Eastern Randolph - Randolph Record

10 Mar

Ex-Globetrotters guide Eastern Randolph, Wilson Prep to Class 1-A state final

Randolph RecordSportsclass 1-A, Eastern Randolph, Eastern Randolph athletics, Johnny Thomas, nchsaa, Prep Basketball

Coach Johnny Thomas has his Eastern Randolph team in the Class 1-A state final. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) The coaches for the two teams in the Class 1-A state championship game for boys’ basketball own a common background. Johnny Thomas of Eastern Randolph and Anthony Atkinson Jr. of Wilson Prep both played for the Harlem Globetrotters. Eastern Randolph is going for the school’s first state championship in basketball when it plays Wilson Prep on Saturday afternoon. The state final is scheduled for noon at Reynolds Coliseum on the North Carolina State campus in Raleigh. The only previous appearance in a state…

07 Mar

College baseball: Thomas notches wins at UNCG; Gardner receives USA South honors

Bob SuttonSportsBrody Gardner, College baseball, Eastern Randolph, Luke Thomas, Providence Grove, Randleman, Randleman baseball, Ryan White

Luke Thomas at UNCG Several alums from Randolph County schools have produced notable opening stretches in their collegiate baseball careers. Providence Grove alum Luke Thomas was the winning pitcher in his collegiate debut, throwing 1 2/3 shutout innings when UNC Greensboro defeated Northeastern on Feb. 18 in the second game of the season. The Spartans scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning. The next day, Thomas took the loss when giving up four late-inning runs to Northeastern. In the season’s second week, Thomas had two outings against Notre Dame, throwing one hitless inning in the second game…

04 Mar

Huge comeback propels Eastern Randolph boys to state final

Randolph RecordSportsclass 1-A, Davonte Brooks, Eastern Randolph, Johnny Thomas, nchsaa, Pierce Leonard, Prep Basketball

Eastern Randolph team members and coach Johnny Thomas – with arms raised – celebrate the Class 1-A West Region title. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) MORGANTON – Eastern Randolph rallied from a 21-point halftime deficit to keep its season alive and advance to a state championship in boys’ basketball for the first time. The Wildcats pulled out a 62-59 victory against Bishop McGuinness in the Class 1-A West Region final Saturday afternoon at Freedom High School. “As the coach, even I’m at awe at what they just did,” first-year Eastern Randolph coach Johnny Thomas said of his players. Eastern Randolph (29-2) will…

01 Mar

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Payton Purdue

Randolph RecordSportsathlete of the week, Eastern Randolph, girls' basketball, high school basketball, Payton Purdue, Prep Basketball, prep sports, student athlete

Eastern Randolph, girls’ basketball Eastern Randolph had a breakthrough season in girls’ basketball, and Purdue, a senior, played a significant role. The team secured its first winning season in six years. Purdue was one of three seniors on the Eastern Randolph roster. She was the starting center. The Wildcats reached the third round of the Class 1-A state playoffs. They finished with a 19-8 record.

11 Feb

Prep Girls: Snotherly achieves history with Eastern Randolph

Bob SuttonSportsBrecken Snotherly, Eastern Randolph, Gracyn Hall, piedmont athletic conference, Piedmont Athletic Conference Tournament, Prep Basketball

Brecken Snotherly goes up for a shot earlier this season at Trinity. (Randolph Record) CLIMAX – It’s already an historic season for Eastern Randolph’s girls’ basketball team. Much of that is coming from senior guard Brecken Snotherly, who racked up a school-record 51 points in Tuesday night’s regular-season home finale against Trinity. “I was kind of surprised to have that many,” she said. “I would say 25 points was a lot for a game.” She hit six 3-point shots. That might have been the difference from some of her other games. “My shot, when you have games that you’re on,”…

22 Dec

Prep Football Notes: More changes come in Mid-Piedmont Conference; Asheboro man coaches 13-win team

Bob SuttonSportsAndrew Carrouth, Asheboro Blue Comets, Calvin Brown, Eastern Randolph, Mid-Piedmont Conference, nchsaa, prep football

Mount Airy players cling to Eastern Randolph's Ervodd Cassady during the Class 1-A West Regional semifinal in November. Mount Airy went on to win the state championship. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) The coaching change at Asheboro isn’t the only change atop a football program in the Mid-Piedmont Conference. Calvin Brown is leaving Providence Grove to be Asheboro’s new coach, replacing Blake Brewer. Oak Grove has lost coach Mark Holcomb, who has taken the job at Bishop McGuinness. Holcomb, a former coach at North Davidson, had been at Oak Grove for all six seasons that the program existed. Oak Grove was 11-1…

19 Nov

Wildcats score late to keep alive season

Randolph RecordSportsBurton Cates, Eastern Randolph, Eastern Randolph athletics, Ervodd Cassady, nchsaa

RAMSEUR – Ervodd Cassady scored on a 26-yard run with 6:27 remaining as Eastern Randolph’s football team overcame visiting Robbinsville for a 29-26 victory in a third-round game of the Class 1-A state playoffs Friday night. The Wildcats, who are the top seed in the West Region, made two defensive stops inside their own 20-yard line in the final two minutes to hold on. Linebacker A’donye Herbert made a couple of key tackles. “Just make a play so we can keep moving in,” Herbert said. “It felt great, just one more step to moving in.” Eastern Randolph (11-1) will meet…

22 Sep

Eastern Randolph QB cuts weight, but still wants to feast on victories

Bob SuttonSportsBurton Cates, Eastern Randolph, football, piedmont athletic conference, prep football, prep sports, Stratton Barwick

Quarterback Stratton Barwick of Eastern Randolph bulls his way for a touchdown against Walkertown earlier this season. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) RAMSEUR – The thought of the quarterback for Eastern Randolph’s wildly successful football team being the big man on campus wasn’t a grand idea for veteran coach Burton Cates. He put Stratton Barwick on a diet. Now a bit swifter, Barwick hopes to put the Wildcats on the fast track again this year. Listed at 6-foot-1, Barwick is down to about 235 pounds after playing the 2021 season at 250. “He has gotten a step quicker,” Cates said. This weight…

05 Aug

Area teacher benefits from national academy

Bob SuttonFeaturesAmy Kidd, Climax, Eastern Randolph, National Agriscience Teacher Ambassador Academy, National Association of Agricultural Educators, Providence Grove, Randolph County School System

Amy Kidd, a teacher at Providence Gove, took part in last month’s National Agriscience Teacher Ambassador Academy in Tulsa, Okla. (Courtesy photo) Providence Grove’s Kidd participates in agricultural education program CLIMAX — Amy Kidd says the most important part of her role as an agricultural teacher at Providence Grove is tending to the welfare of students’ education and development. After taking part in a national program this summer, Kidd’s influence will extend to assisting teachers as well. “I’m excited about sharing it with other teachers,” Kidd said. She was one of 23 teachers from across the country selected to participate…

14 Jul

Lighthouse Award adds to Eastern Randolph’s pride

Bob SuttonNewsEastern Randolph, Lighthouse Award, Randolph County School System, Randolph County Schools, Stephen Gainey

School leaders gathered last winter when Eastern Randolph High School received the Lighthouse Award. Pictured, left to right, are Cecil Mock, former assistant principal; Cathy Waddell, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction with the Randolph County School System; principal Susan Chappell; RCSS superintendent Stephen Gainey; math teacher Ashley Inman; and retired JROTC advisor Lt. Col. Mike Williams. (Courtesy photo) School’s deep staff of alums helps define culture RAMSEUR – As principal Susan Chappell of Eastern Randolph High School reflected on the school receiving a major award on a statewide level during the past school year, one thing stood out. That’s…