Blog - Randolph Record

29 Apr

UCA wrestler Alston proves strong in nationals

Randolph RecordSportsBraxton Walker, Brayden Hall, Dominic Hittepole, Gavin Hardister, Jose Flores, Joseph Trahan, Lawson Coltrane, Lorenzo Alston, prep wrestling, Spencer May

Uwharrie Charter Academy’s Lorenzo Alston, here holding down Avery County’s Mason Bentley in the state tournament in February, reached the semifinals in a national tournament. (Randolph Record file photo) Mixed results come for Randolph County entrants VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Sophomore Lorenzo Alston of Uwharrie Charter Academy turned in one of the best finishes of any wrestler from North Carolina in the National High School Coaches Association’s national tournament in April. Alston placed fourth in the sophomore division at 145 points at Virginia Beach Sports Center. Alston reached the semifinals before losing 11-3 to Kross Cassidy of Fairfax, Va. He…

28 Apr

Top drivers split Challengers races at Caraway Speedway

Randolph RecordSportsBrody Duggins, Caraway speedway, Daniel Hughes, Sophia, Stock car racing

Brody Duggins, center with checkered flag, is surrounded by supporters and crew after winning a feature in the Challengers division at Caraway Speedway. (Courtesy photo) SOPHIA – Brody Duggins improved one spot in the second Challengers feature from the earlier race and that was enough to claim a victory Saturday night at Caraway Speedway. Duggins placed second behind top qualifier Daniel Schadt, who prevailed by less than one second in the first 20-lap feature. In the second race, Schadt was finished after a lap when Bryson Pickard spun out and took out Schadt as well. Duggins gained the lead by…

26 Apr

Prep Roundup: UCA dethrones Cougars in softball; Plus, baseball, soccer, tennis results

Randolph RecordSportsEllie Garrison, Mid-Piedmont Conference, Mollie Bulla, piedmont athletic conference, prep athletics, Prep baseball, prep soccer, Prep softball, Prep tennis

ASHEBORO – Uwharrie Charter Academy scored two seven-inning runs to edge host Southwestern Randolph 4-3 in a game to determine the Piedmont Athletic Conference regular-season softball champion Thursday night. At 11-1 in PAC play, the Eagles finished a game ahead of defending champion Southwestern Randolph. It’s the school’s first PAC softball title. Aubrie Kauffman’s two-run bloop single provided the tying and go-ahead runs. UCA pitcher Mollie Bulla struck out 10 batters. Kenzie Hill and Jayla Hurley both scored two runs. Macie Crutchfield struck out eight for Southwestern Randolph. Earlier in the week, Bulla and Katelyn West blanked visiting Wheatmore 7-0.…

25 Apr

Liberty Antiques Festival ready for first go-around in 2024

Randolph RecordEvents, NewsLiberty, Liberty Antiques Festival, randolph county

STALEY – The Liberty Antiques Festival is scheduled from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday and Saturday at 2855 Pike Farm Road. There are 400 dealers from more than 25 states expected to be present. Organizers say that items will include 18th to 20th-century furniture, accessories, pottery, glass, clocks, dolls, toys, military items, advertising memorabilia, decoys, jewelry, quilts, folk art, and “in the rough” country Americana. Admission is $10, with ages 12 and younger free. Parking is also free. The event is held twice a year – normally the last Friday and Saturday of April and the final Friday and Saturday of…

25 Apr

Baseball tourneys coming to Asheboro; Southwestern Randolph has coaching change

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro, McCrary Park, Mid-Piedmont Conference, NCISAA, piedmont athletic conference, Prep baseball, Prep softball, Southwestern Randolph Cougars

ASHEBORO – High school postseason baseball – and some softball – will be happening in Asheboro even if there’s not an in-county team involved. Next week, Asheboro will be the host school for next week’s semifinal and final rounds in the Mid-Piedmont Conference Tournament for both baseball and softball. Those matchups will come after quarterfinal games, which will definitely involve Asheboro, are contested at the site of the higher seeds. The baseball semifinals and final will be at McCrary Park. In baseball and softball, the Piedmont Athletic Conference Tournament begins Monday with games at the highest seed. For baseball, Randleman…

24 Apr

Photos from Zoo City StrEAT Fest in Asheboro

Randolph RecordEntertainment, FeaturesAsheboro, North Carolina Zoo, Zoo City StrEAT Fest

A petting area with two tiny goats, a tiny pig and a rather large bunny was a hit with attendees Saturday at the Zoo City StrEAT Fest on Sunset Avenue in Asheboro. The event, to celebrate the North Carolina Zoo’s 50th birthday, included outdoor dining, live music and more. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

24 Apr

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Carlisle Dozier

Randolph RecordSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, athlete of the week, Carlisle Dozier, Mid-Piedmont Conference, prep soccer

Asheboro, girls’ soccer Dozier has provided an ideal final layer of defense for the Blue Comets. The senior goalkeeper has averaged nearly 10 saves per game this season. Her six saves helped the Blue Comets defeat Ledford last week. She also was credited with a late-game tip save to preserve a shutout of Central Davidson earlier this month. In March, she made 23 saves in a game. Dozier was a Mid-Piedmont Conference all-league selection last year. With a 9-3-1 record entering this week, the Blue Comets had already matched last season’s win total.

23 Apr

Caraway Speedway alters slate for Late Models

Bob SuttonSportsCaraway speedway, Darren Hackett, Late Models division, Stock car racing

Low car counts cause changes in key division SOPHIA – Changes are coming to the Late Models division just a few weeks into the Caraway Speedway season. After the division was scratched from the racing card for the first slated race of April because of low entry numbers, track officials revised the plan for that class. “We are not giving up on the division,” speedway owner Darren Hackett said, making it clear the class won’t be eliminated. “We will however, rework the 2024 schedule to give more teams the chance to compete with us without having a schedule that conflicts…

23 Apr

Superintendent presents budget for next school year

Bob SuttonNewsbudget, Education, North Carolina Governor's School, Randolph County Board of Education, Randolph County School System, Stephen Gainey

Salary increases make up bulk of expanded RCSS costs ASHEBORO – Stephen Gainey, superintendent of the Randolph County School System, submitted a proposed budget of nearly $27 million for the 2024-25 school year, representing an increase of almost 1.1 percent. The budget as presented last week to the RCSS board of education is listed at $26,846,240. That’s more than a $2 million increase from the proposal for this school year, which checked in at $24,762,040. The increase comes primarily, based on a report from finance officer Marty Trotter, from continuation costs (such as insurance increases, match in retirement increases, charter…

22 Apr

Prep Roundup: PAC softball race tightens after upset

Randolph RecordSportsAddie Flinchum, Asheboro Blue Comets, Eastern Randolph Wildcats, Ellie Garrison, Macie Crutchfield, Natalie Bowman, Parker Kines, Prep baseball, prep soccer, Prep softball, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, Taryn Waugh, UCA Eagles, Wheatmore Warriors

Anaeli Puente Garza cuts between Randleman’s Jocelyn Segovia, left, and Lacy Nelson during last week’s game. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) Fourth-place Eastern Randolph muddled the Piedmont Athletic Conference softball race by defeating first-place Southwestern Randolph 4-1 last week with Addie Flinchum striking out seven in the road victory. Uwharrie Charter Academy closed within a half-game of Southwestern Randolph by week’s end. The teams will meet April 25 at Southwestern Randolph to end the regular season. UCA nipped host Eastern Randolph 5-4 behind Mollie Bulla’s pitching. Jayla Hurley and Aubrie Kauffman both doubled and scored a run. Earlier in the week UCA,…