A History of Western Carolina University Baseball
Western Carolina University (WCU), located in Cullowhee, North Carolina, boasts a rich history encompassing not only academics but also a vibrant athletic program. Among its various sports, baseball holds a significant place, marked by numerous achievements and traditions. The nickname Catamount derives from cats of the catamount variety, including the bobcat, that roams the southern Appalachian Mountains where the school is located. The nickname evolved from a contest that was held on campus in 1933. The school was called Western Carolina Teachers College at that time and its teams were known as "the Teachers". Everyone on campus was invited to participate, and the usual names were suggested: Bears, Indians, Panthers. However, the college wanted an unusual name; a name that few others had and that everyone would not copy. The contest came down to Mountain Boomers, a small ground squirrel that scampers about the woods and is extremely difficult to catch, and Catamounts. Catamounts was the favorite of head football coach C.C. Poindexter and was the nickname chosen. Poindexter wanted his players to be Catamounts with "fierce spirit, savage attacks, and lightning quick moves."
Early Foundations and Key Figures
While Western Carolina University began baseball in 1928, records prior to 1951 are incomplete. Western Carolina football was born in 1931, thanks to C.C. Poindexter. Often referred to as the "Father of Western Carolina Athletics" because of his efforts in organizing what was then Western Carolina Teachers College's first athletic program in the early 1930s. He accepted the dual roles of Athletic Director and football coach in 1931. Then, later he also assumed duties as the first head coach in basketball and baseball. His leadership and vision resulted in the construction of the first college football field on the Western Carolina campus. With the help of assistant coaches, he coached three separate scholarship teams. In 1949, Coach Tom Young completed a four-year, post-World War II building program with an 8-2 regular season and the school's first North State Conference championship and first postseason appearance. The team was rewarded by a bid to play in the Smoky Mountain Bowl in Bristol, Virginia, where the Cats lost to West Liberty State.
Several individuals played crucial roles in the establishment and growth of Western Carolina University, including those who laid the groundwork for its athletic programs and baseball team. Lewis J. Smith (1843-1901) played an important role in the establishment of WCU’s predecessor institution and in the school’s operation during its early years. A Confederate veteran and a teacher, he became Jackson County register of deeds in 1870. Smith was a strong advocate of better education for the area’s children, and in 1883 he built a one-room schoolhouse known as “Liberty School” on his farm. When a more permanent school was established one mile away in 1889, Smith served as first chairman of its board of trustees and the “Liberty School” building in time was moved to the new site. Cullowhee Academy, as it was then known, opened on August 5, 1889, with an enrollment of 18. The school soon prospered and closed the year with 100 students. Key to the school’s growth was the receipt of state aid in 1893. Robert Lee Madison (1867-1954) was engaged by the board as the Cullowhee Academy’s first teacher and principal in 1889. Born in Lexington, Va., he was educated at East Tennessee Wesleyan University. In 1885 he first came to the Jackson County area, writing for a local newspaper and teaching school in the Qualla community for several years. His “Cullowhee Idea” in 1893 became the seed that sprouted “normal schools” across North Carolina and resulted in WCU and its mission of service to the region.
The Ronnie G. Childress Field at Hennon Stadium Era
The baseball program has called Ronnie G. Childress Field/Hennon Stadium its home since 1978. Childress Field, built at an initial cost of $125,000, was dedicated April 26, 1978, and named in honor of the late Ronnie G. Childress, an avid supporter of WCU athletics and a special friend of the baseball program. In 1978, the baseball stadium was moved approximately 200 yards to the east from the former "Haywood Field". The Cats have won over 72 percent of their home games since then, with a 526-201 record in 30 seasons. Bill Haywood, head baseball coach from 1969 through 1981, and Mr. E.J. Whitmire, longtime supporter and benefactor from Franklin, were the driving forces behind the building of the facility. The baseball facility was officially renamed Ronnie G. Childress Field at Hennon Stadium. Hennon Stadium is the 1,500-seat home of the Western Carolina Catamounts baseball team. The baseball field's dimensions are 325 feet down each line, 375 feet to the right and left center power alleys and 390 feet to straight away center field. The "Purple Monster" in left field is 100 feet long and is divided into two 50-foot levels. The first and tallest level is 20 feet high and the second level is 14 feet tall.
NCAA Tournament Appearances
The Catamounts baseball team has reached the NCAA tournament 12 times, including five straight years from 1985 to 1989, three straight years from 1992 to 1994, and four other times in 1997, 2003, 2007, and 2016.
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Coaching Changes and Notable Players
On July 19, 2007, Bobby Moranda was introduced as the 10th head coach for Western Carolina. He retired after the 2022 season. Twelve former Western Carolina University ballplayers who made it to the majors. Kevin Martin of Minnesota Timberwolves played for the Western Carolina Catamounts (2001-2004), and was a first-round draft choice, selected by the Sacramento Kings. Dikembe Mutombo's nephew Harouna Mutombo played college basketball for the Western Carolina Catamounts from 2007 to 2012.
Other Sports at WCU
Western Carolina is the only football-playing school in the United States that uses the nickname Catamounts. The Catamounts men's basketball team reached the NCAA tournament in 1996, where they dropped their only game against No.1 seed Purdue, 73-71. The Catamounts women's basketball team reached the NCAA tournament in 2005 and again in 2009 under the leadership of Kellie Harper, who went on to be the head coach for N.C. State and Tennessee. The Catamounts football team made it to the Division I-AA championship game in 1983, falling to No. 1 seed Southern Illinois. On their way to the championship, Western Carolina upset No. 2 seed Holy Cross and No. 3 seed Furman.
Lady Catamount basketball was added as a varsity sport at Western Carolina University in 1965. Betty Westmoreland started Western Carolina's intercollegiate basketball program and coached the Lady Catamounts for 14 years. The program grew from independent status to NAIAW, NCAA Division II, then NCAA Division I. Her team compiled a 190-89 record, never suffering a losing season in 14 years. The team was the national CIAW runner-up in the 1968-69 season and finished fourth the following year in the tournament. The Western Carolina women's fastpitch softball team completed its inaugural season in 2006. With a 41-20 record, it won the Southern Conference regular season championship. In 2012, Danny Williamson began his 25th year as men's head coach and his 26th year as head of the women's program. Under Williamson, the Catamounts (men and women) have claimed 17 Southern Conference Team Championships between indoor and outdoor seasons.
Facilities
Liston B. Ramsey Regional Activity Center: The Ramsey Center (often called "The RAC" or "The RACC") is home to the men's and women's basketball and women's volleyball teams. The building was named for Liston B. Ramsey, former speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives and longtime representative of the 52nd House District that includes Haywood, Madison, Swain, Graham and Jackson counties. The Ramsey Center was completed in April 1986 and seats 7,826 for basketball and was built at a cost of $16.3 million. In addition to housing the athletic department's administrative offices, coaches’ offices, team locker rooms, and meeting facilities, it also contains an auxiliary gymnasium, handball and racquetball courts, a communications center, a firing range and weight rooms. Bob Waters Field at E. J. Whitmire Stadium: The stadium seats as many as 12,000 fans, cheering on the activities taking place on Bob Waters Field. The stadium field is named for the former WCU football coach and athletics director who suffered from ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis - also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease). Waters coached from 1969 through 1988 and was the university’s most successful football coach.
The Old Mountain Jug Rivalry
Western played Appalachian State annually in the Battle for the Old Mountain Jug The first game between Western and Appalachian was held in 1932, but the "Old Mountain Jug" was introduced in 1976. Student Steve White ’67 and a friend at Appalachian State University wanted to create a trophy for the mountain rivalry. They settled on a moonshine jug - “a takeoff on the Hatfields and McCoys” - that a Boone man crafted. App State went home with the jug the first year, in 1976, with the Catamounts bringing it home the second. The jug seesawed through the rest of the decade and into the early ’80s, but it had been sitting in its trophy case in Boone for more than a dozen years when the Catamounts won it back in 1998. The last time WCU possessed the jug was in 2004. In November, 2013, the jug was retired to the possession of Appalachian in a 48-27 loss. The rivalry ceased after the 2014 meeting due to Appalachian State moving to NCAA FBS. The rivalry between the two mountain schools was a natural, Appalachian and Western were the only public colleges in the western half of North Carolina for decades. Both schools made similar steps to their present status as comprehensive regional universities and both basically recruited athletes from the same high schools in the early years. In 1974, while Western was seeking membership to the Southern Conference, an incident happened that heated up the rivalry. Prior to the WCU-ASU game that year, ASU's athletic director informed Western's President that if Jerry Gaines, Western's all-star wide receiver/kick returner - and arguably the school's best athlete ever - were allowed to play in the WCU-ASU football game in Boone, ASU would withdraw their support of Western's membership for the Southern Conference (ASU was Western's sponsor). Their rationale was that Gaines was playing the 1974 season as a fifth-year [medical red-shirt] and red-shirting was not permitted in the Southern Conference at that time. Gaines had been injured in the first half of the second game of the 1971 season against Appalachian State.
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Centennial and Beyond
On WCU's 100th birthday in 1989, the Alumni Tower was dedicated as a symbol of the impression the university made on graduates of the university. It was made possible by a $350,000 alumni fundraising effort and was built by F.N. Thompson Construction Company of Charlotte. Standing 66 feet high, it is located on the lawn of the A. K. Hinds University Center. The tower’s Victory Bell, which originally hung in Old Madison Hall and marked class periods, now chimes every hour on the hour. The Alumni Tower serves as the gathering point for activities from protests to picnics, concerts to festivals.
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