Class 2-A - Randolph Record

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…

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…

01 Jun

Good to the last play: Cougars claim state title with two runs on final pitch

Bob SuttonSportsClass 2-A, Kami Dunn, Macie Crutchfield, Prep softball, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, State championships, state playoffs, Toby Strider

Here’s the aftermath of the tying and winning runs scoring for Southwestern Randolph on the final play of the Class 2-A softball state championship series. (Bob Sutton / Randolph Record) GREENSBORO – Madelyn Smith’s dash from first base to home plate that sent Southwestern Randolph’s softball team to a Class 2A state championship came amid chaos on the final play of the season. It created more mayhem in terms of a celebration for the Cougars, who won the program’s first title in 14 years. “We have this saying, ‘Why not us?’ ” said third baseman Kami Dunn, who took that…

31 May

Southwestern Randolph in softball, UCA in baseball close in on state titles

Randolph RecordSportsCarter Brown, class 1-A, Class 2-A, Macie Crutchfield, nchsaa, Prep baseball, Prep softball, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, state playoffs, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles

Southwestern Randolph’s softball team and Uwharrie Charter Academy’s baseball team are both one victory away from state championships after winning Friday night in drastically different manners. Southwestern Randolph opened the Class 2-A state finals with a 13-0 blasting of Midway at UNC Greensboro. The game was reduced to five innings because of the mercy rule. The Cougars (22-7) go for their first title in 14 years with Game 2 at 2 p.m. Saturday. If necessary, Game 3 will be held at 5 p.m. or 8 p.m., depending on the status of the Class 4-A finals also taking place on the…