athlete of the week - Randolph Record

27 Jun

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Tucker Batten

Randolph RecordSportsathlete of the week, piedmont athletic conference, prep football, Prep tennis, Providence Grove athletics, Tucker Batten

Providence Grove, football / tennis He finished the school year as a multi-sport All-Piedmont Athletic Conference selection for his efforts in football and boys’ tennis. Batten was the kicker for Providence Grove’s football team, connecting for several key kicks during the past couple of seasons. He was on the All-PAC football team as a junior and senior. In tennis, Batten moved up to No. 1 singles for Providence Grove as a senior. ** During the summer, we recognize seniors from the past school year.

20 Jun

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Hayleigh Thompson

Randolph RecordSportsathlete of the week, Class 2-A, Hayleigh Thompson, nchsaa, Prep softball, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, state champion, state playoffs

Southwestern Randolph, softball Thompson played a key role as the Cougars captured the Class 2A state championship this spring. The senior had several crucial plate appearances during Southwestern Randolph’s postseason run. She also was the team’s first baseman, helping the infield for a team that rode its pitching and defense for much of the regular season and the state playoffs. Thompson’s single in the final inning of Game 2 of the state championship series against Midway sparked the title-clinching rally. She also had a single and drove in a run during the first game of the title series. Southwestern Randolph…

12 Jun

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Troy Carver

Randolph RecordSportsathlete of the week, class 1-A, Prep baseball, state champion, State championships, state playoffs, Troy Carver, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles

Uwharrie Charter Academy, baseball Carter has been a key member of back-to-back state championship teams with the Eagles. The senior infielder has been a steady performer in the field and at the plate. Carver scored the winning run in the eighth inning of Game 1 of the state championship series against Northside-Pinetown in Holly Springs. The next day in Game 2, which turned out to be the title-clinching game, he had one of the team’s hits. UCA has racked up 50 victories across the past two seasons.

06 Jun

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Macie Crutchfield

Randolph RecordSportsathlete of the week, Class 2-A, Macie Crutchfield, Prep softball, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, State championships

Southwestern Randolph, softball Crutchfield completed her junior season as the Most Valuable Player of the Class 2A state championship series. She pitched every inning in both games as the Cougars captured the title by sweeping Midway in games held at UNC Greensboro. In those 12 innings (because Game 1 was reduced to five innings by the mercy rule), she compiled 19 strikeouts and issued three walks. Crutchfield is a three-year starter for Southwestern Randolph, racking up high strikeout totals most of the time. She’s also has provided the team with boost at the plate. In the state finals, she had…

30 May

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Caleb Stickle

Randolph RecordSportsathlete of the week, Caleb Stickle, class 1-A, Prep baseball, state playoffs, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles

Uwharrie Charter Academy, baseball The senior infielder has been a key member of the back-to-back Class 1A West Region champions. Stickle provided three hits and drove in four runs in the decisive Game 3 of the Class 1A West Region finals Saturday night at Mount Airy. That result sent the Eagles back to the state finals, where they’ll try to repeat as state champions this week in the best-of-3 finals against Northside-Pinetown at Holly Springs. Stickle was solid throughout the regional. He scored the first run when UCA won in the series opener. He had one of the team’s two…

22 May

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Lucy Lockwood

Randolph RecordSportsathlete of the week, Lucy Lockwood, prep soccer, state playoffs, Wheatmore athletics, Wheatmore Warriors

Wheatmore, girls’ soccer Lockwood, a goalkeeper, has recorded three consecutive shutouts in the Class 2-A state playoffs. That makes her Wheatmore’s all-time leader in shutouts for girls’ soccer. Her 25th career shutout tied the record last week against Mount Pleasant in the second round and she moved into the sole spot on the list with another blanking Monday night against Wilkes Central in the third round. Lockwood is in her second season with the soccer team. Victoria Lowe, who was the goalkeeper for the 2022 state championship team, had set the school record. Lockwood, a senior, is planning to play…

15 May

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Mollie Bulla

Randolph RecordSportsAppalachian State, athlete of the week, Mollie Bulla, piedmont athletic conference, Prep softball, Uwharrie Charter Academy athletics

Uwharrie Charter Academy, softball Bulla has been a standout at the plate and from the pitching circle during her senior season for the Eagles. Bulla entered this week with a .391 batting average. Her six home runs and 10 doubles were team-high marks after also leading UCA in those categories last year. As a pitcher, Bulla has averaged nearly two strikeouts per inning this season. Last week, UCA won first- and second-round games – against Mitchell and Swain County – in the Class 1-A state playoffs, giving them 19 victories this season. That tied the program record for wins, a…

08 May

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Ryan Marshall

Randolph RecordSportsathlete of the week, Class 2-A, nchsaa, Piedmont Athletic Conference Tournament, Prep golf, Ryan Marshall, Wheatmore athletics, Wheatmore Warriors

Wheatmore, boys’ golf Ryan Marshall of Wheatmore was the Piedmont Athletic Conference champion by shooting 5-over-par 77 last week at Holly Ridge Golf Links. Marshall, a junior, shot sub-40 on both the front side and backside for a five-stroke edge on Trinity’s Bo Earnhardt. On Monday, Marshall placed third in the Class 2-A Midwest Regional to reserve a spot in next week’s state tournament. In the PAC Tournament, Wheatmore’s 345 team total was 10 shots better than runner-up Uwharrie Charter Academy, while Providence Grove (358) and Southwestern Randolph (360) also contended. The Warriors won the team title for the third…

01 May

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Ayanna Mears

Randolph RecordSportsathlete of the week, Ayanna Mears, Eastern Randolph Wildcats, Prep softball

Eastern Randolph, softball Mears has been an important part of the Wildcats’ lineup as the team has put together another winning record. Mears, a senior shortstop, has been among the leading hitters for Eastern Randolph. She’s in her fourth season with the team. Eastern Randolph won five of its last six games in the regular season heading into this week’s Piedmont Athletic Conference Tournament. Mears, who’s also a past member of the volleyball and basketball programs at Eastern Randolph, has committed to play softball at North Carolina A&T.

24 Apr

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Carlisle Dozier

Randolph RecordSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, athlete of the week, Carlisle Dozier, Mid-Piedmont Conference, prep soccer

Asheboro, girls’ soccer Dozier has provided an ideal final layer of defense for the Blue Comets. The senior goalkeeper has averaged nearly 10 saves per game this season. Her six saves helped the Blue Comets defeat Ledford last week. She also was credited with a late-game tip save to preserve a shutout of Central Davidson earlier this month. In March, she made 23 saves in a game. Dozier was a Mid-Piedmont Conference all-league selection last year. With a 9-3-1 record entering this week, the Blue Comets had already matched last season’s win total.