Asheboro Blue Comets - Randolph Record

16 Feb

Prep wrestling: UCA to send 13 to Class 1A states

Bob SuttonSportsAiden Foster, Asheboro Blue Comets, Ayven Virasone Chitavong, Bliss Joyce, Brandon Jordan, Brennan Worrell, Caden Bond, class 1-A, Class 3-A, Eastern Randolph Wildcats, Lorenzo Alston, Michael Shropshire, prep wrestling, state tournament, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles

Uwharrie Charter Academy will send 13 wrestlers to the state tournament after an impressive run through the Class 1A East Regional on Saturday at Rosewood in Goldsboro. UCA’s regional champions were Ayven Virasone Chitavong (106 pounds), Brandon Jordan (144), Lorenzo Alston (157), Aiden Foster (165) and Michael Shropshire (215). The Eagles won another regional team crown. Alston, a junior who had two earlier technical falls and received a forfeit, is undefeated and will be aiming for this third state championship. Paxton Kearns (113), Andrew White (126), Rick Riccardella (138) and Caden Bond (175) were UCA’s runners-up. Also going to the…

14 Feb

Prep basketball: Southwestern Randolph girls, Randleman boys headline regular season

Randolph RecordSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Chase Farlow, Eastern Randolph Wildcats, Jordin George, Maddie Strider, Mid-Piedmont Conference, Osiris Rodriguez, Parker Kines, piedmont athletic conference, Piedmont Athletic Conference Tournament, Prep Basketball, Providence Grove Patriots, Randleman Tigers, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, Trinity Bulldogs, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles, Wheatmore Warriors

Senior Kenzie Martin has been a key player for Southwestern Randolph’s undefeated girls’ basketball team this season. (Randolph Record) Southwestern Randolph’s girls’ basketball team finished an undefeated regular season as one of the area highlights for going into next week’s conference tournaments. There’s still plenty to sort out with conference tournaments. Because of weather-related concerns for next week, the Mid-Piedmont Conference Tournament has been reduced to include only the top four teams instead of all six. Semifinals are set for Monday with the title games Tuesday night at Central Davidson. That means the Asheboro’s girls, who tied for fifth place,…

10 Feb

Prep boys’ basketball: Randleman controls fate in PAC

Randolph RecordSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Braeden Lamb, Chase Farlow, Eastern Randolph Wildcats, Elijah Woodle, Mid-Piedmont Conference, Osiris Rodriguez, Parker Kines, piedmont athletic conference, Prep Basketball, Providence Grove Patriots, Randleman Tigers, Timothy Brower, Tyshaun Goldston

RANDLEMAN – Randleman’s boys’ basketball team rose to the top among a crowd of contenders in the Piedmont Athletic Conference. The Tigers clinched the regular-season title last week with a pair of victories. Randleman won last week’s showdown at Uwharrie Charter Academy by 77-66 with Tyshaun Goldston’s 23 points and Chase Farlow’s 18 points leading the way. That avenged the Tigers’ only loss of the season. Jaylan Brown had 18 points and Braedan Lamb provided 16 points for UCA. Then on Friday night, Randleman’s Connor Cassidy had 22 points and Farlow notched 20 points as the host Tigers withstood 25…

03 Feb

Reigning champs UCA, Trinity start strong in state duals

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, class 1-A, Class 2-A, David Lambright, Dominic Hittepole, Eastern Randolph Wildcats, Jaden Allred, Joseph Trahan, Lawson Coltrane, Lorenzo Alston, nchsaa, prep wrestling, Trinity Bulldogs, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles, Wheatmore Warriors

Uwharrie Charter Academy’s Brennan Worrell prepares to pin Union Academy’s Nehemiah Parker during a Class 1A second-round meet Saturday. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) Uwharrie Charter Academy and Trinity wrestling teams began their quests to repeat as dual team state champions with two home victories apiece Saturday. UCA, the top seed in Class 1A East Region and the Piedmont Athletic Conference champion, and Trinity, the No. 1 seed for Class 2-A in the West Region, cruised in the opening rounds. If they win regional semifinals and finals Wednesday night, they’ll be headed to state finals Saturday at the coliseum fieldhouse…

02 Feb

Boys’ basketball roundup: Asheboro boys pick up steam; UCA stays in PAC race

Randolph RecordSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Connor Cassidy, Eastern Randolph Wildcats, Elijah Woodle, Jaxon Mabe, Parker Kines, Prep Basketball, Randleman Tigers, Timothy Brower, Tyshaun Goldston, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles, Wheatmore Warriors

Asheboro’s boys’ basketball team has picked up momentum in the Mid-Piedmont Conference with three consecutive victories. The Blue Comets won twice last week, with Elijah Woodle’s 21 points leading the way in a 48-46 nipping of host Oak Grove, avenging an earlier defeat. Then Asheboro’s Jalial Timmons scored 22 points and Woodle had 17 points in a 57-43 home victory against Central Davidson on Friday night. ** Uwharrie Charter Academy stayed in the Piedmont Athletic Conference race with a pair of victories. UCA beat visiting Wheatmore 69-45 as Jaxon Mabe had 17 points, Jaylan Brown notched 15 points and Aaron…

31 Jan

UCA, Trinity hold top seeds for state duals; Eastern Randolph, Wheatmore, Asheboro also qualify

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, class 1-A, Class 2-A, Class 3-A, Cliff Thompson, Dominic Hittepole, Eastern Randolph Wildcats, nchsaa, prep wrestling, Trinity Bulldogs, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles, Wheatmore Warriors

Uwharrie Charter Academy’s Brennan Worrell, top, works against Avery County’s King Orvosh in a 120-pound match last year in the Class 1A dual team state finals. (Randolph Record) Uwharrie Charter Academy and Trinity wrestling teams will begin their quests to repeat as dual team state champions with home meets Saturday. UCA, the top seed in Class 1A East Region and the Piedmont Athletic Conference champion, is home against Lakewood. The winner meets either Union Academy or Albemarle in the second round. Trinity begins Class 2A competition as the top seed in the West Region, facing Brevard and then, if it…

29 Jan

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Osiris Rodriguez

Randolph RecordSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, athlete of the week, Mid-Piedmont Conference, Osiris Rodriguez, Prep Basketball

Asheboro, boys’ basketball Rodriguez has been a multi-season key contributor for the Blue Comets. The senior forward is often the team’s top scorer and a major force on the boards as well. He’s average more than 14 points per game and is also Asheboro’s leader in rebounding. Rodriguez had 16 points when the Blue Comets defeated Montgomery Central in last week’s Mid-Piedmont Conference game. The Blue Comets are aiming for a seventh consecutive season with a .500 or better record. They began this week at 10-6. *** *** Photo: Osiris Rodriguez makes a big impact in the lane. (PJ Ward-Brown /…

27 Jan

Prep boys: Providence Grove scrambles PAC race by topping UCA

Randolph RecordSportsAndrew Thomas, Asheboro Blue Comets, Eli Johnson, Osiris Rodriguez, piedmont athletic conference, Prep Basketball, Providence Grove, Randleman Tigers, Tyshaun Goldston, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles, Will Dabbs

ASHEBORO — Will Dabbs scored 30 points and the Providence Grove boys’ basketball team disrupted the pecking order in the Piedmont Athletic Conference by winning 63-50 at Uwharrie Charter Academy on Friday night. Andrew Thomas notched 13 points as Patriots knocked UCA out of a share of first place in a crowded PAC race. Providence Grove enters this week in a third-place tie with UCA (at 4-2) behind Randleman (5-1) and Eastern Randolph (4-1). Tuesday’s docket shows Eastern Randolph going to Randleman in a game to determine the league leader with about two weeks remaining. Teams also have make-up games…

24 Jan

Area schools don’t shift in second NCHSAA league draft

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Eastern Randolph Wildcats, nchsaa, Providence Grove Patriots, Randleman Tigers, Randolph County School System, realignment, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, Stephen Gainey, Trinity Bulldogs, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles, Wheatmore Warriors

There were no changes involving Randolph County schools in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association’s second draft of conference alignments. That revised draft was released this week. “What I gather is our schools are pretty happy where they are,” said Stephen Gainey, superintendent of the Randolph County School System. RCSS has six high schools as part of the NCHSAA. Gainey began a term as NCHSAA president last summer, so has a keen eye on the topic. Appeals and comments from schools regarding the conference make-ups are due Tuesday. The realignment committee is scheduled to meet again Feb. 3-4. “A…

14 Jan

It’s hard to pin down new Asheboro wrestling coach

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Braxton Walker, Cliff Thompson, Gavin Hardister, prep wrestling, Wes Berrier

Asheboro wrestling coach Cliff Thompson, left, shares a laugh with assistant coach Scott Bainville at a recent meet. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – Cliff Thompson has coached an assortment of area wrestlers in and around Randolph County. So in his role as first-year Asheboro coach, he’s familiar with just about anyone he comes across on the mats. He has been questioned by his wrestlers: “Why everybody talk to you?” It’s because Thompson is well-known in wrestling circles. He said he’s glad he has landed with the Blue Comets. Thompson, a 1998 Randleman graduate, won a state championship as…