Blog – Moore County Edition

Apr

13

2025

Athlete of the Week: Taryn Pekala

Sportsathlete of the week, Taryn Pekala, Union Pines, Union Pines girls' soccer, Union Pines soccer, Union Pines Vikings, Vikings

Union Pines girls’ soccer senior striker/midfielder Taryn Pekala is Athlete of the Week. She has also golfed and played basketball for the Vikings. The Vikings blew out Scotland last week, and Pekala led the way, scoring four goals against the Scots and needing just four shots on goal to do it. She also had a goal and an assist in an overtime win over Pinecrest two weeks ago that put Union Pines alone atop the Sandhills Conference standings. For the year, Pekala leads the team in goals per game and is tied for the lead in assists.

Mar

23

2025

By North State Journal staff

Athlete of the Week: Kileigh Cameron

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

Union Pines junior catcher/first baseman Kileigh Cameron is Athlete of the Week. The Vikings won both games last week, and Cameron came up big at the plate. In a 5-4 win over Gray’s Creek, she went 3 for 4, stole a base and drove in a run. In a 19-2 blowout of Richmond, she went 4 for 4 with a run, three RBIs and three doubles. For the season, Cameron leads Union Pines in average, slugging, hits, homers and RBIs

Mar

14

2025

By North State Journal staff

Athlete of the Week: Ansley Preslar

SportsAnsley Preslar, athlete of the week, North Moore, North Moore High School, North Moore Mustangs, North Moore softball

North Moore softball sophomore Ansley Preslar is Athlete of the Week. The Mustangs are off to a 4-1 start to the season, and Preslar has been a force at the plate so far. In a 22-13 win over Southeast Alamance last week, she hit two home runs, doubled, scored three runs and drove in seven. She followed that up a hit and two runs against Jordan-Matthews. With five homers on the young season, Preslar leads all of NCHSAA. She’s also seventh in the state in RBIs and leads the Mid-Carolina Conference in slugging and runs.

Mar

03

2025

By North State Journal staff

Athlete of the Week: Liam Myles

Sportsathlete of the week, Liam Myles, Union Pines, Union Pines High School, union pines wrestling

Union Pines sophomore wrestler Liam Myles is Athlete of the Week. He’s also now one of three state champions on the mat for the Vikings. Myles entered the NCHSAA individual wrestling championships as a No. 3 seed at 106 pounds. He then went 4-0, winning his championship match by pinfall at 3:08. Union Pines won both the dual team and individual team state championships for class 3A. Myles finished the season with a record of 40-9.

Feb

22

2025

By North State Journal staff

Athlete of the Week: Jaydon Sterling

Sportsathlete of the week, Jaydon Sterling, Union Pines, Union Pines High School, Union Pines track and field

Union Pines track and field junior Jaydon Sterling is Athlete of the Week. The Vikings boys finished third in the NCHSAA Class 3A Indoor Track Championships, and Sterling scored nearly half of the team’s points, earning 23 of Union Pines’ 48 at the event. Sterling won the state title in the boys’ 300 with a time of 35.45. He also took second in the long jump and fourth in the triple jump. With a state title and two other top-five finishes, Sterling was named the NCHSAA’s Most Valuable Player for the 3A championships.

Feb

13

2025

By North State Journal staff

Athlete of the Week: Brock Sullivan

Sportsathlete of the week, Brock Sullivan, Union Pines, Union Pines High School, union pines wrestling

Union Pines senior wrestler Brock Sullivan is Athlete of the Week. The Vikings won the state dual team championship for class 3A with a 47-17 win over Pisgah. Sullivan recorded a 4-2 win at 215 pounds to cap off seven straight Union Pines wins to open the match. For his effort, Sullivan, who won an individual state championship last year, was named Most Outstanding Wrestler.

Feb

08

2025

By North State Journal staff

Athlete of the Week: Jack Carpenter

Sportsathlete of the week, John Carpenter, Pinecrest, Pinecrest baseball, Pinecrest High school, Pinecrest Patriots

Pinecrest alumnus Jack Carpenter is Athlete of the Week. Carpenter is a 2016 graduate of Pinecrest, where he was a two-sport athlete. As a member of the baseball and football team, he earned the Burlsworth Character Award, which is given to 50 student-athletes across the country. Since leaving Pinecrest, Carpenter has gone on to become a successful football coach. He was a student manager for the NC State team, and he was then promoted to student assistant coach. After college, he has served as an assistant coach at North Gaston High School and Montgomery Central. He eventually worked his way…

Jan

19

2025

By North State Journal staff

Athlete of the Week: Jaylen Kyle

Sportsathlete of the week, Jaylen Kyle

Union Pines boys’ basketball senior captain Jaylen Kyle is Athlete of the Week. The Vikings are 10-5 on the year and ended last week with a 67-61 win over Hoke County. Kyle was high scorer in the game with 26 points on 11-of-20 shooting. He added seven rebounds, two assists and a steal. For the year, Kyle leads the Sandhills Conference in scoring at 17.6 points per game. He’s also second in the conference in rebounding, blocks and double-doubles.

Jan

12

2025

By North State Journal staff

Athlete of the Week: Kennedy Moore

SportsKennedy Moore, Pinecrest girls' basketball, Pinecrest High school, Pinecrest Patriots

Pinecrest girls’ basketball sophomore point guard Kennedy Moore is Athlete of the Week. The Patriots started the new year with a 53-42 home win over Providence, and Moore led the way with 27 points on 3-of-8 shooting from 3. She also added four rebounds, second most for Pinecrest in the game, as well as a team-high four assists and five steals. For the year, Moore is in the top 10 in NCHSAA class 4A in scoring, made free throws and steals. She leads Pinecrest in scoring, rebounding, steals and blocks.

Dec

21

2024

By Cory Lavalette

Athlete of the Week: Isaiah Upchurch

Sportsathlete of the week, Isaiah Upchurch, Sandhills Community College, Southern Lee

Sandhills Community College men’s basketball freshman guard Isaiah Upchurch is Athlete of the Week. The Southern Lee product is second on the No. 3‑ranked Flyers in scoring and is second on the team in 3‑pointers made. He came up big in the team’s biggest game of the young season, however. In Sandhills CC’s upset over the top‑ranked team in the country, Davidson‑Davie Community College, Upchurch scored 30 points on 9‑of‑16 shooting. He was also a perfect 10 for 10 from the free‑throw line and added two rebounds, two steals and three assists.