Adam Cole

Hitting his Mark: Sprinter gives boosts to Blue Comets

Hitting his Mark: Sprinter gives boosts to Blue Comets

Asheboro’s Valentino Mark leads at the beginning of the final leg of the 400-meter relay in the Randolph County Championships. (Bob Sutton/Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – Valentino Mark is in a hurry, and that’s showing. Mark set two personal-best times in a dominating performance in Tuesday’s Randolph County championships. “Time is ticking,” Mark said of his urgency as a senior. Mark, the triple jump champion, won the 100 and 200 meters and anchored the winning 400 relay as part of host Asheboro’s team championship. Teammate Lance Everhart was a four-time winner as the Blue Comets racked up 220 points to runner-up…
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No speed traps: Cougars’ Cole burns at rapid clip

No speed traps: Cougars’ Cole burns at rapid clip

Southwestern Randolph’s Adam Cole runs behind teammate Eli Gravely during a 2022 football game. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) Southwestern Randolph product seeks more fast times in football ASHEBORO – Adam Cole figured out pretty early that the best way to make an impression was to do it fast. He sprinted to a special high school career for Southwestern Randolph. It mostly came about through football and baseball, allowing his foot speed to set him apart. By his senior year, he became the face of the football program. “It’s kind of a role I have to take,” he said. “It’s not like…
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Returnees help Post 45 hit early groove

Returnees help Post 45 hit early groove

Pierce Leonard takes a swing for Randolph County Post 45. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) Randolph County Post 45 has been off a strong start to the American Legion baseball season. The team has a good core of returning players who’ve produced across the first couple of weeks of the season. Post 45 had a 7-1 record – capped with a 5-4 victory at Davidson County last week – before a five-day break in the schedule. The team is slated to be back in action this week. The lone loss came by a 3-2 score at Rowan County. Twelve days later, Post…
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College choices abound for area senior athletes

College choices abound for area senior athletes

Record-setting Autumn Gentry of Trinity plans to play basketball collegiately. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) Here’s a list of additional college commitments and/or signings involving athletes at area high schools made during the past several months from members of the Class of 2023 (Others have been previously listed): Baseball ** Two Randleman players are going to UNC Greensboro. Pitcher Austin Lemons joined infielder Hunter Atkins in the signing class for the Spartans. ** Catcher Caleb Dunn of Randleman signed with Division II Catawba. Boys’ basketball ** Ashton Troutman of Uwharrie Charter Academy is going to Division II Carson-Newman. Girls’ basketball ** Ashara…
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Prep baseball: Eastern Randolph, UCA slide through first week of state playoffs

Prep baseball: Eastern Randolph, UCA slide through first week of state playoffs

Jake Hunter’s pitching has given Uwharrie Charter Academy a boost. (Randolph Record) Eastern Randolph and Uwharrie Charter Academy took different paths to the third round of the Class 1-A state playoffs in baseball. Each team won twice in the first week of the state playoffs. No. 21 seed Eastern Randolph (6-17) won two road games, beginning with a 9-5 ousting of No. 12 seed Mount Airy. Then the Wildcats went to No. 5 seed Hayesville, where Friday night’s game was suspended in the fifth inning. Eastern Randolph ended up with a 5-2 victory when the game concluded Saturday. Eastern Randolph…
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Asheboro runs away in Randolph County track and field championships

Asheboro runs away in Randolph County track and field championships

Numerous schools have stellar results for individuals ASHEBORO – Asheboro’s boys’ and girls’ track and field teams were superior in the Randolph County Championships on Tuesday. But the Blue Comets had plenty of company from entrants from other schools when it came to special individual performances. On the girls’ side, Brecken Snotherly of Eastern Randolph won four events on the track and Randleman’s Gracie Beane was strong in field events. Asheboro’s Jalaya Showers, Wheatmore’s Ariel Martin and Trinity’s Kensley Fox also won multiple individual events. In boys’ races, Southwestern Randolph’s Adam Cole was the top sprinter, Asheboro’s Nicolas Chavez claimed…
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Prep Roundup: Homers highlight baseball action; Cougars stay unbeaten in softball

Prep Roundup: Homers highlight baseball action; Cougars stay unbeaten in softball

Wheatmore’s Summer Bowman, shown here during the 2022 postseason, continues to be a force on the school’s girls’ soccer team. (Randolph Record file photo) Home runs proved big for several Randolph County baseball teams last week. Austin Lemons homered in Randleman’s 11-6 home victory against Uwharrie Charter Academy in the Piedmont Athletic Conference. Troy Carver homered for UCA. In the rematch, Lemons struck out 14 in a complete game as the Tigers won 5-0 on the road. Caleb Dunn supplied three hits and John Kirkpatrick drove in two runs. In between those games, Dunn homered in Randleman’s 5-2 home victory…
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Randleman Tigers adopt new script, keep on winning in baseball

Randleman Tigers adopt new script, keep on winning in baseball

Randleman’s Hunter Atkins takes a swing during a game earlier this season at Eastern Randolph. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – The script looks a bit different, but Randleman’s baseball team has kept the winning formula. The two-time reigning Class 2-A state champions are cranking out victories on a regular basis. “We’ve had some tough games that we’ve battled through,” shortstop Hunter Atkins said. “We’ve just been competing. It’s just about competing when it comes down to it. Our team has the grit.” And Randleman owns an 8-2 overall record. The Tigers have made it halfway through their 12-game Piedmont Athletic…
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Prep Football: Tigers topple Providence Grove; Wildcats, Cougars cruise to wins

Prep Football: Tigers topple Providence Grove; Wildcats, Cougars cruise to wins

Randleman quarterback Christian Long makes a pass earlier this season. (Randolph Record file photo) CLIMAX – Amarion Moton scored on two fourth-quarter touchdown runs to help Randleman seal a 30-14 road victory against Providence Grove in Piedmont Athletic Conference football Friday night. Randleman’s defense limited the often-potent Providence Grove offense to 180 yards. Randleman never trailed, going up in the first quarter on Christian McLeod’s 26-yard field goal. Tyshaun Goldston scored on a 13-yard pass from Christian Long in the second quarter. James Ellis of Providence Grove scored on a 44-yard pass play before halftime. Gregory Price’s 40-yard interception return…
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Prep Football: Wildcats fend off SWR; Providence Grove, Randleman cruise in PAC openers

Prep Football: Wildcats fend off SWR; Providence Grove, Randleman cruise in PAC openers

Davonte Brooks of Eastern Randolph heads for the end zone against Southwestern Randolph. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – Davonte Brooks scored three touchdowns and Eastern Randolph relied on its defense in a 20-12 road victory against Southwestern Randolph in a Piedmont Athletic Conference football opener Thursday night. “We just all came together and played as one and that’s how we got the job done,” Brooks said. Eastern Randolph (5-1), which is the reigning PAC champion, won despite its lowest point total of the season. “It was not our best game,” Eastern Randolph coach Burton Cates said. “Too many mistakes –…
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