Bob Sutton - Randolph Record

08 Jan

Asheboro church plans large missions event for weekend

Bob SuttonEvents, NewsFirst Baptist Church of Asheboro, missions, Religion

ASHEBORO -- First Baptist Church of Asheboro has an expanded program coming this weekend as part of a celebration of 25-plus years of mission work. The Church-Wide World Mission Conference on Saturday at the church’s Christian Life Center is open to members and attendees from other churches and the community at-large. The conference kicks off the 2025 mission program for the church. The church's mission team was created in 2000. Jimmy Huffman was a founding member of the church’s “On Mission Team” and he’s helping direct Saturday’s program. “This is a time of celebration and looking forward,” Huffman said. Huffman,…

07 Jan

Asheboro Blue Comets look toward conference basketball challenges

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Brian Nance, Mid-Piedmont Conference, Osiris Rodriguez, Prep Basketball

Asheboro’s Elijah Woodle goes up for a shot against Chatham Central as teammate Osiris Rodriguez looks on during action in last month’s holiday tournament. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – The beginning of play in the Mid-Piedmont Conference gives the Asheboro boys’ basketball team something fresh to experience. The Blue Comets are looking for another strong effort in league competition. With a 9-3 overall record, there’s plenty to be excited about. “We just want to win,” forward Zak Blackwell said. “We put in all the work.” Veteran coach Brian Nance’s team won nine of its first 10 games. So…

04 Jan

Providence Grove tags Moran as football coach

Bob SuttonSportsCody Moran, David Hayes, Mark Heilig, prep football, Providence Grove athletics, Providence Grove Patriots

CLIMAX – Cody Moran is the new football at Providence Grove, giving the school’s athletics director an additional role but one that he covets. “That’s what I got into coaching for was to be a head coach,” he said. Moran will be the fourth coach in four years for the Patriots. They’re coming off a 3-7 season, which was the program’s first losing record since 2017. Moran has been on the coaching staff since 2019, handling various duties. Most recently, he was the defensive coordinator. Now the 2013 Randleman graduate is in charge of the program. “I’m real big on…

31 Dec

2024 sports in review: Title times come for area teams

Bob SuttonSports2024, Asheboro Zookeepers, Cam Letterlough, College baseball, Eastern Randolph Wildcats, Ellie Garrison, Prep baseball, prep football, prep soccer, prep wrestling, Randleman Tigers, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, Tim Kelly, Trinity Bulldogs, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles

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,…

31 Dec

2024 in review: Politics, sadness and projects in Randolph County

Bob SuttonNews2024, 2024 elections, crime, randolph county, Year in Review

ASHEBORO – Politics tended to dominate much of the conversation in Randolph County during 2024. Even the presidential campaign made inroads in the county. There was an August campaign event featuring Donald Trump, who was voted back into office in November. The November results weren’t only favorable for Trump among Republicans. The party maintained its stronghold on local politics. That included the Randolph County Board of Commissioners, who remained dominated by Republicans. Lester Rivenbark was elected to become a newcomer on the board. There were heavy voter turnouts in Randolph County, pretty much mirroring what was happening around the state…

30 Dec

Randleman Tigers build more momentum, take boys’ title in holiday tourney

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Brayden Chapman, Chase Farlow, holiday tournament, Jireh Price, Osiris Rodriguez, Prep Basketball, Randleman Tigers, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, Trinity Bulldogs, Tyshaun Goldston

Randleman’s Tyshaun Goldston goes up for a shot as Asheboro’s Jalial Timmons, left, applies pressure and Randleman’s Chase Farlow and Asheboro’s Zak Blackwell look on. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – As the good times keep rolling for Randleman’s boys’ basketball team, it’s what the Tigers expect. “I’m not really surprised,” senior Tyshaun Goldston said. “We could play a little better, but we should be in the spot we’re in.” After winning last week’s SportsTone.net Christmas Invitational, Randleman has made it almost halfway through the regular season without a loss. “It’s a talented group, a bunch of seniors and…

30 Dec

Downtown Asheboro buzzes during holidays

Bob SuttonBusiness, NewsAsheboro Christmas Parade, City of Asheboro, downtown asheboro

There was a festive atmosphere and several events in downtown Asheboro during the recent holiday season. (Thadd Sanders / Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – Crowds visited downtown Asheboro in big numbers prior to and during the holidays, and that was pleasing to mayor David Smith. Smith said the events that spread across a few weeks provided festive atmospheres. In particular, Smith pointed to the Christmas on Sunset activities that drew a bustling turnout across three hours of activities. “I’d say that is as big as we’ve ever done,” he said. “The streets were full from store to store.” The turnout to…

29 Dec

Southwestern Randolph girls keep adding to special season by winning holiday tournament

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, holiday tournament, Macy Allred, Maddie Strider, Prep Basketball, Randleman Tigers, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, Trinity Bulldogs

Southwestern Randolph’s Macy Allred drives against Randleman’s Kadie Green with Cougars coach Seth Baxter looking on during the SportsTone.net Christmas Invitational championship game Saturday night at Asheboro. Southwestern Randolph won to remain undefeated. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – What’s shaping up as a special season for Southwestern Randolph’s girls’ basketball team became even better in the SportsTone.net Christmas Invitational. The Cougars handled three opponents to remain undefeated. “We just enjoy playing with each other,” guard Maddie Strider said. Southwestern Randolph capped the tournament by defeating Piedmont Athletic Conference rival Randleman 42-30 on Saturday night. Strider’s 14 points and…

27 Dec

Two girls’ teams, two boys’ teams from Randolph County win tourney openers in Asheboro

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Burlington Williams, Chatham Charter, holiday tournament, Lexington Yellowjackets, Prep Basketball, Randleman Tigers, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, Thomasville Bulldogs, Trinity Bulldogs

Randleman’s Chenleigh Robinson goes up for a shot against Eastern Guilford’s Mauri Jerman during the opening day of the Sportstone.net Invitational in Asheboro. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – The opening day of the Sportstone.net Invitational lacked late-game drama, but there were a good number of positive developments for Randolph County entrants. The girls’ and boys’ basketball tournament continues Friday and Saturday at Asheboro High School. There were a couple of notable rallies for Randolph County girls’ teams – one that panned out and another that fizzled. Here’s a look at a few of Thursday’s highlights from the eight-game…

26 Dec

NCHSAA’s conference draft could spread out Randolph County schools

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Eastern Randolph Wildcats, nchsaa, Providence Grove Patriots, Randleman Tigers, realignment, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, Trinity Bulldogs, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles, Wheatmore Warriors

New league alignments within the NCHSAA begin by summer Randolph County schools will be spread out when it comes to conference affiliations based on an initial draft sent to schools from the North Carolina High School Athletic Association. Schools can provide feedback on the drafts before those are finalized, likely in January. The new alignments, which are developed to be in place for four years, begin next summer. The NCHSAA is expanding from four classifications to eight, so there are bound to be different combinations when it comes to conference set-ups. The drafts reveal more split conferences (leagues with schools…