EB’s Byrd lands on HighSchoolOT’s all-state team
HighSchoolOT.com announced its fifth annual boys outdoor track and field all-state team last week, with recent East Burke graduate Kolby Byrd filling a spot on the third team after winning the North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) 2A state title in the shot put.
Byrd
Byrd capped his senior season with a throw of 54 feet, 7.5 inches in the shot put during the state championship meet on May 17 at Marcus T. Johnson Track at North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro, and he also placed fourth in the discus throw (137 feet, 6 inches).
Prior to winning a gold medal at state, Byrd also finished first in the shot put during both the Catawba Valley 2A Conference championship meet and the 2A West Regional championship meet, which were hosted by East Burke on May 2 and 9, respectively. He came in first in the discus during the CVAC meet as well before posting a runner-up finish in the event the following week.
Byrd was in action again last weekend at the Adidas Track Nationals, which were also held at N.C. A&T. He finished 16th in the javelin throw (145 feet, 2.25 inches) and 27th in the shot put (51 feet, 0.25 inches) on June 21.
Locals in BodyArmor State Games
One team and five individuals representing Burke County high schools either have participated in this year’s BodyArmor State Games or will do so soon.
The 2024 event champion Freedom girls soccer team placed fourth in the team tournament which was hosted at the Bryan Park Truist Soccer Complex in Browns Summit near Greensboro on June 21-22. Freedom finished pool play with a 1-2 record, topping Rockingham County by a 3-0 margin on day two before falling to Rockingham County in the bronze-medal game.
Also in soccer, Draughn rising sophomore Noah Thomas will play for the West boys team, and Draughn rising junior Ellie Cline is again on the West girls squad alongside her Lady Wildcats classmate Anna Cannon and Freedom rising junior Drew Rogers in the high school showcase event scheduled for this weekend (June 28-29) at Armfield Athletic Center at Guilford College in Greensboro.
And Freedom rising junior Alex Wall played on the 20-member Region 7 team that placed fourth in the high school baseball tournament held at First National Bank Field in Greensboro from June 16-20. Region 7 finished 2-1 in pool play, beating Region 1 by a 13-3 margin and beating Region 5, 2-1.
No individual statistics were available from the games.
Half-dozen locals in summer track meet
Six local athletes each won age group titles in their events at the Hickory Summer Track Series meet held June 12 at Lenoir-Rhyne University.
East Burke rising junior Kendall McFalls (13.33) and 2024 graduate Avery Fraley (10.98), who’s now on the track team at East Carolina, won the ages 15-19 women’s and men’s 100 meters, respectively.
East Burke 2025 grad Cadence Willis won the 15-19 women’s 4000 meters (16:54.39), and Patton 2025 grad Cayden Roscoe, a Lees-McRae recruit, won the 15-19 men’s long jump (20 feet).
And in the men’s mile run, Freedom rising sophomore Frank Harrelson (5:06.05) was the overall and ages 15-19 champion, while Robert Murray of Valdese won the ages 60-69 portion (5:47.59).
Waldensian Presbyterian soccer camp
Waldensian Presbyterian Church will be holding its 13th annual soccer camp for rising first through sixth graders July 7-10 from 8 a.m. to noon at Draughn High School.
Cost is $70, and the registration fee will cover a soccer ball and lunch each day. Registration must be completed by July 3.
To register, call the Waldensian Presbyterian Church office at 828-874-2531 or print out the registration form on Facebook (available on both the “Waldensian Presbyterian Church” and “DHS Athletic Booster Club” pages) and turn it in at the church office, which is located at 109 Main St. East in Valdese. Furthermore, questions can be directed to Jason Adams at 828-403-5821.
Burke youth wrestling camp
Draughn High School will be the site of the Burke youth wrestling camp July 18 from 1-6 p.m. and July 19 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with rising kindergarteners through eighth graders invited to attend.
Cost is $30, and registration will be limited to the first 100 individuals who sign up. Lunch will be served, while all campers are asked to bring water, shorts, a T-shirt, and wrestling shoes (can bring headgear as well, but not required).
Four-time NCHSAA state champion Landon Foor from Fred T. Foard High School will be among the instructors on hand, while Alex Garrison (mrag86@yahoo.com) or Mark Chapman (Cael.slade6275@gmail.com) can be contacted for more information or to register.
Draughn youth football camp
Draughn High School will be holding a youth football camp July 28-30 from 6-8 p.m. for rising kindergarteners through eighth graders.
Cost is $50, and a registration link will be posted on the “Draughn Wildcats Football” Facebook page in the near future.
Freedom alum Logan offering private baseball lessons
Freedom 2019 graduate Michael Logan is currently offering private baseball lessons for youth and high school players in the Morganton and Hickory area after helping Lenoir-Rhyne reach the semifinals of the NCAA Division II World Series this spring.
Following a standout prep career with the Patriots, Logan played at Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute before transferring to N.C. A&T and finishing his college career as a grad student at L-R. He is available to teach players about hitting mechanics and approach, defensive drills, arm strength and throwing accuracy, speed and agility, and baseball IQ.
Logan can be reached via Facebook Messenger.
Hildebran 15U baseball all-stars announced
The Hildebran-Icard Little League organization recently revealed the roster for the Hildebran 15U Baseball All-Stars, who will play in an upcoming Tar Heel League District 1 tournament.
The following players are listed on the roster: Landon Harris, Wyatt Bonorden, Kam O’Dell, Christian Hubbard, Easton Wilson, Bryson McKinney, Hank Lowman, Gavin Perkins, Kenny Morrison, Sawyer Houston, and Noah Rector.
Coaches for Hildebran include Shawn O’Dell, Waylon Bonorden, Eric Lowman, and Chad Houston.
Josh McKinney and Paul Schenkel can be reached at 828-445-8595 or josh@thepaper.media and paul@thepaper.media.
