Bob Sutton - Randolph Record

07 Mar

Prep wrestling notes: Southwestern Randolph’s Flores takes pride in career; Wheatmore senior finds spot on board

Bob SuttonSportsEastern Randolph Wildcats, Jose Flores, Lorenzo Alston, Noah Browning, prep wrestling, Randleman Tigers, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, Trinity Bulldogs, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles, Wheatmore Warriors

Southwestern Randolph’s Jose Flores matches up with Holmes’ Steven Ferebee in the first round of the state tournament. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) GREENSBORO — Southwestern Randolph wrestler Jose Flores found perspective as his high school wrestling career came to close in eerily quiet fashion. He leaves as a one-time state champion, though he couldn’t repeat that in his last two seasons. “Overall, I’m disappointed I couldn’t get first,” Flores after last week’s tournament ended. “I did do better than I did last year. As I looked at it, I placed three seasons.” Flores placed third in Class 2A at…

06 Mar

Fast food scene grows in Randolph County

Bob SuttonBusiness, NewsArchdale, Randleman, randolph county

This Cook Out in Randleman opened during the winter. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) The fast food restaurant scene has evolved in parts of Randolph County the past few months in a few locations. The opening of Cook Out in Randleman has resulted in a parking lot often close to being filled with automobiles on some evenings. It’s a dine-in restaurant as the chain has evolved in recent years by adding more dine-in locations in addition to the drive-thru sites. Randleman’s Cook Out is located on West Academy Street near Sheets. It’s housed in a former bank building, with hours…

04 Mar

One school nixed from proposed conference involving Wildcats, Cougars, UCA

Bob SuttonSportsEastern Randolph Wildcats, Foster Cates, Matt Kiser, nchsaa, prep football, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles

Three schools from Randolph County would stay together in the latest realignment draft Eastern Randolph, Southwestern Randolph and Uwharrie Charter Academy remain together in the latest version of North Carolina High School Athletic Association conference realignment proposals, but it’s down to a six-school league. Carrboro is no longer grouped in that conference, which also would include North Moore, Northwood and Jordan-Matthews. UCA doesn’t play football. With Carrboro out of the mix, it’s a relief for at least a couple of schools regarding traveling distance. “We’re OK with that (latest change),” said Matt Kiser, co-athletics director at Southwestern Randolph. “Carrboro isn’t…

04 Mar

Apprenticeship Randolph seeks new class of students

Bob SuttonNewsApprenticeship Randolph, Education, Randolph Community College, Shah Ardalan

ASHEBORO — The deadline for inclusion in the next round of Apprenticeship Randolph is approaching next week. Last month’s Apprenticeship Randolph Community night scheduled for Randolph Community College’s Corporate Training Center in Asheboro was canceled because of weather-related concerns. While it wasn’t rescheduled, there’s time to apply to be part of the program. “We typically take around 20 students, juniors and seniors,” said Stacey Miller, director of apprenticeships at RCC. Applications for Apprenticeship Randolph are being accepted through March 10. Open houses connected to the program for students and parents continue through the end of this week, with applicants required to…

03 Mar

Security breach draws scrutiny at RCSS school

Bob SuttonNewscrime, Education, Hopewell Elementary School, police, Randolph County School System, Stephen Gainey

TRINITY — The head of the Randolph County School system has vowed that the district will be more attentive to safety issues and he said broken hinges on a door that contributed to an intruder entering a school last week have been repaired. Superintendent Stephen Gainey addressed the incident at Hopewell Elementary School in a message to parents and district residents, apologizing for the high level of anxiety that was created last week. “While the situation did occur, it should never have happened,” Gainey said. “This individual had no business on the campus of Hopewell Elementary School, and definitely didn’t…

02 Mar

Trinity turns to alum as next football coach

Bob SuttonSportsBear Bradley, Mark Raynor, prep football, Trinity Bulldogs

Mark Raynor is the new Trinity football coach. (Courtesy photo) TRINITY — Mark Raynor was groomed during high school on Trinity football, so he said it’s fitting that he’ll be the next coach of the Bulldogs. “It was a good opportunity for me to go back and be a head coach,” Raynor said. “It’s a great situation. It’s an opportunity to get back home.” The 2006 Trinity alum was named the team’s coach last week. He replaces Bear Bradley, who resigned this winter after two seasons to join the staff at Greensboro Grimsley. Raynor spent last season as defensive coordinator…

01 Mar

Basketball roundup: Eastern Randolph seniors soak in special playoff moments

Bob SuttonSportsclass 1-A, Class 2-A, Eastern Randolph Wildcats, Johnny Thomas, Julian Brooks, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, state playoffs, Timothy Brower, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles, Will Stalker

Eastern Randolph's Timothy Brower takes a fourth-quarter free throw vs. South Stanly. RAMSEUR — Timothy Brower and Julian Brooks have played dozens of basketball games for Eastern Randolph in their home gym. That’s what happens, in part, when you’re highly seeded for conference tournament and state-playoff games. So Friday night marked a notable occasion for the senior Wildcats. It might have been their final time suiting up for a home game. If so, Brower and Brooks went out with a bang. “I was thinking about that during the national anthem,” Brower said of his time playing in that venue. Brower…

28 Feb

State playoffs: UCA teams advance; Randleman boys bounced; Mixed results for other schools

Bob SuttonSportsAaron Smith, Andrew Thomas, Asheboro Blue Comets, Bella Byman, Chase Farlow, class 1-A, Class 2-A, Eastern Randolph Wildcats, Jacquline McDaniel, Jada Nixon, Jaxon Mabe, Jordin George, Julian Brooks, Kenzie Martin, Laurel Bernhardt, Macy Allred, Maddie Strider, nchsaa, Nevaeh Staples, Osiris Rodriguez, Prep Basketball, Providence Grove Patriots, Randleman Tigers, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, state playoffs, Tyshaun Goldston, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles, Will Dabbs, Will Stalker

Uwharrie Charter Academy’s Aaron Smith goes up between Murphy players during the first round of the Class 1A state playoffs Tuesday night. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) Uwharrie Charter Academy’s boys’ and girls’ basketball teams made it through the first round of the state playoffs. Eastern Randolph’s boys and Southwestern Randolph’s girls and Randleman’s girls also advanced with victories Tuesday night. The second round comes Friday night. Not all teams were so fortunate in the opening round. Boys Randleman, the No. 2 seed in Class 2A West Region, was knocked off by No. 31 seed Forest Hills by 70-62. It…

27 Feb

New church to launch in Liberty

Bob SuttonEvents, NewsGrowing Faith Church, Liberty

LIBERTY — The timing seemed right for Brian Beasley and others to organize a new church to serve the growing Liberty area. The launch of Growing Faith Church is set for Sunday. “A series of things called me to lead a church,” Beasley said, pointing to the Greensboro-Randolph megasite. “With the growth, it seemed like the Lord was pulling us to assembly there.” The first worship service is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. at Liberty Elementary School at 206 North Fayetteville St. Growing Faith Church stems from Pleasant Garden Baptist Church in Guilford County, slightly more than a dozen miles away.…

25 Feb

Titles at nearly every turn in Class 2A for Randolph County wrestlers

Bob SuttonSportsAiden Burkholder, Ayden Sumners, Bliss Joyce, Braxton Walker, Dominic Hittepole, Greensboro Coliseum, Jaden Allred, Lawson Coltrane, nchsaa, prep wrestling, Randleman Tigers, state tournament, Trinity Bulldogs, Wheatmore Warriors

Wheatmore’s Ayden Sumners leaps into the arms of coach Kyle Spencer after winning the 126-pound state championship in Class 2A. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) GREENSBORO — Trinity and Wheatmore shared some of the glory in the Class 2A division of the wrestling state tournament. There was plenty to go around. Randleman’s Braxton Walker joined in the fun as part of Randolph County’s huge presence in the classification during Monday's finals. Trinity’s Aiden Burkholder (106 pounds) and Lawson Coltrane (165) won championships along with Wheatmore’s Ayden Sumners (126) and Dominic Hittepole (175). So of the 14 weight classes in Class…