Patton’s Huggins, Draughn’s Aldridge commit to play college sports

A pair of Burke County high schoolers made verbal commitments to play college sports last week, as it was announced on social media that Draughn rising senior Ava Aldridge will continue her softball career at Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute and Patton rising junior Hannah Huggins will continue her volleyball career at USC Upstate.

An All-Western Highlands 1A/2A Conference selection as a sophomore, Aldridge was named to The Paper’s inaugural all-county softball team in 2024 as well after batting .444 with 24 hits including three home runs and six doubles. The outfielder/first baseman also knocked in 26 runs and scored 24 times while recording three stolen bases.

Aldridge also received an all-county honorable mention accolade as a junior, when she posted a .359 batting average and had 23 hits including three homers and two doubles. She also registered 18 RBIs, scored 14 runs, and stole five bases.

Notably, Aldridge has hit a grand slam in each of the past two seasons, and in 2024 she had more walks (15) than strikeouts (11).

As for Huggins, she was named to the North Carolina Volleyball Coaches Association’s All-Region 7 team as a sophomore after also landing on the All-Mountain Foothills 7 1A/2A squad. The 6-foot-2 middle blocker led the Lady Panthers in kills (216), blocks (78), and aces (55), and she also added 73 digs and 16 assists.

During her freshman season, Huggins tallied 104 kills, 51 blocks, 19 digs, five assists, and two aces.

Hall finishes 5th at motocross nationals

Morganton native Abshur Hall is only 10 years old, but he has already participated in the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) Amateur National Motocross Championship at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tenn., on five occasions.

The most recent AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship event was held July 29 through Aug. 2, with Hall finishing fifth overall in the 65cc (ages 10-11) Limited division after competing in three different races. After posting a 12th-place finish in the opening race, Hall came in fourth in each of the next two races.

Hall also raced in the 65cc (ages 10-11) division, finishing 24th overall thanks to individual race placements of 21st, 38th, and 12th.

Hall has now finished in the top 10 in the overall standings in six of the eight divisions that he has raced in since making his debut at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch in 2021. His top performance was a second-place finish in the Micro 3 (ages 7-8) Limited division in 2023.

Murray takes 4th at national senior games

Valdese resident Robert Murray recently traveled to Iowa State University for the 2025 National Senior Games track and field competition, finishing fourth in his age group in the men’s 1500 meters on Aug. 2.

Competing in the 65-69 age group, the 1978 Freedom High School graduate recorded a time of 5:19.91, finishing behind only Lester Phillips of Barbados, Tom Prentice of Florida, and Fred James of Oklahoma.

Murray is originally from Morganton, and after graduating from FHS, he later earned degrees from Western Carolina University, Gardner-Webb University, and Appalachian State University.

Shatley to speak at church men’s conference

Former East Burke High School football standout Tyler Shatley, who retired from the NFL in January after 11 seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars, will deliver a message during a free men’s conference at FAM Church on Sept. 6 at 6 p.m.

The conference is for men ages 13 and up, and it will also include food, fun, and door prizes. Limited seats are available, and individuals can register online at tinyurl.com/zrmu3rdk.

FAM Church is located at 1955 U.S. 70 East in Morganton.