-Furman game will be televised for the fifth time in six years; Comcast/Charter Sports-Southeast will carry the game, which features a 12:30 PM kickoff, at Furman, November 6th.
ESPN360.com, an ESPN online broadcast affiliate will carry the season opener from Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh against the North Carolina State Wolfpack of the Atlantic Coast Conference. That game features a 6:00 PM kickoff September 4th.
(WRGC Radio News/Eric Moore)
UConn Transfer QB Quits Team, Goes Home
07/27/2010
Western Carolina University Head Football Coach Dennis Wagner confirmed today that the highly-touted transfer quarterback prospect from the University of Connecticuit has quit the team. "Casey is not here with us. After spring, for personal reasons, he has had to leave and go home, and I believe he is attending a non-playing school back in his home state."
Wagner is still upbeat on quarterback position. "We have some transfer students that will be coming in and both of those guys are going to have an opportunity to compete for that position with [incumbent starter] Zach [Jaynes], and a young freshman, Brandon Pechloff who we think is going to be a heck of a football player, so we think these four scholarship quarterbacks are going to be guys that work hard and do good things for us. Of course, Zach has played for us for a year and a half for us as a starter and he's got valuable experience, but we tell all our players that every year we go out a recruit to try and find someone to take their jobs, because competition is going to make us better."
Wagner was asked for clarification on Casey Turner's departure and asked if the competition was so stiff at the position that Turner didn't think he had a chance at playing time. Coach stated that he knew it was a personal matter and that the transfer had returned home to take care of personal business.
(WRGC Radio News/Eric Moore)
Two Catamount Basketballers Honored For Academic Excellence
07/23/2010
Two Catamount men's basketball players were honored for their academic achievements, joining just six other Southern Conference counterparts in the achievement. The other six were three each from Elon and Wofford.
Jake Robinson and Brigham Waginger have been named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches' Honor Court. They are recognized for maintaining a 3.2 cumulative grade point average. Only athletes that are juniors or seniors academically are considered for the recognition.
Waginger and Robinson, while excelling academically, were both key to the Catamounts' success last season. Robinson-- the Canton native and Pigah High School alum-- became Western Carolina University's all time three point leader last season, concluding his collegiate career with 278 made three point shots.
Waginger became WCU's single season-- and all time-- steals leader, tallying 90 steals last season and 285 in his four years. Brigham Waginger was a physical education major; Robinson majored in finance.
(WRGC Radio News/Eric Moore with content provided by the WCU Sports Information Department)
Catamount Club Tops $1M For Third Straight Year
07/21/2010
For the third year in a row, the Catamount Club has exceeded one million dollars in fundraising. The Catamount Club is the booster organization that supports Western Carolina University athletics.
According to Daniel Hooker, the Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations, the 2010 fiscal year has concluded with a total of $1,135,435 in gifts to annual and endowment funds. Another milestone was reached: Some 300 new members have joined the Catamount Club in the last year, bringing the total membership to 813.
Catamount Club Director Gorham Bradley said that the greatest need for the upcoming year will continue to be scholarship aid for student athletes. The Catamount scholarship fund saw a six percent increase last year over fiscal 2009.
Student Athletes Prepare For Season Ahead
07/14/2010
The second semester of summer school at Western Carolina University has begun, and with it marks the return of the bulk of the Catamount football team to campus for classes and summer training. Over 70 football players have enrolled in the second semester of classes to continue the squad’s academic improvements, while also enabling them to work in the WCU Weight Room.
In addition to the football team several additional sports like men’s and women’s basketball, volleyball, softball and a few baseball players that are finished with the summer leagues are also utilizing the summer for academic and voluntary strength & conditioning purposes.
NCAA regulations stipulate that only the strength and conditioning coaches can participate, and no sport-specific equipment, such as tackling dummies can be used in the voluntary offseason workouts. The workouts are ongoing four days a week for one to two hours each day and include weightlifting and cardiovascular training.
WCU football opens the season in Raleigh at Carter-Finley Stadium to take on North Carolina State September 4. The Wolfpack finished last season 2-5 in conference play; 5-7 overall. Western Carolina only beat Eastern Kentucky and The Citadel.
12 Year Old Baseballers Advance To District Finals
07/13/2010
Pool play concluded on Monday, July 5th, for the 12 year old Jackson County all-stars with a 2-2 record and the #3 seed in the West bracket of District 5's tournament play. Jackson County's tournament play began on Tuesday, July 6th, with a 21-10 victory over #2 seed Canton, a team that had previously beaten Jackson in pool play, followed by a 10-8 victory over #1 seed Franklin, the other team that had beaten Jackson in pool play. With the two wins and zero losses in tournament play, Jackson County advanced as the top seed from the West and will play either North Asheville or Transylvania County as the top seed from the East on Wednesday, July 14th at 6pm in the District 5 semi-Finals.
In Thursday's win against Franklin, Radburn Schutters hit a solo homerun 300' plus in the first inning. In the third inning, Jackson County had back to back homeruns when Jack Ridenour hit one over the creek in right center, and Schutters followed with another solo shot into the adjacent field #3. And in the 5th inning, with an 0-2 count and runners on 2nd and 3rd, Parker Bryson drove a 70mph fastball over straight away center. In the pool play game against Franklin, Cole Young dented the ridge on the top of the batting cage with a two run opposite field homerun. Schutters' second homerun of the game on Thursday was his 18th homerun of the season, which is believed to move him past Tanner Nations (`08) as the Jackson County Little League single season homerun record holder.
(Eric Ridenour, Coach)
WCU Athletics Promotes Cheves To Head Men's Golf Coach
07/09/2010
Western Carolina has filled the vacant Head Men's Golf Coach position by promoting from within. The school announced today that Carter Cheves will become the new head coach, after serving the team last year as an assistant. He'll officially begin his new duties July 15.
Associate Athletic Director Dr. Jennifer Brown chaired the search committee and cited Coach Cheves' "genuine interest and concern for each student athlete" as a factor that made him a strong choice to lead the program. The vacancy was created when Gorham Bradley accepted a different position within the university. The former coach will lead the Catamount Club's fundraising efforts; he became Head Men's Golf Coach when he was appointed to the position by Athletic Director Chip Smith December 22, 2004.
Coach Cheves comes from a strong golfing bloodline. His grandfather, the late Joe Cheves was a PGA life member for 70 years, and finished first in the 1978 PGA Seniors Championship, but lost in the ensuing playoff. He still owns the world record for most shots under one's age shooting a 64 at age 81 and a 70 at age 87, for 17 shots under his age both times. The elder Cheves is in the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame, the Carolinas Golf Hall of Fame, and the Carolinas PGA Hall of Fame.
(Eric Moore/WRGC Radio News with content provided by the WCU Assitant Athletic Director For Media Relations, Daniel Hooker)
Southern Conference Announes WCU v. ASU Will Be Televised
07/08/2010
The classic rivalry between the Appalachian State Mountaineers and the Western Carolina Catamounts will be televised by the SportSouth network October 23 when the two teams meet on the gridiron in Cullowhee. The Southern Conference and SportSouth network announced the move today, which is a part of eight Southern Conference games that will be televised throughout the season, featuring all nine league teams. Which games get televised for the last two weeks will be decided upon by the network and the conference based upon which games at that time will have the greatest relevance as far as the race for the league championship.
This year's meeting for the Battle of the Old Mountain Jug between WCU and ASU is the diamond anniversary game-- the 75th time the two squads will meet to do battle. Prior to 1976, the game wasn't known as the Battle for the Old Mountain Jug, but in the all-time series since November 5, 1932, Appalachian leads 54-18-1. WCU's last win was a come from behind victory when, down by 11 with about five minutes left, Justin Clark connected with Michael Reeder and Eddie Cohen, respectively, on touchdown plays to come away with a 30-27 victory.
But since that 2004 game, Western hasn't been able to pull out a victory. From 2004 to present, the Mountaineers have been a tough team: Appalachian has won multiple conference titles, multiple I-AA (FCS) titles, and upset Michigan 34-32 in Ann Arbor, which most Wolverine faithful regard as the worst upset in their school's history.
(WRGC Radio News/Eric Moore)
Varsity Football Coaches Announce Youth Football Camp
07/08/2010
The Jackson County Youth Football Camp will be held beginning Monday and running through Thursday, from 5:30 to 8:00 each afternoon. The camp is for rising 5th through 9th graders.
The varsity coaching staff at Smoky Mountain High School is putting the camp together to give youth an enjoyable week of football, and to help improve their fundamentals of the game and make them better football players. It will also serve to get them excited about football in Jackson County as they grow older. Assistant Coach Luke Coleman is serving as Camp Director. He tells us that "the goals of the camp are to give kids offensive and defensive fundamentals, as well as speed training and that kind of thing. At the end, we're gonna have a little fun with a little flag football the last 30 or 40 minutes. It will be a flag football tournament for the kids. The main idea of the camp is to get kids in Jackson County excited about playing football again."
Each participant will get a free t-shirt and registration is still ongoing. Assistant Coach Coleman says that the staff is building the program step by step. "This thing ain't gonna happen overnight. You know that you can't go 0-11 and expect to go undefeated the next year. You have got to get kids in the program, and get kids lifting weights. Hopefully this is a start, and we build from there."
For more information, contact Coach Setzer or Assistant Coach Coleman.
(WRGC Radio News/Eric Moore)
Western Hires New Women's Golf Coach
06/29/2010
Western Carolina University had been looking for a women's golf coach after Steve Lott, the coach who had a 12-season tenure but announced his retirement several months ago. During his tenure, Lott was three times named the a SoCon Coach of the year and guided his teams to two conference championships.
His replacement will be Mallory Hetzel, herself an accomplished golfer, a four year letter winner at the University of Georgia, twice selected as an all-SEC golfer, and twice named an All-American. Coach Hetzel takes over a Catamount ladies' golf program that has enjoyed tremendous success in recent years.
Athletic Director Chip Smith made the announcement of the hire yesterday. A search began for Coach Lott's replacement after the season ended.
(WRGC Radio News/Eric Moore)
Lady Cats' Hoops Coach Middleton Excited About Upcoming Campaign
06/24/2010
Lady Catamount Basketball Head Coach Karen Middleton took some time out Thursday afternoon to offer her thoughts about the upcoming season to WRGC Sports. Coach is excited about the opportunities for growth that the upcoming season offers. "We're continuing to rebuild. We've got a great tradition, and we are just continuing to work to make progress. We're excited about the new kids coming in, and we've got a good core group coming back. So, it should be a good year, we're looking forward to it."
Coach applauded her core group of leaders on her team, and said that those key players, plus the mix of new recruits will make for an exciting style of basketball and a competitive group on the court. "We're just continuing to take strides and improve. We've got a challenging schedule, but two very experienced seniors in Emily Clarke and Kendra Carroll; very good leadership with them, along with Caitlyn Hollifield and Kaila'Shea Menendez. We saw alot of improvement and alot of progress last year. The mix of old and new is going to be alot of fun-- an exciting style and good kids to watch."
Primarily a guard, Emily Clarke is one of three versatile players for the Lady Cats going into next season that are listed on the roster as being able to play at either forward or guard.
(WRGC Sports/Eric Moore)
WCU: Athletic Director Is Restructuring Department
06/15/2010
Western Carolina University says its Athletic Director, Chip Smith, is restructuring the Athletics Department. Smith unveiled the plan, saying he would divide Athletics into three areas: Academics, Internal Operations, and External Operations.
Dr. Jennifer Brown, the University's Senior Women's Administrator, already headed the department's academic efforts. She'll formally take that role, with a promotion to the title of Associate Athletic Director. Brian Frerking becomes an Associate Athletic Director as well, and will oversee the department's external operations; he is presently heading the department's fundraising efforts. Fred Cantler will remain the Senior Associate Athletic Director, and oversee the internal operations of WCU Athletics. All three will report to Chip Smith.
In a WCU press release announcing the change, Athletic Director Smith said that like any business, his department is always looking for ways to be more efficient and effective.
(WRGC Radio News/Eric Moore)
Matt Benedict Named To All-State Team
06/14/2010
WCU pitcher Matt Benedict has been named to the North Carolina Collegiate Sports Information Association's All-State Baseball Team. The right hander pitched to a 9-2 record this past season, and was just named to the All-Southern Conference Team several weeks ago. His 3.11 ERA is a career best for the junior. The All-State team includes five Southern Conference players.
Benedict is one of the Catamount players who is playing summer league ball, announcing last week he would join the Haymarket Senators of the Valley League.
Two Catamount Baseballers Drafted by MLB
06/09/2010
Two Catamount baseball players were drafted during the Major League Baseball draft this week. Senior Right Handed Pitcher Daniel Ottone, who spent all four years as a Catamount and ended his collegiate career after establishing himself as one of the best closers in the Southern Conference. Ottone is taken in the 33rd round with the 994th overall selection to become the first Western player ever to be drafted by the San Diego Padres.
Taken in the 13th round by the Milwaukee Brewers is an incoming junior college transfer, Michael White. The incoming transfer is a pitcher who boasted a 10-0 record last season at Walters State, along with an impressive 2.18 season ERA.
Over two seasons at Walters State, White struck out 137 batters against just 47 walks through 119.2 innings.
