Most of Burke County’s middle school basketball and wrestling teams recently announced their 2024-25 rosters.
Foothills Athletic Conference play begins on Monday, Nov. 25, when Table Rock visits East Burke in girls and boys basketball and hosts the Raiders in wrestling. Other athletic contests that day will see Heritage face East McDowell (at East McDowell in basketball, vs. East McDowell in wrestling) and Liberty face West McDowell (at West McDowell in basketball, vs. West McDowell in wrestling), while Walter Johnson has a bye before starting the season with road basketball games and a home wrestling match against Liberty on Monday, Dec. 2.
Most sporting events will be played on Mondays and Thursdays throughout the season, with start times of 4 p.m. for girls basketball and wrestling. Meanwhile, boys hoops contests will start after the completion of the girls basketball games.
Jan. 27 will be the final day of the regular season in all sports, followed by the FAC basketball tournaments on Jan. 28 and 30 with all games at higher seeds and the FAC wrestling tournament on Jan. 29 at 1 p.m. at Table Rock.
The Table Rock boys basketball team finished 14-0 last winter en route to FAC regular-season and tournament titles, while the West McDowell girls also won both. In addition, the Heritage wrestling squad won the FAC tournament after tying West McDowell for first place during the regular season.
Here’s a look at the rosters that have been announced so far …
EAST BURKE
Boys basketball
Players for the Raiders this year include Greyson Roberts, Reid Borders, Cash Oyola, Brayden Coffey, Miles Seagle, William Lowman, Derahz’e McDowell, Gavin Douangtavilay, Chandler Lawrence, Jaziah Linebarger, Sawyer Houston, Noah Coleman, Gage Wiley, Bryton Hollar, Jaxton King, Connor Fowlkes, and Korithian Chapman. East Burke’s head coach is Carl Lowman.
Girls basketball
Making up the Lady Raiders’ roster this winter are Sarabeth Bradley, Kendall Spry, Delanie Davis, Taylor Parker, Thea Gilbert, Gracie Gladden, Emma Price, Aubry Smith, Kiyiah Pyatte, Abby Garcia, Ava McFalls, Zoey Taylor, Maggie Mace, Addison Lowman, and Kinsley Lail. Nancy Kelly is EBMS’ head coach.
Wrestling
The Raiders’ 2024-25 roster is made up of Oran Abernathy, Dominic Adams, Eli Barnes, Beckett Brittain, Zachary Davis, Luke Duncan, Elijah Eller, Brandon Hernandez, Logan Hernandez, Daniel Hicks, Corbin Hoke, Parker Jenkins, Seth Johnson, Klay Kircher, Cassius Kershner, Landon Miller, Khalil Moore, Oliver Propst, Dylan Rees, Bobby Sanchez, Austin Sanderfer, Bryson Sherrill, Arn Spurlock, Creed Spurlock, Garrett Stamey, Hayden Sumpter, Clint Sweet, Noah Thomas, Landon Williams, and Zander Young. East Burke is coached by Coleman Trantham.
HERITAGE
Girls basketball
The Lady Eagles have the following players on their roster this year: Ansley Compton, Zaira Austin, Grace Bugg, Abigail Roper, Marleigh Gidney, Ryan Watson, Ellie Bean, Braylee Bollinger, Miya Carson, Presley Powell, Madeline Bowman, and Aubrey Compton. Katherine Whitsett is Heritage’s head coach.
Wrestling
The Eagles’ grapplers this season are Gaige Deal, Chace Mayfield, Isaac Cheves, Summer Burnette, Viollet Sevcik, Nolan Russ, Colt Winkler, Joseph Yang, Cameron Moore, Ethan Cline, Wesley White, Collin Clary, William Ward, Magnolia Morse, Rammelio Sevcik, Jackson Walker, Ariel Martinez, Nathan Taylor, Eli Mason, Jude Ward, Roark Baker, Elijah Morgan, Marshall Johnson, Larry Sarver, Austin Brown, Dakari Wilkins, Lane Brooks, Asher Mishler, Aiden Amos, Collin Molnar, Bentley Ervin, Bryson Maynor, Holden Moore, and Brylan Ledger. HMS’ head coach is Matthew Smith.
LIBERTY
Boys basketball
The Knights’ 2024-25 roster includes Francisco Rodriguez, Nate Coffey, Caleb Caldwell, Abijah Rhoda, Jonathan Tzul, Brad Gadell, Eli Peahuff, Jack Jandrew, Jacoby Bonkowske, Carter Smith, Jorden Burgess, Jackson Puckett, Sawyer Cato, Brody Lozano, and Judson Wilson. Liberty is coached by Chris Wiseman.
Girls basketball
The Lady Knights’ roster for this winter is comprised of Lyrikah Bristol, Emilie Cosovan, Finley Duvall, Piper Ellis, Isabel Jones, Jenna Kanipe, Marley Lackey, Norah Lor, Presley McCoy, Ivy Robinson, Harper Robison, Whitley Strange, Kerrigan Suttles, and Kenlee Wilson. Sydney Haas is LMS’ head coach.
Wrestling
Wrestlers for the Knights this season are Conner Mahoney, Nate Holland, Blaize Phipps, Miles Nieft, Luis Bonila, Oliver Olson, Landon Smith, Hunter Carroll, Claudia Francisco, Emily Aguirre, Taylor Baker, Desirae Smith, Jane Hovis, Madi Perez, Jayla Franklin, Trevor Seitz, Tanner Taylor, Kris Widdoes, Landon Rector, Gunner King, Gio Mauras, Liam Singleton, Riley Singleton, Zachary Holland, Jovanni Derosier, Mason Black, Mason Taylor, Gabe Lawson, Landon Shronce, Ashton Seabright, Mckinley Reed, Julio Perez, Liam Burhans, Yolanda Garcia, Jammer Crawley, Landon Brasecker, Sebastion Bollinger, Jazmin Evans, Zechariah Sims, and Rylan Lester McCormick. Liberty’s head coach is Shane Parker.
TABLE ROCK
Boys basketball
Players for the Falcons this season include Jordan Debro, Raphael Cuthbertson, Kyeon Avery, Tobey Davis, Xavier Tate, Jacob Nile, Kahmari Lytle, Aiken Shade, Grecyn Lyerly, Xander Summers, Dayyan Rasheed, Landyn Mize, James Miller, CJ Largent, Easton Tollison, Ayden Francis, Chasee Tucker, Jayden Douglas, and Kaycen Powell. Tyler Martin is Table Rock’s head coach.
Girls basketball
The Lady Falcons’ 2024-25 roster consists of Alyasia Mosley, Megan Robinson, Lily Thompson, Harper Best, Sophiann Smith, Harmonie Harper, Parker Thomas, Kelly Scales, Cheyenne Cooke, Kassandra Novoa, Elizabeth Dennis, Bailey Heape, Emma Ashe, Nevaeh Hawkins, and Allison Grady. TRMS’ head coach is Makenzie Buchanan.
Wrestling
This year’s Falcons wrestlers are Able Yang, Alejandra Aras, Calob Benfield, Clayton Chapman, Cole Pons, Collin Pearson, Emillio Martinez, Ethan Yang, Franklin Medina, Grayson Yang, Hayden Hopper, Ian Webb, Isaiah Maxwell, Luke Kota, Malachi Deyton, Marlem Rutherford, Mason Beach, Nickolas Davis, Noah Yang, Tristen Romero, Wayne Burnette, Werner Sahling, Weston Gragg, William Patrik Happoldt, Zeathen-Blake Sigman, and Zenen Sigmon. Table Rock is coached by Hayden Sutphin.
WALTER JOHNSON
Boys basketball
Making up the Yellow Jackets’ roster this season are Ezra Andujar-Bristol, Joe Berry, Jalen Buie, Kylen Caldwell, Jace Connelly, Nasir Corpening, Ja’Zion Davidson-Burgess, Christopher Hickman, Copeland Johnson, Khalil Jones, Jace Jordan, Taylor McCrea, King Pearson, Aa’san Wingate, and Bo Wright. Walter Johnson’s head coach is Ishmail Berry.
Girls basketball
Players for the Lady Yellow Jackets this winter include D’Miya Beam, Ava Beam, Alayla Beam, Kamya Caldwell, Claudia Chapter, Paris Conley, Nala Corpening, Jordan Gibson, Kelly McCrea, Ja’Miyah Noria, and Nova Shade. Oliver Carter is WJMS’ head coach.
NOTES: Walter Johnson will not field a wrestling team this season. The Heritage boys basketball roster was not available.
Josh McKinney can be reached at 828-445-8595 or josh@thepaper.media.
