Sports - Randolph Record

24 Aug

Taking their shots: Area teens hit targets with new passion

Bob SuttonSportsAmateur Trapshooting Association, Trapshooting, Uwharrie Charter Academy

Colson Allen, left, and Isaac McCoy from Randolph County were in Illinois for a major trapshooting competition earlier this month. (Courtesy photo) ASHEBORO – Randolph County teenagers Colson Allen and Isaac McCoy took a school pastime and have made it a full-fledged hobby. Trapshooting has taking them to multiple states for competitions and they’ve come home with recognition for their accuracy. “I started with the school with hunter safety,” Allen said. “My school coach (J.D. Goodwin) got me into ATA.” They recently returned from the Amateur Trapshooting Association’s Grand American event at the World Shooting & Recreational Complex in Sparta,…

23 Aug

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Kai Matthews

Randolph RecordSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, athlete of the week, prep football, randolph county sports

Asheboro, football Matthews had key plays on offense and defense as the Blue Comets opened the season by defeating visiting Albemarle 24-22. He scored on a rushing play for one of the Blue Comets’ four touchdowns. He also made a late-game interception as Asheboro clung to the lead. The Blue Comets won their season opener for just the second time in a seven-season span. Matthews, a senior, has excelled in track and field as a sprinter for Asheboro as well.

22 Aug

Wheatmore has returning QB, growing confidence

Bob SuttonSportsJonathan Kelly, Philip Yarbrough, prep football, Riley Strickland, Wheatmore athletics

Wheatmore’s Riley Strickland prepares to throw a pass during a game last year. (Randolph Record file photo) TRINITY – Wheatmore’s football team has something no other Randolph County team has. A returning starting quarterback. “That’s actually pretty cool,” said Wheatmore’s Riley Strickland, who holds that distinction. “I still have two years.” Strickland and the Warriors began the first of those with Friday night’s 33-7 victory at West Davidson. That outcome served as a sign of the development for Wheatmore, which won seven games the past three seasons combined. “My biggest takeaway from Friday night is we’re better than last…

21 Aug

Caraway Speedway to add five to Wall of Fame

Randolph RecordSportsCaraway speedway, Junior Miller, Riggs Racing, Stock car racing

SOPHIA – There will be five additions to Caraway Speedway’s Wall of Fame this weekend. The new members are Donald Tucker, John Paul Linville, Junior Miller, long-time official Lance Childress and Riggs Racing. The group will be honored as part of Saturday night’s race card. Tucker was one of the winningest drivers at the speedway during the early dirt-track years. Then during the early years of racing on a paved track, Linville proved to be one of the most consistent drivers. He moved on to the Busch Series, and he’s the father-in-law of NASCAR Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick. Miller…

20 Aug

Prep Roundup: Asheboro clicks as soccer season begins; Wheatmore’s Hazelwood wins race

Randolph RecordSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, prep soccer, prep sports, Prep volleyball, Randleman Tigers, Trinity athletics, Wheatmore athletics, Zach Hazelwood

Eastern Randolph teammates Cora Sparrow, left, and Logann Beaver make a play at the net against Western Alamance. Teammate Kenly Whitaker, far left, looks on. (Scott Pelkey/Randolph Record) Several volleyball teams rack up multiple wins Strong starts to the season came in various forms for Randolph County teams as the fall competitions began last week. Here’s a glance at some of the highlights: Boys’ soccer Asheboro, coming off the best season in program history, won its opener in the new season by a 5-1 count against Newton Foard. The Blue Comets had five different goal scorers – Daniel Guttierez, Henry Martinez…

19 Aug

Football Roundup: Asheboro, Providence Grove win openers in debut for coaches

Randolph RecordSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Calvin Brown, Logan Laughlin, prep football, Providence Grove football, Randleman football, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, Wheatmore athletics

Asheboro receiver Elijah Woodle makes a move against Albemarle on Friday night. (Scott Pelkey/Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – Logan Laughlin threw three touchdown passes to Elijah Woodle as Asheboro defeated visiting Albemarle 24-22 in a successful debut for new coach Calvin Brown. The outcome wasn’t secure until Kai Matthews’ interception. Matthews earlier scored a touchdown on a rushing play. Laughlin threw for 225 yards on 16-for-24 passing. TJ Mark also intercepted a pass for Asheboro’s defense. Brown is in his first season with the Blue Comets after coming from Providence Grove. Providence Grove 24, East Davidson 7: At Thomasville, the Patriots…

18 Aug

New eras, altered schedules greet teams for start of football season in Randolph County

Bob SuttonSportsBear Bradley, David Hayes, Eastern Randolph Wildcats, prep football, Providence Grove football, Randleman football, Southwestern Randolph football, Trinity football, Wheatmore athletics

Returning Randleman defenders, here converging on a Southwestern Randolph player last year, include, from left to right, Thomas Dobias, Gregory Price, Bryson Atkins and Tanner Gneiting. (Randolph record file photo) The high school football season starts Friday night. Here are a few items of note involving Randolph County teams: ** Asheboro, Providence Grove and Trinity play under first-year coaches. Asheboro’s Calvin Brown came from Providence Grove to take the coaching role. Asheboro’s non-conference slate has been slightly rearranged, though four of the five non-conference opponents are from within Randolph County. The change from the past couple of years comes…

17 Aug

Brown encouraged as first football season with Asheboro Blue Comets nears

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Logan Laughlin, prep football, Providence Grove athletics, Wes Luther

First-year Asheboro coach Calvin Brown, shown here during a practice earlier this month, is encouraged by improvement from the Blue Comets. (Scott Pelkey/Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – Another phase of Asheboro football takes form with the beginning of the season under first-year coach Calvin Brown. There’s a new set of optimism for the Blue Comets, who’ve won a total of two games the past three seasons. The season begins with Friday night’s home game against Albemarle. “There’s a lot of excitement in Asheboro,” said Brown, who arrived after seven seasons as Providence Grove’s coach. “We’re not going to start winning…

16 Aug

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Kearns Trotter

Randolph RecordSportsAOTW, athlete of the week, Prep Basketball, randolph county sports, tennis

Southwestern Randolph, basketball / tennis Kearns Trotter made his mark on the courts for Southwestern Randolph, both in basketball and tennis. He wrapped up his career with the Cougars on a couple of teams with winning records. Those squads were Piedmont Athletic Conference regular-season runners-up. Trotter, a guard, made regular contributions for the boys’ basketball team. Among those was 11 points in a home upset of eventual Class 1-A state finalist Eastern Randolph. Trotter wasn’t done after the winter. In boys’ tennis, he was named to the All-PAC team in each of the past two seasons. *During the summer, we…

15 Aug

Norwood eyes big impact in final season for Eastern Randolph Wildcats

Bob SuttonSportsBurton Cates, Eastern Randolph athletics, Eastern Randolph Wildcats, Jani Norwood, North Carolina Tar Heels, prep football

Eastern Randolph’s Jani Norwood is set for his senior season. (Bob Sutton/Randolph Record) North Carolina football commit excels as Eastern Randolph lineman RAMSEUR – Jani Norwood’s goal is to take care of business on the football field for Eastern Randolph in the coming months. The focus became clear after he made a college commitment in the spring. The offensive lineman chose North Carolina for his college destination. “I wanted to do it before the start of my senior season,” Norwood said. “UNC felt like the most home to me.” Eastern Randolph, the two-time defending Piedmont Athletic Conference champion, opens the…