There was lots to celebrate for the Southwestern Randolph softball team at the 2024 state finals. (Randolph Record file photo)
There were no shortage of special moments and achievements for area athletes in 2024
Championship appearances on the state level for several schools were among Randolph County sports highlights in 2024.
The year was sprinkled with significant success stories.
Four different schools captured team championships, while teams from two schools were left with the heartbreak of state runner-up finishes to accompany a sense of accomplishment.
Here’s a review of some notable 2024 area sports achievements:
Title moments
In some cases, it was a matter of doubling up for state championships as they came in pairs.
On Feb. 3, wrestling teams from Trinity in Class 2A and Uwharrie Charter Academy in Class 1A captured dual team state championships in back-to-back sessions on the same mats at the fieldhouse at the Greensboro Coliseum complex. Trinity defeated Seaforth before UCA edged Avery County.
In the spring, Faith Christian won its first girls’ soccer championship by defeating host Wilson Christian 4-1 in the title game.
On June 1, UCA’s baseball team and Southwestern Randolph’s softball team became state champions.
UCA captured the Class 1A title by defeating Northside-Pinetown in Holly Springs. Meanwhile at UNC Greensboro, Southwestern Randolph was pulling off a dramatic clinching sequence to top Midway in Class 2A.
There were almost moments for boys’ soccer teams from Southwestern Randolph (Class 3A) and Southwestern Randolph (Class 2A) on back-to-back November nights. They ended up as state runners-up.
Southwestern Randolph fell 3-1 to Clinton, while Asheboro built a three-goal lead before falling 4-3 in overtime to Western Alamance.
That marked the end of the high school career for high-scoring Asheboro forward Cam Letterlough.
And some more …
Other items of interest from 2024:
** Individual state champion wrestlers were Lorenzo Alston, Carson Robinson and Jaden Maness of UCA in Class 1A and Gavin Hardister of Trinity in Class 2A.
** In track and field, Randleman’s Chase Farlow became the Class 2A boys’ high jump champion and Eastern Randolph’s Mirianna Corea won the Class 1A girls’ discus championship
** Post 81 returned to action in American Legion baseball after a one-year hiatus, now known as Liberty Post 81 (rather than Eastern Randolph).
** Trevor Marsh of Asheboro was the Most Valuable Player of the Coastal Athletic Association Tournament for baseball as UNC Wilmington won the title.
** Ellie Garrison’s record-setting career ended for Wheatmore when the girls’ soccer team fell in the Class 2A West Regional final, ending a two-year streak of appearances in the state final. Earlier in the season, Garrison became the all-time leader in goals in North Carolina girls’ soccer.
** Stephen Gainey, superintendent of the Randolph County School System, began a term as president of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association.
** Longtime Trinity boys’ basketball coach Tim Kelly retired after more than three decades and a 2004 state championship. Former Trinity player Brett Andrews, after a season at Providence Grove, was hired to replace Kelly.
** The Asheboro ZooKeepers finished the season on a seven-game winning streak for a 27-20 record, seven more wins than the previous year and nearly double the number of victories from 2022 (14-33) in the Coastal Plain League.
During the season, ZooKeepers infielder Zach Evans was drafted by the San Diego Padres.
** Randleman graduate Brooks Brannon received a spot in the coveted Arizona Fall League for baseball prospects. He’s a minor league catcher in the Boston Red Sox organization.
** Asheboro’s football team won a Mid-Piedmont Conference game for the first time since 2019 by defeating North Davidson.
** An undefeated season for Eastern Randolph’s football team ended in the third round of the Class 1A state playoffs. That came a few weeks after the Wildcats topped Randleman 27-26 in a PAC showdown.
After the season, citing family health issues, Randleman coach Shane Timmons stepped down from his position with the football team.
** Fall sports teams had adjustments to postseason schedules because of flooding from Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina. Those pushed back the start of playoff competitions in many cases.
** Randleman’s girls’ basketball streak of 40 consecutive regular-season conference victories ended with a loss at Southwestern Randolph.
