Steven Wyatt Places 2nd and 3rd in State Swimming, Tucker Gilbert Makes All-District Band, and Winter Guard Begins Season

Cherryville, NC (WNN) - Steven Wyatt earned two swimming medals, while Tucker Gilbert auditioned and was selected for All-District Band Honors. Winter sports are ending with regular season finales, along with regional and state tournaments getting underway. Performing arts are in transition from Winter to Spring. Practice has begun for Spring sports, and their seasons will be in full swing in the latter part of February. In the meantime, there is still some unfinished business for the Winter season.

Swimming

Senior Steven Wyatt has had an amazing swimming season. Throughout the year, he competed in 8 categories and placed 1st 6 times, 2nd 4 times, 3rd, 4th, and 5th once each. On January 21, he earned two 1st-place finishes in the Southern Piedmont 2A/3A/4A Conference Finals. Heading into the 2026 NCHSAA 1A/2A/3A State Swim and Dive Championships, Steven had a ranking of 88th in the state from NCHSSA with 537.30 points on the season. 

Steven Wyatt awarded 3rd place Men’s 200 Freestyle NCHSAA State Championships 2-14-26

Cherryville Ironmen Athletics

The Triangle Aquatic Center (TAC) in Cary, NC, hosted the state championships on February 14, 2026. Two winter storms forced the cancellation of the West Regionals and the postponement of the state to mid-February. Steven competed in two events; his first was the 200 Yard Men’s Freestyle. Finishing in 3rd place, he bettered his 5th place performance of a year ago and shed almost a full second off his time. The results were: 1st place, Alex Lee from Raleigh Carter High School, with a time of 1:43.28; 2nd place, Cullan Harding from Langtree Charter, with a time of 1:44.71; and 3rd place, Steven Wyatt of Cherryville High School, with a time of 1:45.76. 

The Men’s 500 Yard Freestyle final heat was a very competitive race. Early, it was a three-man battle that quickly became a two-man duel. Wyatt kept gaining ground on leader Cullan Harding with each 100-yard leg completed, by the time the final flip turn was made and the swimmers headed for home, it was anyone’s battle. Steven Wyatt briefly pulled ahead of Harding by about a hand’s length before losing ground as Cullan Harding would touch first. How close was the finish? The results were: Cullan Harding of Langtree Charter, 1st in 4:42.72; Steven Wyatt of Cherryville High School, 2nd in 4:42.95; and Matthew Tripsa of Corvian Community High School, 3rd in 4:49.84. If the top two finishers had been any closer, it would have been a photo finish. Both young men turned in amazing performances. Last year, Wyatt also finished 2nd in this event, but this year he improved his time by just under 3 seconds.

Band

Tucker Gilbert performing with All-District Band

Cherryville High School Band

On Saturday, February 7, 2026, the North Carolina Bandmasters Association held the South-Central District All-District Band Clinics and Concerts at Stuart W. Cramer High School in Belmont, NC. Through auditions, 350 middle and high school students from 10 counties were selected for the honor. Among those chosen for the 11th and 12th-grade band was Cherryville High School’s Tucker Gilbert. Tucker is a senior who plays euphonium (baritone). This was not his only recognition this season. His talent has also been recognized through the selection of Gaston County’s All-County Band, and he has been invited to participate in several workshops.

Winter Guard

  In early December, students from Bessemer City and Cherryville High Schools began practicing for the new winter guard competition and show team, Iron Guard. They have spent those months in preparation, practicing and perfecting their amazing premiere performance, “Wildflower”. The show is described as “a journey of self-discovery and reflection as we explore who we are in the still quiet corners of our minds.”  The guard is under the direction of Megan Wright and Gabbie Wall. Technicians are Tabitha Alysworth and Kyra Kelly. 

Winter Guard - Iron Guard promo poster

Cherryville High School Winter Guard

  The Iron Guard began their season on February 14 at Northwestern High School. The current schedule of shows and competitions is as follows:

March 14th James F. Byrnes High School

March 21 Indian Land High School

March 26 Stuart W. Cramer High School

March 28 Winthrop Coliseum