Blog – Moore County Edition

Aug

24

2025

Athlete of the Week: Katie Burley

Sportsathlete of the week, Katie Burley, Union Pines, Union Pines Vikings, Union Pines volleyball

Union Pines volleyball’s senior libero and defensive specialist Katie Burley is Athlete of the Week. The Vikings opened the season with a 3-1 record. Burley is off to a fast start as well. She leads the team with 62 digs and 106 receptions. She’s second on the squad in serving aces and third in assists. She also leads the Carolina Pines conference in digs.

Aug

17

2025

By North State Journal staff

Athlete of the Week: Madeline Adair

Sportsathlete of the week, Madeline Adair, Union Pines, Union Pines High School, Union Pines volleyball

Union Pines volleyball junior outside hitter Madeline Adair is Athlete of the Week. Last season, she was all-conference while leading the Vikings in kills and hitting percentage. She’s now one of the leading returning players in the state in kills and was named a “player to watch” by HS OT.

Aug

10

2025

By North State Journal staff

Athlete of the Week: Sam Creed

Sportsathlete of the week, Elon, Elon Phoenix, Jeff Yurk, Patriots, Pinecrest, Pinecrest High school, Pinecrest Patriots, Sam Creed

Pinecrest football rising senior Sam Creed is Athlete of the Week. As a long snapper, Creed often goes under the radar, unless something goes wrong. However, he’s been a star on the summer football camp circuit. His speed and accuracy won him camp long snapper competitions at Duke, Western Carolina, Vanderbilt, Elon and ECU. He also made the finals in competitions at Clemson and Auburn. Creed will follow former Pinecrest punter Jeff Yurk to Elon after committing to the Phoenix last week.

Aug

03

2025

By North State Journal staff

Athlete of the Week: Ashley Lee

SportsAshley Lee, athlete of the week, Patriots, Pinecrest, Pinecrest girls' golf, Pinecrest golf, Pinecrest High school, Pinecrest Patriots

Pinecrest girls’ golf rising sophomore Ashley Lee is Athlete of the Week. In addition to being a part of the defending state champions on the links, she also plays softball for the Patriots. In July, the Pinecrest girls finished third in the National High School Golf Invitational, which the school hosted. Lee tied for third place overall, two strokes off the tournament lead. She shot a first-round 72, a second-round 67 and finished with a 68 on the final day.

Jul

28

2025

By North State Journal staff

Athlete of the Week: Kingsley Donaldson

Sportsathlete of the week, Kingsley Donaldson, Union Pines, Union Pines basketball, Union Pines boys' basketball, Union Pines High School, Union Pines Vikings, Vikings

Union Pines rising senior Kingsley Donaldson is Athlete of the Week. He led the Sandhills Conference in double-doubles last season for the Vikings’ boys’ basketball team while finishing second in the league in rebounding and averaging 12.6 points. The 6-foot-6 post player was named MVP of the Charlotte Big Shots AAU event in April, and he came up big again in the July edition of Big Shots in Charlotte. He scored 15 and 27 points in his first two games, leading the Sandhills Cyclones to the 17U championship game, where he added 12 points in a losing effort. Donaldson’s summer…

Jul

13

2025

By North State Journal staff

Athlete of the Week: Kileigh Cameron

Sportsathlete of the week, Kileigh Cameron, Union Pines, Union Pines softball, Union Pines Vikings

Union Pines softball junior Kileigh Cameron is Athlete of the Week. Cameron, who earned her second berth on the all-district softball team, was the fifth-most prolific RBI producer in the state of North Carolina and also ranked among the state’s leaders in home runs. She just missed a triple crown after leading the Sandhills Conference in home runs and RBIs. Her near-.500 batting average was good for fourth place. Cameron’s outstanding season also earned her a spot on the all-state softball team, which was announced last week.

Jun

30

2025

By North State Journal staff

Athlete of the Week: Colby Wallace

Sportsathlete of the week, Colby Wallace, East Carolina, East Carolina Pirates, Pinecrest, Pinecrest baseball, Pinecrest High school, Pinecrest Patriots, Pirates

Pinecrest High School 2023 graduate Colby Wallace is Athlete of the Week. Wallace was a two-time all-state pitcher and a three-time conference pitcher of the year while leading the Patriots to three conference titles and one berth in the state championship game. Wallace completed his sophomore season at East Carolina earlier this month. He was named to the All-AAC Conference first team as a utility player and also made the AAC All-Tournament team. He also pitched, tying for the team lead with three saves. Wallace’s 3.78 GPA also earned him another postseason honor, as he was one of five Pirates…

Jun

08

2025

By Cory Lavalette

Athlete of the Week: Calissa Clendenin

Sportsathlete of the week, Calissa Clendenin, North Moore, North Moore Mustangs, North Moore softball

North Moore softball senior Calissa Clendenin is Athlete of the Week. She also played basketball and volleyball for the Mustangs. Clendenin got her summer sports season off to a good start. She’s a member of the Chatham County Post 292 18-19U team. In the opening game, she went 2 for 4 with two RBIs. Clendenin led North Moore in hits, RBIs, steals and doubles last season and was second in batting and on-base percentage. She will continue her softball career in college at Pfeiffer.

May

11

2025

By North State Journal staff

Athlete of the Week: Ian Scott

Sportsathlete of the week, Ian Scott, Pinecrest, Pinecrest boys' lacrosse, Pinecrest High school, Pinecrest lacrosse, Pinecrest Patriots

Pinecrest boys’ lacrosse sophomore Ian Scott is Athlete of the Week. The Patriots lead the Sandhills Conference with an unbeaten 11-0 league record. Scott came up big in a win over Union Pines, scoring six of the team’s 10 goals on just nine shots on goal. He also assisted on two of the team’s other four goals. For the season, Scott leads Pinecrest in goals, points, shots on goal and shooting percentage, and he is second in assists.

May

05

2025

By North State Journal staff

Athlete of the Week: Mitch Baek

Sportsathlete of the week, Mitch Baek, Patriots, Pinecrest, Pinecrest baseball, Pinecrest High school, Pinecrest Patriots

Pinecrest baseball senior Mitch Baek is Athlete of the Week. The Patriots head into the postseason on a four-game winning streak, including going 3-0 last week. Baek had hits and was responsible for runs in all three contests last week. Against Union Pines at home, he homered, walked, drove in two runs and scored one in a 1-for-2 day. In the game at Union Pines, he went 1 for 4 with a double and a run scored. Against Central Davidson, Baek went 1 for 2 with two RBIs. For the year, he is second on the team in batting, homers,…