Class 2-A

Wheatmore wrestler Hittepole cherishes process of reaching championship moment

Wheatmore wrestler Hittepole cherishes process of reaching championship moment

Wheatmore junior Dominic Hittepole became a state champion last month after coming one victory short of that goal a year earlier. (P.J. Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) TRINITY — Wheatmore wrestler Dominic Hittepole won matches on a regular basis for several months. Yet it seemed like a long climb, waiting for the moments that would define his season. “I’m ready for February,” he said in late January. “I’m really excited where I’m at. It matters a lot. There are a lot of people doubting me. I can’t end up in that runner-up position I was in last year.” So he took…
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Basketball roundup: Eastern Randolph seniors soak in special playoff moments

Basketball roundup: Eastern Randolph seniors soak in special playoff moments

Eastern Randolph's Timothy Brower takes a fourth-quarter free throw vs. South Stanly. RAMSEUR — Timothy Brower and Julian Brooks have played dozens of basketball games for Eastern Randolph in their home gym. That’s what happens, in part, when you’re highly seeded for conference tournament and state-playoff games. So Friday night marked a notable occasion for the senior Wildcats. It might have been their final time suiting up for a home game. If so, Brower and Brooks went out with a bang. “I was thinking about that during the national anthem,” Brower said of his time playing in that venue. Brower…
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State playoffs: UCA teams advance; Randleman boys bounced; Mixed results for other schools

State playoffs: UCA teams advance; Randleman boys bounced; Mixed results for other schools

Uwharrie Charter Academy’s Aaron Smith goes up between Murphy players during the first round of the Class 1A state playoffs Tuesday night. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) Uwharrie Charter Academy’s boys’ and girls’ basketball teams made it through the first round of the state playoffs. Eastern Randolph’s boys and Southwestern Randolph’s girls and Randleman’s girls also advanced with victories Tuesday night. The second round comes Friday night. Not all teams were so fortunate in the opening round. Boys Randleman, the No. 2 seed in Class 2A West Region, was knocked off by No. 31 seed Forest Hills by 70-62. It…
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Prep basketball: Randleman boys, Southwestern Randolph girls hold highest seeds for state playoffs

Prep basketball: Randleman boys, Southwestern Randolph girls hold highest seeds for state playoffs

Randleman’s boys’ team holds the top seed among all Randolph County teams on the bracket for the basketball state playoffs. The Tigers (23-1), who are Piedmont Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament champions, are the No. 2 seed in the Class 2A West Region. Southwestern Randolph’s girls’ team is a No. 3 seed in the Class 2-A West Region. The North Carolina High School Athletic Association released the pairings and seeds Sunday night. First-round games are Tuesday night. Boys Randleman opens vs. No. 31 seed Forest Hills (12-14). No. 27 seed Providence Grove (12-14) heads to No. 6 seed Lincoln Charter…
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Reigning champs UCA, Trinity start strong in state duals

Reigning champs UCA, Trinity start strong in state duals

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

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

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…
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Trinity wrestlers eye another team title

Trinity wrestlers eye another team title

Trinity wrestling coach Brandon Coggins reacts during a key moment in last year’s dual team state final against Seaforth. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) TRINITY — Trinity’s wrestling team has a hard act to follow after what the Bulldogs did last winter. But they say they’re up for the challenge as they’ll try to repeat as Class 2A dual team state champions. “It was a surreal moment,” junior heavyweight Joseph Trahan said of last year’s title. “It definitely will be a lot of pressure. We have the ability to do it again.” That’s the mindset for the Bulldogs when the…
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Prep football: Eastern Randolph breezes through second round; Randleman stalls in loss

Prep football: Eastern Randolph breezes through second round; Randleman stalls in loss

RAMSEUR – Eastern Randolph is the last football team standing in Randolph County. The Wildcats whipped visiting Cherokee 42-0 in the second round of the Class 1A state playoffs Friday night. Mason Carson returned an interception for a touchdown for the first points of the game and Eastern Randolph was in control. Cade McCallum threw for two touchdowns and Lucas Smith rushed for 145 yards. Eastern Randolph (12-0), which is the No. 4 seed in the West Region, will next take on fifth-seeded Corvian Community (12-0), a 42-6 winner against No. 12 seed Mitchell, on Friday night at home. Eastern…
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Southwestern Randolph falls in Class 2A soccer final

Southwestern Randolph falls in Class 2A soccer final

MATTHEWS – Southwestern Randolph’s bid for a first state championship in boys’ soccer came up short. The Cougars fell 3-1 in the Class 2A final to Clinton on Friday night at Mecklenburg County Sportsplex. “I thought we represented our school well,” Southwestern Randolph coach Jimmy Walker said. “We just came up short (in the final).” Clinton took the lead in the 17th minute as Holden Spell scored the opening goal off an assist from Chris Zeleya. Just 27 seconds later, the Cougars leveled the score on a goal from Fernando Hernandez. Jonathan Lopez-Degollado supplied the assist. In the 37th minute, Clinton’s…
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Asheboro, Southwestern Randolph teams win soccer regionals, head to state finals

Asheboro, Southwestern Randolph teams win soccer regionals, head to state finals

Southwestern Randolph boys’ soccer players celebrate their victory against Lincolnton in the Class 2A West Region final. (Thadd Sanders / For Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – The boys’ soccer teams from Asheboro and Southwestern Randolph will play for state championships Southwestern Randolph (27-2) will take on Clinton (27-2) for the Class 2A title at 7 p.m. Friday. Both teams were top seeded in their respective regions. Asheboro (27-2) will be in the Class 3A final against Western Alamance (24-1) at 6 p.m. Saturday. It’s a rematch from the regular season. The title games will be held at the Mecklenburg County Sportsplex…
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