nchsaa - Randolph Record

31 May

Different path, same result: UCA claims third consecutive 1A state championship in baseball

Bob SuttonSportsclass 1-A, Grat Dalton, Jake Hunter, Jaxon Mabe, Logun Wilkins, nchsaa, Prep baseball, Rob Shore, state finals, Ting Stadium, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles

Uwharrie Charter Academy's Jaxon Mabe was fired up during the Class 1A state finals at Ting Stadium in Holly Springs. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) HOLLY SPRINGS – It was a different route for Uwharrie Charter Academy’s baseball team in the Class 1A state finals. The Eagles ended up in the same place. It took two victories on the final day of the season for UCA to secure its third consecutive championship Saturday at Ting Stadium. “We pitched and played defense so well,” coach Rob Shore said. “These guys decided they wanted it and they came out here and did…

23 May

Season ends for Randleman softball team in regional finals

Randolph RecordSportsClass 2-A, nchsaa, Prep softball, Randleman Tigers, state playoffs

RANDLEMAN – Randleman’s softball team made it to the Class 2A West Region finals before hitting glitches against top-seeded West Wilkes. So the season ended Thursday night for the Tigers. West Wilkes topped the 15th-seeded Tigers 6-5 at home and 8-0 on the road to sweep the best-of-3 West Region finals. West Wilkes (25-3) takes on North Lenoir (20-3), which will be in the finals for the first time in 20 years, in the best-of-3 state finals. Randleman (20-7) won six consecutive games before encountering the Blackhawks. For the season, the Tigers had their most victories since winning 18 times…

22 May

UCA baseball team heads back to state finals after sweeping Eastern Randolph

Randolph RecordSportsAlex Carver, Brett Smith, Cade McCallum, class 1-A, Daniel Brandon, Eastern Randolph Wildcats, Grat Dalton, Jose Ramirez, Logun Wilkins, nchsaa, Prep baseball, Rob Shore, state playoffs, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles

Uwharrie Charter Academy’s Alex Carver is fired up after scoring in Game 1 of the Class 1A West Region finals. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) RAMSEUR – Uwharrie Charter Academy’s baseball team is back in the Class 1A state finals, seeking a third consecutive championship. The Eagles swept Eastern Randolph in the West Region’s best-of-3 finals, winning 12-1 in six innings in Thursday night’s Game 2 on the road. Two nights earlier, UCA won 2-1 in the series opener at home. The Eagles (18-11) have leaned on their experienced players, with several seniors in their final high school postseason. “You…

20 May

Randleman’s Farlow clears the field, wins state title again in high jump

Bob SuttonSportsChase Farlow, Class 2-A, Gracie Beane, nchsaa, North Carolina A&T, prep track and field, Randleman Tigers, State meet

Chase Farlow (Jann Ortiz / For Randolph Record) GREENSBORO — Chase Farlow left his final high school track and field meet with two medals, including another coveted gold in his specialty. The Randleman senior captured the high jump in the Class 2A state meet Saturday at North Carolina A&T. He was second in the long jump. “Pretty good day in the office,” Farlow said. He cleared 6 feet, 10 inches, in the high jump, matching his personal best. He was most pleased that he made it to that point of the competition without a scratch. He didn’t clear the 7-foot…

19 May

Dates set for regional finals in baseball, softball (updated)

Randolph RecordSportsEastern Randolph Wildcats, nchsaa, Prep baseball, Prep softball, Randleman Tigers, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles

Two-time defending state champion Uwharrie Charter Academy and Eastern Randolph will play in the Class 1A West Region baseball finals this week. The best-of-3 finals begin at 7 p.m. Tuesday at UCA (16-11) before shifting to Eastern Randolph (15-12-1) for Game 2 on Thursday night. Originally, Game 2 had been listed for Wednesday. If a third game is necessary, will be played Friday night at UCA. Softball Randleman (20-5) and West Wilkes (23-3) will play in the best-of-3 finals for the Class 2A West Region. It starts Tuesday at West Wilkes before Thursday night’s Game 2 at Randleman. Game 3…

17 May

UCA takes road back to regional baseball finals, will face Eastern Randolph next

Randolph RecordSportsBryson Marley, class 1-A, Class 2-A, Eastern Randolph Wildcats, Grat Dalton, Jake Hunter, John Kirkpatrick, Jose Ramirez, Logun Wilkins, nchsaa, Prep baseball, Randleman Tigers, Rob Shore, state playoffs, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles

Uwharrie Charter Academy baseball coach Rob Shore talks to his team before Friday night’s Class 1A game in the state playoffs at Cherryville. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) CHERRYVILLE – Uwharrie Charter Academy is back in another Class 1A West Region baseball finals and there’s a familiar tone. The opponent for this week’s best-of-3 finals is Eastern Randolph, a rival in the Piedmont Athletic Conference. Both teams won fourth-round road games Friday night to keep their seasons going. One of them will play in the state championship series later this month. “Our guys are resilient,” UCA coach Rob Shore said.…

09 May

Ejections, behavior within NCHSAA concern RCSS superintendent

Bob SuttonSportsEducation, nchsaa, Randolph County School System, Stephen Gainey, Uwharrie Charter Academy

Stephen Gainey (Courtesy photo) A rise in ejections across sports in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association has raised the concern of Stephen Gainey. Gainey, the superintendent of the Randolph County School System, is serving as NCHSAA president. “I’m seeing sportsmanship issues,” Gainey said last week after the association’s spring meetings wrapped up. “I see it on the field. I see it in the stands. And it’s very concerning to me.” The number of ejections of players has increased dramatically during the 2024-25 school year, NCHSAA commissioner Que Tucker said. For Gainey, who regularly attends sports competitions in Randolph…

25 Mar

Wheatmore wrestler Hittepole cherishes process of reaching championship moment

Bob SuttonSportsClass 2-A, Dominic Hittepole, Kyle Spencer, nchsaa, prep wrestling, state tournament, Wheatmore Warriors

Wheatmore junior Dominic Hittepole became a state champion last month after coming one victory short of that goal a year earlier. (P.J. Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) TRINITY — Wheatmore wrestler Dominic Hittepole won matches on a regular basis for several months. Yet it seemed like a long climb, waiting for the moments that would define his season. “I’m ready for February,” he said in late January. “I’m really excited where I’m at. It matters a lot. There are a lot of people doubting me. I can’t end up in that runner-up position I was in last year.” So he took…

21 Mar

Trinity wrestler learned to cope with injury on way to state title

Bob SuttonSportsBrandon Coggins, Greensboro, Lawson Coltrane, nchsaa, prep wrestling, state tournament, Trinity Bulldogs

Trinity’s Lawson Coltrane was delighted after winning the Class 2A championship at 165 pounds against Connor Byrd of Bandys. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) TRINITY — By the time the postseason for the high school wrestling season arrived, Trinity senior Lawson Coltrane knew there could be obstacles. He tried not to think about one of the biggest challenges he would face. He suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament during the season. But if he wanted to achieve his goal, he would have to deal with it. “I don’t even know how to explain it,” Coltrane said. “It kind of happened…

18 Mar

Varner to return to coach Randleman’s girls’ basketball team

Bob SuttonSportsBrandon Varner, nchsaa, piedmont athletic conference, Prep Basketball, Randleman Tigers

After a two-year absence, Brandon Varner will return to a coaching role with the Randleman girls’ basketball team. (Randolph Record file photo) RANDLEMAN — Brandon Varner is returning to the role as girls’ basketball coach at Randleman, appreciating a strong commitment from school officials to the program. “It was their passion about girls’ basketball and they really wanted me to lead that team,” Varner said. “From the get-go (principal Corey Phillips) was pretty passionate about that girls’ basketball team.” Varner stepped away following five seasons directing the Tigers in the spring of 2023. He’ll be the third coach in three…