It was a winning weekend for six Burke County off-road racers as the Mid East Hare Scramble (MEHS) association held its first of two annual stops at the Hillbilly Smash course at Chapman Farms in Morganton on April 25-26.
Kenlee Wilson of Morganton was the only local day-one winner in the ATV action, claiming the Youth Quads series’ 12-15 division race for her second consecutive MEHS victory as she sits in second place in points for the season.
Emma Edwards of Valdese placed second in the Quads series’ Women’s Novice division and leads the division points race, and she also placed seventh in the Youth Quads series’ senior modified 13-15 division to maintain her 2026 lead there as well.
Breanna McGuire of Valdese was runner-up for a fourth straight race after claiming the season opener in the Quads series’ Women’s division, and she is now tied for the points lead.
In the Pro ATV feature race of the day, Salisbury native Grayson Eller collected his second win to maintain his points lead.
On the final day of the event, in-county dirtbike race winners included Morganton’s Avery Curtis (Mighty Peewee 4 division), Leighton Harbison (Youth Bikes series, 65cc 10-11 division), Jake Arrowood (Amateur Bikes series, C Vet division), Hunter Radcliff (Pro Bikes series, A Open 2-Stroke division), and Aaron Curtis (Pro Bikes series, B Vet division).
It was the younger Curtis’ first MEHS start of the season. Also in the PeeWee division, Paisley Harbison of Morganton placed seventh and leads the points in the E-1 class. Leighton Harbison claimed his fourth win in five races this season.
In amateur bikes, Morganton’s Maddox Moretz maintained his lead in the points after a third-place finish in the C 4-Stroke Lites 13-18 division race.
Radcliff won ahead of runner-up Noah Stephens of Valdese, who still leads the division in points to date.
The day was capped by Jonathan Johnson of Landrum, S.C, charging through to take the Pro Bikes feature race. It was the division leader’s fifth finish of third place or better in as many races so far in 2026.
Freedom, UNC grad Hemby to Bucs academy
Freedom High School 2005 graduate Jordan Hemby is now coaching football on the eastern side of the state, and he was recently met with some exciting news.
Hemby was selected as one of 25 finalists who will get a chance to take part in the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ National Coaching Academy.
Hemby, who’s currently living in Wilson County and is a prep football assistant coach there, on Tuesday posted to Facebook, in part: “Huge thanks to the Buccaneers for this opportunity. My brother, Jonathan, sparked my coaching journey, and my dad always believed I’d make a great coach. Appreciate the guidance. Can’t wait to level up my coaching skills!”
After graduating from Freedom, Hemby played four years on the gridiron at the University of North Carolina before going undrafted but signing a rookie free-agent contract with the Indianapolis Colts in 2010.
Mimosa hosts CGA Ladies Fourball tourney
The Carolinas Golf Association held an 18-hole Ladies Fourball tournament, part of its Ladies Play Day initiative, at Mimosa Hills Golf Club in Morganton on Tuesday.
The event featured three skill divisions, each of which awarded prizes and cash to the top three team finishers in both gross and net (handicap-adjusted) play.
In Flight 1, Lori Teague of Conover and Lea Ann Brown of Mount Pleasant were low in the gross division with a 2-over par round of 74, while Mooresville natives Leah Caskey and Sabine de Roy were net winners with a score of 68 (net 75).
Sara Thomas of Mooresville and Caroline Thomas of Cornelius shot 77 to claim the Flight 2 gross crown, with first place in net going to the team of Davidson’s Carol Poteat and Elk Park’s Cynthia Riley (61).
Huntersville residents Laurie Angel and Barbara Weis’ 87 was good enough for Flight 3 gross top honors, and Gwendolyn Mullee and Martha Carroll, also of Huntersville, won in net play with an adjusted total of 68. (Angel and Weis’ net was slightly better at 65, but teams cannot win both titles in their division.)
Hickory FC in friendly at Statesville this month
The Hickory FC semi-professional men’s soccer team via its Facebook page on Tuesday evening announced the “I-40 Derby,” in which the team will travel to face Statesville FC at Statesville High School’s Greyhound Stadium in a preseason friendly on May 12 at 7:30 p.m.
Advance tickets for the match can be purchased online at statesvillefootball.club/tickets.
2025 National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) national champion Hickory, which now is set for its first year in the USL (United Soccer League) League Two, is partially owned by Burke County resident Dillon Smith, and its roster features former Patton goalkeeper Isai Jimenez for a second straight season.
The team plays its home games at Lenoir-Rhyne University’s Moretz Stadium, and it opens USL regular-season action later this month.
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