Greensboro Coliseum

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Braxton Walker

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Braxton Walker

Randleman, wrestling / baseball Walker dominated in four matches in the Class 2A state tournament at 215 pounds, winning the championship last week at First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro. Walker, a senior, used three technical falls and a major decision in securing the title. He defeated Seaforth’s Ethan Kuball 14-2 in the final, completing the season with a 40-3 record. Walker had placed fourth last year in the 190-pound class. He racked up 89 victories across a two-season period. Later in the week, he went to the mound for the Randleman baseball team and delivered 13 strikeouts against host Northwest…
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Photo gallery of Randolph County’s nine wrestling champions

Photo gallery of Randolph County’s nine wrestling champions

Trinity fans gathered at the state finals at First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro, where five wrestlers from the school reached individual state finals. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) GREENSBORO — There were nine individual wrestling state champions from schools in Randolph County schools during the North Carolina High School Athletic Association’s state tournament, which ended Monday at First Horizon Coliseum. Those titlists represented five different schools — Eastern Randolph and Uwharrie Charter Academy in Class 1A and Randleman, Trinity and Wheatmore in Class 2A. Here’s a look at some of the scenes from the championship round:  
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Titles at nearly every turn in Class 2A for Randolph County wrestlers

Titles at nearly every turn in Class 2A for Randolph County wrestlers

Wheatmore’s Ayden Sumners leaps into the arms of coach Kyle Spencer after winning the 126-pound state championship in Class 2A. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) GREENSBORO — Trinity and Wheatmore shared some of the glory in the Class 2A division of the wrestling state tournament. There was plenty to go around. Randleman’s Braxton Walker joined in the fun as part of Randolph County’s huge presence in the classification during Monday's finals. Trinity’s Aiden Burkholder (106 pounds) and Lawson Coltrane (165) won championships along with Wheatmore’s Ayden Sumners (126) and Dominic Hittepole (175). So of the 14 weight classes in Class…
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Class 1-A state tournament: Eastern Randolph joins UCA with wrestling titles

Class 1-A state tournament: Eastern Randolph joins UCA with wrestling titles

Uwharrie Charter Academy’s Michael Shropshire reacts during his 215-pound championship match in Class 1A on Monday. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) GREENSBORO – The third consecutive individual state championship for Uwharrie Charter Academy junior Lorenzo Alston was an expected highlight. Then look at what Eastern Randolph did in Class 1A during the state tournament at First Horizon Coliseum. The Wildcats produced a state champion for the first time in 21 years – and they had two of them Monday at First Horizon Coliseum. Junior David Lambright (126 pounds) and sophomore Maddox Carson (285) claimed the championships. Michael Shropshire, a junior…
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Dozen Randolph County wrestlers reach state finals

Dozen Randolph County wrestlers reach state finals

Randleman’s Braxton Walker has his hand raised after winning a 215-pound quarterfinal bout against Holmes’ Gavin Pierce on Sunday at First Horizon Coliseum. (Bob Sutton / Randolph Record) GREENSBORO – Randolph County wrestling teams will be well-represented in the finals of the high school state tournament. Five Trinity wrestlers (three boys, two girls), two from Wheatmore and Randleman’s Braxton Walker are all in the Class 2A finals, while in Class 1A there are two finalists from both Uwharrie Charter Academy and Eastern Randolph. The finals are slated to begin after the Parade of Champions at 4 p.m. Monday at First…
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Trinity’s Hardister knocks off champ on way to title

Trinity’s Hardister knocks off champ on way to title

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…
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Three UCA wrestlers claim state titles

Three UCA wrestlers claim state titles

Uwharrie Charter Academy’s Jaden Maness lifts Tyler Stevens of Pamlico County during the Class 1-A final at 215 pounds. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) GREENSBORO – Uwharrie Charter Academy wrestlers were busy in Saturday’s finals of the Class 1-A state tournament, coming away with three championships and two runners-up spots at the Greensboro Coliseum. UCA’s Lorenzo Alston won his second state title by cruising at 150 pounds, while teammates Carson Robinson at 157 and Jaden Maness at 215 also nabbed championships. Eagles seniors Ethan Hines (106 pounds) and Alek Millikan (165) were runners-up, while junior Caden Bond (175) was third. Robbinsville won…
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Trinity, UCA lead charge into wrestling states after strong regionals

Trinity, UCA lead charge into wrestling states after strong regionals

Trinity’s Bear Schaefer works on top against Seaforth’s William Bass during a key match in the Class 2-A dual team final. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) Trinity and Uwharrie Charter Academy will be well-represented in the wrestling state tournament after both schools produced four regional champions. Add in Randleman’s Braxton Walker among wrestlers from Randolph County winning regionals and holding high seeds for the states. Numerous other wrestlers from the county qualified as well and could be contenders for place finishes. Wrestlers in the top four in regionals advance to states. Trinity and UCA claimed team regional titles. Both teams were state…
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Prep wrestling: UCA duo, Southwestern Randolph’s Flores secure state titles

Prep wrestling: UCA duo, Southwestern Randolph’s Flores secure state titles

GREENSBORO – Senior wrestler Aldo Hernandez became a three-time state champion, including two seasons in a row for Uwharrie Charter Academy, and two underclassmen from Randolph County schools also won state championships. Hernandez captured the Class 1-A title at 138 pounds with a dominating performance across two days at the Greensboro Coliseum. Freshman teammate Lorenzo Alston won at 145 pounds. In Class 2-A, it was a three-day meet, capped for Southwestern Randolph 220-pound sophomore Jose Flores with Saturday night’s championship. UCA had three runners-up, and finished third in the Class 1-A team standings. Hernandez, who nabbed a state title in…
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