Sports - Randolph Record

26 Jan

Prep girls: Two wins keep Southwestern Randolph girls unbeaten

Randolph RecordSportsBella Byman, Gracie Beane, Jordin George, Maddie Strider, Prep Basketball, Randleman Tigers, Seth Baxter, Southwestern Randolph Cougars

Coach Seth Baxter and his Southwestern Randolph team have stayed unblemished going into late January. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) MT. PLEASANT — There were just a smattering of games last week in the area, but the Southwestern Randolph girls’ basketball team made the most of outings on back-to-back days. Southwestern Randolph won 39-33 in Saturday’s non-conference game at Mount Pleasant to remain undefeated. Jordin George posted 11 points and Maddie Strider had 10 points for the Cougars, who improved to 17-0. Southwestern Randolph overcame a 20-16 halftime hole by outscoring Mount Pleasant 15-5 in the third quarter. The Tigers…

25 Jan

Randleman’s new football leader brings deep family coaching roots

Bob SuttonSportsDavid Diamont, piedmont athletic conference, prep football, Randleman Tigers, Shane Timmons

David Diamont says he’ll work to build relationships as Randleman’s new football coach. (Photo courtesy Randleman athletics) RANDLEMAN – David Diamont saw his father lead high school football programs for decades and knew he wanted to do the same. Now he’ll have that chance at Randleman. “This definitely is a dream of mine,” Diamont said. “It’s new territory for me. I’m excited to get to work and learn.” Diamont, 35, had been offensive coordinator at Burns for the past three seasons. He takes over for Shane Timmons, who stepped aside following his fifth season as Randleman’s head coach because of…

24 Jan

Area schools don’t shift in second NCHSAA league draft

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Eastern Randolph Wildcats, nchsaa, Providence Grove Patriots, Randleman Tigers, Randolph County School System, realignment, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, Stephen Gainey, Trinity Bulldogs, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles, Wheatmore Warriors

There were no changes involving Randolph County schools in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association’s second draft of conference alignments. That revised draft was released this week. “What I gather is our schools are pretty happy where they are,” said Stephen Gainey, superintendent of the Randolph County School System. RCSS has six high schools as part of the NCHSAA. Gainey began a term as NCHSAA president last summer, so has a keen eye on the topic. Appeals and comments from schools regarding the conference make-ups are due Tuesday. The realignment committee is scheduled to meet again Feb. 3-4. “A…

23 Jan

Caraway cooks up winter racing card after banquet

Randolph RecordSportsBrody Duggins, Caraway speedway, Jason Richmond, Jaxson Casper, Rudy Hartley, Stock car racing

SOPHIA – It was a look to the past and accelerating to the future for Caraway Speedway. The raceway has scheduled its first on-track action of the year for Saturday. IT’s the third annual Winter Heat with competition in Limited Late Models, Pro Late Models, 602 Modifieds, UCARs, Bootleggers, Street Stocks, Mini Stocks and a combination of Chargers and Challengers. Racing is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. But during the past weekend, the speedway recognized its 2024 championship at its annual banquet. The top three finishers in the track’s regular weekly divisions were honored Saturday night. Brody Duggins, with…

22 Jan

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Desiree Rondon

Randolph RecordSportsDesiree Rondon, piedmont athletic conference, Prep Basketball, Trinity Bulldogs

Trinity, girls’ basketball Rondon helped Trinity secure its first Piedmont Athletic Conference victory in almost two years in a 34-28 home victory against Eastern Randolph last week. Rondon, a post player, was credited with pulling in a team-high 12 rebounds in the game. Rondon is one of two seniors on the Trinity team. She ranks fourth among the Bulldogs in scoring. Entering this week, Trinity held an 8-8 overall record as it bids for its first winning season since 2016-17. *** *** Photo: Desiree Rondon of Trinity takes a shot during a holiday tournament last month in Asheboro. (PJ Ward-Brown /…

21 Jan

Title chase takes different complexion for PAC girls

Bob SuttonSportsPrep Basketball, Randleman Tigers, Scott Tyson, Seth Baxter, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles

Southwestern Randolph’s Gracie Hodgin creates a defensive presence against Randleman’s Chenleigh Robinson during a holiday tournament game last month. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) Randleman’s girls’ basketball team isn’t much interested in losing the grip it has held on the Piedmont Athletic Conference the past several years. “We’ll see if there’s a changing of the guard,” first-year coach Scott Tyson said. But the Tigers will have work to do to hold ownership of the league championship for a fourth consecutive year. Southwestern Randolph has been a contender in the past and this might be the season that the Cougars take…

20 Jan

Prep wrestling: Busy Trinity team claims tourney title; Others win in Jet Invitational

Bob SuttonSportsAiden Burkholder, Bliss Joyce, Briana Joyce, David Lambright, Eastern Randolph Wildcats, Edgar Vasquez, Lawson Coltrane, Maddox Carson, Mitchell Freeman, prep wrestling, Providence Grove Patriots, Simeon Hammett, Stephen Cross, Trinity Bulldogs, Wheatmore Warriors

Five Trinity wrestlers grabbed individual titles and the Bulldogs were team champions in the Sarah Wilkes Invitational on Saturday in Eden. It was the first of two tournaments in three days that at least some of the Bulldogs participated in. Aiden Burkholder (106 pounds), Stephen Cross (113), Edgar Vasquez (126), Simeon Hammett (132) and Lawson Coltrane (165) were the champs for Trinity, which also had three runners-up. Among 12 teams, Trinity was the champion with 198½ points, with host Eden Morehead the runner-up at 179. Burkholder defeated Southeast Guilford’s Jacob Bone with a 56-second pin in the final. Cross edged…

19 Jan

Prep boys’ basketball: Race stays tight among PAC teams

Randolph RecordSportsEastern Randolph Wildcats, piedmont athletic conference, Prep Basketball, Providence Grove Patriots, Randleman Tigers, Timothy Brower, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles

Eastern Randolph’s Tyler Gee puts up a shot against Uwharrie Charter Academy’s Jaxon Mabe during a boys’ basketball game earlier this month at UCA. Eastern Randolph pulled out the Piedmont Athletic Conference victory, but the teams are now tied atop the league standings. (Randolph Record) Eastern Randolph played on back-to-back days with mixed results in boys’ basketball last week, but the Wildcats maintained their status as a Piedmont Athletic Conference contender. Eastern Randolph drilled host Trinity 83-49 behind Timothy Brower’s 24 points and Julian Brooks’ 24 points Friday night. The next day, the Wildcats were in Kinston for a neutral-site,…

18 Jan

Prep girls’ basketball: Cougars stay clean; Trinity halts PAC skid; UCA notches historic comeback

Randolph RecordSportsJordin George, piedmont athletic conference, Prep Basketball, Providence Grove Patriots, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, Trinity Bulldogs, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles

ASHEBORO – Southwestern Randolph keeps plugging along, staying undefeated in girls’ basketball with Friday night’s 59-45 victory at Uwharrie Charter Academy. Jordin George racked up 19 points and Macy Allred had 15 points for the Cougars in the Piedmont Athletic Conference game. Southwestern Randolph improved to 15-0 overall. Kayla Brown’s 14 points were tops for UCA. ** While most teams in the county played just once during the week because of final exams, it was an eventful week for UCA. The Eagles pulled off the biggest comeback in program history when the topped host Ambassador Christian 53-51 in overtime of…

15 Jan

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Jada Nixon

Randolph RecordSportsathlete of the week, Jada Nixon, Prep Basketball, Providence Grove Patriots

Providence Grove, girls’ basketball Nixon has been a key contributor for the Patriots, who won two Piedmont Athletic Conference games last week. In last week’s 43-40 overtime victory against visiting Randleman, she broke a tie with a pair of free throws with 33 seconds to play. Two teammates had fouled out, putting more responsibility on the senior guard. She finished with 11 points. Nixon, who also had eight points against Trinity, is averaging about 13 points per game. The Patriots hold a six-game winning streak. *** *** Photo: Jada Nixon of Providence Grove takes a shot last season at Chatham…