Chapel Hill, April 9, 2008 - Wachovia Bank, N.A., and the North Carolina High School Athletic Association today announced the standings after the winter sports seasons in the Wachovia Cup competitions for the 2007-08 academic year. The Wachovia Cup award, sponsored by Wachovia Bank, N.A., and the NCHSAA, recognizes the high schools that achieve the best overall interscholastic athletic performances within each of the state’s four competitive classifications.  The Wachovia Cup program is in its 29th year.

Chapel Hill moved past fall leader Charlotte Myers Park to take over first place in the 4-A standings while Charlotte Catholic and Asheville continue their battle in the 3-A ranks, with Charlotte Catholic holding a 55-point lead. Raleigh Cardinal Gibbons continues to pace the 2-A classification while Kernersville Bishop McGuinness holds the top spot among the 1-A schools.

Charlotte Catholic remained in first in the 3-A classification on the strength of winning two swimming championships for a total of 362.5 points.  Asheville finished second among 3-A schools in the men’s indoor track championships, placed sixth in men’s swimming and tied for fifth in men’s basketball to earn 307.5 points.  Three-time defending Wachovia champ T.C. Roberson, with a pair of fifth-place finishes in swimming, is in third at 242.5 points.

Wachovia Cup points are determined by a system based on performance in state-championship events. All schools that finish in the top eight positions (plus ties) earn points. In the playoff events involving teams from more than one classification, Wachovia Cup points are awarded based on the school’s standing against other schools in its own classification. If fewer then eight schools from a classification compete in a sport, only those schools that are represented are eligible to receive the Wachovia Cup points.

Points are awarded for all sports as follows: 50 for first, 45 for second, 40 for third, 35 for fourth, 30 for fifth, 25 for sixth, 20 for seventh and 15 for eighth. In the event of a tie, the schools receive an equal number of points based on the number of teams that tie and the number of teams that finish higher in the standings.  Five points are awarded for each sanctioned sport in which a school competes.

Wachovia Cup standings are announced three times each school year: once after the fall and then the winter sports, and concluding with the winner after the spring sports season ends in June. The engraved silver cups are presented during NCHSAA Day activities at UNC-Chapel Hill each fall.

(Click Read More for complete 3-A standings)

Read full article: 'Asheville High Performs Well in Wachovia Cup Race'

Asheville High junior guard Wakefield Ellison has been named to the NCPreps.com All-State Basketball Team.  Ellison joins four other boys basketball players from WNC on the team.  Ellison is reportedly being scouted by several D-1 programs, including Notre Dame.

Congratulations, Wakefield!

Congratulations to the following Asheville High athletes who were named to the All Mountain Athletic Conference teams in their respective winter sports for 2007-08:

Men's Basketball:  Wakefield Ellison, William Ray

Women's Basketball:  Shermia Forney

Men's Swimming:  Dylan Wolhart, Michael Walden, Nick DePaolo, Austin Lechner

Women's Swimming:  Kayla Wolhart, Maggie Anderson

From Citizen-Times.comBy Romando Dixson

Two weeks ago, Asheville High’s Zach Hall asked baseball coach Bill Hillier Jr. to organize his pitching rotation so that the senior right-hander could take the mound against his former school. Hillier obliged, and it was worth it.

Hall threw a perfect game Tuesday, leading the Cougars to a 1-0 win over host Enka in the Mountain Athletic Conference.

“It was great to be able to stick it to my former team like that,” said Hall, who has lived in the Asheville district all his life but attended Enka schools prior to this semester. “I knew that I was on today. I was getting ahead of just about every hitter. I knew I was pitching well. But I didn’t expect a perfect game by any means. I guess when you’re on it happens.”

Hall (3-1), who threw a no-hitter in Asheville’s season opener, had eight strikeouts against Enka (4-3, 1-2) while retiring 21 consecutive batters Tuesday. The win helps Asheville (5-3, 3-0) remain undefeated in the MAC.

The Cougars only had two hits against Enka sophomore right-hander Dale Innes. But they scored the winning run in the top of the first inning when senior Nate Hutchins, who reached on an error, scored on a wild pitch.

Hall handled the rest.

“He pitched a good game,” Enka coach Mike Anderson said. “He had a good breaking ball working and kept the ball low.”

The Asheville boys indoor track team finished second in the 2008 NCHSAA State meet, led by speedster Giovanni McKnight and distance runners John Harwell and Isaac Presson.  Hurdler Sophia Treakle led the girls team.  Click the link below for complete results.

Read full article: 'AHS Performs Well in State Indoor Track Meet'