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FOR THE PAPER
The three-peat conference champion 2026 NCSSM-Morganton boys
tennis team won three NCHSAA 1A dual-team state playoff matches to
reach last week’s West Regional final and tie the longest
postseason run in Burke County history, a record that the Dragons
had originally set in their inaugural season of 2024. Pictured
(front row, from left to right) are Prahs Ramidi, Akarsh Kadapi
(team co-captain), Nash Taylor, Andy Quach (team co-captain),
Akshaj Puttou, and Aneel Gupta; (back row) Nicholas Levine, Aarrav
Patel, August Cook, and Riley Mearns. Not pictured are Dragons
players Jonathan Truesdale, Quincy Stanley, and Aarav Mehta and
head coach Wayne Giese.
Dragons’ enjoy another final four run
Page B2 | e-Edition | The Paper
FOR THE PAPER
The three-peat conference champion 2026 NCSSM-Morganton boys
tennis team won three NCHSAA 1A dual-team state playoff matches to
reach last week’s West Regional final and tie the longest
postseason run in Burke County history, a record that the Dragons
had originally set in their inaugural season of 2024. Pictured
(front row, from left to right) are Prahs Ramidi, Akarsh Kadapi
(team co-captain), Nash Taylor, Andy Quach (team co-captain),
Akshaj Puttou, and Aneel Gupta; (back row) Nicholas Levine, Aarrav
Patel, August Cook, and Riley Mearns. Not pictured are Dragons
players Jonathan Truesdale, Quincy Stanley, and Aarav Mehta and
head coach Wayne Giese.
Dragons’ enjoy another final four run
FOR THE PAPER
Four EBHS cheerleaders sign
Four senior members of an East Burke High School cheerleading
team that won the program’s first NCHSAA title this year signed
with collegiate programs on Monday to extend their cheer careers to
the next level starting this fall. Abby Buckner, Jordan Auldredge,
and Reagan Austin will cheer at Lenoir-Rhyne University, and Chloe
Stotts will cheer at Western Carolina University.
Page B2 | e-Edition | The Paper
FOR THE PAPER
Four EBHS cheerleaders sign
Four senior members of an East Burke High School cheerleading
team that won the program’s first NCHSAA title this year signed
with collegiate programs on Monday to extend their cheer careers to
the next level starting this fall. Abby Buckner, Jordan Auldredge,
and Reagan Austin will cheer at Lenoir-Rhyne University, and Chloe
Stotts will cheer at Western Carolina University.
Sports
Local racing
All three nearby tracks host events
By JASON FREEMAN
Sports Correspondent
Joseph Hodges of Rhodhiss won the Crown Vic main event at
Tri-County Speedway in Hudson on May 16.
FOR THE PAPER
The foothills were alive with the sounds of finely-tuned racing machines as all three local racetracks were in action this past Saturday night, May 16.
Tri-County Speedway hosted the fourth annual Shrine Asphalt 100. The main attraction was the 75-lap late model feature won by defending track champion Landon Huffman.
The race was fast-paced and loaded with door-to-door and bumper-to-bumper action. The first caution of the race was on lap 6, when Lane Buice slammed hard into the outside wall after the throttle hung on her No. 77. Huffman and Ronnie Bassett Jr. traded the lead several times before Huffman made the winning pass on the 61st lap. Bassett finished second, followed by Donovan Strauss in third and Lenoir driver Charlie Watson in fourth.
Walter Jenkins won the limited late model feature, and Gary Ledbetter started on the pole and led every lap of the street stock race en route to the win.
Rhodhiss driver Joseph Hodges won the crash-filled Crown Vic main event, and Marion native Skylar Brown beat Skylar Hodges to win the FWD 20-lapper.
Klint Townsend won the renegade race, David Messer took the checkered flag in the 50-lap outlaw feature, and Jesse Martin won the Carolina vintage feature.
Tri-County will host the ASA touring series today (May 23).
Chandler Barker of Valdese won his fifth Crown Vic race of 2026
at HorsePower Park on May 16.
Photos FOR THE PAPER
Barkers, Saams owning HP Park
HorsePower Park hosted six different divisions of dirt-track action. Valdese driver Chandler Barker won his fifth trophy of the year in the Crown Vic feature. Barker beat Chase Helderman and Morganton’s Homer Cook to the checkered flag to collect $600.
Jason Ledford made it two in a row in the thunder bomber division, and Lenoir driver Nathan Starnes was second. Adam Piercy beat Clay Ross and Scott Bones Jones to win the pro four feature and end Ross’ win streak, and Justin Fite claimed the renegade main event.
The Saam family from Rhodhiss spent a lot of time in victory lane as Kevin Saam won the FWD race ahead of Kevin Roberts and Cook. Then Saam’s 11-year-old-son, Brayden, won the Young Guns FWD feature ahead of Jacob Carroll, who beat out Sarah Thompson for second.
HorsePower Park will return to racing action on May 30.
Steve Smart of Connelly Springs won the renegade series race at
Hickory Motor Speedway on May 16.
FOR THE PAPER
Smart victorious again at HMS
2019 track champion Thomas Beane of Hudson started last but rallied all the way back to beat Michael Bumgarner to win the 75-lap late model feature at Hickory Motor Speedway. The win ended Bumgarner’s win streak at 11 races.
“You know it’s a good year when you are disappointed about finishing second,” Bumgarner said after the race.
Bumgarner didn’t have to wait long to visit victory lane as he won the evening’s Leapfrog Landscaping Super Truck series feature.
Connelly Springs native Steve Smart won the renegade race, Cody DeMarmels took the street stock feature, Mark Johnson claimed the limited late model feature, and former NASCAR Cup Series driver Mike Wallace won the Super Cup Series 50-lap main event.
America’s most famous short track returns to weekly racing on May 30.
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