Asheville, NC – December 25, 2004 – O­nce again, Asheville High football is well-represented o­n the Asheville Citizen-Times’ All-WNC football team released today.  The Cougars, who finished the season with a 12-2 record and advanced to the state 3A semifinals, feature the All-WNC Player of the Year, four additional First-Team picks, two Second-Team players, and five Honorable Mentions.  They are:

Player of the Year and First Team Running Back:
Johnny White (junior, running back) All-MAC;223 rushes for 2,184 yards and 39 TDs; 15 pass receptions for253 yards and 2 TDs; 31.5 tackles; 4 pass deflections; 3 sacks; and 2 forced fumbles.

First Team:
Crezdon Butler (junior, QB/athlete) All-MAC; 41-96-5 passing for 714 yards; 145-1,495 rushing and 17 touchdowns; 17 tackles; 8 pass deflections; 1 interception and 1 forced fumble.
Michael Bolanos (senior, offensive line) All-MAC; blocking helped Cougars rush for 4,707 yards and pass for 781 yards with 67 total TDs.
Marcus England (senior, linebacker) All-MAC; 132 tackles; 6 sacks; 5 tackles for loss; 4 forced and 1 recovered fumble.
Neville Hayes (junior, punter); punted for 42.7 yard average; kicked 61-66 extra points and 6-11 field goals.

Second Team:  Roger Reid (senior, defensive line); Elijah Harrison (senior, defensive back)

Honorable Mention: Jovan Aiken, Brandon Fant, Josh Israel, Kadeem Morgan, and Evan Pappas

Link to 2004 Asheville Football Statistics.

Asheville, NC - December 24, 2004 - The Asheville Cougar Men's Soccer Team dominated the Asheville Citizen-Times' All-Western North Carolina soccer roster released today.  Asheville finished the season as the NCHSAA 3A Runner-up and Mountain Athletic Conference Champions with a 22-3-2 record.

Leading the honors for the Cougars was senior forward Scott Szymanski, who was named Player of the Year.  Szymanski was also an All NC Soccer Coaches Association and All Region 12 selection as well as MAC Player of the Year.  He had 26 goals and 21 assists as a senior, and 80 goals/49 assists for his career. 

Also o­n the All-WNC first team:  Haskins Howerton (senior midfielder, All Region 12, All MAC, 9 goals/4 assists); Tyler Downey (senior defender, All Region 12, All MAC, assisted with 14 shutouts and allowed o­nly 14 goals); and Indy Smith (sophomore midfielder, All Region 12, All MAC, 20 goals/7 assists).

Second team honors went to Renato Corte (junior goalkeeper), Neil Grant (senior defender), and Thomas Righi (senior midfielder).  Receiving Honorable Mention were:  Patrick Engle, Drew Meadows, and Michael Siegel.

Congratulations to all o­n the well-deserved recognition!

Oakland, CA - December 16, 2004 - Charles Thomas, former Asheville High Baseball star, was recently traded from the Atlanta Braves to the Oakland A's. We will miss Charles as he makes his home o­n the other end of the country and wish him the best of luck!

Full Story: Oakland A's Press Release.

Maui, HI - November, 2004 - Pee Wee Gash, former Asheville High Basketball standout and reserve guard for the Tennessee Volunteer Basketball team, received top honors at the 2004 EA SPORTS™ Maui Invitational Basketball Tournament over UNC player (and brother of Asheville High standout Rashanda) Rashaad McCants. The tournament was not a real basketball game, but a chance to play the video game NCAA® March Madness™ 2005. 

Full Story:  EA Sports. 

Asheville, NC – December 16, 2004 - The Asheville Lady Cougar tennis team was well represented o­n the Asheville Citizen-Times’ All Western North Carolina Tennis Team, announced today.  As a team, the Lady Cougars advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCHSAA dual team tournament after winning the Mountain Athletic Conference title.  The Lady Cougars went undefeated in the regular season and finished with a 20-1 record, losing o­nly to Hickory.

Sophomore Alexa Ely was named WNC Player of the Year.  Ely won the 2004 NCHSAA 3A singles championship.  She finished the season with a 17-1 singles record.Sophomore Christiane Pheil was also named to the First Team.  Pheil had an 18-0 record in the No. 2 singles spot and played No. 1 doubles with Ashley Brown, a junior, finishing with a 10-2 record.  Ashley Brown, who played No. 3 singles, was named to the Second Team. 

Asheville’s first-year coach, Buster Brown (Ashley's father), was named WNC Coach of the Year.  Brown guided the team to its first undefeated regular season, a MAC title, a 20-1 overall record, and had a 3A singles champion.

Congratulations to everyone o­n the well-deserved accolades!  The best news of all:  five of Asheville’s starting six players return next fall!