Practices for the 2024-25 season will open within the next two weeks, but a pair of Burke County prep girls basketball players have already caught the eye of college programs as they recently received offers to play at the next level.
Freedom senior guard Peyton Caldwell was offered on Saturday, Oct. 12, by Greensboro College, and Draughn junior forward Zoe Rector was offered by Bluefield University (Va.) the following day.
Caldwell’s latest collegiate offer is her fourth (joining Guilford College, Johnson and Wales University, and William Peace University). Her Lady Patriots coach Amber Reddick announced the news on Facebook.
“Congratulations to (Peyton) Caldwell on her latest offer to Greensboro College,” Reddick wrote. “We are so proud of you!”
The 5-foot-8 Caldwell was named FHS’ female athlete of the year, in addition to nabbing all-conference and first team all-county and all-district honors on the hardwood, as a junior after she averaged 22.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 2.4 steals.
The Pride finished 7-19 overall (7-11 in the NCAA Division III USA South Conference) last winter.
Rector, meanwhile, announced her first college offer via her X account.
“After an amazing conversation with (head coach Jake Wright) , I am blessed to receive an offer to further my athletic and academic career at (Bluefield University),” Rector wrote. “Thank you Coach Wright for believing in me!”
As a sophomore, the 5-foot-11 Rector was named all-conference and first team all-county as she led all county girls players in blocks (1.8 per game) and ranked fourth in both points (13.7) and rebounds (5.2), also averaging 1.3 steals.
The Rams finished 4-23 overall (4-18 in the NAIA Appalachian Athletic Conference) in the 2023-24 season.
More post-Helene schedule fallout
The Draughn football program and Patton boys soccer program recently announced the remainder of their revised regular-season schedules, part of the aftermath of Hurricane Helene as it continues to alter the local sports scene.
The Wildcats on Tuesday said they will play at Rosman on Oct. 25 at 7 p.m., host Avery County on Nov. 2 at 1 p.m., and end the regular season at home versus reigning league champion Mountain Heritage on Nov. 9 at 2 p.m. Draughn does not have a makeup date on the schedule for its postponed game against Madison and will play only nine regular-season games as is.
The league-leading Panthers have rescheduled their final three postponed games. Patton’s schedule through Oct. 28 is unchanged, but the Panthers will now end the regular season versus Polk County (Oct. 30) and Hendersonville (Nov. 1) before visiting Brevard (Nov. 4).
Freedom also recently announced that its homecoming festivities will shift from football to basketball season, on Dec. 6, as the Patriots host crosstown rival Patton. More details will be announced soon.
Freedom Park will also not host next weekend’s NCHSAA 3A West Regional in cross country. The event has been shifted to the site of the 3A Midwest Regional in Salisbury.
And like Freedom, Walter Johnson Middle School is using the Mountain View Elementary School soccer field for home games the remainder of the season after flooding to its home field. There is no word yet as to where Yellow Jackets’ home football games will be played.
Football playoffs, city seasons scrapped
The Burke County Recreation Department’s youth football and outdoor soccer seasons have resumed, but the four-team football playoffs in all three age groups have been canceled for this year.
The county youth football league has announced that all scheduled regular-season Saturday games will still be played, with the Sept. 28 games moving to Nov. 9 and the Oct. 5 shifting to Nov. 16.
However, there may still be a postseason tournament held to declare unofficial county champions as Oak Hill recently announced that it is looking at the possibility of hosting four-team playoffs on Nov. 23 and 24. It’s unclear if the event would span all three age groups.
And like the county’s football playoffs, the remainder of the Morganton Recreation Department’s fall leagues for adult softball, youth flag football, and youth soccer were canceled on Oct. 11 after flooding at Shuey Park, Catawba Meadows Park, and the Catawba River Soccer Complex have made fields unuseable for the time being.
Burke Co. Rec youth hoops signups
The Burke County Recreation Department recently announced that signups for the winter’s youth basketball league are now underway at athletic foundations and elementary schools countywide.
Age divisions include 5-6, 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, and 13-15, and both boys and girls divisions are expected to be offered in each of the four oldest age groups.
Confirmed programs this season include Christ Classical, Drexel, East Burke, Forest Hill, George Hildebrand, Glen Alpine, Hillcrest, Morganton Day, Mountain View, Mull, New Dimensions, Oak Hill, Ray Childers, Salem, Valdese, and W.A. Young. Registration cost may vary by program; visit the Burke County Parks and Recreation page on Facebook or call 828-796-4806 for a list of contacts for each program. Signup dates and times vary by school but are expected to last until at least mid-November.
Also recently, Salem announced it is holding a Christmas youth basketball tourney from Dec. 27-31 (dates subject to change). All age groups are welcome, and cost to participate is $25 per team. Contact Brad Ellis at 828-228-5439 for more information.
Burke Avengers wrestling signups
Burke Avengers/Elite Wrestling recently announced that youth wrestling signups and practices are now underway.
Registration cost per wrestler is $20 for the season, with a maximum of $40 per family regardless of the number of children to sign up. Wrestling shoes are not required for practices but are encouraged and are required for all matches. The program provides all wrestlers with singlets (which will be recollected after the season), and headgear is available to use and return.
Some tournaments throughout the year may require an additional registration fee. Practices began on Oct. 2. Visit the “Burke Youth Wrestling” page on Facebook for more details.
Pair of local races coming this fall
A pair of local 5Ks are scheduled for this fall. The Goblin Gallop for Recovery 5K at Western Piedmont Community College will be held Oct. 25, and the fifth annual Silver Creek Golf Club Turkey Trot 5K walk/run is slated for Nov. 28.
The Goblin Gallop, sponsored by WPCC, serves as a fundraiser for Burke Recovery, which provides substance abuse prevention, treatment, and recovery support services throughout Burke County.
Registration is $35 for adults or $25 for ages 20 and under and will be ongoing through race daya at 5:45 p.m. The race starts at 6 p.m., and in the spirit of a Halloween-themed race, costumes are encouraged, and prizes will be awarded to the three best costumes as determined by the judges. Prizes will also be awarded to the top male and female runners in each group. For additional details or to register, visit shorturl.at/bMAPI.
All proceeds from the Silver Creek Turkey Trot will benefit the Meeting Place Mission. The Thanksgiving Day race gets underway at 9 a.m., and registration is $35 which includes a race T-shirt (while supplies last). Same-day registration will be available. For more details or to register, call 828-584-6911 or visit screekgolf.com.
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