Schools in Randolph County react to NCHSAA league proposals

ASHEBORO – The proposed conference make-ups for the next North Carolina High School Athletic Association realignment look good to officials from most Randolph County schools.

That’s not to say adjustments won’t be sought from some schools, including Southwestern Randolph.

“We’re researching some things,” athletics director Chris Chapman said.

The new league lineups come as the NCHSAA expands from four to eight classifications beginning in the summer to begin a four-year cycle.

The initial draft of conferences was unveiled in December. Schools have until Jan. 21 to appeal for changes.

“I think the state did a real good job of thinking outside the box,” Eastern Randolph athletics director Foster Cates said.

Eastern Randolph and Uwharrie Charter Academy are in the seven-school proposed Class 3A/4A conference that includes Southwestern Randolph.

Chapman said to be in a league with Northwood and Carrboro was surprising.

“We weren’t exactly expecting that,” Chapman said. “That’s not really one we thought was happening. … We didn’t think we were going to be traveling as much as we are with this one.”

Chapman called the realignment process “a difficult job.” He said Southwestern Randolph is considerably smaller than in previous enrollment cycles.

Northwood was in the same league with Southwestern Randolph years ago.

Cates said the proposal would mean savings for Eastern Randolph. Having Jordan-Matthews, North Moore and Northwood in its conference would be a blast to the past, he said.

“The crazy thing about it is it’s actually closer for us travel-wise,” Cates said. “It’s closer for us than playing a Randolph County conference.”

Cates said Eastern Randolph could save $200 per sport in conference travel costs. Plus, non-league commutes would be shorter because the Wildcats would have a dose of in-county trips for those.

Former UCA athletics director Chris Waddell, who’s now the school’s dean of students, said the rapid growth of his schools was bound to mean changes.

“I think (our school officials) really liked being in the conference we were in the – the Randolph County conference, basically,” Waddell said of the Piedmont Athletic Conference. “It is what it is. We’re going to be spread out a little bit.”

UCA doesn’t have a football program.

Sticking together

Providence Grove, Trinity and Wheatmore are listed together in a six-game conference.

“We were fine with it,” Trinity athletics director Robert Mitchell said.

Officials and coaches from Providence Grove and Wheatmore also have expressed being on board with the realignment draft.

“A little bit of fresh air,” Providence Grove athletics director Cody Moran said.

Moran, who’ll be in his first season as head coach of the football team in 2025, said he likes how the Patriots could stack up competitively. Providence Grove defeated three of the five other teams in the proposed conference during the 2024 football season – the team’s only victories.

“Really, in every sport, everybody realizes there’s a legitimate chance to win a championship,” Moran said.

Moran said the Patriots will look to schedule county rivals for non-conference competition. When the Providence Grove district was formed, it primarily drew students who would have otherwise attended Eastern Randolph or Randleman.

Mitchell said the geography of the proposed conference make sense from Trinity’s vantage point.

Some different looks

The draft calls for Randleman to be with a different mix of schools after a cycle with only Randolph County schools.

“We are content with the realignment,” principal Corey Phillips said. “We want to have the attitude that we’ll go play and compete in whatever conference we’re put in.”

Randleman has fielded powerhouse teams in baseball, football and girls’ basketball across several recent years. Phillips said it’s important to embrace whatever situation the Tigers are assigned.

“I want us to have a positive attitude about it,” Phillips said. “No draft is going to be perfect.”

If this plan sticks, the Tigers will have non-league competitions with some Randolph County teams, Phillips said.

Asheboro, which is the largest school in Randolph County, is tagged to join with five Guilford County schools – but not Greensboro inner-city schools.

The Blue Comets don’t have another in-county school in their current conference. In the previous four-year cycle, Southwestern Randolph and Asheboro were in the same conference.

“We’re pretty happy,” Asheboro athletics director Wes Berrier said. “Absolutely, we hope there’s not many changes.”

None of the schools in the draft that includes Asheboro are currently with the Blue Comets. Three of them – Eastern Guilford, Southeast Guilford, Southern Guilford – were with Asheboro from 2017-21.

The breakdown

Here are proposed conferences involving Randolph County schools:

Class 5A/6A: Asheboro (6A), Eastern Guilford (6A), Northern Guilford (6A), Southeast Guilford (6A), Northeast Guilford (5A), Southern Guilford (5A).

Class 4A/5A: Randleman (4A), Central Davidson (4A), Ledford (4A), Lexington (4A), High Point Andrews (4A), High Point Central (5A), Montgomery Central (5A).

Class 3A/4A: Eastern Randolph (3A), Southwestern Randolph (4A), Uwharrie Charter Academy (4A), North Moore (3A), Northwood (3A), Carrboro (4A), Jordan-Matthews (4A).

Class 3A: Providence Grove, Trinity, Wheatmore, East Davidson, Thomasville, West Davidson.