Bryson City – On a night where they honored their current coach, the Lady Devils payed homage to their past by retiring three former players numbers. In a pre-match ceremony Swain retired the volleyball numbers of Meagan Pedersen, Anna Wike-Shields, and Cayla Crawley. The trio was cited for their outstanding playing career at Swain as well as playing four years of college volleyball.
Here is a brief rundown of each:
#10 – Meagan Pedersen –
Ms Pedersen was a 3 year letterman in volleyball at Swain – 2004 Smoky Mountain Conference Player of the Year – recorded 602 assists in 2004 – Senior year Lady Devils were 25-3 overall record, Smoky Mountain Conference Champion and Western Regional Runner-up – Ms Pedersen played volleyball at Reinhardt College, where during her senior year she was named All-SSAC and recorded over 1000 assists as Reinhart’s primary setter. The number 10 is now officially retired in Ms Pedersen’s honor.
#15 – Anna Wike Shields –
Ms Wike was a 4 year letterman in volleyball, and a member of 4 conference championship teams in the early years of Lady Devil volleyball, where Swain established dominance in the Smoky Mountain Conference, Ms Wike was All Conference in each of her years – Ann Wike Shields played volleyball at Western Carolina University, where during her senior campaign she had 379 kills, Ms Wike is still 5th on the season aces list where she had 56. The number 15 is now officially retired in Ms Shields’ honor.
#23 – Cayla Crawley –
Ms Crawley was a 3 year letterman in volleyball at Swain – 2008 Smoky Mountain Conference Player of the Year – Named NCHSAA State Championship MVP – First and only Lady Devil to record over 400 kills in a season with 419 – Senior season the Lady Devils were NCHSAA 1A State Champions with a school best 30-1 overall record – In the 2008 playoffs Ms Crawley had 79 kills with only 12 errors in 232 attempts over 5 matches – Had 5 matches of over 20 kills, including one 23 kill 1 error match – Ms Crawley played volleyball at Lenior Rhyne University and Western Carolina University, In 2011 she led Lenior Rhyne with 36 service aces. The number 23 is now officially retired in Ms Crawley’s honor.