Sports - Randolph Record

12 Feb

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Megan Becker

Randolph RecordSportsathlete of the week, Megan Becker, nchsaa, Prep swimming, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles

Uwharrie Charter Academy, swimming Becker, a Uwharrie Charter Academy junior, had the top finishes among entrants from schools in Randolph County in the swimming and diving state championships. Becker was the runner-up in two events in the Class 1A/2A competition Saturday at Triangle Aquatic Center in Cary. Becker’s times in the 50-yard freestyle (23.83) and 100 freestyle (51.03) were both less than 0.50 seconds out of first place. During the regular season, Becker was undefeated again against Piedmont Athletic Conference competition. Also in the setate meet, Randleman’s Kendall Fortson (sixth, girls’ 100 butterfly, 1:03.11) had a strong finish and she…

12 Feb

Providence Grove’s Mitchell Freeman finds comfort again on wrestling mats

Bob SuttonSportsBrooks Freeman, Mitchell Freeman, nchsaa, prep wrestling, Providence Grove Patriots

Mitchell Freeman (Bob Sutton / Randolph Record) CLIMAX — Providence Grove senior Mitchell Freeman doesn’t put much stock in keeping track of his wrestling win-loss record, though it’s so good that he’s seeded third for the Class 2A Mideast Regional. He just wanted a chance to be a factor in the postseason after an injury that cost him an entire season. Freeman is back for his final chance, still sensing he’s trying to make up ground. “The hardest part is feeling behind,” he said. “I felt like I was ahead of the pack after that sophomore season, and then I was…

11 Feb

Eastern Randolph Wildcats pull away from UCA boys

Bob SuttonSportsAaron Smith, Braeden Lamb, Cade McCallum, Eastern Randolph Wildcats, Jaxon Mabe, Johnny Thomas, Julian Brooks, piedmont athletic conference, Prep Basketball, Timothy Brower, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles

Eastern Randolph coach Johnny Thomas gives instructions during Monday night’s game against Uwharrie Charter Academy. (Bob Sutton / Randolph Record) RAMSEUR – Eastern Randolph’s boys’ basketball team had a big collective answer when it came to a key matchup with Uwharrie Charter Academy. It seemed like all the Wildcats were on board. Using a sizzling second-half stretch, Eastern Randolph pulled away for an 83-63 home victory in Monday night’s make-up game, keeping alive an outside chance at sharing the Piedmont Athletic Conference championship. “We found a way to kick it into gear,” coach Johnny Thomas said. “It has started to…

10 Feb

Prep boys’ basketball: Randleman controls fate in PAC

Randolph RecordSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Braeden Lamb, Chase Farlow, Eastern Randolph Wildcats, Elijah Woodle, Mid-Piedmont Conference, Osiris Rodriguez, Parker Kines, piedmont athletic conference, Prep Basketball, Providence Grove Patriots, Randleman Tigers, Timothy Brower, Tyshaun Goldston

RANDLEMAN – Randleman’s boys’ basketball team rose to the top among a crowd of contenders in the Piedmont Athletic Conference. The Tigers clinched the regular-season title last week with a pair of victories. Randleman won last week’s showdown at Uwharrie Charter Academy by 77-66 with Tyshaun Goldston’s 23 points and Chase Farlow’s 18 points leading the way. That avenged the Tigers’ only loss of the season. Jaylan Brown had 18 points and Braedan Lamb provided 16 points for UCA. Then on Friday night, Randleman’s Connor Cassidy had 22 points and Farlow notched 20 points as the host Tigers withstood 25…

09 Feb

Prep girls’ basketball: Cougars, UCA reach special marks

Randolph RecordSportsLaurel Bernhardt, Maddie Strider, Nevaeh Staples, piedmont athletic conference, Prep Basketball, Providence Grove Patriots, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles

Uwharrie Charter Academy’s Naimah Al-Arif looks to take a shot with Randleman’s Chenleigh Robinson defending during last week’s PAC girls’ basketball game. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) Southwestern Randolph’s girls’ basketball team has put together a special season that keeps on growing. The Cougars (22-0) entered this week with only Tuesday night’s home clash against Uwharrie Charter Academy remaining in the regular season. They’ll be the top seed next week in the Piedmont Athletic Conference Tournament. Their 66-26 victory against visiting Eastern Randolph last week came with Maddie Strider’s 13 points and Kenzie Martin’s 12 points and 10 rebounds. Strider’s…

08 Feb

UCA Eagles wrestlers pounce on Mount Airy for dual team state title

Bob SuttonSportsBrennan Worrell, Caden Bond, class 1-A, Dual team state finals, Hayden Waddell, Lorenzo Alston, nchsaa, prep wrestling, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles

Here's the Uwharrie Charter Academy wrestling team after winning the Class 1A dual team state championship Saturday in Greensboro. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) It’s not so much pressure on Uwharrie Charter Academy’s wrestling team to keep the trend going as it’s the pressure applied by the Eagles that keeps them atop the state in Class 1A. The Eagles showed that again in securing their third consecutive dual team state championship Saturday afternoon, defeating Mt. Airy 48-15. “I think the pressure just motivates everyone to keep going,” junior Brennan Worrell said. The Eagles grabbed an early lead and then finished…

07 Feb

Trinity’s Kelly selected for NCHSAA Hall of Fame

Bob SuttonSportsnchsaa, prep athletics, Prep Basketball, Tim Kelly, Trinity Bulldogs

Former Trinity boys’ basketball coach Tim Kelly has been selected for induction into the North Carolina High School Athletic Association’s Hall of Fame for the Class of 2025. Kelly, who directed Trinity to a state championship in 2004, retired last summer. The school’s gym is named in his honor. He began coaching in 1981 and started coaching basketball at Trinity in 1989, winning 11 conference titles, four sectional championships and two regional championships. He also coached football and cross country for different stretches. Kelly coached in the North Carolina East-West All Star Game in 2005. Others selected for the Class…

07 Feb

UCA wrestlers aim for team title repeat; Reign ends for Trinity

Bob SuttonSportsBrandon Jordan, Brennan Worrell, Caden Bond, Dual team state finals, Hayden Waddell, Jaden Allred, Joseph Trahan, Lawson Coltrane, Lorenzo Alston, prep wrestling, Trinity Bulldogs, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles

UCA’s Rick Riccardella wraps up Union Academy’s Matthew Walsh during last weekend’s match during the second round of the Class 1A dual team state playoffs. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – Uwharrie Charter Academy wrestlers have displayed more dominance and the Eagles hope to take it to a familiar level in Saturday afternoon’s Class 1A dual team state championship. UCA (38-1) tangles with Mt. Airy at noon at the coliseum fieldhouse in Greensboro, seeking a third consecutive state title. “We won rings the last two years and we plan to go back and do it again,” 144-pounder Brandon Jordan…

06 Feb

Southwestern Randolph grad Coleman picked to All-ACC preseason softball team

Randolph RecordSportsAlex Coleman, Asheboro Zookeepers, College softball, North Carolina Tar Heels, Southwestern Randolph Cougars

North Carolina outfielder Alex Coleman, a Southwestern Randolph graduate, was named to the All-Atlantic Coast Conference preseason softball team. Coleman, a senior, will be in her second season with the Tar Heels after transferring from Marshall. Last year, she led the ACC with a .436 batting average. She also had a team-leading 44 runs scored, 20 stolen bases and 18 multi-hit games. Coleman’s batting average was the best for a North Carolina player since 1996. The Tar Heels were selected for a ninth-place finish in the coaches’ poll. Duke was picked first. North Carolina opens the season Friday in the…

05 Feb

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Brayden Chapman

Randolph RecordSportsBrayden Chapman, piedmont athletic conference, Prep Basketball, Southwestern Randolph Cougars

Southwestern Randolph, boys’ basketball Chapman had a couple of clutch performances last week. The senior guard led the Cougars with 17 points in a 58-53 victory against Providence Grove. He also supplied 22 points in a 53-46 non-league loss to South Stanly. Chapman has been his team’s top scorer this season after rating fourth in scoring average on last season’s team. The result of the Providence Grove game gave Cougars coach Matt Kiser his 100th career victory. He has been coaching the team since the 2012-13 season. *** *** *** Photo: Southwestern Randolph’s Brayden Chapman tries to make a play…