Bob Sutton - Randolph Record

08 Feb

UCA Eagles wrestlers pounce on Mount Airy for dual team state title

Bob SuttonSportsBrennan Worrell, Caden Bond, class 1-A, Dual team state finals, Hayden Waddell, Lorenzo Alston, nchsaa, prep wrestling, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles

Here's the Uwharrie Charter Academy wrestling team after winning the Class 1A dual team state championship Saturday in Greensboro. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) It’s not so much pressure on Uwharrie Charter Academy’s wrestling team to keep the trend going as it’s the pressure applied by the Eagles that keeps them atop the state in Class 1A. The Eagles showed that again in securing their third consecutive dual team state championship Saturday afternoon, defeating Mt. Airy 48-15. “I think the pressure just motivates everyone to keep going,” junior Brennan Worrell said. The Eagles grabbed an early lead and then finished…

08 Feb

Input sought for Randolph County transportation survey

Bob SuttonNewsAmy Rudisill, randolph county, transportation

ASHEBORO — The deadline for Randolph County residents to submit a completed survey regarding a regional transportation plan is Feb. 15. It’s part of the Randolph County Comprehensive Transportation Plan. A Comprehensive Transportation Plan is a long-range view that will assist local governments in making transportation decisions for the next 25-30 years. This includes aspects such as highways, bicycles, pedestrians and public transportation and rail. Amy Rudisill, public information officer for the county, said among the goals of the survey is to prioritize future projects. The survey is conducted in a partnership with the county, Piedmont Triad Rural Planning Organization…

07 Feb

Trinity’s Kelly selected for NCHSAA Hall of Fame

Bob SuttonSportsnchsaa, prep athletics, Prep Basketball, Tim Kelly, Trinity Bulldogs

Former Trinity boys’ basketball coach Tim Kelly has been selected for induction into the North Carolina High School Athletic Association’s Hall of Fame for the Class of 2025. Kelly, who directed Trinity to a state championship in 2004, retired last summer. The school’s gym is named in his honor. He began coaching in 1981 and started coaching basketball at Trinity in 1989, winning 11 conference titles, four sectional championships and two regional championships. He also coached football and cross country for different stretches. Kelly coached in the North Carolina East-West All Star Game in 2005. Others selected for the Class…

07 Feb

UCA wrestlers aim for team title repeat; Reign ends for Trinity

Bob SuttonSportsBrandon Jordan, Brennan Worrell, Caden Bond, Dual team state finals, Hayden Waddell, Jaden Allred, Joseph Trahan, Lawson Coltrane, Lorenzo Alston, prep wrestling, Trinity Bulldogs, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles

UCA’s Rick Riccardella wraps up Union Academy’s Matthew Walsh during last weekend’s match during the second round of the Class 1A dual team state playoffs. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – Uwharrie Charter Academy wrestlers have displayed more dominance and the Eagles hope to take it to a familiar level in Saturday afternoon’s Class 1A dual team state championship. UCA (38-1) tangles with Mt. Airy at noon at the coliseum fieldhouse in Greensboro, seeking a third consecutive state title. “We won rings the last two years and we plan to go back and do it again,” 144-pounder Brandon Jordan…

04 Feb

A moment to savor on the mat: Trinity’s Coltrane would relish team repeat

Bob SuttonSportsBrandon Coggins, Dual team state finals, Lawson Coltrane, nchsaa, prep wrestling, Trinity Bulldogs

Lawson Coltrane (Bob Sutton / Randolph Record) TRINITY — Lawson Coltrane had one of those moments that will be etched in memories forever in Trinity wrestling circles. Too bad he didn’t even know it was coming. In last year’s Class 2A dual team state final, it was Coltrane’s pin in the 165-pound class that clinched the championship for the Bulldogs. “Whenever I went out there, I didn’t even know it was to clinch it,” Coltrane said recently. “I just went out there. In my head, ‘I’m going to pin this kid, get this done for the team.’ Whatever it is,…

03 Feb

Reigning champs UCA, Trinity start strong in state duals

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, class 1-A, Class 2-A, David Lambright, Dominic Hittepole, Eastern Randolph Wildcats, Jaden Allred, Joseph Trahan, Lawson Coltrane, Lorenzo Alston, nchsaa, prep wrestling, Trinity Bulldogs, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles, Wheatmore Warriors

Uwharrie Charter Academy’s Brennan Worrell prepares to pin Union Academy’s Nehemiah Parker during a Class 1A second-round meet Saturday. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) Uwharrie Charter Academy and Trinity wrestling teams began their quests to repeat as dual team state champions with two home victories apiece Saturday. UCA, the top seed in Class 1A East Region and the Piedmont Athletic Conference champion, and Trinity, the No. 1 seed for Class 2-A in the West Region, cruised in the opening rounds. If they win regional semifinals and finals Wednesday night, they’ll be headed to state finals Saturday at the coliseum fieldhouse…

01 Feb

RCSS seeks to hire more bus drivers

Bob SuttonNewsbus drivers, Education, Randolph County School System, RCSS, Stephen Gainey

ASHEBORO — The need for bus drivers is ongoing within the Randolph County School System. Superintendent Stephen Gainey said the latest push to attract more drivers isn’t an alarm as much as a reminder that the topic remains on the minds of school administrators. “Our No. 1 job is taking care of children,” Gainey said. “We have to get them to school.” As of last week, there were 26 positions open that include responsibilities as bus drivers. That’s a reduction from a few years ago when the problem became heightened. “It has been a pretty steady need since the pandemic…

31 Jan

Bradley departs Trinity football coaching position

Bob SuttonSportsBear Bradley, Noah Bradley, piedmont athletic conference, prep football, Trinity Bulldogs

TRINITY — Bear Bradley is done after two seasons as Trinity’s football coach, sensing a different type of opportunity as an assistant coach at a larger school. Bradley resigned to take a position at Greensboro Grimsley, which is the reigning Class 4A state champion. “It was basically for me,” Bradley said Friday. “Better for more career, going into one of the highest levels (of high school). For me, to be a part of that group is pretty special. … It’s a good time for me to reflect and learn.” The Bulldogs went 8-13 under Bradley, including a 3-7 record during…

31 Jan

UCA, Trinity hold top seeds for state duals; Eastern Randolph, Wheatmore, Asheboro also qualify

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, class 1-A, Class 2-A, Class 3-A, Cliff Thompson, Dominic Hittepole, Eastern Randolph Wildcats, nchsaa, prep wrestling, Trinity Bulldogs, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles, Wheatmore Warriors

Uwharrie Charter Academy’s Brennan Worrell, top, works against Avery County’s King Orvosh in a 120-pound match last year in the Class 1A dual team state finals. (Randolph Record) Uwharrie Charter Academy and Trinity wrestling teams will begin their quests to repeat as dual team state champions with home meets Saturday. UCA, the top seed in Class 1A East Region and the Piedmont Athletic Conference champion, is home against Lakewood. The winner meets either Union Academy or Albemarle in the second round. Trinity begins Class 2A competition as the top seed in the West Region, facing Brevard and then, if it…

30 Jan

Trinity wrestlers eye another team title

Bob SuttonSportsAiden Burkholder, Brandon Coggins, Class 2-A, Dual team state finals, Jaden Allred, Joseph Trahan, Lawson Coltrane, nchsaa, prep wrestling, Trinity Bulldogs

Trinity wrestling coach Brandon Coggins reacts during a key moment in last year’s dual team state final against Seaforth. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) TRINITY — Trinity’s wrestling team has a hard act to follow after what the Bulldogs did last winter. But they say they’re up for the challenge as they’ll try to repeat as Class 2A dual team state champions. “It was a surreal moment,” junior heavyweight Joseph Trahan said of last year’s title. “It definitely will be a lot of pressure. We have the ability to do it again.” That’s the mindset for the Bulldogs when the…