Vikings – Moore County Edition

Oct

26

2025

Athlete of the Week: Taylon Tranel

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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.

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…

Apr

13

2025

By Cory Lavalette

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.