High Country Sports
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Nathan Ham’s High Country Sports (6/4/20) For the Latest in Local Sports Coverage, visit https://www.facebook.com/hcsportsnews/ Kyle Busch drives App State car to NASCAR win The specially branded NASCAR Xfinity Series lifts your spirits a little bit anyways. We won for you. stages. A pit road penalty briefly put him a lap down car driven by Kyle Busch produced a familiar finish- We took all the rest of the Big Houses down tonight, so in the second half of a Memorial Day event sched- ing position for App State: first place. it was pretty cool to score a win here in Charlotte.” uled for 300 miles, but a caution flag helped him get The Black and Gold No. 54 car featuring App Busch led 94 of 203 laps during a dominant per- back on the lead lap, and he regained the lead with State logos as well as a congratulatory message for formance in which he won each of the race’s first two 10 laps remaining. App State’s graduating seniors in the Class A late wreck forced an overtime-causing of 2020 made a dramatic last-lap pass and caution to set up a green-white-checkered crossed the finish line first Monday night at finish with Busch in front and only two laps Charlotte Motor Speedway, giving Busch a remaining. Choosing the outside row for a win in the Alsco 300. two-wide restart, he fell behind Austin Cindric, Holding the checkered flag during his who possessed the lead with one lap remain- on-track interview with FS1, Busch delivered ing. Busch ducked underneath Cindric exiting another message to App State’s recent grad- the second turn, pulled alongside him on the uates and even referenced the historic upset backstretch and moved ahead entering the of Michigan from 2007. third turn. “I want to wish the 2020 class from A two-time NASCAR Cup Series cham- App State congratulations on getting their pion, Busch is also the all-time Xfinity Series diplomas this year,” Busch said. “Obviously, wins leader with 97 career victories, nearly it’s a little different, I know, but hopefully this Photo courtesy of Getty Images twice the second-place total. the school was in use as an emergency shelter, Mill- NCHSAA announces Toby Webb er stayed at the school with the emergency response team to ensure generators were running, help secure the roof, mop floors, lay tarps, and provide food runs Outstanding Coach Award winner for needy families. During the current COVID-19 crisis, Miller is checking on families daily to make sure they The North Carolina High School Athletic Asso- necessary for success in the students’ later lives. Consid- have needed food and supplies. ciation is pleased to announce the recipients of the eration is also taken for coaches with a record of encour- Miller is a shining example of an iconic figure 2020 Toby Webb Outstanding Coach Awards. The aging student-athletes to be well-rounded and display that supports their community. She encourages her Toby Webb Award recognizes two excellence in the areas of scholarship, citizenship, and students to follow her example in supporting the com- coaches annually, one male and one music among many others. munity and regularly gives them opportunities to serve female. Kim Miller from Swansboro Each recipient of the Toby Webb Outstanding Coach alongside her. During the holiday season, Miller hosts High School and Anthony “Reid” Award is recognized with a commemorative plaque and a hygiene goods drive and takes students to the Veter- Holmes from Southwest Guilford an’s Home in Kinston to sing Christmas carols and de- receives a $2,000 cash award. High School have been chosen for liver goody bags with supplies to the residents. Miller’s the honor. Kim Miller – Swansboro High School principal, Helen Gross described Miller by saying, “Her Since 2006, the Toby Webb Kim Miller has spent 23 years at Swansboro High dedication to their success results in the development Outstanding Coach Award seeks to recognize and School where she has served as volleyball, women’s of relationships between her and the students as well honor coaches who have had an impact on the lives of basketball and softball coach in addition to duties as the as the way they treat each other on the court or field. student-athletes, and students in general, by encour- school’s athletic director, sports medicine and physical Her expectations for their performance, and more im- aging them to succeed, helping to develop self-confi- education teacher. Coach Miller is noted for going the ex- portantly, attitude, can be seen in their sportsmanship dence, ambition, a sound work ethic, and other skills tra mile. During Hurricanes Florence and Matthew while and school spirit.” Anthony “Reid” Holmes Southwest Guilford High School Appalachian State drops three athletic programs Anthony “Reid” Holmes has been serving student athletes in education over a 23-year career. He has In response to the financial impact of the cluding current and former coaches, current and former served as a baseball, basketball, and football coach, COVID-19 pandemic and in an effort to position student-athletes, their families, donors and fans. Your as well as an assistant athletic director. He has been App State Athletics for future success, Director of legacy is important to us.” a head baseball coach for 20 years, currently serving Athletics Doug Gillin Scholarships will be honored for affected stu- at Southwest Guilford. For the last five years, Holmes announced Tuesday that dent-athletes who wish to return to App State, as well has worked with the North Carolina Coaches Associ- the department is reduc- as for incoming signees. The department will provide ation (NCCA) to prepare for the annual summer clinic ing its operating budget support to student-athletes who would like to transfer to and East/West All-Star Games. He is dedicated to the and discontinuing the another institution. school and program, serving every Friday night home varsity sports of men’s With the change, App State will now sponsor 17 football game as the school’s official game adminis- soccer, men’s tennis and NCAA Division I sports (seven men’s sports and 10 wom- trator, greeting officials and visiting teams when they men’s indoor track & field. en’s sports). The Mountaineers will continue to compete arrive, staying late into the night to assist in cleaning Effective immediately, the three sports are in men’s cross country and men’s outdoor track & field. the facility and ensure they are ready for the next event. being discontinued following a detailed review of the Sport reductions are part of a 20 percent overall Holmes has helped provide free baseball instruc- university’s sport offerings and the long-term budget reduction to the athletics department’s budget for fiscal tion to inner-city youth programs in High Point that implications of supporting the current number of stu- year 2021, which equates to an approximate $5 million struggle with coaches, equipment and role models. In dent-athletes. The decision was supported Tuesday reduction. In mid-March, the department limited all re- addition to his regular assistance with the NCCA Clinic, by Chancellor Sheri Everts and the Appalachian maining operating expenses for fiscal year 2020, which Holmes works with Mercy Hill Church as a volunteer State University Board of Trustees. ends June 30. in the “Out of the Garden” group, he has worked with “This is a very difficult day for the entire App Gillin also announced that current athletics staff the State Games, the Vs. Cancer Organization which Family,” Gillin said. “Our mission is to guide and openings will not be filled, and the athletics department fights childhood cancer. In partnership with Ragsdale support our student-athletes in their quest for excel- is exploring additional personnel actions, with guidance High School, Coach Holmes’ teams have helped raise lence academically, athletically and socially. After from the university. at least $10,000 for childhood cancer research. careful and thoughtful review, we determined that “We take all these measures with heavy hearts, but we could no longer sustain 20 program offerings in a with the long-term sustainability of App State Athletics at fiscally responsible manner. Since the move to FBS, the forefront,” Gillin said. “The App Family is known for For more local sports coverage, App State has sponsored the most sports in the Sun its strength and resilience. This is a pivotal moment for Belt and among the most in the Group of Five. This App State Athletics. It is in this moment that we must take please visit will bring us in line with most of our peer institutions. responsible action to ensure our athletics department’s “We appreciate everyone who has supported ability to fulfill our purpose and mission for years to come.” www.facebook.com/hcsportsnews/ these Mountaineer programs over the years, in-.