Bob Sutton - Randolph Record

11 Mar

NCHSAA aims to speed process to set calendar, playoff formats

Bob SuttonSportsnchsaa, Que Tucker, Randolph County School System, realignment, Stephen Gainey

The next step for the North Carolina High School Athletic Association is to set the playing calendar for the 2025-26 school year and devise playoff formats for the new eight-classification set-up. Expect that to be expediated. “If we had it ready, it would be out there,” said NCHSAA president Stephen Gainey, who’s also superintendent of the Randolph County School System. “We know the coaches and the ADs and principals need it.” The NCHAA board of directors completed the conference realignment process last week by approving a final version. Gainey and NCHSAA commissioner Que Tucker answered questions last Thursday. The calendar…

11 Mar

Big companies paid higher wages in Randolph County in 2024

Bob SuttonBusiness, Events, NewsDavid Hursey, Employment, Kevin Franklin, randolph county, Randolph County Economic Development Corporation

ASHEBORO — Large companies tend to offer higher wages for workers in Randolph County based on a survey overseen by the Randolph County Economic Development Corporation. Companies with more than 200 employees paid higher wages than smaller companies in 2024. However, respondents reported that companies with up to 49 employees and those with 50-99 employees paid higher wages than companies with 100-200 employees. The survey was conducted among manufacturing and technical companies. Data came from 33 local companies employing a total of 4,529 workers. “These results confirm Randolph County is home to a robust, competitive job market,” said Kevin Franklin,…

10 Mar

Wheatmore alum Oakley qualifies for NCAAs with new team

Bob SuttonSportsACC Championship, ACC Tournament, College wrestling, Ethan Oakley, NCAA Tournament, North Carolina Tar Heels, Wheatmore Warriors

North Carolina’s Ethan Oakley went 2-1 in the ACC Tournament to advance to the NCAAs. (University of North Carolina photo) DURHAM — It didn’t go exactly how Ethan Oakley planned, but the former Wheatmore wrestler earned a spot back in the NCAA championships. In his first year competing for North Carolina, Oakley placed third in the 133-pound division in Sunday’s Athletic Coast Conference Tournament at Duke’s Cameron Indoor Stadium. “At least I finished strong, so that was good,” Oakley said. After reaching the NCAAs twice while at Appalachian State, Oakley sought a change of scenery and landed in Chapel Hill.…

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…