Owen crowns Mattie Lehman Athlete of the Year
Warhorses and Warlassies collect hardware in Athletic Banquet
Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
May 27, 2022
Owen senior Mattie Lehman, an all-state soccer player, WHC Tennis Player of the Year and all-conference basketball player, was named the 2021-22 overall Athlete of the Year, May 26, as the school hosted its annual athletic awards ceremony. Photo by Fred McCormick
There were plenty of highlights for Owen High School in the 2021-22 athletic season, as the Warhorses and Warlassies combined for six conference championships, more than a dozen postseason appearances and competed in multiple state championships.
The hard work and dedication of those student-athletes were recognized, May 26, as hundreds of supporters gathered in the school’s cafeteria for the Owen Athletic Banquet.
The ceremony, which was catered through donation by My Father’s Pizza and included dessert provided by Hey Hey Cupcake, was attended by seven Owen High School Hall of Fame members, including guest speakers Corinne Groves and David Weaver. The culmination of the evening came as senior Mattie Lehman was named the overall Owen Athlete of the Year.
The three-sport star was the top individual tennis player in the Western Highlands Conference in the spring, leading the Warlassies to a conference championship and representing the squad in Western Regional competition. She followed that up with an all-conference performance in the basketball season, before earning all-region and all-state honors while leading the 10-7-1 Warlassies soccer team to the postseason this spring.
Lehman, who has played three sports at Owen since her freshman year, was also named the WHC Scholar Athlete of the Year in 2021-22. While she was presented one trophy recognizing her as the school’s top performer, Lehman’s name represents the 45th Owen athlete to be etched into the base of the First Bank Gold Cup.
Another three-sport standout, Briggs Barker, was honored as the Owen Male Athlete of the Year. The senior was among the top rushers and a defensive leader for the 2021 Warhorse football team, which finished a 4-7 season in the first round of the state playoffs.
Barker led the Warhorses in scoring and rebounding in the winter, before earning the Most Valuable Player award for the Owen baseball squad in 2022. He will continue his career on the diamond at Southeastern Community College, after committing to the Rams in February.
Senior Briggs Barker and junior Maesyn Gardner were named the top male and female athletes of the year for Owen, May 26. The two student-athletes were among dozens recognized during the 2021-22 Owen Athletic Banquet. Photo by Fred McCormick
Maesyn Gardner, who competed in four varsity sports for the second consecutive year, took home the Owen Female Athlete of the Year trophy. The junior earned all-conference selections as a member of the Warlassies volleyball and basketball teams. She was a starter on the Owen soccer team and competed in discus and shot put events for the track and field program.
The banquet was hosted by Owen Assistant Principal and former student, Brad McMahan, who was introduced by principal Meg Turner. The guest speakers for the event, according to McMahan, were not actually guests at all.
“They are family, and we could not be happier to have them back home with us,” said McMahan. “Thank you both for being here tonight.”
Groves and Weaver grew up together in Black Mountain, where each would become dominant players on the basketball court for Owen. Inducted into the school’s hall of fame in 2017, Groves scored 1,900 points in her Warlassies career, finishing the 2004 season as the runner-up for the state’s Miss Basketball award. Her classmate, Weaver, established himself among the top 10 players in the country on his way to being recognized as a Nike All-American.
Owen Athletic Director Brook King welcomes guest speakers Corinne Groves and David Weaver to the 2021-22 Owen Athletic Awards Banquet on May 26. Groves and Weaver were both standout basketball players in the Swannanoa Valley, before continuing their playing careers at Wake Forest. Photo by Fred McCormick
Both players signed with Wake Forest on the same day, and each credited the other with pushing them to succeed on the court.
“I was excited to have the opportunity to continue my career with David,” said Groves, who eclipsed the 1,000-point mark and pulled in 1,400 rebounds during her Demon Deacons career. “We could summer together, and be close enough to Owen to have our hometown fans come watch us play.”
For Weaver, returning to his former high school was the realization of a goal he set as a freshman in the halls of Owen.
“It’s hard to believe it’s been 17 years since I sat in these seats,” he said. “It’s been 21 years since I first dreamed I would come back here one day and speak to you guys.”
Prior to his retirement in 2021, Weaver’s professional career included stops in Portugal, Lithuania, Poland and Greece, but the memories from his Owen playing days hold a special place in his heart.
“There was nothing like playing in that gym,” he said. “That’s how much being a Warhorse meant to me.”
Nearly 50 senior student-athletes, including all-state soccer player and East Tennessee State University signee, Jason Gun; school record-breaking discus thrower Charlie Hurt; four-sport athlete Bailee Worley and future Montreat College wrestlers Zeke Grabowski and Aidan Noonan were recognized during the event. Dozens of all-conference athletes also received awards.
“I want to say that it is a tremendous honor to be in front of everyone here tonight,” Athletic Director Brook King said to close the celebration. “Each and every one of you make the Valley special. Thank you all so much for being part of this community, and we truly appreciate all of the support you give these kids.