Featured Top Story Spotlight HIGH SCHOOL Meet the Catawba County sophomore whose GPA is as high as his 40-yard dash time jason.koon Nov 7, 2025 Nov 7, 2025 Updated Nov 7, 2025 0 Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Newton-Conover sophomore Jeremiah Pope runs the 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds. His GPA is also 4.4.kAm!@A6 :D 2>@?8 E96 76H DEF56?E 2E9=6E6D H9@ 42? 3@2DE 2 v!p 2?5 c_ E:>6 E92E 2C6 ?62C=J :56?E:42=] w6 4C65:ED E96 :?7=F6?46 @7 9:D 72E96C 7@C 9:D 56D:C6 E@ DF44665 2E 6G6CJE9:?8 96 EC:6D]k^AmkAm“xE DE2CED 7C@> >J 525[” !@A6 D2:5] “w6 2=H2JD E2F89E >6[ 8C@H:?8 FA[ 5@ E96 >@DE E92E J@F 42? 5@] … s@?’E E2<6 E96 62DJ H2J @FE]”k^AmkAm!@A6 92D 2?@E96C C@=6 >@56=[ E@@] w6 D2:5 96 =@@<D FA E@ 9:D E62>>2E6[ D6?:@C BF2CE6C324< r2>56? tKK2C5] tKK2C5’D ?F>36CD 2C6 C:89E FA E96C6 H:E9 !@A6’D] tKK2C5 CF?D E96 c_ :? c]e D64@?5D 2?5 3@2DED 2 c]_ v!p]k^Am People are also reading… Marion man charged after 200 grams of cocaine found in search of home near school Man "involved in a shooting" Friday evening found, McDowell sheriff's office says Old Fort’s B Side Bakery & Books offers fresh made breads, books and more Amtrak’s western North Carolina expansion: Bringing passenger rail back to Asheville and beyond Compassion Care Services in Marion celebrates opening; provides services for adults with disabilities McDowell County leaders hear updates, concerns about 2027 property value reappraisal Marion dam gets $2.7 million for repairs; dam behind condemned Westwood Chateau apartments Author of book on lost NC towns coming to downtown Marion for Women’s History Month McDowell County Commissioners to talk grant partnership with Freedom Life Monday Mace wins sheriff’s office in Republican primary; unopposed in general election Old Fort to get $1.24 million in FEMA money for repairs for Westerman Street McDowell County nonprofit seeking grant to help incarcerated parents and their children See video of a Burke County basketball player's buzzer beater shot from beyond half court US housing secretary, congressman visit Marion to talk about Clinchfield apartment project Election final update: Final election results are in for McDowell County Newton-Conover’s Jeremiah Pope holds on tightly to the ball during a run attempt against Bandys on Sept. 26. David Scearce, Record kAm“x ECJ E@ 36 E92E 6I2>A=6[” tKK2C5 D2:5] “x 9@=5 >JD6=7 244@F?E23=6 2?5 ECJ E@ D6E 2? 6I2>A=6 7@C 9@H x H@F=5 H2?E 6G6CJ3@5J E@ C6DA@?5 2?5 5@ E9:?8D]”k^AmkAm(96? 96 :D 2 D6?:@C[ !@A6 D2:5 96 9@A6D E96 J@F?86C A=2J6CD @? E96 E62> H:== =@@< E@ 9:> E96 D2>6 H2J 96 =@@<D E@ tKK2C5]k^Am Newton-Conover’s Camden Ezzard (7) tries to escape the grasp of Bunker Hill’s Will McCormick (0) and Spencer Swink (70) on Oct. 10. David Scearce, Record kAm“x E2<6 r2>56? 2D 2 3:8 9:89 DE2?52C5[” !@A6 D2:5] “%92E C62==J :?DA:C6D >6[ 2?5 x 766= =:<6 x’> 8@:?8 E@ 36 2 3:886C =6256C 2?5 2 3:886C :?DA:C2E:@? H96? x 86E @=56C]”k^Am k9amxE’D 2 AC6C6BF:D:E6 ?@Hk^9am kAmx7 E96C6 H2D 6G6C 2 E:>6 2? 2E9=6E6 4@F=5 E2<6 :E 62DJ :? E96 4=2DDC@@> 2?5 DE:== 62C? 2 4@==686 2E9=6E:4 D49@=2CD9:A[ E92E E:>6 92D A2DD65[ uC65 %] u@2C5 9625 7@@E32== 4@249 |:4962= #2>D6FC D2:5]k^Am kAm“*@F’G6 8@E E@ 92G6 3@E9[” #2>D6FC D2:5] “(96? E96 4@==686 D4@FED 4@>6 @FE[ E92E’D @?6 @7 E96 7:CDE BF6DE:@?D E96J 2D< :D[ ‘(92E :D E96:C v!pn’”k^AmkAmw6 =@@<D E@ D6?:@C y24@3 {24<6J E@ 96=A 9:> 5C:G6 E92E A@:?E 9@>6 E@ E96 J@F?86C A=2J6CD] {24<6J CF?D E96 c_ :? c]g 2?5 9:D v!p :D c]cb]k^Am Foard head coach Micheal Ramseur talks to his team during a practice last season. Jason Koon, Record kAm“w6’D 2 G6CJ 4@24923=6 <:5[ G6CJ D>2CE[” #2>D6FC D2:5] “~E96C E92? E92E[ 96’D ;FDE 2 ;@J E@ 36 2C@F?5] w6’D @?6 @7 E9@D6 <:5D[ H96? J@F’C6 2C@F?5 9:> 2?5 J@F D66 9:D 56>62?@C 2?5 9@H 96 24ED[ E92E 96 92D 366? C2:D65 E96 C:89E H2J] ]]]k^AmkAm“pD 4@2496D[ H6 2=H2JD E6== E96>[ ‘w6J[ 5@ :E E9:D H2J[’ 2?5 96 :D @?6 @7 E96 7:CDE ?2>6D E92E 4@>6D FA[ ‘w6J[ H2E49 {24<6J]’”k^Am k9am}@ D9@CE4FEDk^9amkAm{24<6J D2:5 H96? :E 4@>6D E@ 36:?8 244@>A=:D965 :? 3@E9 2C6?2D[ E96C6 2C6 ?@ D9@CE4FED]k^Am kAm“xE’D C62==J ;FDE DA6?5:?8 E96 E:>6[” 96 D2:5] “x’G6 366? E2<:?8 2 =@E @7 4@==686 4=2DD6D E9C@F89 E96 r'rr Wr2E2H32 '2==6J r@>>F?:EJ r@==686X 4@9@CE AC@8C2>]”k^Am kAmxE’D E96 D2>6 E9:?8 H:E9 9:D 2E9=6E:4 A6C7@C>2?46] w6 A=2JD 7@@E32==[ 32D<6E32==[ 32D632== 2?5 CF?D EC24<]k^AmkAmr@==686 DA@CED AC@323=J 2C6?’E @? E96 E23=6 7@C {24<6J[ 3FE 96 DE:== 36=:6G6D 9:D 9:89 D49@@= 2E9=6E:4 EC2:?:?8 H:== 4@?E:?F6 E@ A2J @77 :? E96 7FEFC6]k^Am kAm“xE <66AD J@F 7@4FD65[” 96 D2:5] “tDA64:2==J[ H:E9 4@==686[ :E’== <66A E92E H@C< 6E9:4 FA E@ H96C6 J@F 42? DE:== DE2J 7@4FD65 :? 4@==686 H:E9 2== @7 E96 4@==686 =:76 2?5 6G6CJE9:?8 8@:?8 @?]”k^Am Hickory head coach Joe Glass talks with his team at a practice at Hickory High School last season. Ernest Masche, Record kAm{24<6J’D 8@2= :D E@ 2EE6?5 }]r] $E2E6 2?5 364@>6 2? 6?8:?66C] w6 D2:5 E96 :562 @7 3F:=5:?8 E9:?8D 2?5 96=A:?8 @E96C A6@A=6 2AA62=D E@ 9:>]k^Amk9amp 4F=EFC6 @7 DF446DDk^9amkAmpE w:4<@CJ w:89[ 5@:?8 H6== :? E96 4=2DDC@@> :D 6IA64E65] w625 7@@E32== 4@249 y@6 v=2DD D2:5 96 2?5 9:D 2DD:DE2?E 4@2496D 2C6 4@?DE2?E=J =@@<:?8 2E E96 A=2J6C’D 8C256D 2?5 492==6?8:?8 E96> E@ 5@ E96:C 36DE]k^Am kAm“xE E2<6D 2 8C@FA[” v=2DD D2:5] “(96? J@F 92G6 h_\D@>6 <:5D 2?5 J@F’C6 ECJ:?8 E@ <66A FA H:E9 8C256D 2?5 3692G:@CD 2?5 6G6CJE9:?8] xE 92D 8@EE6? E@ E96 A@:?E ?@H H96C6 2 =@E @7 @FC <:5D 2C6 D6=7\A@=:4:?8 6249 @E96C] %92E 96=AD[ E96> 36:?8 :? 4=2DD E@86E96C]”k^AmkAmw:4<@CJ 7@@E32== 2=D@ 92D 2 ?@\K6C@ A@=:4J 56D:8?65 E@ >2<6 DFC6 6G6CJ@?6 :D 92?5=:?8 E96:C C6DA@?D:3:=:E:6D]k^Am kAm“(6 4964< 8C256D @? |@?52J @C %F6D52J[” v=2DD D2:5] “x 8@ E9C@F89 2?5 x AC:?E @FE 2 =:DE @7 2== E96 >:DD:?8 2DD:8?>6?ED E92E E96J 92G6 2?5 E96?[ 7@C 6G6CJ K6C@ E92E E96J 92G6[ E96J 92G6 2 324<H2C5D 362C 4C2H=]”k^Am kAm$EF56?ED 92G6 F?E:= E96 >@C?:?8 @7 82>6 52J E@ 86E E96 2DD:8?>6?E EFC?65 :? 2?5 92G6 E96 E62496C D:8? @77 @? :E] x7 E92E 5@6D?’E 92AA6?[ E96J D:E @FE]k^Am kAm“%96J’C6 ?@E 2==@H65 E@ 8@ H:E9 FD[ ?@E 2==@H65 E@ 4@>6 H:E9 FD[ ?@E 2==@H65 E@ 36 @? E96 D:56=:?6D[” v=2DD D2:5] “}@C>2==J[ E96J 5@?’E H2?E E@ 5@ 324<H2C5D 362C 4C2H=D[ D@ ?@C>2==J[ :E E2<6D 23@FE 2 52J E@ 86E E96> 2== :?]”k^AmkAmw6 D2:5 6G6CJ@?6 42? AFE :? E96 677@CE 2?5 86E E96:C H@C< 5@?6]k^Am kAm“%96 E9@F89E AC@46DD :D[ J@F @?=J E2<6 2 E6DE @?46 2 H66<[ 3FE J@F >:89E 92G6 `_ 2DD:8?>6?ED[” 96 D2:5]k^AmkAm$@[ :7 2 DEF56?E 5@6D 2 8@@5 ;@3 H:E9 E96:C 9@>6H@C<[ E96J’== 92G6 ?@ AC@3=6> A2DD:?8 E96:C 4=2DD6D]k^Am kAm“*@F’C6 8@:?8 E@ 6?5 FA H:E9 2 q @C 2 r :? >@DE 4=2DD6D[ :7 J@F 5@ E96 E9:?8D J@F’C6 DFAA@D65 E@ 5@[” v=2DD D2:5]k^Am Hickory’s Ronan Nieland (0) focuses to catch a pass against East Lincoln’s Ethan King (27) during a game on Oct. 17. Ernest Masche, Record kAmxE D66>D E@ 36 A2J:?8 @77] v=2DD D2:5 E96 E62> v!p H2D b]ef =2DE J62C 2?5 96’D 6IA64E:?8 :E E@ 36 ;FDE 2D 9:89[ :7 ?@E 9:896C[ E9:D J62C]k^Am kAm“~FC <:5D 5@ 2 8C62E ;@3 :? E96 4=2DDC@@>[” 96 D2:5] “%96C6’D 2 ?F>36C @7 <:5D x 4@F=5 AFE @FE E96C6 E92E 92G6 9:89 v!pD =:<6 |2I *@F?E 2?5 qC6EE #@H=2?5[ H6’C6 E2=<:?8 23@FE 8FJD H9@ 92G6 c]_D] … x 5@?’E C62==J 92G6 @?6 8FJ E92E DE2?5D @FE]”k^Amk9am|2?28:?8 E96 4=@4<k^9am kAm(:56 C646:G6C #@?2? }:6=2?5 :D @?6 @7 E9@D6 w:4<@CJ A=2J6CD H9@ :D 5@:?8 H6== :? 3@E9 2C62D] }:6=2?5’D AC:>2CJ DA@CE :D 32D632==[ D@ 96 :D >@C6 72>:=:2C H:E9 E96 e_\J2C5 52D9] w6 42? CF? :E :? e]d D64@?5D H9:49 H@F=5 4@?G6CE E@ 2 c_\E:>6 2C@F?5 E96 c]d\c]f C2?86] w:D v!p :D c]ag]k^Am kAm}:6=2?5 D2:5 9:D D64C6E :D E:>6 >2?286>6?E]k^AmkAm“u@C >J 9@>6H@C<[ x 92G6 E@ AFE E:>6 2H2J 7@C E92E[” 96 D2:5] “x A2J 2EE6?E:@? :? 4=2DD 2?5 86E 2== E96 H@C< 5@?6 E96C6]”k^AmkAmw6 D2:5 E96 4F=EFC6 @7 DF446DD 2E w:4<@CJ 96=AD 9:> DE2J >@E:G2E65]k^Am kAm“(6 92G6 2 DE2?52C5 96C6 2E w:4<@CJ[” }:6=2?5 D2:5] “%96J 42C6 23@FE FD 2 =@E] v=2DD 7@4FD6D @? @FC H@C< 2?5 9@H H6 6I64FE6 DEF77[ E92E’D 9@H 2== @FC 4@2496D 2C6]”k^Am kAm}:6=2?5 :D 9@A:?8 E@ A=2J 7@@E32== @C 32D632== :? 4@==686] t:E96C H2J[ 96 <?@HD 8C256D 2C6 2? :>A@CE2?E A:646 @7 E96 AFKK=6 7@C 9:>]k^Am kAm“q6:?8 8@@5 @? E96 7:6=5[ :E 86ED J@F D66?[” 96 D2:5] “qFE :? E96 4=2DDC@@>[ … :E >2<6D FD DE2?5 @FE >@C6 7C@> @E96C 2E9=6E6D]”k^Amk9amq6:?8 2E J@FC 36DEk^9amkAmx? }6HE@?[ !@A6 :D DE:== `d J62CD @=5[ 3FE 96 :D 2=C625J E2<:?8 4@==686 2?5 p! 4=2DD6D E@ 86E 29625] w6 D2:5 :E 92D?’E 366? 62DJ E@ 6I46= 2E 4=2DD6D 56D:8?65 7@C @=56C DEF56?ED[ 3FE 96 92D ?6G6C 366? @?6 E@ D9J 2H2J 7C@> 2 492==6?86]k^Am kAm“xE 92D 366? 2 3:8 A2CE @7 >J =:76 @7 >6 DE2?5:?8 FA 2?5 36:?8 7@4FD65 @? H92E x 92G6 E@ 5@ :? D49@@=[” !@A6 D2:5] “x H2?E E@ 9@=5 >JD6=7 E@ 2 3:886C DE2?52C5 2?5 ?@E ;FDE E2<6 2G6C286 4=2DD6D]”k^AmkAmw6 <?@HD DF446DD :? E96 4=2DDC@@> H:== 96=A 9:> 86E 2? 2E9=6E:4 D49@=2CD9:A[ 3FE 96 D2JD 9:D ECF6 >@E:G2E:@? E@ DF44665 4@>6D 7C@> 2 566A6C A=246]k^Amk2D:56 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\C6=4@?E6?EQmk^2D:56mkAm“tG6? :7 x H2D?’E 2D 2E9=6E:4 2?5 2D v@5\8:7E65 2D x 2> C:89E ?@H[ x H@F=5 36 5@:?8 ;FDE 2D x 2> 5@:?8 :E E@52J[” 96 D2:5] “x H@F=5 DE:== 36 7:89E:?8 E@ 36 E96 36DE 2?5 E2<:?8 E96 92C56DE 4=2DD6D E@ D66 9@H x A6C7@C> :? E96>]”k^Am kAmtKK2C5 D2:5 9:D 3:886DE >@E:G2E:@? :D E@ >2<6 DFC6 E92E 96 :D DF446DD7F= D@ 96 42? 92G6 2 8@@5 =:76 2?5 96=A =:7E 9:D A2C6?ED 2?5 72>:=J FA 2D H6==]k^Am kAm“x H2?E E@ 96=A E96> E@ 36 23=6 E@ DF44665[” 96 D2:5] “(96E96C E92E’D 96=A:?8 E96> >@?6J\H:D6 @C H92E6G6C E96J ?665] ]]] (:E9 >J 72>:=J[ x H2?E E@ H@C< 92C5 E@ 96=A AC@G:56 7@C E96>[ D@ :E 8:G6D >6 E92E >6?E2=:EJ 62C=J]”k^Am Jason Koon is the Sports Editor for the Hickory Record and can be reached at jason.koon@lee.net. 0 Comments Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get in the game with our Prep Sports Newsletter Sent weekly directly 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. jason.koon Author email Follow jason.koon Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. 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