By Mike Mooneyham

Nov. 9, 2002

Yet another “Flair” is making sports headlines these days.

“Nature Boy” Ric Flair’s youngest daughter, Ashley Fliehr, recently led Charlotte’s Providence High School to the North Carolina 4A state championship in volleyball.

Ashley, a 5-10 sophomore, registered 10 kills from her middle hitter position in sparking Providence to an 8-15, 15-5, 15-5, 16-14 victory over Wilmington Hoggard Nov. 2 at N.C. State’s Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh. The Panthers rallied after falling behind 8-0 in the first game.

[ad#MikeMooneyham-336×280]Perhaps the most vocal fan in attendance was her famous father.

“It was awesome,” said the 16-time world champion. “It was 8-0 in the first game before they (Providence) even scored. I couldn’t believe it. They just got off to a very slow start, and the other team made some good plays. They had a good crowd, and we had a good turnout that was loud for our team. They just had the early momentum, but once we got going we took the next two games. They were ahead 14-13 (in the final game), but we came back to beat them 16-14.”

Providence, which finished the season at 32-4 after winning 15 straight games, had advanced to the state finals with a 15-12, 15-10, 13-15, 9-15, 15-6 victory against previously unbeaten Riverside High in the 4A playoff semifinals. Ashley, one of four Providence players to make the 4A All-Conference team, registered 20 kills and 10 blocks in that contest.

Meanwhile, Flair’s 14-year-old son, Reid, has begun high school wrestling practice after leading his junior high football squad to a conference title. The 190-pound eighth-grader, a seven-time state champion in wrestling, played nose guard, tackle and offensive right guard in football.