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Southwestern Randolph grad Coleman picked to All-ACC preseason softball team

Southwestern Randolph grad Coleman picked to All-ACC preseason softball team

North Carolina outfielder Alex Coleman, a Southwestern Randolph graduate, was named to the All-Atlantic Coast Conference preseason softball team. Coleman, a senior, will be in her second season with the Tar Heels after transferring from Marshall. Last year, she led the ACC with a .436 batting average. She also had a team-leading 44 runs scored, 20 stolen bases and 18 multi-hit games. Coleman’s batting average was the best for a North Carolina player since 1996. The Tar Heels were selected for a ninth-place finish in the coaches’ poll. Duke was picked first. North Carolina opens the season Friday in the…
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ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Brayden Chapman

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Brayden Chapman

Southwestern Randolph, boys’ basketball Chapman had a couple of clutch performances last week. The senior guard led the Cougars with 17 points in a 58-53 victory against Providence Grove. He also supplied 22 points in a 53-46 non-league loss to South Stanly. Chapman has been his team’s top scorer this season after rating fourth in scoring average on last season’s team. The result of the Providence Grove game gave Cougars coach Matt Kiser his 100th career victory. He has been coaching the team since the 2012-13 season. *** *** *** Photo: Southwestern Randolph’s Brayden Chapman tries to make a play…
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A moment to savor on the mat: Trinity’s Coltrane would relish team repeat

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

 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,…
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Reigning champs UCA, Trinity start strong in state duals

Reigning champs UCA, Trinity start strong in state duals

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…
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Kayser-Roth plant to close in Asheboro

Kayser-Roth plant to close in Asheboro

 Kayser-Roth will be ending manufacturing operations at this location in Asheboro within a few months. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) ASHEBORO — Kayser-Roth will close a longstanding factory in Asheboro this spring, meaning the loss of 116 jobs. The company filed a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification notice with the North Carolina Commerce Department last week and pointed out that workers had been notified. In the notice to the state, Kayser-Roth CEO Gianni Orsini wrote: “Kayser-Roth has decided, after painful consideration, to cease operations at its Asheboro, NC facility. Ongoing cost pressures have led to a reconsideration of Kayser-Roth’s facility footprint and resulted in this…
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Boys’ basketball roundup: Asheboro boys pick up steam; UCA stays in PAC race

Boys’ basketball roundup: Asheboro boys pick up steam; UCA stays in PAC race

Asheboro’s boys’ basketball team has picked up momentum in the Mid-Piedmont Conference with three consecutive victories. The Blue Comets won twice last week, with Elijah Woodle’s 21 points leading the way in a 48-46 nipping of host Oak Grove, avenging an earlier defeat. Then Asheboro’s Jalial Timmons scored 22 points and Woodle had 17 points in a 57-43 home victory against Central Davidson on Friday night. ** Uwharrie Charter Academy stayed in the Piedmont Athletic Conference race with a pair of victories. UCA beat visiting Wheatmore 69-45 as Jaxon Mabe had 17 points, Jaylan Brown notched 15 points and Aaron…
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Girls’ basketball roundup: Southwestern Randolph moves to 20-0, clinches at least title share

Girls’ basketball roundup: Southwestern Randolph moves to 20-0, clinches at least title share

Coach Seth Baxter has his Southwestern Randolph girls' basketball team undefeated entering February. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) RANDLEMAN — Southwestern Randolph clinched at least a share of the Piedmont Athletic Conference regular-season girls’ basketball championship, dethroning Randleman along the way. The Cougars won 48-40 on Friday night at second-place Randleman, which won the title the previous three seasons. Southwestern Randolph moved to 20-0 overall with three games to play before the postseason. Maddie Strider scored 17 points for the Cougars, who’ve toppled Randleman three times this season. Kenzie Martin added 11 points. Chenleigh Robinson and Bella Byman both scored…
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RCSS seeks to hire more bus drivers

RCSS seeks to hire more bus drivers

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…
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Bradley departs Trinity football coaching position

Bradley departs Trinity football coaching position

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

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

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…
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