CONVERSATION WITH HICKORY FC'S COACH 'Thank you with capital letters, bold and exclamation points' JASON KOON Jul 23, 2026 Jul 23, 2026 0 1 of 4 Carlos Rubio talks to his Hickory FC players during the Southeast conference championship match on July 12, 2025. JACKSON SHOE, RECORD FILE Members of Hickory FC's fan club, the 28601, celebrate before the 2026 home opener in Hickory. JASON KOON PHOTOS, RECORD FILE Bruce Monks (left) and Paige Monks talk with other Hickory FC fans before the home opener on May 16 in Hickory. Hickory FC's James Lane, left, goes up against Wake's Lawson Abass on June 20 at Moretz Stadium. DAVID SCEARCE, RECORD FILE Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save JASON KOON SOCCERkAmu@C w:4<@CJ ur 9625 4@249 r2C=@D #F3:@[ 2?JE9:?8 D9@CE @7 2 ?2E:@?2= 492>A:@?D9:A :D F?56C249:6G:?8]k^AmkAm%96 4=F3 42>6 FA D9@CE @7 E92E 8@2= :? :ED E9:C5 D62D@? H96? 2 _\_ E:6 H:E9 pD96G:==6 r:EJ $r @? yF=J `` =67E E96 E62> @?6 A@:?E D9@CE @7 >2<:?8 E96 A=2J@77D] $E:==[ E96 D62D@? H2D 2 DEC@?8 563FE 7@C E96 4=F3 :? :ED ?6H =628F6[ &${ {628F6 %H@[ 2?5 #F3:@ E9:?<D E96C6 H6C6 8@@5 E9:?8D E9:D D62D@? E92E E96J 42? 3F:=5 @? E@ 86E 324< @? E96 3:8 DE286]k^Am kAm%96 4=F3 7:?:D965 h\c\` H:E9 >2CBF66 H:?D @G6C pD96G:==6 r:EJ $r 2?5 !@CE r:EJ 62C=:6C :? E96 D62D@? 2?5 2 >2E49 H:E9 &${ {628F6 %H@ 5676?5:?8 492>A:@?D '6C>@?E vC66? E92E H6?E E@ A6?2=EJ <:4<D]k^Am People are also reading… North Carolina sets first elk hunt for 2027. Here's when it will be and who can participate This group of McDowell County 8-year-olds is competing in the Babe Ruth World Series How a Marine veteran bought a new home without paying a dollar in upfront closing costs Byrd’s Auto Sales in Marion to close after 40 years. "The time has come for us to slow down" West Caldwell cancels varsity football. What does this mean for other Catawba Valley teams? USA World Cup winners and losers: Unforgettable summer ends on sour note Man hit, killed by utility pole being dragged by semi-truck in Catawba County Duke Energy, N.C. officials reach deal on rate hike. Customer bills to go up 9.5% McDowell High basketball player caps season at state East-West All-Star game Inside the story of the Burnsville Batman, a NC town's caped crusader Marion mayor speaks on election year changes made by state legislature Atrium pushes back after State Health Plan leaves healthcare network out of Tier 1 Camping World property in Marion sold to Christian mission organization After 30 years at Baxter, McDowell Tech student is building her next career McDowell County working to address teen suicide kAm#F3:@ C646?E=J 2?DH6C65 2 76H BF6DE:@?D 23@FE w:4<@CJ urVD D62D@?]k^AmkAm%96 7@==@H:?8 :?E6CG:6H 92D 366? 65:E65 7@C =6?8E9 2?5 4=2C:EJik^AmkAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei3@=5Qm(92E 2C6 J@FC E9@F89ED @? E96 4=F3VD 7:CDE D62D@? :? &${ {628F6 %H@nk^DA2?mk^Am kAm%96 H2J H6 D66 :E[ 2?JE9:?8 3FE 2 ?2E:@?2= 492>A:@?D9:A :D F?56C249:6G:?8] (6 92G6 E96 D6EFA[ H6 92G6 E96 @H?6CD9:A 8C@FA[ H6 92G6 E96 4@>>F?:EJ 2?5 H6 92G6 E96 A=2J6CD E@ 2=H2JD 36 492==6?8:?8 7@C 2 ?2E:@?2= 492>A:@?D9:A] %92EVD E96 6IA64E2E:@? H6 92G6 D6E 96C6 7C@> E96 DE2CE]k^Am kAmxE 2=D@ D9@HD 9@H 4@>A6E:E:G6 E9:D =628F6 :D[ 6DA64:2==J :? @FC 5:G:D:@?[ H96C6 ag A@:?ED 5@6D?VE 8F2C2?E66 J@F 2 A=2J@77 DA@E] xEVD 6I24E=J H92E H6 H2?E E@ 36 A2CE @7] (6 H@F=5?VE H2?E :E 2?J @E96C H2J] (6 H2?E E@ 36 A2CE @7 2 5:G:D:@? E92E :D 6IEC6>6=J 4@>A6E:E:G6[ 2?5 E92EVD 6I24E=J H92E @FC 72?D H2?E E@ D66]k^Am kAmxV> C62==J A=62D65 H:E9 E96 3@JD[ H:E9 E96 E62>[ H:E9 E96 4F=EFC6 E92E H6 4@?E:?F6 E@ 3F:=5 6G6CJ D:?8=6 J62C 2?5 H:E9 @FC 4@>>F?:EJ 2?5 @H?6CD9:A 8C@FA E92E 4@?E:?F6 E@ AC@G:56 2? 6?G:C@?>6?E E92E :EVD D276 7@C >6 E@ D2J :D E96 36DE :? E96 4@F?ECJ]k^AmkAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei3@=5Qm%6== >6 23@FE E96 A@D:E:G6 E9:?8D 7C@> E9:D D62D@? J@F 42? 3F:=5 @?nk^DA2?mk^AmkAmxEVD 5:77:4F=E E@ 86E `gE@ ad\J62C\@=5 J@F?8 >6? E@ 3FJ :?E@ 2 4@>>F?:EJ 2?5 4F=EFC6 2?5 A=2J 7@C D@>6E9:?8 3:886C E92? E96:C @H? A6CD@?2= 8@2=D 2?5 2>3:E:@?D] ]]] xEVD 5:77:4F=E E@ 4@?G:?46 J@F?8 >6? E@ 4@>6 2?5 AFE E9@D6 2D:56 2?5 2=H2JD 92G6 E92E :? D6CG:46 @7 E96 4@==64E:G6] $@ E92E :D 2 A@D:E:G6 xV> E2<:?8 7C@> E9:D J62C]k^Am kAm(6 92G6 4@?E:?F65 E@ 4C62E6 2? 6?G:C@?>6?E E92E @FC 4@>>F?:EJ :D AC@F5 @7] #682C5=6DD @7 H:??:?8[ 5C2H:?8[ =@D:?8[ H6 2=H2JD =67E E96 A:E49 H:E9 2 DE2?5:?8 @G2E:@? 7C@> @FC 72?D] x E9:?< :E 4@>6D 5@H? E@ E96 492C24E6C E92E H6 92G6 :?D:56 E96 4=F3 2?5 9@H 92C5 E96J 7:89E 7@C E96 4@>>F?:EJ[ ?@E ;FDE 7@C E96>D6=G6D]k^AmkAm$64@?5[ x E9:?< H6 H6C6 2 C62==J 8@@5 E62>] &?7@CEF?2E6=J[ E96C6 H6C6 D@>6 :?;FC:6D 5FC:?8 E96 D62D@? 2?5 E6?D:@?D E92E H6 42? 28C66 @C 5:D28C66 H:E9 E92E 5:5 A=2J 2 724E@C :? E96 =2E6C DE286 @7 E96 J62C[ 3FE H96? x =@@< 324<[ xV> C62==J AC@F5 @7 6G6CJ D:?8=6 @?6 @7 E96 A=2J6CD]k^Am kAm%96J D9@F=5 36 AC@F5 @7 H92E E96J 92G6 5@?6]k^Am kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei3@=5Qms@ J@F E9:?< J@F H6C6 23=6 E@ 3C:?8 :? 2 9:896C 42=:36C @7 C64CF:EDnk^DA2?mk^AmkAmx E9:?< >@C6 D@[ :EVD E92E &${\a 92D 2 =2C86C G:D:3:=:EJ H96? :E 4@>6D E@ D@4:2= >65:2 2?5 E96 =6G6= @7 4@>A6E:E:@?]k^AmkAmx 92G6?VE 492?865 @FC C64CF:E>6?E DEJ=6] (6 2=H2JD C64CF:E E96 A=2J6C 2?5 ?@E E96 D49@@=]k^Am kAm(96? H6 H6C6 A2CE @7 E96 }!${ W}2E:@?2= !C6>:6C $@446C {628F6X 2D 2 J@F?8 4=F3 H:E9 @?6 J62C @7 6I:DE6?46[ :E H2D E@F896C E@ C64CF:E E92E 42=:36C @7 A=2J6C] qFE H96? J@F 92G6 2 ?2E:@?2= 492>A:@?D9:A[ C682C5=6DD @7 E96 =6G6=[ 2?5 92G6 E96 <:?5 @7 DFAA@CE E92E H6 2C6 23=6 E@ D9@H E96 C64CF:ED[ x 766= 4@?7:56?E H6 H:== 36 23=6 E@ C64CF:E E96 D2>6 42=:36C @7 A=2J6C] (6 2=H2JD H2?E E@ 8@ 7@C E96 36DE A=2J6CD]k^Am kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei3@=5Qm(92E 2C6 E96 E9:?8D J@F E9:?< J@F 42? =62C? 7C@> 27E6C E9:D D62D@?nk^DA2?mk^AmkAm%96C6 2C6 2 =2C86 2>@F?E @7 82>6D :? 2 D9@CE 2>@F?E @7 E:>6] xE H2D D@>6E9:?8 E92E H96? H6 H6?E :?[ H6 H6C6 ?@E 6IA64E:?8[ 2D E96 =628F6 6IA2?565 E96 2>@F?E @7 82>6D]k^Am kAmx7 J@F 8@ 324< :?E@ @FC C@DE6CD 2?5 @FC DE2CE:?8 =:?6FAD[ H6 92G6 ?@E C6A62E65 2 D:?8=6 >2E49 C@DE6C 2?5 H6 92G6 ?@E C6A62E65 2 DE2CE:?8 ``] %92E H2D E96 2AAC@249 E9:D J62C[ >2<:?8 DFC6 H6 <66A E96 E62> 7C6D9 2?5 <66A C@E2E:?8 A=2J6CD] (6 925 2 =@E @7 A=2J6CD @7 BF2=:EJ] (:E9 E92E C@E2E:@?[ @3G:@FD=J[ J@FVC6 7C6D96C[ 3FE :E 2=D@ 27764ED 2 =:EE=6 3:E @7 E96 496>:DECJ]k^Am kAm%92EVD D@>6E9:?8 H6 H2?E E@ 6G2=F2E6 2D 2 DE277 2?5[ C:89E ?@H[ x 5@?VE 92G6 E96 2?DH6C[ :7 H6 5@ E96 D2>6 2AAC@249 @C 492?86 :E[ 3FE E92E :D D@>6E9:?8 H6 H2?E E@ 6G2=F2E6]k^Am kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei3@=5QmxD E96C6 2?JE9:?8 J@F H@F=5 =:<6 E@ D2J E@ E96 4@>>F?:EJ 2?5 E96 72?Dnk^DA2?mk^AmkAm%92?< J@F H:E9 42A:E2= =6EE6CD[ 3@=5 2?5 6I4=2>2E:@? A@:?ED] xEVD :?4C65:3=6 E96 6?G:C@?>6?E @FC 72?D 2C6 23=6 E@ AC@G:56 (65?6D52J 2?5 $2EFC52J ?:89ED]k^AmkAm(6VC6 E2=<:?8 23@FE (65?6D52J ?:89ED[ h_\568C66 H62E96C[ 2?5 H6V== 92G6 c[___ 72?D]k^AmkAm#682C5=6DD @7 E96 4@?E6IE[ C682C5=6DD @7 H92E :D 92AA6?:?8[ C682C5=6DD @7 E96 H62E96C[ C682C5=6DD @7 E96 @AA@?6?E[ E96:C DFAA@CE :D F?H2G6C:?8] %96J 9@=5 FD 244@F?E23=6[ 2?5 H6 H2?E E@ 5@ 6G6CJE9:?8 H6 42? E@ A2J E96> 324< 7@C E96:C DFAA@CE 2?5 E96:C =@G6]k^Am 0 Comments Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Most Popular North Carolina sets first elk hunt for 2027. Here's when it will be and who can participate There are, however, a number of concerns about the hunt, many of them encapsulated by Old Fort resident Tori McKinney. This group of McDowell County 8-year-olds is competing in the Babe Ruth World Series The team has already had a dominant summer. They went 4-0 in the district championship and 3-0 in the state tournament. Sponsored How a Marine veteran bought a new home without paying a dollar in upfront closing costs Content by NewDay USA. The VA home loan is one of the most powerful homebuying tools, and NewDay USA is making it even stronger. Byrd’s Auto Sales in Marion to close after 40 years. "The time has come for us to slow down" “A passion that started from humble beginnings over 40 years ago grew into something far more special than we ever imagined." West Caldwell cancels varsity football. What does this mean for other Catawba Valley teams? The move upends several other Catawba Valley football schedules.
North Carolina sets first elk hunt for 2027. Here's when it will be and who can participate There are, however, a number of concerns about the hunt, many of them encapsulated by Old Fort resident Tori McKinney.
This group of McDowell County 8-year-olds is competing in the Babe Ruth World Series The team has already had a dominant summer. They went 4-0 in the district championship and 3-0 in the state tournament.
Sponsored How a Marine veteran bought a new home without paying a dollar in upfront closing costs Content by NewDay USA. The VA home loan is one of the most powerful homebuying tools, and NewDay USA is making it even stronger.
Byrd’s Auto Sales in Marion to close after 40 years. "The time has come for us to slow down" “A passion that started from humble beginnings over 40 years ago grew into something far more special than we ever imagined."
West Caldwell cancels varsity football. What does this mean for other Catawba Valley teams? The move upends several other Catawba Valley football schedules.
