20-21 Covid season in review

Top Games

• East Burke 3, West Caldwell 1 (Volleyball)

The Lady Cavaliers volleyball team won their season opener in a competitive four-set matchup led by seven kills from Aubree Grigg, ten digs and five aces from Kayleigh Icard, and 14 assists from Sara Suddreth.

Reese Abernathy (8 digs, 4 kills, 3 aces) was another strong contributor for the Lady Cavs.

• NWFAC cross country @ Patton

Reed Farrar set a new personal record of 17:39.72 leading the Wildcats boys cross country team to a second consecutive first-place finish as a team.

Farrar won four consecutive 5K races until his third-place finish at the NWFAC championship meet.

• Draughn 3, East Burke 0 (Volleyball)

The Lady Wildcat senior trio of Georgia Goulding, Chloe Gary, and Alexis Crump led the way in a home win over the arch-rival Lady Cavaliers.

• East Burke 72, Foard 32 (Boys Basketball)

Aasin Lor led the winning efforts for the Cavaliers scoring a career-high 21 points.

• Draughn 14, West Iredell 3 (Football)

On a Thursday night, the Wildcats opened the season with a home win after a scoreless first half.

Freshman running back Nigel Dula rushed for both second-half touchdown runs.

Zach Poteet and Holden Curry were leading defenders in the season-opening win.

• East Burke 18, West Caldwell 13 (Football)

The Derrick Minor era kicked off on a Saturday afternoon with a win.

Junior running back Blane Fulbright boosted the offense with 125 rushing yards and two touchdown runs.

Defensive efforts were spearheaded by Noah Rooks (4 sacks), Logan Johnson (INT), Austin Sellers, and Matthew Vue.

• East Burke 43, West Iredell 6 (football)

The Cavaliers set a 2A team record of 431 rushing yards led by Blane Fulbright's career-high 240 yards and two touchdowns followed by Carter Crump (97 yds, TD), Dawson Langley (65 yds, 2 TD), Jacob Dellinger (22 yds), and Dalton Teague (7 yds).

Crump also scored on a 74-yard interception return with Michael Magni recovering an onside kick as EB picked up their first win over West Iredell in four tries.

• Draughn 39, Patton 21 (football)

On a cold Saturday night along the banks of the majestic Catawba River, the Wildcats dominated play early to earn a win over county rival Patton.

The game opened with a Beckett Nelson 33-yard interception return followed by an Eli Tillery 29-yard pass to Zach Pinkerton and an 18-yard pass to Nelson and Omarion Conley scoring a two-yard touchdown run to build a 27-7 halftime lead.

Nigel Dula (9 yard TD run) and Nelson (36 yard reception from Desmond Hedrick) were second-half scores for the Wildcats, finishing with 332 total offensive yards.

• Draughn 19, Patton 10 (softball)

On Chloe Gary's senior night for the Lady Wildcats softball team, she was one of three batters to hit a home run - a fourth inning three-run shot.

Katie Cozort and Dakota Melacon were the other two home run hitters, each batting in two runs.

Draughn accounted for 21 hits in the win led by Gary (4 runs, 4 RBI), Melacon (3 RBI, 2 runs), and Regan Winkler (4 runs, 2 RBI).

• East Burke hosts first track meet in seven years

The East Burke track & field team hosted their first meet since 2014 on the brand new rubber surface constructed over the summer.

The Lady Cavs claimed first place outscoring Patton 63-52 behind first-place wins from Chloe Cook (800 run), Ambria White (shot put), Taylor Bostain (discus), and the 4x800 relay (Janie Ennis, Haylie Evans, Meah Walsh, Piper Strong).

Freshman KJ Byrd won three events for the Cavalier boys (high jump, pole vault, triple jump) and was the last leg of the winning 4x400 relay.

Byrd's pole vault mark of 14 feet broke a 40-year old school record.

Recent graduate Noah Rooks, now the school discus record holder, was another event winner sweeping the shot put and discus throw events.

• Honorable Mention

Jaxon Smith sets 200 freestyle in opening swim meet

Three Wildcats score in double figures in varsity boys basketball loss to Patton

Ian Cox 30-point effort in EB JV boys basketball loss to Bunker Hill

EB football defeats Patton on Homecoming night, honors memory of Robbie Putnam

EB softball gains close win over Patton

• Awards

Teams of Year:

Draughn Football (Nigel Dula, Eli Tillery, Beckett Nelson, Desmond Hedrick, Luke Rector, Zach Poteet) -Funded by Dr. Kevin Purcell on behalf of High Peak Baptist Church-

Draughn Softball (Katie Cozort, Dakota Melacon, Chloe Gary, Maddie Crouch, Regan Winkler, Katie Lail)

East Burke Football (Blane Fulbright, Dawson Langley, Carter Crump, Cash Norman, Michael Magni, Spencer Goins, Noah Rooks)

Athletes of Year:

Adam Manns Award (Draughn): Haley Lowman, Chloe Gary

-Lowman: award funded by Derek Reinhardt on behalf of East End Barber Shop-

Tyler Shatley Award (East Burke): Danielle Foxx

Black & Gold Award (Draughn): Jaxon Smith, Mason Coffey

Cavalier Pride Award (East Burke): Hayden Castle, Luke Elliott

Football:

MVP- Blane Fulbright (EB)

Offensive MVP- Nigel Dula (D)

Defensive MVP- Noah Rooks (EB)

Special Teams MVP- Manny Velasquez (D)

Lineman of Year- Nick Rhoney (D)

12th Man- Holden Curry (D), Devin Murray (EB)

                                                    

Basketball:

Scoring Champions/MVPs- Ella Abernathy (D), Aasin Lor (EB)