Rising East Burke senior Luke Borders last week was named to both all-state boys tennis teams for his performance this past spring, when he lost only the state title singles match and led the Cavaliers to their best-ever season on the hardcourt.
Borders
Borders on July 9 was a 4A all-state honoree by the N.C. High School Tennis Coaches Association’s (NCHSTCA), then the following day, was among those selected to the all-state team spanning all classifications by HighSchoolOT.com (HSOT).
Borders was one of 20 honorable-mention selections from HSOT, which also released 10-player first, second, and third teams. The Cavaliers standout was the only Burke County student-athlete to be named to either list in 2026.
A three-time conference player of the year who was also named 2A all-state by the NCHSTCA in 2024, Borders finished with a 21-1 record in singles matches as a junior and was 24-1 overall including doubles.
The NCHSAA West Regional champion and three-time state qualifier helped EB to a program-record win total in a 15-1 season that included the program’s first undefeated conference title all-time. It was the third conference crown that EB has claimed in Borders’ three seasons following league tournament titles in both 2024 and 2025.
EB also advanced to the 4A state quarterfinals, the longest playoff journey that the program has ever enjoyed.
Freedom missing a jamboree opponent
All four Burke County high school football coaches recently announced their full 2026 preseason schedules, and there’s one noticeable hole.
Freedom does not currently have an opponent for the 16th annual Burke County Jamboree scrimmage event after East Wilkes pulled out. It’s unclear whether the Patriots will find a replacement opponent in time to participate in the jamboree, which is scheduled for Aug. 14 at Patton.
As is, the Patriots are slated to open the event at 6:30 p.m., with East Burke taking on Owen in the second scrimmage at 7:15 p.m., though Patton coach Billy Whisenant said if FHS doesn’t scrimmage, the EB contest might be moved to slightly earlier in the evening.
Draughn faces Cherryville in the third scheduled scrimmage at 8 p.m., followed by the host Panthers meeting Foard in the 8:45 p.m. nightcap.
Each full-field scrimmage will use a 40-minute running clock, with each set of teams deciding which format to use for that timespan and 5 minutes between scrimmages. Admission is $10, with concessions including BBQ available for purchase.
Before that, each local squad has one other scrimmage. EB visits Ashe County on Aug. 7, Draughn hosts Avery County on Aug. 8 at 6 p.m., Patton hosts Wilkes Central on Aug. 11, and Freedom travels to Chase for a three-team scrimmage also including Crest on Aug. 12. Start times for EB, Patton, and Freedom’s first scrimmages are still to be determined.
Tamburi
Draughn football hires def. coordinator
Draughn ninth-year head football coach Chris Powell on Tuesday announced that Gian Marco Tamburi has been hired as defensive coordinator.
Tamburi, an Appalachian State University graduate, comes to the Wildcats after having coached most recently at Wilkes Central, preceded by stints at West Caldwell as well as Maiden and Gamewell middle schools.
He replaces Jonathan Winkler, who was recently hired by East Burke as head coach.
“My family and I are very excited to join the Wildcat family and get to know everyone,” Tamburi said. “I am originally from Italy, but I have now spent the majority of my life in the United States. I initially came as a foreign exchange student and quickly fell in love with western North Carolina. I have been married to my wife, Tori, for four years, and we have two children, Lorenzo (age 3) and Franco (age 1). I am eager to get work and do my part toward developing young men on and off the field.”
Martin
Ollis
TR names new football, volleyball coaches
Table Rock Middle School via its Facebook page on Tuesday announced two new fall sports head coaches for 2026, as Tyler Martin will coach football and Kaylee Ollis will coach volleyball.
Martin is also expected to remain in his role as Falcons boys basketball head coach for a fourth season this coming winter. On the gridiron, he replaces Chip Lewis, who guided TRMS to a pair of second-place finishes and one third-place finish in the Foothills Athletic Conference in his three seasons at the helm.
“(Coach Martin) is excited to take on (this) new challenge,” the post reads, in part. “We are proud to have (him) leading our football program and building champions on and off the field.”
Ollis, meanwhile, attended TRMS before graduating from Freedom and playing soccer at Pfeiffer University. She replaces former coach Chris Mooney, who led TR to a 5-8 record, fourth-place FAC finish, and postseason tournament appearance in 2025.
“Kaylee is thrilled to come back to her roots and invest in the next generation of Falcons,” the post reads.
Silver Creek to host high school boys camp
Silver Creek Golf Club last week announced that it will host a high school boys golf camp on Aug. 11-13 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. daily.
Head pro Jonathan Shuskey will serve as camp instructor, with sessions including range and clinic sessions, on-course game management situations, and nine-hole competitions. Registration cost is $125 per player, and high school coaches are welcome to attend alongside their players. For more information or to sign up, contact Shuskey at jon@screekgolf.com.
Catawba Valley adult hoops league in year 2
Early-bird registration is now underway for the second annual Catawba Valley Adult Basketball League, which this season will hold all of its games at the R.O. Huffman Center in Drexel beginning Sept. 13.
Team registration cost is $800 through July 31 or $1,000 afterward, or $80 before July 31 and $100 afterward for individuals signing up without a team. The league’s season will run 12 weeks, and the championship squad will receive $1,500.
For more information or to sign up, visit my.linkpod.site/cvabl.
