Blog - Randolph Record

08 Jun

Zoo hooks up more hiking options

Bob SuttonFeaturesAsheboro, hiking trails, North Carolina Zoo, Purgatory Mountain

ASHEBORO — Another trail opened during the weekend as part of the North Carolina Zoo’s system and this one has a theme that might intrigue many folks in Randolph County. The grand opening of the completed Purgatory Mountain Trail Network was held as part of Saturday’s National Trails Day. A moonshining component was highlighted as part of the weekend hike. That seemed appropriate to Randolph County commissioner Hope Haywood. “If we think about history and culture, the moonshine trail is also closely connected to another part of our culture, which is the pottery culture here,” she said. “Our potters got…

07 Jun

Some county schools will see new start times this fall

Griffin DaughtryGovernment, NewsRandolph County Schools

ASHEBORO — The Randolph County School Board met Monday and approved a tiered bussing pilot program. The new program is intended to mitigate the current bus driver shortage and meet the State’s Department of Public Instruction efficiency ratings. County bus routes were more than two hours this school year, with pickup times starting before 5:30 am. In some cases, students were being dropped off at home after 5:30 pm. By focusing on elementary and middle school routes, the county expects to significantly cut down route times and limit the number of necessary drivers. This pilot system does not come without…

07 Jun

Apple pulls off Caraway surprise

Randolph RecordSportsCaraway speedway, Late Models division, Stock car racing

Donnie Apple claimed the checkered flag by winning a feature Saturday night at Caraway Speedway. (Photo courtesy of Caraway Speedway) SOPHIA – Donnie Apple turned back the clock and won a Late Models feature Saturday night at Caraway Speedway. Apple, 60, tied in qualifying with points leader Coy Beard. Apple won a coin toss for the coveted top starting spot and went on to win the 35-lap race. Beard placed second. Ross Dalton, who was third in the first race, captured the second feature while holding off Tony Black. Beard was third in that race. There was a familiar tone…

04 Jun

Tigers cherish title repeat in state finals

Bob SuttonNews, SportsBrooks Brannon, Burlington Athletic Stadium, Class 2-A, nchsaa, Randleman athletics, Randleman baseball, Ryan White

Randleman baseball players celebrate after the final out of the Class 2-A state finals. (PJ Ward-Brown/North State Journal) Randleman finishes remarkable postseason run BURLINGTON – It was even better this time for Randleman baseball players. They should know. With the core of the team intact, the Tigers repeated as Class 2-A state champions with another emphatic result. “Senior year, a good way to go out,” center fielder Braylen Hayes said. Randleman capped a sterling season with Saturday afternoon’s 12-5 victory against Whiteville in Game 2 of the championship series at Burlington Athletic Stadium. “My last game is winning another state…

04 Jun

Tears of joy for Warriors: Wheatmore girls capture state title

Randolph RecordNews, SportsClass 2-A, Ellie Garrison, nchsaa, state record, Wheatmore athletics, Wheatmore soccer

Members of the Wheatmore girls' soccer team celebrate the school's first state championship Friday night in Cary. (PJ Ward-Brown/North State Journal) CARY – The Wheatmore girls’ soccer team fit right in at the state finals. The Warriors, who were the first Randolph County team to play in a state championship game in soccer, completed an unblemished season with Friday night’s 4-1 victory against Clinton to secure the Class 2-A title. “We definitely deserved it,” Wheatmore forward Summer Bowman said. The Warriors ended up with a 25-0-0 record. “You go 25-0, you set the bar so high for anybody,” coach Ricky…

04 Jun

Randleman begins state finals with no-hitter, another record

Bob SuttonSportsBrooks Brannon, Burlington Athletic Stadium, Class 2-A, Drake Purvis, nchsaa, Randleman athletics, Randleman baseball

Here's Drake Purvis of Randleman after his no-hitter against Whiteville to begin the Class 2-A state finals. (Bob Sutton/Randolph Record) BURLINGTON – Randleman’s baseball team wants to repeat its Class 2-A state championship this weekend and the Tigers were in a reminiscing mood based on Game 1 of the title series. How does another no-hitter sound? That’s two in a row in the state finals on the same field, dating to last June. Drake Purvis’ masterful 12-strikeout performance boosted the Tigers in a 10-0 victory against Whiteville on Friday night at Burlington Athletic Stadium. There was yet another state record…

03 Jun

History runs deep for Class 2-A title contenders Randleman, Whiteville

Bob SuttonSportsClass 2-A, high school athletics, nchsaa, Randleman, Randleman athletics, Randleman baseball, Tigers, Whiteville

Powerhouse teams Randleman and Whiteville will meet in the best-of-3 state finals for Class 2-A at Burlington Athletic Stadium. (Bob Sutton/Randolph Record) This Randleman-Whiteville championship matchup, beginning at 8 p.m. Friday at Burlington Athletic Stadium, is ripe with historical overtones. Randleman is in the finals for the sixth time in a 11-season span in which the postseason was conducted. The COVID-19 pandemic wiped out most of the 2020 season, including the playoffs. The Tigers won the 2011 title and then lost in the 2012 finals to Whiteville, were beaten by South Granville in 2015 and fell to North Lincoln in…

03 Jun

Schools set commencement times, activities

Bob SuttonEvents, Newscommencement, graduation, randolph county, Randolph County Schools, schools

Commencement ceremonies for most high schools in Randolph County are scheduled for next Wednesday. June 8 events will take place for schools in the Randolph County School System. Asheboro High School’s commencement will be a night later, coming at 7 p.m. June 9 at Lee J. Stone Stadium on campus. If inclement weather interferes, that ceremony will be held in the South Asheboro Middle School gym. Here are June 8 times: Eastern Randolph (6 p.m.), Trinity (6 p.m.), Randleman (7 p.m.), Southwestern Randolph (7 p.m.), Uwharrie Ridge Six-Twelve (7 p.m. at Journey Church in Asheboro), Providence Grove (8 p.m.) and…

02 Jun

With lofty standard, Tigers just roll with it into state finals

Bob SuttonSportsbaseball, Class 2-A, high school athletics, nchsaa, Prep baseball, Randleman athletics, Randleman baseball

Coach Jake Smith has directed Randleman back to another spot in the state finals. A familiar foe awaits. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) RANDLEMAN — All those lopsided results for Randleman’s baseball team on the way to the Class 2-A state finals don’t mean it has been easy this year for the Tigers. “We can’t take any team lightly,” first baseman Gus Shelton said. “We are expected to win and that is pressure on us, if you want to call it pressure. I don’t think anybody has changed anything. We’re just taking it game-by-game.” It will take two more victories to repeat…

02 Jun

Wheatmore girls hit big stage with spot in state final

Bob SuttonSportsClass 2-A, nchsaa, prep soccer, Wheatmore

Wheatmore’s Kara Comer, left, and Summer Bowman hug Ellie Garrison after her penalty-kick goal against Wilkes Central in the Class 2-A West Region final Tuesday night at Wilkes Central in Wilkesboro. Wheatmore (PJ WARD-BROWN/NORTH STATE JOURNAL) It’s hard to imagine there’s more to accomplish for the Wheatmore girls’ soccer team. Yet the biggest prize is still out there for the Warriors. They hold a 24-0 record and the state record for goals (191) in a season. There’s one more chance to add to those accomplishments. They take on Clinton (25-2) in Friday night’s Class 2-A state championship game at WakeMed…