The team gathers for a huddle at the final four game. Photo submitted by Charlotte Torgerson.
On March 14, the Watauga Women’s Basketball team traveled to Winston Salem to play in the final four portion of the North Carolina High School Basketball Tournament. After advancing to the final eight for the first time in over 20 years, the team defeated Myers Park and advanced to the final four for the first time in school history.
To celebrate the team’s accomplishment of advancing to the final four and to offer them support and encouragement, Watauga’s administration made arrangements for as many students as possible to travel to the game and support our team. The school provided activity buses for students to take a field trip to the game. It also allowed students to travel to the game independently, excusing their absences. A large percentage of the student body jumped on the opportunity.
“Watauga showed out with the biggest student section I have ever seen us have,” said Lucy Bachman, a senior who was part of the student section. “It was great to see so many of the students, from freshmen to seniors, drive or ride all the way to Winston to support.”
In a well-fought game, Watauga lost to Charlotte Catholic 61-55. However, student support helped propel them to put forth an incredible effort and create a memorable day for the team and fans alike.
“I think the game united students, faculty, and parents as one and allowed us to share a sense of pride for the community and support our girls’ basketball team,” Bachman said.
Charlotte Torgerson is a senior who played on the team for her fourth year this year. She was grateful to spend her final year on the team making history, while feeling the support of her peers behind her.
“We have felt the support of the school and the community, not just this week, but all season,” said Torgerson. “To look up in the stands and see our families, friends, teachers, and just people who have come to every game means a lot to us and pushes us to want to make those people proud. We are so very thankful and proud to be representing Watauga County.”
Kourtney Rabinowitz, a Watauga teacher who attended the game, wanted her students to know that she is proud of their success in out-of-school endeavors: especially her female athletes.
“To me, students supporting other students is vital,” said Rabinowitz. “While women's sporting events are getting more attention than they used to, it still does not rival the attention men's sports gets especially in comparison to football and men's basketball. This attention communicates to our current and future women athletes that people will show up to support them, they will cheer for and encourage them, and they will get excited at and about the games, which will hopefully bolster the younger athletes' pride in what they do and push them to keep working hard.”
Torgerson shared a similar sentiment, grateful for Watauga’s bold support of women’s basketball in their exciting move to pack the final four student section.
“In women’s basketball, especially high school women’s basketball, you don’t always see this kind of interest and support,” Torgerson said. “To have a school that will gladly get students out of school early and drive them to a game two hours away means the world to us.”