Vikings – Moore County Edition

Jul

2025

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

2025

By North State Journal staff

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.