Blog - Randolph Record

18 Sep

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Kempton Reed

Randolph RecordSportsathlete of the week, Kempton Reed, prep football, Southwestern Randolph Cougars

Southwestern Randolph, football Reed, a senior receiver and linebacker, has been a key contributor on offense and defense for the Cougars, who’ll go for their third consecutive victory this week at Albemarle In last week’s triumph at McMichael, Reed led the Cougars with 72 receiving yards. His presence on defense might have been a bigger factor, with his 10 tackles including three tackles for loss. He also intercepted a pass. The Cougars haven’t allowed a second-half point in either of their last two games. Reed was an All-Piedmont Athletic Conference selection last year. Photo: Southwestern Randolph’s Kempton Reed makes a…

18 Sep

Contract extended for RCSS superintendent Stephen Gainey

Ryan HenkelNewsEducation, Randolph County School System, RCSS, Stephen Gainey

ASHEBORO – Stephen Gainey, who has been the superintendent of the Randolph County School System since 2013, had his contract extended by the Board of Education for an additional four years with his term now set to end June 30, 2028. “Dr. Gainey continues to lead the Randolph County School System with strategic, long-term thinking and thoughtful attention to the needs of our students and staff,” the board said in a released statement. “Over the last year, Dr. Gainey planned for the future in our county. At the same time, Dr. Gainey elevated the parts of the school system that…

17 Sep

Wheatmore player makes comeback to playing field

Bob SuttonSportsJacob Sheffield, Prep Basketball, prep football, Riley Strickland, Wheatmore Warriors

Riley Strickland (Bob Sutton / Randolph Record) TRINITY – Riley Strickland says he’s excited to participate in high school sports again about nine months after a scary incident in a basketball game. The Wheatmore senior, who was the starting quarterback a year ago, returned to action with the football team in Friday night’s loss to Bishop McGuinness. “It feels good to be back,” Strickland said. “Hopefully, we can get the win next week.” Strickland decided in the spring that he wouldn’t play football as a senior. “I thought I was done,” he said. “After the first game, I had to…

17 Sep

Trinity’s Tillery selected for RCSS teaching honor

Bob SuttonNewsEducation, Elizabeth Tillery, Randolph County School System, RCSS, Teacher of the Year, Trinity High School

Here’s English teacher Elizabeth Tillery in a Trinity classroom earlier this month. (Courtesy of Caiden Brown / Trinity student) TRINITY – Elizabeth Tillery wasn’t all that familiar with Trinity High School when she took her first job out of college. But she was quite certain that teaching was going to be her passion. That hasn’t changed. “I love being a teacher,” she said. “I think it’s very important for teachers to like the job.” Tillery, an English teacher at Trinity, has been named Randolph County School System’s Teach of the Year. She’s in the early stages of her 14th school…

16 Sep

Cougars, Blue Comets hit early soccer strides, but won’t meet this year

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Cam Letterlough, prep soccer, Southwestern Randolph Cougars

Asheboro boys’ soccer players react following a goal by Win Smith (No. 6) earlier this year at Randleman. Other Blue Comets are, left to right, Diego Bustamante, Ozmar Martinez, Gerarrdo Medina Chi and Cam Letterlough. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – The boys’ soccer teams from Southwestern Randolph and Asheboro have excelled across the first month of the season. They’re hoping for even better fortunes ahead. Southwestern Randolph won its first eight games of the season. Asheboro has been off to a 7-2 start. “You got to have a lot of moving parts to be healthy and ready for…

15 Sep

Prep volleyball: Randleman maintains efficient clip with more sweeps

Randolph RecordSportspiedmont athletic conference, Prep volleyball, Randleman Tigers

Kadie Green of Randleman sets the ball during a match earlier this month. (Jann Ortiz / For Randolph Record) RANDLEMAN – Randleman’s volleyball team was in cruise control last week. After sweeping host Asheboro in non-conference play, Randleman continued its roll through the first cycle of Piedmont Athletic Conference matches. The Tigers needed just three sets to top both host Providence Grove and visiting Trinity. Haley Hinshaw of Randleman raced up 26 kills and teammate Kadie Green provided 49 digs during the week. By week’s end, the Tigers (11-1) had compiled seven consecutive sweeps. ** UCA bounced back from a…

14 Sep

Prep football: Asheboro reaches two-win mark for first time in five years (updated)

Randolph RecordSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, prep football, Quincey Lee, Randleman Tigers, Southwestern Randolph Cougars

ASHEBORO – Quincey Lee ran for two touchdowns and Asheboro’s football team reached the two-win mark for the first time in five years by defeating visiting Providence Grove 17-10 on Friday night in a non-conference game. Asheboro’s Connor Brinton gained 155 yards on 24 carries. Micah Garcia drilled a 24-yard field goal. Lee also led Asheboro’s defense with an interception and a fumble recovery. The Blue Comets (2-1) had three consecutive one-win seasons following a winless season in the spring of 2021 (which was the pandemic-adjusted 2020 season) They haven’t won more than two games in a season since 2016.…

13 Sep

Red Cross schedules September blood drives in Randolph County

Randolph RecordEvents, NewsAmerican Red Cross, blood drives, Red Cross

After a blood shortage this summer, the American Red Cross is holding a number of blood donation events throughout the month of September. While all blood types are needed, there is a particular demand for type O blood donors and those willing to give platelets. Donors from Sept. 16-30 will receive a $15 e-gift card to a merchant of their choice. See RedCrossBlood.org/Fall for more. In Randolph County, there are events scheduled in Asheboro and Liberty during the next few weeks: Sept. 17: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at YMCA Asheboro Randolph, 343 NC Hwy 42 North in Asheboro Sept. 18: 10 a.m.…

13 Sep

One intra-county matchup highlights Week 4 prep football schedule

Randolph RecordSportsprep football, randolph county athletes

Randleman defenders, from left, Jason Ortiz, Triston Chriscoe, Ashton Dillow and Daylan Atkins react to a play last week against Bunker Hill. (Jann Ortiz / For Randolph Record) Here's a look at Friday night's high school football games involving Randolph County teams. All games are listed for 7:30 p.m. starts. Friday’s games Providence Grove (1-2) at Asheboro (1-1) Union Pines (3-0) at Randleman (3-0) Bishop McGuinness (2-0) at Wheatmore (0-3) Southwestern Randolph (1-1) at McMichael (1-2) Trinity at (2-1) at West Davidson (2-1) Note: Eastern Randolph (3-0) is off this week.

12 Sep

Ward secures narrow triumph at Caraway in SMART Modified Tour race

Randolph RecordSportsBentley Black, Brandon Ward, Caraway speedway, Dylan Ward, Enoch McNeill, Jimmy Crigger, Stock car racing, Tito Clapp

Here's Brandon Ward after winning Saturday night's race. (Caraway Speedway photo) SOPHIA – Brandon Ward produced less than a two-second victory in the SMART Modified Tour’s feature Saturday night at Caraway Speedway. Ward pulled to the front on lap 67 of the 99-lap event ahead of Brian Loftin. Anthony Bello placed third, followed by Burt Myers and Danny Bohn. Fast qualifier Luke Baldwin ended up sixth in the 23-driver field. The race was conducted in memory of Robert Jeffreys, who was the track’s first SMART event winner in 1989. ** In 602 Modifieds, Dylan Ward took the lead on a…