Sports

SWR captures 2A state volleyball championship

SWR captures 2A state volleyball championship

The Southwestern Randolph Cougars hold the state championship banner after their win against Camden County Bruins in the 2A State Championship volleyball match at Valvano Arena at Historic Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh, NC on November 6th, 2021. PJ WARD-BROWN/NORTH STATE JOURNAL RALEIGH -- The Cougars of Southwestern Randolph are once again state champions in volleyball. The Cougars faced a Camden County Bruins team that was undefeated and had only lost one set all season. The Cougars started quickly at Reynolds Coliseum on the campus of NC State Saturday with a first set win. The Bruins came back to tie the…
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First-round losses end seasons for three area teams

First-round losses end seasons for three area teams

Southwestern Randolph quarterback Keaton Reed throws the ball against visiting Polk County during the Class 2-A state playoffs in Asheboro on November 5, 2021. PJ WARD-BROWN/NORTH STATE JOURNAL ASHEBORO -- The historic season came to an end for Southwestern Randolph with a 29-14 loss to Polk County on Friday night. Across the county, Providence Grove lost to Forest Hills. Randleman fell at  traveled Reidsville. The 16th-seeded Cougars (8-3) finished a historic season where they defeated rival Asheboro at Lee J. Stone Stadium for the first time in school history, set the school record for wins, and was the home team…
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Reid picked for honor at Panthers game

Reid picked for honor at Panthers game

ASHEBORO – Two members of Southwestern Randolph’s football team will go from the state playoffs to the pros this weekend. That’s because senior receiver Bryson Reid of the Cougars was selected as a recipient of a Carolina Panthers Community Captain Award. As part of the program that honors players who excel in the classroom and the community, Reid has been invited by the Panthers for Sunday’s game against the New England Patriots at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. “My teammates were so excited for me,” Reid said. He selected Cougars quarterback Keaton Reed to be his guest for the…
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Football Playoffs: Looking for history

Football Playoffs: Looking for history

Providence Grove coach Calvin Brown throws up 1 finger for the extra point after a touchdown against visiting Jordon-Mathews in a non-league game in Climax on September 3, 2021. PJ WARD-BROWN/NORTH STATE JOURNAL Providence Grove, Southwestern Randolph seek playoff breakthroughs ASHEBORO — Three football teams from Randolph County will play in home games to begin the state playoffs, though one of them will have to wait an extra week before playing. Undefeated Eastern Randolph (9-0) is the No. 1 seed for the Class 1-A West Region, receiving a bye to the second week of the playoffs. That’s when the Wildcats…
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Soccer playoffs start with mixed results for area teams

Soccer playoffs start with mixed results for area teams

Uwharrie Charter Academy’s Max DeNamur scores a goal against Avery County during the first round of the Class 1-A state playoffs at Asheboro. PJ WARD-BROWN/NORTH STATE JOURNAL ASHEBORO — For all the good that Asheboro and Eastern Randolph did during the regular season in boys’ soccer, it was gone in a flash. Both teams were upset in the first round of the state playoffs Monday night. There was better news for Trinity and Uwharrie Charter Academy as both teams moved to the second round. In Class 3-A, Asheboro fell 2-1 in double-overtime to visiting No. 29 North Lincoln in the…
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Athlete of the Week: Zach Hazelwood

Athlete of the Week: Zach Hazelwood

ZACH HAZELWOOD Uwharrie Charter Academy | Sophomore | Cross Country Zach Hazelwood of Wheatmore is the Athlete of the Week. He qualified for the state championships in Class 2-A based on his 11th-place finish in Saturday’s Midwest Regional. Hazelwood, a sophomore, finished one spot ahead of Providence Grove’s Robert Burton in 18 minutes, 32.99 seconds at Fisher River Park in Dobson. Hazelwood’s time marked the third-fastest for 5,000 meters in school history. Burton had a time of 18:42.39. Providence Grove advanced to states, which will be held Saturday in Kernersville, as the third-place team behind West Stanly and Wilkes Central.…
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SWR advances to volleyball state title match

SWR advances to volleyball state title match

Southwestern Randolph’s Carleigh Whitson digs the ball against East Surry during the Class 2-A West Regional final at East Surry in Pilot Mountain on November 2, 2021. Southwestern Randolph won 3-2. PJ WARD-BROWN/NORTH STATE JOURNAL PILOT MOUNTAIN — The Southwestern Randolph Cougars will play for the Class 2-A state volleyball championship at Reynolds Coliseum on the North Carolina State campus in Raleigh after defeating host East Surry in five sets Tuesday night. The Cougars (27-5) will face Camden County at 11 a.m. Saturday in the state final. The Cougars dropped the first set before taking a 2-1 advantage. After a…
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ER, Providence Grove, SWR to open football playoffs at home

ER, Providence Grove, SWR to open football playoffs at home

ASHEBORO — Three football teams from Randolph County will play in home games to begin the state playoffs, though one of them will have to wait an extra week before playing. Undefeated Eastern Randolph (9-0) is the No. 1 seed for the Class 1-A West Region, receiving a bye to the second week of the playoffs. That’s when the Wildcats will be slated for a home game Nov. 12 against the Draughn / Elkin winner. Eighth-seeded Providence Grove (8-2) and 16th-seeded Southwestern Randolph (8-2) will open the Class 2-A states at home Friday night. Providence Grove takes on No. 25…
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SWR volleyball team advances to regional finals

SWR volleyball team advances to regional finals

ASHEBORO — Southwestern Randolph dropped its first set of the state playoffs but went on to defeat visiting McMichael in the fourth round in Class 2-A on Saturday. The home-standing Cougars prevailed 22-25, 25-23, 25-23, 25-21. Payton Shiflet had 23 kills, 20 digs and three blocks, Madelyn Smith had 12 kills, Josie Allred had 10 kills and four blocks, Coley Shiflet had 21 digs, Carleigh Whitson had 15 digs and Raegan LeRoy had 46 assists and seven digs. "McMichael beat us early in the season and knowing what they were capable of was helpful at times but also a struggle,"…
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UCA tops Gray Stone to advance in volleyball playoffs

UCA tops Gray Stone to advance in volleyball playoffs

Uwharrie Charter Academy's Madi Duvall spikes the ball against Gray Stone Day School's Mandi Stoyanov during Class 1-A state playoffs at Uwharrie Carter Academy in Asheboro on October 28, 2021. PJ WARD-BROWN/NORTH STATE JOURNAL ASHEBORO — Uwharrie Charter Academy's volleyball team will face its first road test in the Class 1-A state playoffs after a straight-sets home victory against Gray Stone, a charter school from Stanly County, on Thursday night. The Eagles punched their ticket to the fourth round — and a trip to the mountains during — to face second-seeded Murphy on Saturday. The Eagles are riding a six-match…
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