athlete of the week

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Kassie Gaines

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Kassie Gaines

Faith Christian, girls’ soccer She’s one of two seniors on the team, which has produced a recent uptick on offense. Faith Christian is the reigning North Carolina Christian School Association’s Class 2-A state champion. Gaines was a member of that 2024 title team. The Eagles took a three-game winning streak into this week, outscoring those opponents by a combined 18-2 score. The victories in the streak came on the road, including last week’s 8-0 defeat of Liberty Christian in Durham.
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ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Jonah Campbell

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Jonah Campbell

Southwestern Randolph, baseball Campbell was the winning pitcher when Southwestern Randolph defeated Randleman last week to end a long losing streak in the series. Campbell, also a senior infielder, has been a contributor at the plate as well. Campbell, who was an All-Piedmont Athletic Conference selection last year, has committed to play collegiately for Brevard. The Cougars had five victories through March, putting them in position to potentially reach at least a 10-win season for the first time since the abbreviated 2021 season.  
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ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Ethan Willard

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Ethan Willard

Trinity, baseball The senior infielder makes a difference in the field and on offense for the Bulldogs. He has been a contributor for four seasons for Trinity. Last year, he was credited with more than 30 stolen bases. Willard has committed to play baseball at Pfeiffer. The Bulldogs began the season with six consecutive victories. They entered this week with an 8-2 record. Willard also played during the fall on Trinity’s football team.
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ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Taryn Waugh

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Taryn Waugh

Providence Grove, girls’ soccer Waugh has been on another scoring tear for the Patriots, reaching a milestone last week. The senior forward eclipsed the 100-goal mark for her career while Providence Grove won three games. In nine games this season, she has racked up 26 goals. She has scored at least 23 goals in all four seasons with the Patriots. Waugh, a captain, notched one goal and two assists vs. Central Davidson, four goals and an assist vs. Southwestern Randolph and three goals and an assist vs. East Davidson. The Patriots entered this week with an 8-1 record. *** ***…
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ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Canaan Sheppard

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Canaan Sheppard

Providence Grove, baseball Sheppard, a senior infielder and pitcher, is a captain for the Patriots. He had productive outings in a pair of non-conference victories last week against Cedar Ridge by 8-3 and Surry Central by 7-2. Sheppard held Cedar Ridge to one earned and two hits in four innings on the mound. In the Surry Central game, he drove in three runs. He previously scored three runs in the season opener. The Patriots were slated to begin Piedmont Athletic Conference play this week.
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ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Braxton Walker

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Braxton Walker

Randleman, wrestling / baseball Walker dominated in four matches in the Class 2A state tournament at 215 pounds, winning the championship last week at First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro. Walker, a senior, used three technical falls and a major decision in securing the title. He defeated Seaforth’s Ethan Kuball 14-2 in the final, completing the season with a 40-3 record. Walker had placed fourth last year in the 190-pound class. He racked up 89 victories across a two-season period. Later in the week, he went to the mound for the Randleman baseball team and delivered 13 strikeouts against host Northwest…
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ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Abbie Gudino

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Abbie Gudino

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…
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ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Ty Moton

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Ty Moton

Randleman, basketball / football / track and field Moton has been part of some high-level competitions recently as he’s a key athlete for multiple Randleman teams. In last week’s Class 1A/2A state indoor track and field championships, Moton placed 14th in the shot put at JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem. Moton recorded a toss of 41 feet, 1½ inches. Moton had an 11th-place finish in the discus in the Class 2A outdoor state meet last spring. Moton, a senior, is a reserve forward on Randleman’s Piedmont Athletic Conference championship boys’ basketball team. Moton played critical roles for Randleman’s football team…
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ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Megan Becker

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Megan Becker

Uwharrie Charter Academy, swimming Becker, a Uwharrie Charter Academy junior, had the top finishes among entrants from schools in Randolph County in the swimming and diving state championships. Becker was the runner-up in two events in the Class 1A/2A competition Saturday at Triangle Aquatic Center in Cary. Becker’s times in the 50-yard freestyle (23.83) and 100 freestyle (51.03) were both less than 0.50 seconds out of first place. During the regular season, Becker was undefeated again against Piedmont Athletic Conference competition. Also in the setate meet, Randleman’s Kendall Fortson (sixth, girls’ 100 butterfly, 1:03.11) had a strong finish and she…
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ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Osiris Rodriguez

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Osiris Rodriguez

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 /…
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