22-23 Year in Review

Conference Champions

Draughn Girls Golf (W Highlands 1A/2A 2022) Back to Back

Draughn Girls Tennis (W Highlands 1A/2A 2022)

Draughn Volleyball (W Highlands 1A/2A 2022)

Draughn Football (W Highlands 1A/2A 2022)

Draughn Baseball (W Highlands 1A/2A 2023) Back to Back

Draughn Softball (W Highlands 1A/2A 2023)

East Burke Girls Cross Country (Catawba Valley Athletic 2A 2022)

East Burke Girls Swimming (Catawba Valley Athletic 2A 2022-23)

East Burke Girls Basketball (Catawba Valley Athletic 2A 2022-23)

Heritage Middle Volleyball (Foothills Athletic Conference 2022 regular season/tournament)

Heritage Middle Girls Soccer (Foothills Athletic Conference 2022 regular season)

East Burke Middle Baseball (Foothills Athletic Conference 2023 regular season/tournament)

Postseason Success

Draughn Volleyball: 1A Third Round

Draughn Football: 1A Regional Finals

Draughn Girls Basketball: 1A Regional Semifinals

Draughn Baseball: 1A Regional Semifinals

East Burke Boys Indoor Track: 1A/2A State Champions

East Burke Girls Basketball: 2A Regional Finals

East Burke Boys Outdoor Track: 2A regional 2nd, 2A state 5th

Top Viewed Stories

Collegiate Cats/Cavs #9 (280 views, 10/24/22)

2022 Draughn Football: Clawing & Climbing up the 1A ranks (280 views, 8/17/22)

Collegiate Cats/Cavs #10 (275 views, 3/18/23)

2022 East Burke Football: Cavs walking through the Fire (267 views, 8/18/22)

Cavs open with shutout win at home (football, 151 views, 8/20/22)

East Burke 28, Draughn 27 The Summary (football, 142 views, 9/3/22)

Lady Wildcats on top, downs defending champs Rosman (volleyball, 134 views, 9/16/22)

Eagles hang on to win over Raiders 28-20 (football, 126 views, 10/27/22)

East Burke swimming wins CVAC Championships (109 views, 1/27/23)

Lady Wildcats season ends in third round (volleyball, 107 views, 10/28/22)

Lady Eagles win home finale (basketball, 105 views, 1/27/23)

Draughn 66, Union Academy 13 The Summary (football, 104 views, 11/5/22)

HMS Volleyball completes undefeated season (100 views, 11/11/22)

Awards

Athletes of Year

Adam Manns Award (Draughn): Katie Cozort, Maddison Powell

Black & Gold Award (Draughn): Ella Abernathy, Aubrie Snyder, GiGi Smith, John Robert Abernathy, Thomas Lambert, Emma Lewis

Tyler Shatley Award (East Burke): Aubree Grigg, Meah Walsh

Adam Benson Cavalier Pride Award (East Burke): Colton Boyette, Ben Mast, Taylor Bostain, Chloe Cook, Marabeth Huffman, Piper Strong

Teams of Year

Draughn Football (15 athlete of week selections) (Head Coach: Chris Powell)

Justice Cunningham, Donnell Wilkins, Eli Tillery, Zach Pinkerton, Hampton Blackwell, Nigel Dula, Connor Pinkerton, Eli Pritchard, Luke Rector, Rudy Mendoza, Will Price, Trevor Houston, Thomas Lambert, Shaydon Pino, Jacob Mull

Draughn Baseball (11 athlete of week selections) (Head Coach: Mason Biddix)

Blake McElyea, John Robert Abernathy, Jacob Mull, Tate Jensen, Trey Jensen, Nick McGee, Griffin Stephens, Thomas Lambert, Logan Carswell, Hunter Cody, Logan McGee

East Burke Football (12 athlete of week selections) (Head Coach: Derrick Minor)

Ben Mast, Luke Wilson, Levi Coble, Jacob Dellinger, Caden Buff, KJ Byrd, Cannon Morrison, Asher Gebhard, Mason Robison, Brady Bostain, Darren Hammons, Gavon Franklin

East Burke Track & Field (9 athlete of week selections) (Head Coach: Joshua Martin, Heather Ramsey)

KJ Byrd, Avery Fraley, Brady Bostain, Kolby Byrd, Calvin Curtis, Taylor Bostain, Jaccob Fair, Michael Hathcock, Luke Wilson

Football

MVP: Eli Tillery/Nigel Dula (Draughn)

Offensive Player of Year: Zach Pinkerton (Draughn), Jacob Dellinger (East Burke)

Defensive Player of Year: Hampton Blackwell (Draughn), Luke Wilson (East Burke)

Specialist of Year: Rudy Mendoza (Draughn)

Lineman of Year: Josh "Juice" Elkins (Draughn), Jacob Hodges (East Burke)

12th Man of Year: Justice Cunningham (Draughn), Tanner Ivey (East Burke)

Rising Star: Shaydon Pino (Draughn), Levi Coble (East Burke)

Moments of Year:

Draughn- Nigel Dula/Zach Pinkerton (winning TD pass vs. Thomasville, 1A state playoffs), Will Seagle (INT vs. Andrews, 1A state playoffs)

East Burke- Ben Mast/Darren Hammons/Eli Carico (part of winning play in OT vs Draughn)

Basketball

Boys Scoring Champion: Ian Cox (East Burke)

Girls Scoring Champion: Braelyn Stilwell (East Burke)

Boys Rookie of Year: D'Andre Moore (Draughn), Barger Shook (East Burke)

Girls Rookie of Year: Zoe Rector (Draughn), Kara Brinkley (East Burke)

Girls 6th Man: Rylee Woody (Draughn), Kamiah Lawing (East Burke)

Matthew 20:16 award: Taylor Holder/Malachi Silver (Draughn), Macy McNeil/Connor Smith (East Burke)

Moments of Year:

Draughn- Ella Abernathy (winning 3 pointer vs. Union Academy, 1A state playoffs)

East Burke- Owen Hartmann (winning 3 pointer @ Newton-Conover)

Baker's Dozen Baseball/Softball

Baseball MVP: Tate Jensen (Draughn)

Draughn: Trey Jensen, Nick McGee, Blake McElyea, Jacob Mull, John Robert Abernathy, Thomas Lambert, Logan McGee, Griffin Stephens (HM), Jackson Kirkley (HM)

East Burke: Colin Eckard, Mason Mosteller, Hollan Cline, Will Weidner, Barger Shook, Cannon Morrison (HM), Caden Buff (HM), Corbin McNeil (HM)

Softball MVPs: Katie Cozort (Draughn), Addy Fortenberry (East Burke)

Draughn: Maddie Crouch, Laney Winebarger, Maddison Powell, Katie Hamm, Aubrie Snyder, Cydnee Deal, Avie Helton (HM), Finlee Young (HM), Kadence Clontz (HM)

East Burke: Kaylee Paige, Grace Hammack, Kyndal Morrison, Madyson Johnson, Raegan Carter, Taylor Bostain (HM), Katherine Greene (HM), Hayden Lowman (HM)

Lastly...

A special thank you to these sponsors that helped financially to give out awards this year to many of these athletes

TireMaxx

Chad & April Biddix-EXP Realty

James Ashe-Osborne Real Estate Group

Granny's Country Kitchen

Cox Family Medicine

Alray Tire of Valdese

Barn at Wildwood Acres

Mears Insurance Group

East End Barbershop

Community Baptist Church of Drexel

Brittain's Tree & Crane Service

Kincaid Septic & Drainfield Repair

Billy James

High Peak Baptist Church children's group

Burke County Post 21 Lady Fastpitch

And these companies creating awards

DaMark Graphics

Crown Awards

MakeABall

And contributing photographers

Wayne Baker

David Harmon

Joshua Dula/Big Red Sports Network

James Lynch 

Bradley Richards

Raegan Carter