Dominic Hittepole - Randolph Record

16 Feb

Class 2A wrestling: Trinity, Wheatmore excel in regional with dramatics, upsets

Bob SuttonSportsAiden Burkholder, Alex Raymundo, Ayden Sumners, Brandon Coggins, Braxton Walker, Dominic Hittepole, Jaden Allred, Johnathan Kelly, Jose Flores, Joseph Trahan, Lawson Coltrane, Mitchell Freeman, prep wrestling, Providence Grove Patriots, Randleman Tigers, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, Stephen Cross, Trinity Bulldogs, Wheatmore Warriors

Members of the Trinity wrestling team pose for photos after winning the Class 2A Midwest Regional. (Bob Sutton / Randolph Record) Wrestlers from Randleman, Providence Grove and Southwestern Randolph also claim regional titles LEXINGTON — Trinity’s wrestling team went out to prove a few points in the Class 2A Midwest Regional and that turned out productive. The Bulldogs got the job done up and down the lineup Saturday at Lexington Middle School. “We didn’t come to play around,” Trinity heavyweight Joseph Trahan said. “It’s solely a business trip. We couldn’t get it done in duals, so we came here ready.…

03 Feb

Reigning champs UCA, Trinity start strong in state duals

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, class 1-A, Class 2-A, David Lambright, Dominic Hittepole, Eastern Randolph Wildcats, Jaden Allred, Joseph Trahan, Lawson Coltrane, Lorenzo Alston, nchsaa, prep wrestling, Trinity Bulldogs, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles, Wheatmore Warriors

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…

31 Jan

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

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, class 1-A, Class 2-A, Class 3-A, Cliff Thompson, Dominic Hittepole, Eastern Randolph Wildcats, nchsaa, prep wrestling, Trinity Bulldogs, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles, Wheatmore Warriors

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…

12 Jan

UCA wrestlers buff up with more success

Bob SuttonSportsCaden Bond, Chris Waddell, Dominic Hittepole, Lorenzo Alston, piedmont athletic conference, prep wrestling, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles, Wheatmore Warriors

Caden Bond TRINITY — Uwharrie Charter Academy’s wrestling team is on target for a league championship and another bid for a dual team state title. Per usual, the Eagles have been doing so by rolling past most opponents. “We’re trying to dominate,” senior Aiden Foster said. “We’re trying to be better every day.” UCA has a new coach in Hayden Waddell, who moved into the position that his father, Chris Waddell, previously held. The elder Waddell remains involved and on the bench with the Eagles. “We’re trying to stay consistent with what we do,” said Hayden Waddell, who was the…

06 Jan

Prep wrestling: Wheatmore’s Hittepole pins way to title; Trinity grapplers excel; UCA racks up duals wins

Randolph RecordSportsBliss Joyce, Dominic Hittepole, Jaden Allred, Joseph Trahan, Lorenzo Alston, prep wrestling, Trinity Bulldogs, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles, Wheatmore Warriors

Wheatmore’s Dominic Hittepole, top, works against an opponent during last year’s state tournament. (Randolph Record file photo) GREENSBORO – Dominic Hittepole of Wheatmore added another individual championship in the wrestling season by capturing first place in the Crosby Invitational on Saturday at Greensboro Dudley. Hittepole pinned Eden Morehead’s Brock Blizzard in 3:45 of the 175-pound title bout. It was his fourth pin of the day after topping Central Davidson’s Ethan Mumford in 31 seconds, Greensboro Page’s Ian Harris in 3:14 and Greensboro Grimsley’s Hayden Rogers in 32 seconds. A week earlier, Hittepole won 6-3 against Blizzard in a consolation-round match…

18 Oct

Area wrestlers compete in Super 32 Challenge

Randolph RecordSportsDavid Lambright, Dominic Hittepole, Greensboro Coliseum complex, Joseph Trahan, Lawson Coltrane, Lorenzo Alston, prep wrestling, Super 32 Challenge, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles

GREENSBORO – Two-time state wrestling champion Lorenzo Alston of Uwharrie Charter Academy posted a 2-2 record in the Super 32 Challenge last weekend at the coliseum complex in Greensboro. Alston, who has rolled to a pair of Class 1A state titles, is a junior. Several Randolph County wrestlers entered the Super 32 Challenge, which is one of the premier events for wrestlers of high school age and attracted participants from around the country, including those with international age-group championships. Alston lost by a 12-10 decision to Noah Bull of Layton, Utah, in the round of 32 in the 150-pound division.…

03 Sep

Wheatmore Warriors search for winning ways, endure loss at East Davidson

Bob SuttonSportsDominic Hittepole, Jacob Sheffield, Johnathan Kelly, prep football, Wheatmore Warriors

THOMASVILLE – Wheatmore’s bid to make football inroads is bound to be a tussle, so a frustration-filled second half Monday night against East Davidson became troublesome on multiple levels. “The disappointing part is we worked so hard,” Wheatmore two-way lineman Ashtin Bennett said. “No excuse to come out the way we did the second half. I know we can play better.” East Davidson scored two second-half touchdowns to top the visiting Warriors 14-6 in a non-conference make-up game that was postponed from three nights earlier. The Warriors (0-2) had been encouraged by this matchup, looking for a breakthrough early in…

14 Jun

Wheatmore Warriors use spring to set foundation with new football coach

Bob SuttonSportsDominic Hittepole, Jacob Sheffield, Johnathan Kelly, piedmont athletic conference, prep football, Wheatmore athletics, Wheatmore Warriors

Members of the Wheatmore football team gather near the end of a practice session this spring. (Bob Sutton / Randolph Record) TRINITY – Members of Wheatmore’s football team went through spring workouts adjusting to new coach Jacob Sheffield. “He’s bold. That’s the word,” said Johnathan Kelly, a standout linebacker and running back. “A good fit for us.” Sheffield was hired to replace Philip Yarbrough, who opted to leave the position and take a teaching position in Davidson County in his hometown. Sheffield is a Trinity alum and most recently an assistant coach there, though he’s a former head coach at…

29 Apr

UCA wrestler Alston proves strong in nationals

Randolph RecordSportsBraxton Walker, Brayden Hall, Dominic Hittepole, Gavin Hardister, Jose Flores, Joseph Trahan, Lawson Coltrane, Lorenzo Alston, prep wrestling, Spencer May

Uwharrie Charter Academy’s Lorenzo Alston, here holding down Avery County’s Mason Bentley in the state tournament in February, reached the semifinals in a national tournament. (Randolph Record file photo) Mixed results come for Randolph County entrants VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Sophomore Lorenzo Alston of Uwharrie Charter Academy turned in one of the best finishes of any wrestler from North Carolina in the National High School Coaches Association’s national tournament in April. Alston placed fourth in the sophomore division at 145 pounds at Virginia Beach Sports Center. Alston reached the semifinals before losing 11-3 to Kross Cassidy of Fairfax, Va. He…

17 Feb

Trinity’s Hardister knocks off champ on way to title

Randolph RecordSportsAlex Raymundo, Braxton Walker, Class 2-A, Dominic Hittepole, Gavin Hardister, Greensboro Coliseum, Jaden Allred, Jose Flores, Levi Dennis, nchsaa, prep wrestling, Randleman Tigers, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, Spencer May, state tournament, Trey Swaney, Trinity Bulldogs

Trinity’s Gavin Hardister reacts after defeating Matthew Cranfill of Bandys to win the 215-pound state title in Class 2-A . (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) GREENSBORO – Gavin Hardister had to defeat a defending state champion along the way, but the Trinity wrestler largely dominated the rest of the Class 2-A field at 215 pounds on the way to a state championship. The Bulldogs senior finished it with a 13-5 decision against Bandys senior Matthew Cranfill in Saturday’s final at the Greensboro Coliseum. His toughest match: Against another wrestler from the Piedmont Athletic Conference. Trinity had seven wrestlers with top-six finishes in…