Union Pines – Moore County Edition

Mar

09

2026

Athlete of the Week: Kileigh Cameron

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

Union Pines softball senior Kileigh Cameron is Athlete of the Week. She also plays volleyball for the Vikings. Union Pines blew out Richmond in its season opener, and Cameron had a big day at the plate. She went 3 for 6 with three home runs, driving in a total of eight runs. She also walked twice.

Feb

08

2026

By Cory Lavalette

Athlete of the Week: Kingsley Donaldson

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

Union Pines boys’ basketball senior Kingsley Donaldson is Athlete of the Week. The Vikings got a win over South Johnston last week in between snowstorms, and Donaldson had a huge game. He hit 4 of 8 from beyond the 3-point line and 9 of 15 overall from the field to pour in 34 points. He added 10 rebounds, five offensive boards and a pair of steals. For the season, he is the No. 8 scorer in the NCHSAA, all classifications. He’s also sixth in rebounding.

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.

Aug

31

2025

By Cory Lavalette

Athlete of the Week: Adrian Colon

SportsAdrian Colon, athlete of the week, Union Pines, Union Pines football, Union Pines High School, Union Pines Vikings, Vikings

Union Pines junior running back Adrian Colon is Athlete of the Week. The Vikings were the only county team to open with a win on the gridiron, and Colon was the county’s leading rusher. Colon carried the ball 21 times and gained 102 yards, scoring once. He’s currently the state’s No. 2 rusher in Class 6A.

Aug

24

2025

By Cory Lavalette

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 Cory Lavalette

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.

Jul

28

2025

By Cory Lavalette

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 Cory Lavalette

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.