Sports - Randolph Record

28 Feb

State playoffs: UCA teams advance; Randleman boys bounced; Mixed results for other schools

Bob SuttonSportsAaron Smith, Andrew Thomas, Asheboro Blue Comets, Bella Byman, Chase Farlow, class 1-A, Class 2-A, Eastern Randolph Wildcats, Jacquline McDaniel, Jada Nixon, Jaxon Mabe, Jordin George, Julian Brooks, Kenzie Martin, Laurel Bernhardt, Macy Allred, Maddie Strider, nchsaa, Nevaeh Staples, Osiris Rodriguez, Prep Basketball, Providence Grove Patriots, Randleman Tigers, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, state playoffs, Tyshaun Goldston, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles, Will Dabbs, Will Stalker

Uwharrie Charter Academy’s Aaron Smith goes up between Murphy players during the first round of the Class 1A state playoffs Tuesday night. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) Uwharrie Charter Academy’s boys’ and girls’ basketball teams made it through the first round of the state playoffs. Eastern Randolph’s boys and Southwestern Randolph’s girls and Randleman’s girls also advanced with victories Tuesday night. The second round comes Friday night. Not all teams were so fortunate in the opening round. Boys Randleman, the No. 2 seed in Class 2A West Region, was knocked off by No. 31 seed Forest Hills by 70-62. It…

27 Feb

Photo gallery of Randolph County’s nine wrestling champions

Randolph RecordSportsAiden Burkholder, Ayden Sumners, Braxton Walker, David Lambright, Dominic Hittepole, Greensboro Coliseum, Lawson Coltrane, Lorenzo Alston, Maddox Carson, Michael Shropshire, nchsaa, prep wrestling

Trinity fans gathered at the state finals at First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro, where five wrestlers from the school reached individual state finals. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) GREENSBORO — There were nine individual wrestling state champions from schools in Randolph County schools during the North Carolina High School Athletic Association’s state tournament, which ended Monday at First Horizon Coliseum. Those titlists represented five different schools — Eastern Randolph and Uwharrie Charter Academy in Class 1A and Randleman, Trinity and Wheatmore in Class 2A. Here’s a look at some of the scenes from the championship round:

26 Feb

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Abbie Gudino

Randolph RecordSportsAbbie Gudino, athlete of the week, Piedmont Athletic Conference Tournament, Prep Basketball, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles

Uwharrie Charter Academy, girls’ basketball Gudino has been a key part of UCA’s strong season, particularly with the late-season stretch that has come with several accomplishments for the Eagles. Gudino, who’s one of two seniors on the team, was injured when the season began. Her return to action has added to the team’s success. Last week, UCA won the Piedmont Athletic Conference Tournament for the first time. Along the way, the program reached the 20-win level for the first time. Gudino provided a team-high 11 points in a first-round PAC Tournament victory against Eastern Randolph. UCA coach Austin Davis has…

25 Feb

Titles at nearly every turn in Class 2A for Randolph County wrestlers

Bob SuttonSportsAiden Burkholder, Ayden Sumners, Bliss Joyce, Braxton Walker, Dominic Hittepole, Greensboro Coliseum, Jaden Allred, Lawson Coltrane, nchsaa, prep wrestling, Randleman Tigers, state tournament, Trinity Bulldogs, Wheatmore Warriors

Wheatmore’s Ayden Sumners leaps into the arms of coach Kyle Spencer after winning the 126-pound state championship in Class 2A. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) GREENSBORO — Trinity and Wheatmore shared some of the glory in the Class 2A division of the wrestling state tournament. There was plenty to go around. Randleman’s Braxton Walker joined in the fun as part of Randolph County’s huge presence in the classification during Monday's finals. Trinity’s Aiden Burkholder (106 pounds) and Lawson Coltrane (165) won championships along with Wheatmore’s Ayden Sumners (126) and Dominic Hittepole (175). So of the 14 weight classes in Class…

24 Feb

Class 1-A state tournament: Eastern Randolph joins UCA with wrestling titles

Bob SuttonSportsDavid Lambright, Eastern Randolph Wildcats, Greensboro Coliseum, Lorenzo Alston, Maddox Carson, Michael Shropshire, prep wrestling, state tournament, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles

Uwharrie Charter Academy’s Michael Shropshire reacts during his 215-pound championship match in Class 1A on Monday. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) GREENSBORO – The third consecutive individual state championship for Uwharrie Charter Academy junior Lorenzo Alston was an expected highlight. Then look at what Eastern Randolph did in Class 1A during the state tournament at First Horizon Coliseum. The Wildcats produced a state champion for the first time in 21 years – and they had two of them Monday at First Horizon Coliseum. Junior David Lambright (126 pounds) and sophomore Maddox Carson (285) claimed the championships. Michael Shropshire, a junior…

24 Feb

Dozen Randolph County wrestlers reach state finals

Bob SuttonSportsAiden Burkholder, Ayden Sumners, Bliss Joyce, Braxton Walker, Briana Joyce, David Lambright, Dominic Hittepole, Greensboro Coliseum, Jaden Allred, Lawson Coltrane, Lorenzo Alston, Maddox Carson, Michael Shropshire, nchsaa, prep wrestling, state tournament

Randleman’s Braxton Walker has his hand raised after winning a 215-pound quarterfinal bout against Holmes’ Gavin Pierce on Sunday at First Horizon Coliseum. (Bob Sutton / Randolph Record) GREENSBORO – Randolph County wrestling teams will be well-represented in the finals of the high school state tournament. Five Trinity wrestlers (three boys, two girls), two from Wheatmore and Randleman’s Braxton Walker are all in the Class 2A finals, while in Class 1A there are two finalists from both Uwharrie Charter Academy and Eastern Randolph. The finals are slated to begin after the Parade of Champions at 4 p.m. Monday at First…

23 Feb

Prep basketball: Randleman boys, Southwestern Randolph girls hold highest seeds for state playoffs

Bob SuttonSportsclass 1-A, Class 2-A, Eastern Randolph Wildcats, Prep Basketball, Randleman Tigers, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, state playoffs, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles

Randleman’s boys’ team holds the top seed among all Randolph County teams on the bracket for the basketball state playoffs. The Tigers (23-1), who are Piedmont Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament champions, are the No. 2 seed in the Class 2A West Region. Southwestern Randolph’s girls’ team is a No. 3 seed in the Class 2-A West Region. The North Carolina High School Athletic Association released the pairings and seeds Sunday night. First-round games are Tuesday night. Boys Randleman opens vs. No. 31 seed Forest Hills (12-14). No. 27 seed Providence Grove (12-14) heads to No. 6 seed Lincoln Charter…

22 Feb

UCA girls halt Southwestern Randolph’s unbeaten string, win PAC Tournament

Randolph RecordSportsclass 1-A, Jordin George, Kenzie Martin, Maddie Strider, Nevaeh Staples, Piedmont Athletic Conference Tournament, Prep Basketball, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles

ASHEBORO – An undefeated record for Southwestern Randolph’s girls’ basketball team was dashed in the Piedmont Athletic Conference Tournament championship game. Uwharrie Charter Academy churned out a 49-43 victory Friday night. It’s the first conference tournament championship for the Eagles, who held the No. 3 seed and avenged to regular-season losses. Navaeh Staples poured in 19 points, Naimah Al-Arif provided 10 points and Lainey Thomas had eight points for visiting UCA (22-7). Southwestern Randolph (25-1) was led by Jordin George’s 15 points, Maddie Strider’s 10 points and Gracie Hodgin’s eight points. Both teams will be in the state playoffs in…

21 Feb

Randleman finds answers, dashes Eastern Randolph’s comeback bid for PAC crown

Bob SuttonSportsChase Farlow, Connor Cassidy, Daniel Mitchell, Julian Brooks, piedmont athletic conference, Piedmont Athletic Conference Tournament, Prep Basketball, Timothy Brower, Tyler Gee, Tyshaun Goldston

Randleman team members pose with some new hardware after the PAC Tournament championship game. (Bob Sutton / Randolph Record) RANDLEMAN – In typical fashion for Randleman’s boys’ basketball team this season, the Tigers had the appropriate responses. That became the theme in the Piedmont Athletic Conference Tournament championship game, with Randleman handling the pressure and eventually delivering decisive blows for a 68-56 victory against visiting Eastern Randolph on Friday night in front of a capacity crowd. “It was our hustle,” Tigers guard Pacey Wagner said. “We play so hard and we play so well together.” That’s what it took in…

20 Feb

PAC basketball finals set with high seeds

Bob SuttonSportsAndrew Thomas, Chase Farlow, Eastern Randolph Wildcats, Julian Brooks, Kenzie Martin, Maddie Strider, Nevaeh Staples, Parker Kines, Prep Basketball, Randleman Tigers, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, Timothy Brower, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles, Will Dabbs

Uwharrie Charter Academy coach Austin Davis reached a milestone and his team set a record as well during the PAC Tournament. (Randolph Record file photo) The girls’ basketball team from Southwestern Randolph goes into Friday night’s Piedmont Athletic Conference Tournament championship game with an undefeated record. The Cougars (25-0) meet visiting Uhwarrie Charter Academy at 6 p.m. It was pushed back one day because of weather-related issues. Southwestern Randolph topped Randleman for the fourth time this season with Tuesday night’s 54-38 victory. Jordin George had 17 points, Kenzie Martin provided 11 points and 10 rebounds and Gracie Hodgin added 10…