nchsaa - Randolph Record

09 Feb

Area swimmers set for state meets

Randolph RecordSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Maci Columbia, Megan Becker, nchsaa, Prep swimming, Wheatmore athletics

Megan Becker of Asheboro, shown here last month, is one of the qualifiers for the Class 3-A state championships. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) GREENSBORO – Asheboro and Wheatmore had swimmers qualify for this week’s state meet after regional competitions late last week. Asheboro swimming coach Chuck Hinson said the Blue Comets had their largest number of regional qualifiers in program history as the team was entered in 20 individual events and six relays in the Class 3-A Central Regional on Friday at Greensboro Aquatic Center. Freshman Megan Becker was the runner-up in the 200-yard freestyle in 1 minute, 57.67 seconds and…

04 Feb

UCA wrestlers pin down state duals title

Bob SuttonSportsAldo Hernandez, Chris Waddell, class 1-A, Grayson Roberts, Jaden Maness, nchsaa, prep wrestling, Uwharrie Charter Academy

Here’s the Uwharrie Charter Academy wrestling team after winning the Class 1-A dual team state championship by defeating Avery County on Saturday in Greensboro. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) GREENSBORO – All the pieces came together for Uwharrie Charter Academy’s wrestling team in another tight battle with Avery County. So this time, the Eagles won the Class 1-A dual team state championship. “Anytime you do something like this, it’s pretty special,” UCA coach Chris Waddell said. “It takes plenty – so moving parts to make it happen. It takes a collective effort.” Both teams won seven matches, but UCA racked up crucial…

03 Feb

UCA wrestlers head for title rematch with Avery County

Bob SuttonSportsclass 1-A, nchsaa, prep wrestling, Uwharrie Charter Academy

UCA’s Alec Millikan works against North East Carolina Prep’s Anthony Cairo during a 152-pound match in the state duals last weekend. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) Uwharrie Charter Academy’s wrestling team will try again against Avery County with a Class 1-A dual team state championship on the line. The teams meet Saturday afternoon at the Greensboro Coliseum’s field house in a rematch of the 2022 title meet. UCA (35-0) has blown through most opponents, while Avery County (27-7) had stiffer tests to reach this stage again. These teams are familiar competitors in the finals. UCA won the 2019 title before Avery County…

31 Jan

Prep Roundup: UCA wrestlers keep rolling in state duals

Randolph RecordSportsnchsaa, Prep swimming, prep wrestling, Uwharrie Charter Academy

Uwharrie Charter Academy’s Brandon Jordan controls North East Carolina Prep’s Christian Test during a 126-pound match. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – Uwharrie Charter Academy’s wrestling team won two duals Saturday to advance in the Class 1-A state playoffs. The Eagles were at home as the East Region’s top seed, defeating Pender 66-18 and North East Carolina Prep 49-28. That sends UCA to Wednesday’s action against Pamlico, with Thomasville and host Rosewood also meeting in the third round at that site. The third-round winners meet later Wednesday with a spot in the state final at stake. The title matchup takes place…

31 Dec

Championships help define 2022 for Randolph County sports

Bob SuttonSportsAldo Hernandez, Asheboro Zookeepers, Brooks Brannon, David Makupson, Grayson Roberts, McCrary Park, nchsaa, prep sports, Randleman athletics, Randleman baseball, Tot Hill Farm Golf Club, Wheatmore soccer

Summer Bowman of Wheatmore reacts after scoring a goal against Clinton in the Class 2-A state championship game. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) Here’s a recap of notable Randolph County-related sports stories for 2022: ** Asheboro’s summer collegiate baseball team undergoes a rebranding that includes a name change. The new name is the Asheboro ZooKeepers in a switch from Asheboro Copperheads. ** Randleman’s girls’ basketball team goes through an undefeated regular season and completes a 25-1 season. The lone loss came in the Class 2-A West Region semifinals to Shelby. ** David Makupson of Trinity captures a state championship in Class 2-A…

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…

21 Nov

Prep Notes: Coaches have various results in debuts

Randolph RecordSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Autumn Gentry, Gracyn Hall, nchsaa, Randleman athletics, Trinity athletics, Wes Berrier

Maddie Small of Southwestern Randolph goes up for a shot against Asheboro during last week’s season opener. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) Southwestern Randolph ruined the coaching debut for Asheboro’s Mike Headen in girls’ basketball last week. The host Cougars defeated Asheboro 52-49 in Friday night’s non-conference game. Headen was promoted from assistant coach to head coach during the summer upon the retirement of Don Corry. Also in girls’ basketball, a couple of area players who’ve already eclipsed 1,000 career points got off to good starts. They are seniors Gracyn Hall and Autumn Gentry. Hall of Randleman racked up 16 points in…

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…

16 Nov

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Zander Cheek

Randolph RecordSportsathlete of the week, football, nchsaa, prep sports, Providence Grove, Zander Cheek

Providence Grove | football Cheek, a senior, scored four postseason touchdowns in two games for the Patriots. Providence Grove’s season ended with an 8-4 record with Thursday night’s loss at Reidsville, where Cheek scored a touchdown. Cheek scored three touchdowns in the previous week when Providence Grove won a football game in the state playoffs for the first time by winning at McMichael. Cheek led the Patriots with 38.5 receiving yards per game to go with a team-leading four touchdown catches. He scored 13 touchdowns this season, behind only his twin brother Zane Cheek, who had 20.

14 Nov

Blue Comets fall short of state final in soccer loss to Hickory

Randolph RecordSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Class 3-A, nchsaa, prep soccer

Asheboro’s Brandon Santos, right, is consoled by Hickory goalkeeper Conner Mejia on Monday night. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – Asheboro’s finest season in boys’ soccer didn’t end so splendidly. The Blue Comets gave a strong effort but fell short of reaching the state championship game, dropping a 2-1 decision to visiting Hickory in the Class 3-A West Region final Monday night. “It just wasn’t our day,” Asheboro coach Nick Arroyo said. Asheboro (23-2-2) scored first on Daniel Gutierrez Resendez’s goal. Hickory posted the tying and go-ahead goals late in the first half. “We had two simple mistakes that just cost…