Crème de la Crème: What Cleveland, Gaston programs were 2021-22 sports season's best?
With the 2021-22 high school sports season now in the books, here’s a look at the athletic programs in Cleveland and Gaston counties that enjoyed the most success.
Cream of the crop
Prior to the 2021-22 athletic season, Gaston Day had never won more than two state titles in a school term. It took one fall afternoon for that to change, with the Spartans claiming NCISAA state gold in boys soccer, girls tennis and volleyball. By the end of the school term, Gaston Day’s count was up to five after adding championships in boys golf and girls swimming.
Gaston Day’s McKynzie Mauney also claimed individual NCISAA Division II state titles in the shot put and discus events.
Such success earned Gaston Day the Wells Fargo Cup for NCISAA Class 2A, recognizing it as the classification’s best athletic department during the 2021-22 school term. The Spartans are the first school in Gaston County to earn such distinction.
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Model of consistency
Shelby remained the area’s model of consistency, grabbing Southern Piedmont 1A/2A titles in five sports during the fall and winter sports seasons.
The Golden Lions delivered on a promise to win the fall 2021 NCHSAA state 2A football championship, finishing the job with a 55-34 victory over Wallace-Rose Hill in December’s title game. A state soccer title came as more of a surprise, with Shelby outlasting Greene Central 5-3 in penalty kicks for the 2A crown.
Shelby added Southern Piedmont 1A/2A titles in girls tennis, as well as boys and girls basketball. The Lady Lions basketball team advanced to the 2A West championship, falling in double-overtime to eventual state champion Salisbury.
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Don’t stop believin’
East Gaston made the most of its transition to the Southern Piedmont 1A/2A this past school term, claiming a total of five league titles (boys and girls swimming, girls soccer, volleyball and wrestling). The program also set benchmarks for future Warrior teams to strive toward.
Last fall, coach J.T. Postell and the East Gaston football team advanced to the third round of the 2A football playoffs, becoming only the second Warrior squad to accomplish the feat. This spring, East Gaston baseball won 20 games for the first time in program history, while the Warriors’ girls soccer team became the school’s first to win two playoff matches.
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Turning back the clock: How East Gaston proved 'what's old can be new again' in tourney final romp of North Gaston
Storm warning
The 2021-22 athletic season provided Stuart Cramer with ingredients for the “perfect storm.”
Last school term, the Storm claimed Big South 3A titles in boys cross country, boys soccer, girls track and wrestling. The athletic program experienced its share of individual success as well.
Zachary Willer led the way, winning NCHSAA 3A cross country gold in the fall, followed by an outdoor track title (1,600 meters) in the spring. Alexis Willis added 3A indoor and outdoor track titles, with Zach Karagias and Charlie Sly claiming 3A state gold in wrestling.
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Parity reigns
Stuart Cramer wasn’t the only Big South 3A program to experience success during the 2021-22 athletic season. Six of the league’s eight schools earned hardware of some sort.
Crest took care of big-ticket sports such as football, boys basketball, softball and girls golf. Meanwhile, Cleveland County rival Kings Mountain earned conference titles in baseball, boys golf, boys track and volleyball.
Forestview’s girls tennis team claimed the 3A West regional title, along with league titles in boys and girls swimming. South Point topped the Big South 3A in boys tennis, girls cross country and girls soccer, the latter advancing to a regional final. Also qualifying for a 3A West final was the Red Raiders’ football team, which finished 11-4.
Ashbrook’s girls basketball program claimed its third straight Big South 3A championship, following that with a run to the 3A West quarterfinal round.
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Clawing their way to history: How skill, determination and pickle juice lifted Forestview girls tennis to regional title
Back-to-back: Kings Mountain 'still the one' in Big South 3A volleyball
Noteworthy
Mountain Island Charter claimed its second NCHSAA 1A outdoor track title in a row, in addition to winning a 1A indoor track championship.
Bessemer City claimed a share of the Southern Piedmont 1A/2A crown, finishing 23-5 and advancing to the 1A West semifinal round.
Burns earned a spring trifecta with Southern Piedmont 1A/2A titles in baseball, softball and girls track and field.
Cherryville’s 4x400-meter relay team claimed the state 1A track title, with its baseball team earning a 1A West regional championship.
Piedmont Community Charter claimed its first league title in volleyball, following it with the program’s first two playoff wins. The Patriots also won a conference championship in girls basketball.
One win short: Cherryville falls in NCHSAA 1A state baseball championship series to Perquimans
Fuel to the fire: Burns softball team using past heartache as fuel in its pursuit of a league title
'Four years went into that swing': Burns' Webb delivers in clutch for dramatic win in SPC final
You can reach Joe Hughes at 704-914-8138, email jhughes@gastongazette.com and follow on Twitter @JoeLHughesII.
This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: Cleveland, Gaston high school sports best of 2021-22 season
