Bob Sutton - Randolph Record

03 Feb

UCA wrestlers head for title rematch with Avery County

Bob SuttonSportsclass 1-A, nchsaa, prep wrestling, Uwharrie Charter Academy

UCA’s Alec Millikan works against North East Carolina Prep’s Anthony Cairo during a 152-pound match in the state duals last weekend. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) Uwharrie Charter Academy’s wrestling team will try again against Avery County with a Class 1-A dual team state championship on the line. The teams meet Saturday afternoon at the Greensboro Coliseum’s field house in a rematch of the 2022 title meet. UCA (35-0) has blown through most opponents, while Avery County (27-7) had stiffer tests to reach this stage again. These teams are familiar competitors in the finals. UCA won the 2019 title before Avery County…

28 Jan

Randleman girls set high bar in PAC

Bob SuttonSportsBrandon Varner, Brecken Snotherly, Eastern Randolph athletics, Elizabeth York, Gracyn Hall, piedmont athletic conference, Prep Basketball, Randleman athletics, Southwestern Randolph

Randleman’s Elizabeth York looks to go up for a shot against Eastern Randolph’s Logan Beaver. (Scott Pelkey/Randolph Record) RANDLEMAN – Staying atop the Piedmont Athletic Conference has been a challenge for the Randleman girls’ basketball team. The Tigers have passed the test and that’s one of the rewarding aspects of another stellar season. “Right now, everybody is bringing their ‘A’ game against us, but that’s OK,” coach Brandon Varner said. Randleman withstood threats from Eastern Randolph and Southwestern Randolph during the past week. But it has turned out to be another title season for the Tigers, who are 9-0 in…

27 Jan

At Trinity, they can call it ‘Tim’s Gym’

Bob SuttonFeatures, Sportspiedmont athletic conference, Prep Basketball, Tim Kelly, Trinity athletics, Trinity High School

Trinity’s Tim Kelly poses outside the gym named in his honor. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) School names gym after longtime, championship coach TRINITY – When Tim Kelly took the job as Trinity’s boys’ basketball coach, he didn’t intend for it to be a career-long passion. Now he’ll be connected to the Bulldogs forever. The school’s gym was named in his honor this week – Tim Kelly Gym. Kelly is in his 33rd season leading the team. This stint began as a means to appease his wife. “I came to this area because she wanted to move over here closer to her…

26 Jan

Moran moves to AD role at Providence Grove

Bob SuttonSportsCalvin Brown, Cody Moran, Providence Grove athletics

Cody Moran has been on Providence Grove’s football staff. (Courtesy photo) CLIMAX – Cody Moran figured that staying at Providence Grove might fit him best. Moran is the new athletics director at the school. “This might be my opportunity to move up here,” he said. Moran replaces Calvin Brown, who was named the new football coach at Asheboro. At Providence Grove, Brown held the dual role as football coach and athletics director. Brown remained in the AD role at Providence Grove through last week. Moran was an assistant coach on Brown’s staff and also has been an assistant for two…

23 Jan

Seabolt’s condition improves as sheriff handles some duties

Bob SuttonGovernment, NewsGregory Seabolt, Randolph County Sheriff, Randolph County Sheriff's Department

ASHEBORO – Randolph County Sheriff Gregory Seabolt remains under medical care, but he has resumed some of his duties remotely. “He’s doing much better,” Amanda Varner, government relations and public affairs director for the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, said Monday. “They’ve got him eating again.” With Seabolt away, there has been a shifting of temporary duties. Col. Aundrea Azelton, chief deputy of the Randolph County Sheriff's Office, is overseeing operations. Last week, the following statement was issued from the Randolph County Sheriff's Office via Deric Skeen on behalf of Seabolt and his family: “Sheriff Seabolt has been hospitalized with an…

22 Jan

A new way of doing it works fast for Eastern Randolph boys’ team

Bob SuttonSportsConnor Carter, Davonte Brooks, Eastern Randolph athletics, Johnny Thomas, piedmont athletic conference, Pierce Leonard, Prep Basketball

Members of the Eastern Randolph boys' basketball team have come together for a special season. MEBANE – No longer in a rut, the Eastern Randolph boys’ basketball program is doing it on its own terms. That’s fast – and to the point. “We practice fast,” senior Davonte Brooks said. “We come to the games just like practice. All fast, all fast. We all knew from the get-go what we were getting into, from Day 1.” Turns out this means getting all sorts of victories under first-year coach Johnny Thomas. The Wildcats are a rapid-paced, action-filled group all the way to…

13 Jan

Prep football: Brown works on compiling Asheboro staff while finishing duties at Providence Grove

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Calvin Brown, Mid-Piedmont Conference, prep football, Providence Grove athletics, Providence Grove football

CLIMAX – New Asheboro football coach Calvin Brown is still finishing his time at Providence Grove. While no longer the football coach of the Patriots, Brown is remaining at the school in other roles, including as athletics director, through Jan. 20. Then he makes the full transition to Asheboro. In more than a month’s time between his introduction as Asheboro’s coach and completely leaving Providence Grove, Brown said he hopes to have in place most of his new staff with the Blue Comets. “I’d like to have everything lined up,” he said. Brown, who spent seven seasons as Providence Grove’s…

11 Jan

Uses for Asheboro sites remain unclear

Bob SuttonBusinessAsheboro, Asheboro/Randolph Chamber, B.B. Walker Company, Black Powder Smokehouse, construction sites, tropical smoothie

Here's the former B.B. Walker Company building during its recent demolition. (Randolph Record) ASHEBORO — Plans for the former home of B.B. Walker Company – known to locals as Walker Shoe Company – in Asheboro have been kept mostly close to the vest despite widespread speculation. There could be something forthcoming after the demolition of the building at the 414 East Dixie Dr. site. One local real estate agent said the prospects for the location have generated considerable chatter. “There’s all sort of rumors all over town, and they’re all unfounded,” he said. “It’s going to be a project.” Either…

04 Jan

2023 should bring changes, progress on projects

Bob SuttonEvents, News2023 new year, Education, infrastructure, projects, randolph county

ASHEBORO — There’s plenty to look forward to around Randolph County in 2023. The past year has set some of the foundation for the future. Here’s a sampling: Ongoing megasite impact Certainly, the fallout associated with the Greensboro-Randolph megasite has largely been in its infancy during the past year. With Toyota’s announcement in late 2021 that it’s building a massive battery manufacturing plant at the location, the impact is only going to grow once the facility is up and running. To be known as Toyota Battery Manufacturing-North Carolina, this is plugged as a multi-billion dollar operation. Production is supposed to…

03 Jan

Marsh finds Liberty destination as Asheboro baseball prospects set futures

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Davis Gore, Gage Miller, Prep baseball, Randolph County Post 45, Ronnie Pugh, Tanner Marsh, Trevor Marsh

Asheboro shortstop Tanner Marsh makes a throw during the 2022 season. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) Asheboro’s baseball prospects make various choices ASHEBORO – Tanner Marsh said he had lots of guidance when determining his best path in baseball after he leaves Asheboro High School. That ultimately led the versatile player to signing with Liberty during the fall signing period. “All of my brothers are in college playing baseball and I had good advice,” Marsh said. He also had extensive playing time in the summer, largely with Randolph County Post 45. He said manager Ronnie Pugh and the staff helped him boost…