King Athletics
Travis Chell, Director of Athletic Communications
BRISTOL – The eighth annual Battle for the Blue Ridge Cup was cut short when the spring seasons were canceled in March, but the result was the same as the previous seven years. King University retained the cup by the score of 13-5 over Lees-McRae College.
The Tornado soccer teams gave King the lead with victories over the Bobcats on October 30 with the women taking a 1-0 win and the men earning a 2-1 victory. On the volleyball court, Lees-McRae topped the Tornado 3-2 in Banner Elk, N.C. before King took a 3-0 win in Bristol, Tenn.
The final competition of the fall as in cross country as the Tornado women took one point based on their finish at the Conference Carolinas Championship and the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional. King won the conference title and finished 12th at the NCAA Regional. On the men’s side, Lees-McRae took the point, finishing third at the conference meet and 16th at the regional.
In the winter, the Tornado came out victorious in all four games on the hardwood. The King men’s basketball team topped the Bobcats 85-81 in Bristol before taking a 105-93 win in Banner Elk. On the women’s side, the Tornado took an 81-57 win at home and a 69-53 triumph on the road.
On the track, Lees-McRae took both indoor track & field points based on a higher finish at the Conference Carolinas Indoor Championships. King returned the favor in the pool, finishing ahead of the Bobcats with a pair of third place finishes at the Conference Carolinas Swimming & Diving Championships.
The men’s volleyball teams played one match, with King taking a 3-0 victory before the spring seasons were canceled in March.
In the three academic categories, King came out ahead in graduation rate and overall student-athlete GPA while Lees-McRae had the edge in percentage on the Academic All-Conference Carolinas team.
King retained the cup by a score of 13-5 as the Tornado have won the Blue Ridge Cup all eight years since its inception in 2012-13.