Five Owen athletes sign with college programs
Warlassies and Warhorses head to the next level
Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
April 29, 2021
Owen High School Athletic Director Anthony Lee introduces five student-athletes in a signing ceremony in the gym, April 28. All five seniors will continue their athletic careers at collegiate programs. Photo by Fred McCormick
Five Owen High School student-athletes will continue their careers in collegiate programs, following an April 28 signing ceremony.
The seniors were joined in the school’s gymnasium by family, friends, teammates, coaches and Owen faculty as they officially announced their college commitments.
Athletic Director Anthony Lee introduced three Warhorses and two Warlassies representing four programs, and thanked each of them for the work and dedication to their respective programs. After the group was recognized, individual signings were held for each athlete.
All five student-athletes shared their thoughts and feelings about the moment for the following Q&A:
Hannah Larios
Montreat College Cross Country
Surrounded by friends and family, senior Hannah Larios signs to the cross country program at Montreat College, April 28, in the Owen High School gym. Photo by Fred McCormick
Larios, a multi-sport athlete and Western Highlands Conference Runner of the Year who helped lead the Warlassies to a cross country championship, will continue her long-distance running nearby, at Montreat College. Larios, who also averaged 9 points per game for the Warlassies basketball team in the 2021 season, is the daughter of Montreat College Athletic Director Jose Larios. She will join a Cavaliers team that finished the 2020 season with the highest postseason ranking in program history and is the No. 20 team in the 2021 NAIA Women’s Cross Country Coaches’ Top 25 Poll.
The Valley Echo: How does it feel to continue your athletic career at the collegiate level?
Larios: “It’s everything I ever wanted growing up. I’ve loved running since I was little, so it’s super exciting for my dream to come true and to have the opportunity to run for a collegiate program.”
TVE: How would you describe the work it took to get to this level?
Larios: “It’s definitely been hard, dealing with injuries and tough seasons now and then. But, my teammates have been encouraging throughout all of it, and it’s worth it to achieve this goal I’ve had for so long.”
TVE: What do you most look forward to about competing in college?
Larios: “I’m excited for the competition, and to join the Montreat team where I won’t come in as the number one runner. It’s a team full of great leaders, and an opportunity for me to work my way up.”
TVE: How did your experience at Owen help you get to this point?
Larios: “My experience here has been great. I learned how to be a leader with a great group of girls and my time here had a positive impact on my running career.”
TVE: How did you choose Montreat College?
Larios: “It all came down to coach (Jason) Lewkowicz. He’s the best coach I’ve ever met. Getting to know him, and the group of girls in that program really sealed the deal for me.”
Laila Burk
University of North Carolina Greensboro Track & Field
Owen High School senior Laila Burk is joined by her family, April 28, when she signed to compete for the track and field program at UNC Greensboro. Photo by Fred McCormick
Laila Burk, a cross country teammate of Larios and Owen volleyball player, will continue her track and field career at UNC-Greensboro. Burk finished eighth in the 2019 NCHSAA 2A State Championship 800 meter run.
The Valley Echo: How does it feel to continue your athletic career at the collegiate level?
Burk: “Awesome. It’s what I’ve been looking forward to since my freshman year, and I am very excited to be going on to the next level.”
TVE: How would you describe the work it took to get to this level?
Burk: “It’s definitely been difficult. I’ve dealt with quite a few injuries, but it’s all been worth it.”
TVE: What do you most look forward to about competing in college?
Burk: “I’m really excited to run with people who all share the same love for the sport.”
TVE: How did your experience at Owen help you get to this point?
Burk: “My coaches were great, and I faced good competition. It was hard going through the COVID-19 pandemic, but we all pushed through.”
TVE: How did you choose UNC Greensboro?
Burk: “They reached out to me, and I was very impressed with the school and the program there. It felt like the right fit for me.”
Caleb Scott
Western Carolina University Football
Caleb Scott, who started at quarterback for the Owen Warhorse football team as a junior and senior, signed to play for the WCU Catamounts, April 28. Scott was joined by his family, head coach Nathan Padgett and his Owen teammates. Photo by Fred McCormick
Caleb Scott, the starting quarterback for the Warhorse football team as a junior and senior, attempted at least one pass in each of his four seasons on the varsity roster. The multi-sport athlete threw for 2,592 yards and 30 touchdowns in his career at Owen. Scott will pursue a new position on the gridiron for Catamounts at WCU.
The Valley Echo: How does it feel to continue your athletic career at the collegiate level?
Scott: “It’s a joyful feeling, and I’m really excited.”
TVE: How would you describe the work it took to get to this level?
Scott: “I’ve put in a lot of work, a lot of time and a lot of effort. This has basically been my whole life since I was a kid.”
TVE: What do you most look forward to about competing in college?
Scott: “I want to grow, and continue to learn the game. I also want to win, and I’m looking forward to being a part of that.”
TVE: How did your experience at Owen help you get to this point?
Scott: “I learned a lot here because there were a lot of teachable moments. I tried to take away as much as I could from those, and that helped me grow as a person and athlete.”
TVE: How did you choose WCU?
Scott: “I really liked the fact that it was close to home, and I think it’s a great place for me to continue that growth.”
Sam Hey
Randolph College Swimming
Sam Hey, who finished eighth in the 2021 NCHSAA 1A/2A State Championship 200 yard individual medley, will continue his swimming career at Randolph College in Lynchburg, Virginia. Photo by Fred McCormick
Sam Hey will remain in the Blue Ridge Mountains as he joins the swim team at Randolph College in Lynchburg, Virginia. Hey was the only swimmer to represent a Buncombe County school in the 2021 NCHSAA 1A/2A State Championship, where he placed eighth in the 200 yard individual medley.
The Valley Echo: How does it feel to continue your athletic career at the collegiate level?
Hey: “It feels great. It’s something I’ve always expected of myself. I knew that when I left high school there would be no way I’d be done with swimming, I just love it too much.”
TVE: How would you describe the work it took to get to this level?
Hey: “I started swimming my freshman year, and that was a big learning experience. Then I joined a year-round club team at the beginning of sophomore year, and that’s really when the hardest work started.”
TVE: What do you most look forward to about competing in college?
Hey: “I’m excited to face consistently difficult competition, for sure. We’re in a really small conference here at Owen, so I don’t get to face the toughest competition every meet. It will be fun to represent my college against formidable competition every meet.”
TVE: How did your experience at Owen help you get to this point?
Hey: “I don’t think I’d be swimming at this level if I hadn’t started swimming here. Coach Brett McCall, who was the coach when I started swimming here, really instilled a passion for this sport in me. He introduced me to a new level of work that was really appealing to me.”
TVE: How did you choose Randolph College?
Hey: “It was an interesting journey. I grew up in Lynchburg, and my best friend’s father got the coaching job at Randolph, which is how I heard about this school. I checked it out, and the more I thought about it the more I thought about how it would be nice to be close to home and still be in the mountains. It really seemed like the best fit for me.”
Trevor Nail
Warren Wilson College Cross Country
Owen senior Trevor Nail will continue his long-distance running career nearby at Warren Wilson College, following an April 28 signing ceremony hosted in the high school’s gym. Photo by Fred McCormick
Trevor Nail was one of three Owen runners to place in the top three as the Warhorses captured the 2021 Western Highlands Conference Championship. His collegiate running will take place on a course he knows well, down the road at Warren Wilson College.
The Valley Echo: How does it feel to continue your athletic career at the collegiate level?
Nail: “It’s really gratifying. I’m proud that I came far enough to have the confidence to continue training and putting in the effort to get to the next level.”
TVE: How would you describe the work it took to get to this level?
Nail: “I remember when I first joined cross country, I didn’t know anything about cross country or the mechanics of running. In the past two years, I’ve learned so much about it and this sport has become a huge passion of mine. I’ve run just about every day for the past two years, and I only take days off if I need to.”
TVE: What do you most look forward to about competing in college?
Nail: “I look forward to being around more people who are truly invested in the sport. I believe being around people who are motivated to get to the next level will help push me along to that level.”
TVE: How did your experience at Owen help you get to this point?
Nail: “The biggest thing here was my coach. He was the biggest influence in my passion for this sport. That really helped push me to always get better.”
TVE: How did you choose Warren Wilson College?
Nail: “I’m familiar with Warren Wilson, and I know it’s a college that fits with who I’m becoming as a person. I know some of the faculty and coaches there, and being able to go to school there and participate in this sport will help me grow.”