nchsaa - Randolph Record

04 Nov

Prep soccer: Three area teams set standard with state playoffs approaching

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Cam Letterlough, Mid-Piedmont Conference, nchsaa, piedmont athletic conference, prep soccer, Randleman Tigers, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, state playoffs

A few boys’ soccer teams from Randolph County could be in good positions to make some noise in the postseason. Championship efforts from Asheboro in the Mid-Piedmont Conference and co-champions Randleman and Southwestern Randolph in the Piedmont Athletic Conference came with some dominating performances. Because of Hurricane Helene’s impact on the western part of the state, the beginning of the state playoffs has been delayed as the North Carolina High School Athletic Association adjusted the postseason calendar for the sport. The pairings and seeds will be announced Thursday. First-round games will be contested Saturday, and for teams advancing there will…

03 Nov

Prep Roundup: Tennis season ends for Patriots in playoffs

Randolph RecordSportsClass 2-A, nchsaa, prep cross country, Prep golf, Prep tennis, Prep volleyball

Providence Grove’s girls’ tennis team advanced to the Class 2A third round of the dual team state playoffs before bowing out. Fourth-seeded Burns defeated fifth-seeded Providence Grove 6-3 in last week’s match. The Patriots finished the season with a 12-3 record. Cross country Saturday at Kernersville, Randleman senior Freddy Mercado was 35th in 17 minutes, 37.75 seconds in the Class 2A boys’ race of state championships at Ivey Redmon Sports Complex In the girls’ race, sophomore Laurel Bernhardt of Providence Grove placed 40th in 21:33.12. Wheatmore freshman Scarlett Hildreth was 60th in 22:20.72. Girls’ golf At Lexington, Megan Oakley of…

30 Oct

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Laurel Bernhardt

Randolph RecordSportsathlete of the week, Class 2-A, Laurel Bernhardt, nchsaa, prep cross country, Providence Grove athletics, State meet

Providence Grove, cross country She’ll be in the Class 2A state meet for the second year in a row after a strong showing in last week’s Midwest Regional. Bernhardt, a sophomore, had a strong month, winning the Piedmont Athletic Conference championship and then placing seventh in the Midwest Regional. Last year, she placed 27th in the state meet among 132 entrants. Bernhardt was a standout last spring in track and field and a member of the All-PAC team.

20 Oct

Prep volleyball: PAC Tournament champ UCA, runner-up Randleman hold high seeds for states

Randolph RecordSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Mid-Piedmont Conference, nchsaa, piedmont athletic conference, Piedmont Athletic Conference Tournament, Prep volleyball, Randleman Tigers, state playoffs, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles

Uwharrie Charter Academy coach Lee Kennell addresses the team during a match earlier this season. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) RANDLEMAN – Uwharrie Charter Academy’s volleyball looks all heated up again. The Eagles are Piedmont Athletic Conference Tournament champions and hold big aspirations for the state playoffs. UCA upended regular-season champion Randleman to win the PAC Tournament last week. The teams split two matches in the regular season. Both teams received high seeds for the state playoffs The Eagles are seeded fourth in Class 1A West, entering the state playoffs with a 26-3 record. Eastern Randolph is in the bracket…

09 Oct

NCHSAA adjusts postseason slates, delays football, soccer playoffs

Bob SuttonSportsnchsaa, prep athletics, prep cross country, prep football, prep soccer, Prep tennis, Prep volleyball

Football and soccer state playoffs will be delayed for up to a week for North Carolina High School Athletic Association teams among a list of postseason adjustments announced Wednesday in the wake of Hurricane Helene causing upheaval for teams in the western part of the state. There are also notable changes for girls’ tennis and volleyball. There are no schedule changes in girls’ golf or cheerleading and mostly procedural adjustments for cross country. The delays allow time for teams in the western part of the state to make up some competitions. With approval, teams in several sports can add an…

02 Aug

Prep Sports Notes: Participant numbers rise; NCHSAA committee set for realignment

Bob SuttonSportsnchsaa, realignment, Stephen Gainey

Participation rose in many sports in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association for the 2023-24 school year in numbers compiled by the governing body. Based on the NCHSAA’s totals that came from member schools and released in July, there were increases in participants in every sport except for baseball compared to 2022-23. This spring, there was a 1.4 percent decline with 10,574 baseball players. There were significant boosts in boys’ golf (7 percent) and boys’ lacrosse (6 percent). The largest increase came in what’s called winter spirit (cheerleading). The uptick came in part because 60 schools joined that competition…

25 Jul

Southwestern Randolph’s Popp cherishes tennis success, NCHSAA award

Bob SuttonSportsnchsaa, piedmont athletic conference, Prep tennis, Southwestern Randolph Cougars

Allie Popp (Courtesy of NCHSAA) ASHEBORO – Allie Popp’s senior year at Southwestern Randolph was her best on the tennis courts and beyond. Even with her playing days done, she was reaping awards. Popp was presented with the Pat Gainey Award, which is a student scholarship in memory of Pat Gainey of Dunn. The criteria includes at least a cumulative GPA of 3.2, possess a strong work ethic, demonstrate athletic success during the high school career and demonstrate respect for coaches and teammates. Popp was an ideal fit for that honor. “She is a natural leader who leads by example,…

20 Jul

High School Notes: UCA cracks top 10 for Wells Fargo Cup

Bob SuttonSportsCaleb Stickle, Lillian Payne, nchsaa, prep athletics, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles

Uwharrie Charter Academy placed eighth in Class 1A for the Wells Fargo Cup for the 2023-24 school year. The award recognizes schools that achieved the best overall athletic performance within each North Carolina High School Athletic Association classification. The winner in Class 1A was Mount Airy, followed by Swain County, Bishop McGuinness, Christ the King, Mountain Island Charter, Corvian Community and Elkin. UCA moved into the top 10 based on results in spring sports. The Eagles won the Class 1A state championship in baseball for the second year in a row and the school’s softball team had a strong season.…

29 Jun

Randolph County School System superintendent Stephen Gainey set for new NCHSAA role

Bob SuttonSportsEducation, Macie Crutchfield, nchsaa, Randolph County School System, Southwestern Randolph, Stephen Gainey

Stephen Gainey, right, presents an award to Southwestern Randolph pitcher Macie Crutchfield after the Class 2A softball state finals earlier this month in Greensboro. (Jamie Kent / Special to Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – Stephen Gainey has been connected to the North Carolina High School Athletic Association for a long time. Now, there’s something more for the superintendent of the Randolph County School System. He’s the next president of the NCHSAA, which is the governing organization for sports in public schools in the state. He takes that position July 1. “I love the North Carolina High School Athletic Association,” Gainey said.…

24 Jun

Wheatmore distance standout Hazelwood ready to run at different pace

Bob SuttonSportsClass 2-A, nchsaa, prep track and field, Wheatmore athletics, Zach Hazelwood

Zach Hazelwood of Wheatmore relaxes after his final high school race last month in the Class 2A state meet. (Bob Sutton / Randolph Record) GREENSBORO – Zach Hazelwood is looking forward to more relaxing runs after a stellar high school career as the area’s top distance runner. Hazelwood finished his senior year for Wheatmore and figured it’s time to back off from the running pace. “I’m just about ready to be done,” he said following his final high school competition last month at North Carolina A&T’s track in Greensboro. Hazelwood placed 10th in the 3,200 meters in the Class 2A…