nchsaa - Randolph Record

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…

30 Jan

Trinity wrestlers eye another team title

Bob SuttonSportsAiden Burkholder, Brandon Coggins, Class 2-A, Dual team state finals, Jaden Allred, Joseph Trahan, Lawson Coltrane, nchsaa, prep wrestling, Trinity Bulldogs

Trinity wrestling coach Brandon Coggins reacts during a key moment in last year’s dual team state final against Seaforth. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) TRINITY — Trinity’s wrestling team has a hard act to follow after what the Bulldogs did last winter. But they say they’re up for the challenge as they’ll try to repeat as Class 2A dual team state champions. “It was a surreal moment,” junior heavyweight Joseph Trahan said of last year’s title. “It definitely will be a lot of pressure. We have the ability to do it again.” That’s the mindset for the Bulldogs when the…

24 Jan

Area schools don’t shift in second NCHSAA league draft

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Eastern Randolph Wildcats, nchsaa, Providence Grove Patriots, Randleman Tigers, Randolph County School System, realignment, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, Stephen Gainey, Trinity Bulldogs, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles, Wheatmore Warriors

There were no changes involving Randolph County schools in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association’s second draft of conference alignments. That revised draft was released this week. “What I gather is our schools are pretty happy where they are,” said Stephen Gainey, superintendent of the Randolph County School System. RCSS has six high schools as part of the NCHSAA. Gainey began a term as NCHSAA president last summer, so has a keen eye on the topic. Appeals and comments from schools regarding the conference make-ups are due Tuesday. The realignment committee is scheduled to meet again Feb. 3-4. “A…

10 Jan

Schools in Randolph County react to NCHSAA league proposals

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Chris Chapman, Chris Waddell, Cody Moran, Corey Phillips, Eastern Randolph Wildcats, nchsaa, piedmont athletic conference, Providence Grove Patriots, Randleman Tigers, realignment, Robert Mitchell, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, Trinity Bulldogs, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles, Wes Berrier, Wheatmore Warriors

ASHEBORO – The proposed conference make-ups for the next North Carolina High School Athletic Association realignment look good to officials from most Randolph County schools. That’s not to say adjustments won’t be sought from some schools, including Southwestern Randolph. “We’re researching some things,” athletics director Chris Chapman said. The new league lineups come as the NCHSAA expands from four to eight classifications beginning in the summer to begin a four-year cycle. The initial draft of conferences was unveiled in December. Schools have until Jan. 21 to appeal for changes. “I think the state did a real good job of thinking…

26 Dec

NCHSAA’s conference draft could spread out Randolph County schools

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Eastern Randolph Wildcats, nchsaa, Providence Grove Patriots, Randleman Tigers, realignment, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, Trinity Bulldogs, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles, Wheatmore Warriors

New league alignments within the NCHSAA begin by summer Randolph County schools will be spread out when it comes to conference affiliations based on an initial draft sent to schools from the North Carolina High School Athletic Association. Schools can provide feedback on the drafts before those are finalized, likely in January. The new alignments, which are developed to be in place for four years, begin next summer. The NCHSAA is expanding from four classifications to eight, so there are bound to be different combinations when it comes to conference set-ups. The drafts reveal more split conferences (leagues with schools…

08 Dec

Waiting for conference configurations factors into NCHSAA meetings

Bob SuttonSportsnchsaa, Stephen Gainey

ASHEBORO — Putting together conferences for the new North Carolina High School Athletic Association classifications is a priority and that became a factor regarding several topics during last week’s bi-annual meetings. Stephen Gainey, the superintendent of the Randolph County School System, is serving as NCHSAA president. He said the overwhelming issue that schools want resolved is the release of the next conference alignments in the newly configured eight-class set-up. “I want that information as soon as possible,” Gainey said. Gainey said the board dealt with “a lot of operational issues” during its gathering in Chapel Hill. He said it was…

30 Nov

Eastern Randolph Wildcats lose grip in playoff loss

Bob SuttonSportsclass 1-A, Eastern Randolph football, Eastern Randolph Wildcats, nchsaa, prep football, state playoffs

Eastern Randolph’s season comes to a close in the third round of the postseason RAMSEUR – Eastern Randolph’s first loss marked the end of its football season, falling 27-14 to Corvian Community in the third round of the Class 1A state playoffs Friday night. An array of turnovers proved critical for the Wildcats (12-1), who were seeded fourth in the West Region. “We worked so hard, and that’s what makes it emotional,” Eastern Randolph running back Lucas Smith said. “This is the worst feeling you can have.” The Wildcats were in just their second tussle across the past two months…

29 Nov

Schools in Randolph County see shifts for NCHSAA realignment

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Eastern Randolph Wildcats, nchsaa, Providence Grove Patriots, realignment, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, Trinity Bulldogs, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles, Wheatmore Warriors

Asheboro might have new league partners, while UCA bumps up Schools in Randolph County will continue to be spread across three classifications in an upcoming realignment, but there’s a different makeup regarding the schools within the North Carolina High School Athletic Association. Asheboro, in particular, could have some new company in terms of fellow conference members. The NCHSAA is expanding from four to eight classifications beginning with the next school year. The breakdown of classifications was unveiled recently as enrollment figures were released. Asheboro has been tagged for Class 6A, while Uwharrie Charter Academy, Randleman and Southwestern Randolph are on…

27 Nov

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Lucas Smith

Randolph RecordSportsathlete of the week, class 1-A, Eastern Randolph Wildcats, Lucas Smith, nchsaa, prep football, state playoffs

Eastern Randolph, football Eastern Randolph’s high-powered team has had various sources of production in maintaining an undefeated record. One of the main contributors to the offense has been Smith, a senior running back. He has eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark regularly and ended up as a frequent visitor to the end zone. Smith has been an All-Piedmont Athletic Conference selection in each of the past two seasons. The Wildcats have cruised to victories in the Class 1A state playoffs. They’ll have an other home postseason game Friday night in a matchup of unbeatens when Corvian Community visits for a third-round…

24 Nov

Asheboro boys fall in OT of soccer state final

Randolph RecordSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Cam Letterlough, Class 3-A, nchsaa, prep soccer, State championships

MATTHEWS – Asheboro’s boys’ soccer team had done so much work throughout the season and during the last game of the year that the biggest reward seemed so close. But Blue Comets couldn’t complete the assignment in the Class 3A state championship game, falling to Western Alamance 4-3 in overtime Saturday night at Mecklenburg County Sportsplex. Asheboro held a 3-0 halftime lead, courtesy of goals from Cam Letterlough, Ozmar Martinez and Diego Bustamante in a 20-minute span. Juan Macias provided two assists. “We went into halftime with a three-goal lead,” Asheboro coach Nick Arroyo said. “We came out of halftime…