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History runs deep for Class 2-A title contenders Randleman, Whiteville

History runs deep for Class 2-A title contenders Randleman, Whiteville

Powerhouse teams Randleman and Whiteville will meet in the best-of-3 state finals for Class 2-A at Burlington Athletic Stadium. (Bob Sutton/Randolph Record) This Randleman-Whiteville championship matchup, beginning at 8 p.m. Friday at Burlington Athletic Stadium, is ripe with historical overtones. Randleman is in the finals for the sixth time in a 11-season span in which the postseason was conducted. The COVID-19 pandemic wiped out most of the 2020 season, including the playoffs. The Tigers won the 2011 title and then lost in the 2012 finals to Whiteville, were beaten by South Granville in 2015 and fell to North Lincoln in…
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With lofty standard, Tigers just roll with it into state finals

With lofty standard, Tigers just roll with it into state finals

Coach Jake Smith has directed Randleman back to another spot in the state finals. A familiar foe awaits. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) RANDLEMAN — All those lopsided results for Randleman’s baseball team on the way to the Class 2-A state finals don’t mean it has been easy this year for the Tigers. “We can’t take any team lightly,” first baseman Gus Shelton said. “We are expected to win and that is pressure on us, if you want to call it pressure. I don’t think anybody has changed anything. We’re just taking it game-by-game.” It will take two more victories to repeat…
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Wheatmore girls hit big stage with spot in state final

Wheatmore girls hit big stage with spot in state final

Wheatmore’s Kara Comer, left, and Summer Bowman hug Ellie Garrison after her penalty-kick goal against Wilkes Central in the Class 2-A West Region final Tuesday night at Wilkes Central in Wilkesboro. Wheatmore (PJ WARD-BROWN/NORTH STATE JOURNAL) It’s hard to imagine there’s more to accomplish for the Wheatmore girls’ soccer team. Yet the biggest prize is still out there for the Warriors. They hold a 24-0 record and the state record for goals (191) in a season. There’s one more chance to add to those accomplishments. They take on Clinton (25-2) in Friday night’s Class 2-A state championship game at WakeMed…
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Randleman takes path back to state finals

Randleman takes path back to state finals

Randleman team members gather for a photo after winning the Class 2-A West Region series Friday in Salisbury. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)    MOORESVILLE and SALISBURY – This one just took a little longer, but it had familiar themes for Randleman’s baseball team. The latest result is what mattered to the Tigers, who’ll return to the Class 2-A state finals in an attempt to repeat as champions. Even with a bit of unusual circumstances, the Tigers were unfazed. “Our guys did great,” coach Jake smith said. “They work so hard. It’s hard to explain. Unless you see it every day and…
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Randleman’s postseason run hits pause

Randleman’s postseason run hits pause

Randleman pitcher Drake Purvis delivers a pitch in the West Region finals Thursday night against Community School of Davidson in Mooresville. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)   MOORESVILLE – Randleman’s baseball team finally encountered something in this Class 2-A state playoffs that it couldn’t conquer. “Can’t do anything about Mother Nature,” coach Jake Smith said while walking out of Moor Park on Thursday night. Yet the Tigers still did good work before Game 2 of the best-of-3 West Region final was suspended after four innings. They lead Community School of Davidson 5-0. Randleman carried a 30-1 record into the game, needing one…
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Allred jumps to second in state meet

Allred jumps to second in state meet

Southwestern Randolph's Josie Allred clears the bar in the high jump in the Class 2-A state meet Friday at North Carolina A&T. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) GREENSBORO – Senior Josie Allred of Southwestern Randolph was the runner-up in the Class 2-A high jump for girls in Friday’s state championships at North Carolina A&T. Allred cleared the bar at 5 feet, 2 inches – the same height as winner Katarina Kepley of West Davidson along with East Carteret’s Latecyia Johnson and SouthWest Edgecombe’s Jer’Lisha Pridgen. Based on number of attempts, Kepley was the champion. Johnson and Pridgen shared third place.…
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Randleman girls make it clear; Other races stay tight

Randleman girls make it clear; Other races stay tight

Trinity’s Kaleb Leach, left, blocks the shot as Providence Grove’s Chase Whitaker goes up late in the game during last week’s Piedmont Athletic Conference matchup at Trinity. Randleman’s girls’ basketball team secured the Piedmont Athletic Conference regular-season championship even before the last week of the regular season. The Tigers held an 11-0 league mark and a 19-0 overall record with only a home game against last-place Trinity remaining on the conference docket. It was much tighter on the PAC boys’ side. Three teams had a shot going into the week, each with two conference games left. Providence Grove led the…
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UCA gears up for more on mats

UCA gears up for more on mats

ASHEBORO – The Uwharrie Charter Academy wrestling team produced another stellar regular season, but the Eagles will have to wait in their pursuit of a Class 1-A dual team state title. Under coach Chris Waddell, UCA has run up a 31-0 record in duals. That includes a 6-0 mark in the Piedmont Athletic Conference. The North Carolina High School Athletic Association postponed the first and second rounds of the dual team tournament until Monday. That decision came after multiple weather-related postponements hit pockets of the state, so this will allow teams to complete more of their regular-season schedules and league…
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Calling it an honor

Calling it an honor

RALEIGH — Derrick Isley had a grand experience at the North Carolina High School Athletic Association’s football championships and it didn’t even matter who won. Isley, a Ramseur man, held an officiating assignment for the Class 2-A final between Shelby and Wallace-Rose Hill in Raleigh. “There’s only a few who get this shot,” Isley said. “I’m very honored with this because I never saw it coming.” Isley completed his 21st year of officiating. This was the first time it concluded in the state championships. “That’s 21 years being on the field doing what I love,” he said. He’s an umpire,…
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It all came down to Randolph County gyms

It all came down to Randolph County gyms

Revisiting 2021 basketball title games held at Providence Grove, Wheatmore With another high school basketball season ramping up for many schools this week, it comes full circle for a couple of Randolph County schools. That’s because when North Carolina High School Athletic Association basketball left off from the 2020-21 school year, it concluded at Providence Grove and Wheatmore. Those were schools selected to hold the NCHSAA championship games as part of the revamped season, which had been shortened because of the pandemic. So suddenly the goal for teams across the state had been to make it to Randolph County. “It…
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