Blog - Randolph Record

14 Mar

State basketball finals set for Friday, Saturday in Winston-Salem

Bob SuttonSportsJoel Coliseum, nchsaa, Prep Basketball, Winston-Salem

Here’s a look at the state championship matchups for boys’ and girls’ basketball in the North Carolina High school Athletic Association. State finals will be played Friday and Saturday at Joel Coliseum in Winston-Salem. Friday Class 1A boys: Southern Wake vs. Corvian Community, 1:05 p.m. Class 1A girls: East Bladen vs. Cherokee, 3:35 p.m. Class 3A girls: Western Alamance vs. Cramer, 6:05 p.m. Class 3A boys: Southern Durham vs. Greensboro Smith, 8:35 p.m. Saturday Class 4A girls: Wakefield vs. Lake Norman, 12:05 p.m. Class 4A boys: New Hanover vs. North Mecklenburg, 2:35 p.m. Class 2A girls: Southeast Alamance vs. North…

13 Mar

Lineup of annual concerts set for Asheboro; Mayor’s forum rescheduled

Bob SuttonEntertainment, Events, Government, NewsBicentennial Park, City of Asheboro, David Smith, planning board, summer concert series

ASHEBORO — The lineup of nine free concerts in Asheboro has been announced by the City of Asheboro and Downtown Asheboro Inc. The Rock’n the Park Concert Series is slated for Friday nights at Bicentennial Park and the long-standing Summer Concert Series will have another edition on Sundays. The Friday concerts begin with opening acts at 6:30 p.m. and the tribute band performance at 8 p.m. They are slated for May 30 (Live Wire), June 27 (Fix You), July 25 (Slippery When Wet) and Aug. 15 (Chicago Rewired). “This event not only creates a vibrant atmosphere for our community but…

13 Mar

Davidson goes strong in Limited Late Models in Caraway Speedway opener

Randolph RecordSportsBentley Black, Caraway speedway, Dylan Ward, Grant Davidson, Stock car racing

SOPHIA — Grant Davidson claimed the season-opening Limited Late Models feature at Caraway Speedway on Sunday. Davidson had the fastest qualifying time and led most of the way, finishing ahead of runner-up Bryson Brinkley, Tony Hossman and Larry Isenhour. A.J. Sanders won the Mini Stocks race in front of Jamison Whittington, Blaze Sanders and Tyler Bush. In UCARs, Jimmy Cooper notched the victory ahead of fast qualifier Ron Mock. Justin Smith was third, followed by Mason Fance and Josh Phillips among 18 drivers. The Chargers division was won by Dylan Ward, who prevailed in 35 laps ahead of Matthew Smith…

12 Mar

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Canaan Sheppard

Randolph RecordSportsathlete of the week, Canaan Sheppard, Prep baseball, Providence Grove Patriots

Providence Grove, baseball Sheppard, a senior infielder and pitcher, is a captain for the Patriots. He had productive outings in a pair of non-conference victories last week against Cedar Ridge by 8-3 and Surry Central by 7-2. Sheppard held Cedar Ridge to one earned and two hits in four innings on the mound. In the Surry Central game, he drove in three runs. He previously scored three runs in the season opener. The Patriots were slated to begin Piedmont Athletic Conference play this week.

12 Mar

County commissioners approve expansion of Employee Wellness Center staffing

Ryan HenkelGovernment, NewsDarrell Frye, randolph county, Randolph County Commissioners, Sam Varner

ASHEBORO – Randolph County employees have enjoyed the Employee Wellness Center – a wellness program aimed to better support and retain county employees and their families – for just more than a year now and they could see even more of it in the coming years. At its meeting Monday, the Randolph County Board of Commissioners approved a new contract with Atrium Health for the expansion of staffing at the Employee Wellness Center in anticipation of increased demand and expanded wellness initiatives. “We’ve had our clinic open for about 14 months and we’ve had tremendous success,” wellness administrator Sam Varner…

11 Mar

NCHSAA aims to speed process to set calendar, playoff formats

Bob SuttonSportsnchsaa, Que Tucker, Randolph County School System, realignment, Stephen Gainey

The next step for the North Carolina High School Athletic Association is to set the playing calendar for the 2025-26 school year and devise playoff formats for the new eight-classification set-up. Expect that to be expediated. “If we had it ready, it would be out there,” said NCHSAA president Stephen Gainey, who’s also superintendent of the Randolph County School System. “We know the coaches and the ADs and principals need it.” The NCHAA board of directors completed the conference realignment process last week by approving a final version. Gainey and NCHSAA commissioner Que Tucker answered questions last Thursday. The calendar…

11 Mar

Big companies paid higher wages in Randolph County in 2024

Bob SuttonBusiness, Events, NewsDavid Hursey, Employment, Kevin Franklin, randolph county, Randolph County Economic Development Corporation

ASHEBORO — Large companies tend to offer higher wages for workers in Randolph County based on a survey overseen by the Randolph County Economic Development Corporation. Companies with more than 200 employees paid higher wages than smaller companies in 2024. However, respondents reported that companies with up to 49 employees and those with 50-99 employees paid higher wages than companies with 100-200 employees. The survey was conducted among manufacturing and technical companies. Data came from 33 local companies employing a total of 4,529 workers. “These results confirm Randolph County is home to a robust, competitive job market,” said Kevin Franklin,…

10 Mar

Wheatmore alum Oakley qualifies for NCAAs with new team

Bob SuttonSportsACC Championship, ACC Tournament, College wrestling, Ethan Oakley, NCAA Tournament, North Carolina Tar Heels, Wheatmore Warriors

North Carolina’s Ethan Oakley went 2-1 in the ACC Tournament to advance to the NCAAs. (University of North Carolina photo) DURHAM — It didn’t go exactly how Ethan Oakley planned, but the former Wheatmore wrestler earned a spot back in the NCAA championships. In his first year competing for North Carolina, Oakley placed third in the 133-pound division in Sunday’s Athletic Coast Conference Tournament at Duke’s Cameron Indoor Stadium. “At least I finished strong, so that was good,” Oakley said. After reaching the NCAAs twice while at Appalachian State, Oakley sought a change of scenery and landed in Chapel Hill.…

09 Mar

Prep roundup: Early mixed results for area softball teams; Asheboro puts up big totals in softball, soccer

Randolph RecordSportsPrep baseball, Prep golf, prep soccer, Prep softball

The softball season opener for 2024 Class 2A state champion Southwestern Randolph didn’t go well in a 15-4 loss at North Stanly in a rematch of last year’s West Regional finals. The Cougars didn’t begin the season until late last week because the school’s girls’ basketball team had been in the state playoffs. ** Uwharrie Charter Academy upended host North Stanly 2-1 in eight innings as Kenzie Duty pitched a complete game. Randleman topped Western Alamance for the second time this season, winning 9-4 on the road as winning pitcher Kinzie Ivey homered, tripled and drove in five runs. The…

08 Mar

Prep basketball: Seasons end for Eastern Randolph boys, UCA girls

Randolph RecordSportsclass 1-A, Eastern Randolph Wildcats, Julian Brooks, nchsaa, Nevaeh Staples, Prep Basketball, state playoffs, Timothy Brower, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles, Will Stalker

Eastern Randolph’s Will Stalker makes a move toward the basket against South Stokes’ Korrin N’Diaye during the Class 1A West Region semifinal. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) The high school basketball season ended for Randolph County high schools after a pair of teams reached the third round of the state playoffs. That’s as far as it went for Eastern Randolph’s boys and Uwharrie Charter Academy’s girls. They went on the road for the first time in the West Region and came up short in Class 1A games earlier this week. Boys Seventh-seeded Eastern Randolph was in a tight game with…