Hickory and Watauga sports

[The Patriot]

Both Hickory High and Watauga have multiple teams that are excelling this fall. Today, the Pioneers and Red Tornadoes both have teams that are playing for the right to go to the state championship in women's tennis and volleyball. They are also both good in soccer and everyone is probably aware that they have great football teams. So, since we have a couple of people who post here who are close to these programs, I want to ask, "what are they doing right?"
Sometimes you will just get a good class of kids. But I also believe that good athletic directors can make a big difference. Or is this the new format allowing more competition? Anyway, maybe we can get some insight on what's going on with these schools on this thread.

 

[beamer24]

Both places seem to have good cultures in place not sure if that's Principles, ADs, kids or a combo of all.

 

[Vik-Val 86]

Hickory n Watauga would be a classic if they could play each other in football.

 

[PioneerPride11]

Both places seem to have good cultures in place not sure if that's Principles, ADs, kids or a combo of all.

I was going to say the same thing. I cant speak for Hickory, but looking at Watauga's staff, its riddled with past players who were stand out folks and were poured into by Watauga. Now they've been given the opportunity to pour into the next group of Pioneers. That to me makes the biggest difference in a culture change. I believe the standards have been elevated as well. Coaches expect a level of effort and when you give that effort consistently, you see that translated into wins on field, court, track, etc etc.

Go back to the mid 90s to early 2000s in Morganton, Freedoms culture was unrivaled. They dominated everything when I was in high school. They were all you talked about. How do you be more like freedom.

 

[The Patriot]

I was going to say the same thing. I cant speak for Hickory, but looking at Watauga's staff, its riddled with past players who were stand out folks and were poured into by Watauga. Now they've been given the opportunity to pour into the next group of Pioneers. That to me makes the biggest difference in a culture change. I believe the standards have been elevated as well. Coaches expect a level of effort and when you give that effort consistently, you see that translated into wins on field, court, track, etc etc.

Go back to the mid 90s to early 2000s in Morganton, Freedoms culture was unrivaled. They dominated everything when I was in high school. They were all you talked about. How do you be more like freedom.

I appreciate you saying that, but we've never been all that strong in football. Hoops has always been our thing, but we once won a state championship in volleyball. That was probably 25 years ago, and it seems like a one-off now. We also had a baseball team that went to the regional finals once, but I doubt if we've had a dozen winning baseball seasons in over 50 years of the school being open. Other sports have also been hit or miss.
I think what you're saying about getting kids who played at the school back as coaches is a big part of success. We had our chance to get Joe Glass, and I'll never understand how we let that opportunity slip through our fingers, because he's a Freedom alum. Now, we've got JK, who is also an alum, and he seems to be righting the ship. But we haven't carried that over into other sports and both soccer and volleyball struggled this year (soccer will make the playoffs, but I doubt if they go far). I think the AD can direct a lot of this, and you need someone with a vision in the job.

 

[kyleheel30]

Watauga is heavily benefiting from App State's growth, as well as the other factors mentioned earlier, including culture and coaching.

 

[PioneerPride11]

I appreciate you saying that, but we've never been all that strong in football. Hoops has always been our thing, but we once won a state championship in volleyball. That was probably 25 years ago, and it seems like a one-off now. We also had a baseball team that went to the regional finals once, but I doubt if we've had a dozen winning baseball seasons in over 50 years of the school being open. Other sports have also been hit or miss.
I think what you're saying about getting kids who played at the school back as coaches is a big part of success. We had our chance to get Joe Glass, and I'll never understand how we let that opportunity slip through our fingers, because he's a Freedom alum. Now, we've got JK, who is also an alum, and he seems to be righting the ship. But we haven't carried that over into other sports and both soccer and volleyball struggled this year (soccer will make the playoffs, but I doubt if they go far). I think the AD can direct a lot of this, and you need someone with a vision in the job.

How much weight do you place on population? I asked this when some of the asheville folks said their area has gone downhill. I personally feel being a one team county is a disadvantage. Hickory has a lot of competition in catawba county though. I dont really know there's one specific answer.

 

[PioneerPride11]

Watauga is heavily benefiting from App State's growth, as well as the other factors mentioned earlier, including culture and coaching.

Completely disagree. How do college students coming to Boone help the local high school?

 

[kyleheel30]

Completely disagree. How do college students coming to Boone help the local high school?

1. Families visiting from all over the country visiting there with their kids enjoy the area and move there.

2. The population of Watauga Country grew tremendously from 2010 to 2020 compared to most other mountain counties, (almost 10,000 people) think it's a coincidence that Watauga football suddenly became relevant? That population growth has slowed or even declined the last couple years though.

3. App State has a proud football program and tradition and it certainly doesn't hurt the high school building a football tradition with more resources available to them.

 

[beamer24]

Former App coach Satterfield's son played there too.

 

[Ahscougar]

I think sometimes it’s coaching but sometimes schools can just get a massive influx of talent in a wave and be very successful for a few years.

For example, my Asheville high cougars won
19 playoff games and a state championship from 2002-2007 and went 62-9 in that time. I bet we haven’t won 19 playoff games since then. Sometimes you just have an era of talent and sometimes you have the opposite

 

[The Patriot]

I’ll come back to this thread tomorrow, but both Hickory and Watauga volleyball teams won tonight and advanced to the state championships. Watauga tennis lost to Catholic and I couldn’t find the results for Hickory and E. Lincoln tennis.
Hickory’s volleyball title match conflicts with their football game Friday night.

 

[PioneerPride11]

Former App coach Satterfield's son played there too.

Ya, but underperformed. And to be fair, that Satterfield boys were born and raised in Boone, its not like they moved there and brought some excellent skill set with them.

 

[PioneerPride11]

1. Families visiting from all over the country visiting there with their kids enjoy the area and move there.

2. The population of Watauga Country grew tremendously from 2010 to 2020 compared to most other mountain counties, (almost 10,000 people) think it's a coincidence that Watauga football suddenly became relevant? That population growth has slowed or even declined the last couple years though.

3. App State has a proud football program and tradition and it certainly doesn't hurt the high school building a football tradition with more resources available to them.

I dont think population growth has anything to do with it actually, as the average age of Watauga County residents has increased drastically, indicating the folks moving to Boone are retirees. Also, I personally think Ryan Habich has about 75% to do with the success of Wataugas football program, as he demands a perfect effort and knows how to get the most out of each player.

As for a "proud football program" at app, I dont think you know a lot of what goes on behind the scenes in Boone. Ill leave it at that.

 

[kyleheel30]

Ya, but underperformed. And to be fair, that Satterfield boys were born and raised in Boone, its not like they moved there and brought some excellent skill set with them.

Legit question- Do you think if you put Coach Habich at McDowell the same year he started at Watauga that he would have as much success in Marion as he has at Watauga? McDowell and Watauga football have similar history except the past 10-15 seasons.

 

[Anon1751539575]

IDK-it all depends on if the McDowell community would have bought into his program the way the one at Watauga has. One thing is for sure, this man is one of if not the best HS football coach in the state of NC. IDK if Watauga will ever win a state championship, but for his sake, I hope they do.

 

[PioneerPride11]

Legit question- Do you think if you put Coach Habich at McDowell the same year he started at Watauga that he would have as much success in Marion as he has at Watauga? McDowell and Watauga football have similar history except the past 10-15 seasons.

Immediately, no. Given time to implement his culture, yes. Certain coaches organically elevate and inspire with their demeanor.

I do think there are other factors that played in to a Watauga/McDowell comparison though. There was a county pay study done about 6 years ago, McDowell had the lowest average salary in NC. I feel like thats a solid contribution as to why more adults arent raising chuldren in Marion or little Switzerland or wherever.

Every single year, we discuss the same things about Watauga. Well they lost a lot of seniors. Well they lost a 4 year starting qb. But then the season starts and Watauga is blowing the doors off people and we dont attribute that to coaching? All im saying is a coach's culture can make or break a program. So yea, I feel like Habich could have success with McDowell.

 

[beamer24]

Ya, but underperformed. And to be fair, that Satterfield boys were born and raised in Boone, its not like they moved there and brought some excellent skill set with them.

The one I remember tore his acl his senoir year. My point is surely App helped during that time frame to support the program.