Class 2-A - Randolph Record

07 Nov

Prep soccer: Asheboro, Southwestern Randolph hold top seeds going into state playoffs

Randolph RecordSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, class 1-A, Class 2-A, Class 3-A, nchsaa, prep soccer, Randleman Tigers, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, state playoffs

Asheboro and Southwestern Randolph hold No. 1 seeds for the West Region in the boys’ soccer state playoffs, which begin this weekend. Asheboro is atop the bracket in Class 3A. Southwestern Randolph is in the same spot for Class 2A. Both teams will play every game at home through the regional final if they advance. First-round games will be held Saturday, with the second round Tuesday. West Charlotte is the opening opponent for Asheboro (22-2), which won the Mid-Piedmont Conference. No. 12 seed Ledford (12-7-4) and No. 21 seed Montgomery Central (9-9) are the only other teams from the league…

03 Nov

Prep Roundup: Tennis season ends for Patriots in playoffs

Randolph RecordSportsClass 2-A, nchsaa, prep cross country, Prep golf, Prep tennis, Prep volleyball

Providence Grove’s girls’ tennis team advanced to the Class 2A third round of the dual team state playoffs before bowing out. Fourth-seeded Burns defeated fifth-seeded Providence Grove 6-3 in last week’s match. The Patriots finished the season with a 12-3 record. Cross country Saturday at Kernersville, Randleman senior Freddy Mercado was 35th in 17 minutes, 37.75 seconds in the Class 2A boys’ race of state championships at Ivey Redmon Sports Complex In the girls’ race, sophomore Laurel Bernhardt of Providence Grove placed 40th in 21:33.12. Wheatmore freshman Scarlett Hildreth was 60th in 22:20.72. Girls’ golf At Lexington, Megan Oakley of…

30 Oct

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Laurel Bernhardt

Randolph RecordSportsathlete of the week, Class 2-A, Laurel Bernhardt, nchsaa, prep cross country, Providence Grove athletics, State meet

Providence Grove, cross country She’ll be in the Class 2A state meet for the second year in a row after a strong showing in last week’s Midwest Regional. Bernhardt, a sophomore, had a strong month, winning the Piedmont Athletic Conference championship and then placing seventh in the Midwest Regional. Last year, she placed 27th in the state meet among 132 entrants. Bernhardt was a standout last spring in track and field and a member of the All-PAC team.

27 Oct

Prep volleyball: Season ends for county teams in state playoffs

Randolph RecordSportsclass 1-A, Class 2-A, piedmont athletic conference, Prep volleyball, Randleman Tigers, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, state playoffs, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles, Vickery

Southwestern Randolph teammates Jade Matias, left, and Bailey Blackmon go up for a block against Newton-Conover during a match in the state playoffs last week. (Thadd Sanders / For Randolph Record) UCA, Randleman reach third round before home defeats ASHEBORO – The volleyball season came to an end during the weekend for Randolph County high school teams. Uwharrie Charter Academy, the Piedmont Athletic Conference Tournament champion, was the last team standing before suffering a loss to visiting Cornerstone Charter in the Class 1A third round of the state playoffs. Earlier in the day, PAC regular-season champion Randleman went down in…

08 Sep

Randleman’s resiliency goes well with Kirkpatrick-to-Goldston connections in conquering Bunker Hill

Bob SuttonSportsClass 2-A, John Kirkpatrick, Payton Patterson, prep football, Randleman Tigers, Tyshaun Goldston

Randleman quarterback John Kirkpatrick looks to throw downfield against Bunker Hill on Friday night. (Jann Ortiz / For Randolph Record) RANDLEMAN – Randleman’s football team put on an impressive aerial show Friday night before the need to regroup against Bunker Hill. The Tigers mastered that as well in pulling out a 35-21 non-conference home victory in a matchup between teams that might be Class 2A state contenders. “We knew it was going to be a challenge,” Randleman quarterback John Kirkpatrick said. “I’m just glad my guys could come out here and execute the way they could. I’m just thankful for…

14 Jul

Wheatmore’s Messner takes turn in soccer spotlight

Bob SuttonSportsClass 2-A, North Carolina East-West All-Star Game, prep soccer, state playoffs, Wheatmore Warriors

Wheatmore’s Maggie Messner, left, makes a play against Wilkes Central’s Riley Huffman during the 2023 state playoffs. (Randolph Record) TRINITY – Maggie Messner had a huge impact for Wheatmore’s historic success in girls’ soccer. She was a bit under the radar with the Warriors, so she’s excited about the recognition that comes with a spot in next week’s North Carolina East-West All-Star Game. “For me, the best part is that because I’m not getting to play at the next level, I get to showcase myself and show what I can do and how I’ve developed,” Messner said. “I get to…

04 Jul

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Caleb Shelton

Randolph RecordSportsathlete of the week, Caleb Shelton, Class 2-A, prep track and field, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, State meet

Southwestern Randolph, track and field Shelton capped his high school career by competing in the Class 2A state meet for track and field. He qualified as a high jumper, finishing 11th in the meet in Greensboro. Shelton was the only entrant from Southwestern Randolph in this year’s state meet. He had success in other events as well during the past season. He competed in some competitions as a triple jumper. He was an All-Piedmont Athletic Conference selection in track and field as a sophomore and senior. This year, he was the conference runner-up in the high jump behind eventual state…

24 Jun

Wheatmore distance standout Hazelwood ready to run at different pace

Bob SuttonSportsClass 2-A, nchsaa, prep track and field, Wheatmore athletics, Zach Hazelwood

Zach Hazelwood of Wheatmore relaxes after his final high school race last month in the Class 2A state meet. (Bob Sutton / Randolph Record) GREENSBORO – Zach Hazelwood is looking forward to more relaxing runs after a stellar high school career as the area’s top distance runner. Hazelwood finished his senior year for Wheatmore and figured it’s time to back off from the running pace. “I’m just about ready to be done,” he said following his final high school competition last month at North Carolina A&T’s track in Greensboro. Hazelwood placed 10th in the 3,200 meters in the Class 2A…

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…

07 Jun

Wheatmore Warriors wind up special soccer stretch

Bob SuttonSportsClass 2-A, piedmont athletic conference, prep soccer, state playoffs, Wheatmore Warriors

Record careers end for girls' program TRINITY – Wheatmore came up shy of returning to the Class 2A state championship game in girls’ soccer after playing in the final the past two years. Yet the impact produced by the Warriors might be far reaching. “It has been a heckuva ride,” Wheatmore coach Rick Maness said. Wheatmore was the 2022 state champion and the 2023 runner-up. This year, the season ended in the West Region final. “I never dreamed of winning the states,” Maness said of the 2022 season. “This creates energy and people want a part of it.” That’s what…