Tuesday, November 10, 2026
®
The World's Local News Source®
Cherryville, NC (WNN) - As the Ironmen continue their march through the NCHSAA 2A football playoffs, the band and soccer teams wrapped up their seasons, and the Cheer team is just beginning their competition season. Fall sports are now transitioning over to Winter sports, which promises more opportunities for fans to support their favorite Ironmen teams.
The ladies of the Cherryville High School cheerleading team have been hard at work since the summer months. They have been cheering on the Ironmen every Friday night during football season and will soon begin cheering for the Lady Ironmen and Ironmen basketball teams as well. If that was not enough to keep these young ladies busy, they also began their cheer competition, with their first event on November 7, 2026.
West Henderson High School was the host of the Mountain Regional. Cherryville won the Game Day Division with a score of 91.3, which Coach Wendy Holt says is a good start to the competition season. The next competition will be the UCA Piedmont Regional at Cabarrus Arena. This will be held on November 21, and the Cherryville cheer team will compete for a bid to the NHSCC, held in Orlando, FL, January 29-31, 2027.
Team members are; Sophia Williams, Kate Mulvey, Eleanor Sermersheim, Lylua Spangler, Paylin Wooten, Bailey Tackett, Ella Blake, Kenzie Johnson, Akira Briggs, Marley Deitz, Caylin Lockridge, Rylee Anderson, Gracie Adkin, Kaydence Ellis, Grayce Pruitt, Aliyah Howell, Eden Beam, Adair Craig, and Tori Little.
The Cherryville Marching Ironmen concluded their competition season last weekend. They gave their final non-football game performance on November 7, 2026, at Stuart W. Cramer High School during the 2026 Gaston County Band Fanfare. They performed their halftime routine, entitled “Dragon Hunt.” The Gaston County Fanfare is an annual event where all ten high school marching bands showcase their halftime and competition routines for the entire county to enjoy.
This is the only time all season that every Gaston County high school band performs on the same field on the same date. It is always an exciting time for the members of each band to perform not only for other schools but also for fans across the county. This event is always well received by those in attendance, as they can marvel at the musical and on-field talent of these students. Most of the bands are award winners throughout the marching band season. There is also an element of pride with the friendly non-judged competition among county bands to put forth their best effort to claim the title of best band in Gaston County unofficially. Performing bands were from the high schools of Ashbrook, Bessemer City, Cherryville, Stuart W. Cramer, East Gaston, Forestview, Highland, Hunter Huss, North Gaston, and South Point.
The Ironmen traveled to Sparta, NC, to play the Alleghany Trojans in the first round of the NCHSAA 2A playoffs on November 2, 2026. The first half was a hard-fought, close match. The only score was by the Trojans at the 29:57 mark. The second half, however, was all Alleghany. The Trojans scored in the second half at the 29:03 mark to pull ahead 2-0. A quick strike a few seconds later and they led 3-0. The next goal came at 12: 23,, giving Alleghany a 4-0 lead.
Cole Kelly answered at 7:27 for Cherryville. With just under 7 minutes left, a wide shot to the right had drawn goalie Ethan Johnsen away from the unguarded net. The Trojans looked to be in position for an easy score when Carson Davis used his speed to slide in between the shot on goal and the net, saving a sure goal as his momentum carried him into the net instead of the ball. The score remained 4-1. At the 6:24 mark, Alleghany scored a goal that was just off the fingertips of an outstretched Johnsen. Alleghany added their final goal at 2:41, and the Ironmen scored once more off a goal from Arturo Lopez that was taken from 20 yards out. The final score: Alleghany 6, Cherryville 2. This concluded the season for the much-improved Ironmen.
News Tip? Contact WNN at newsdesk@wisenewsnetwork.com
Subscribe to our FREE newsletter for news updates here: https://www.wisenewsnetwork.com/subscribe/index.html
For further WNN news articles, visit https://wisenewsnetwork.com
For more WNN news videos, visit YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@wisenewsnetwork
North Carolina Press Association Member
©️Copyright 2026 Wise News Network. All rights reserved.
