Blog – Moore County Edition

Dec

07

2025

Athlete of the Week: Chris Powierski & Vince Powierski Jr.

Sportsathlete of the week

Moore County Special Olympians Chris Powierski and Vince Powierski Jr. share Athlete of the Week honors. Vince Sr. is the coach of Team Moore County’s golf team, and both of his sons are competitors on the team. Chris has competed for more than two decades in more than a half dozen different events; Vince for close to a decade. The two have previously represented North Carolina at the Special Olympics USA Games. The brother team paired up at last month’s Special Olympics North Carolina Fall Tournament at the CharlesT. Myers Golf Course in Charlotte. They brought home a silver medal…

Nov

30

2025

By Cory Lavalette

Athlete of the Week: Tami Ostroski and Anna Page

SportsAnna Page, athlete of the week, Special Olympics, Tami Ostroski

Special Olympics golfers Tami Ostroski and Anna Page share Athlete of the Week honors. The Moore County natives are multiple Special Olympic medalists and returned to competition last week in the Special Olympics North Carolina Fall Tournament. Competing at the Charles T. Myers Golf Course in Charlotte, the team of Ostroski and Page shot a 53 to take gold in the Level 2 alternate shot team play competition.

Nov

16

2025

By Cory Lavalette

Athlete of the Week: Chris Najm

Businessathlete of the week, Chris Najm, Patriots, Pinecrest, pinecrest football, Pinecrest Patriots

Pinecrest football senior running back Chris Najm is Athlete of the Week. The Patriots’ season ended with a first-round loss in the NCHSAA playoffs, but Najm went out on his shield. He ran for 148 yards on 22 carries, a 6.7 yards per carry average. Najm scored two touchdowns. Najm ended a season in which he was the state’s 11th-leading rusher and seventh leading scorer. He led class 8A in both categories, as well as touchdowns scored.

Nov

09

2025

By North State Journal Staff

Athlete of the Week: Madeline Dorsch

Businessathlete of the week, Madeline Dorsch, Pinecrest, Pinecrest cross country, Pinecrest cross-country

Pinecrest girls’ cross-country sophomore Madeline Dorsch is Athlete of the Week, and she’d like to remind everyone that girls’ golf isn’t the only one bringing home state titles for the Patriots. Dorsch was absolutely dominant in winning the NCHSAA Class 8A girls’ cross-country state title at Ivey Redmon Sports Complex. She ran a 17:09.28, giving her a margin of victory of over one full minute. The second-place finisher ran an 18:10.21. Dorsch’s win was one of the 10 largest in state history and was the second-fastest girl’s time ever run on that course. She also brought home the fourth cross-country…

Nov

02

2025

By North State Journal Staff

Athlete of the Week: Keira Rosenmarkle

BusinessApp State, Appalachian State, athlete of the week, Keira Rosenmarkle, Union Pines, Union Pines Vikings, Union Pines volleyball, Vikings

Union Pines volleyball senior outside hitter Keira Rosenmarkle is Athlete of the Week. She also plays lacrosse for the Vikings. The Vikings finished their season 24-3 with a loss in the state quarterfinals. Rosenmarkle helped pace their NCHSAA Class 6A run. In their two tournament wins, she posted a total of 32 kills, leading the team in both games, four aces, 12 digs and four receptions. For the season, Rosenmarkle ranked 10th in N.C. Class 6A in hitting percentage and eighth in kills and was second in the Carolina Pines 6A conference in service aces. She led the team in…

Oct

26

2025

By Cory Lavalette

Athlete of the Week: Taylon Tranel

Businessathlete of the week, Taylon Tranel, Union Pines, Union Pines football, Union Pines High School, Union Pines Vikings, Vikings

Union Pines fottball senior center Taylon Tranel is Athlete of the Week. The 5-foot-11, 220-pounder made all-conference as a junior, and he’ll be playing in college, thanks to his specialty — long snapping. He’s one of the top high school seniors in the country snapping for punts and place kicks. Tranel has already committed to NC State, and this month, he was selected to the East roster in the North Carolina East-West All-Star game.

Oct

19

2025

By North State Journal Staff

Athlete of the Week: Madeline Adair

Businessathlete of the week, Madeline Adair, Union Pines, Union Pines Vikings, Union Pines volleyball, Vikings

Union Pines volleyball junior outside hitter Madeline Adair is Athlete of the Week. The Vikings closed the regular season on a four-game winning streak, cruising to a Carolina Pines 6A conference title. They then opened the conference tournament with a straight-set win. Their record stands at 20-2. Adair led the way in a win over Western Harnett to close the regular season, getting 18 kills, eight digs, two aces and 15 receptions. For the season, she ranks 15th in the NCHSAA in hitting percentage and is second in the Carolina Pines in hitting percentage and kills.

Sep

28

2025

By Cory Lavalette

Athlete of the Week: Blake Pennington

Sportsathlete of the week, Blake Pennington, Mustangs, North Moore, north moore football, North Moore High School, North Moore Mustangs

North Moore sophomore Blake Pennington is Athlete of the Week. He has also played basketball and golfed for the Mustangs. North Moore beat Seaforth 30-20, and Pennington led the defensive effort. He had a team-high 12 tackles and three tackles for loss. He also recovered a fumble for a touchdown. Pennington leads the Four Rivers 3A/4A conference in tackles.

Sep

14

2025

By Cory Lavalette

Athlete of the Week: Lawson Barrett

Sportsathlete of the week, Lawson Barrett, Patriots, Pinecrest High school, Pinecrest Patriots, Pinecrest volleyball

Pinecrest volleyball junior setter and right-side hitter Lawson Barrett is Athlete of the Week. The Patriots beat Western Harnett and Purnell Swett last week to even their record at 4-4. Barrett had eight service aces, six digs and 17 assists against Western Harnett and three, eight and 13 against Swett. For the season, Barrett leads Pinecrest in aces and assists, and she is fifth in N.C. Class 8A in aces.

Sep

08

2025

By Cory Lavalette

Athlete of the Week: Zaiden Pratt

Sportsathlete of the week, Patriots, pinecrest football, Pinecrest High school, Pinecrest Patriots, Zaiden Pratt

Pinecrest junior defensive back Zaiden Pratt is Athlete of the Week. The Patriots won the annual Battle of the Pines over crosstown rival Union Pines, but not until Pratt saved the day. The Vikings trailed by five and were driving for a possible game-winning touchdown when Pratt picked off an Ian Hicks pass with less than 30 seconds remaining to preserve the win.