prep wrestling - Randolph Record

18 Feb

NCHSAA delays start of wrestling tourney, pushes back release of basketball pairings

Bob SuttonSportsGreensboro, nchsaa, Prep Basketball, prep wrestling, state playoffs, state tournament

The state tournament for high school wrestling was pushed back two days because of weather-related concerns, so now it will be contested Saturday, Sunday and Monday at First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro. The North Carolina High School Athletic Association announced the changes Tuesday. With mid-week wintry weather anticipated across much of the state, NCHSAA officials consulted with coliseum officials and other necessary parties to make the schedule change. The three-day tournament was scheduled to begin Thursday. Within the tournament, there have been adjustments to the schedule as well. For instance, first-round consolations matches for Class 2A, 3A, 4A and girls…

16 Feb

Class 2A wrestling: Trinity, Wheatmore excel in regional with dramatics, upsets

Bob SuttonSportsAiden Burkholder, Alex Raymundo, Ayden Sumners, Brandon Coggins, Braxton Walker, Dominic Hittepole, Jaden Allred, Johnathan Kelly, Jose Flores, Joseph Trahan, Lawson Coltrane, Mitchell Freeman, prep wrestling, Providence Grove Patriots, Randleman Tigers, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, Stephen Cross, Trinity Bulldogs, Wheatmore Warriors

Members of the Trinity wrestling team pose for photos after winning the Class 2A Midwest Regional. (Bob Sutton / Randolph Record) Wrestlers from Randleman, Providence Grove and Southwestern Randolph also claim regional titles LEXINGTON — Trinity’s wrestling team went out to prove a few points in the Class 2A Midwest Regional and that turned out productive. The Bulldogs got the job done up and down the lineup Saturday at Lexington Middle School. “We didn’t come to play around,” Trinity heavyweight Joseph Trahan said. “It’s solely a business trip. We couldn’t get it done in duals, so we came here ready.…

16 Feb

Prep wrestling: UCA to send 13 to Class 1A states

Bob SuttonSportsAiden Foster, Asheboro Blue Comets, Ayven Virasone Chitavong, Bliss Joyce, Brandon Jordan, Brennan Worrell, Caden Bond, class 1-A, Class 3-A, Eastern Randolph Wildcats, Lorenzo Alston, Michael Shropshire, prep wrestling, state tournament, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles

Uwharrie Charter Academy will send 13 wrestlers to the state tournament after an impressive run through the Class 1A East Regional on Saturday at Rosewood in Goldsboro. UCA’s regional champions were Ayven Virasone Chitavong (106 pounds), Brandon Jordan (144), Lorenzo Alston (157), Aiden Foster (165) and Michael Shropshire (215). The Eagles won another regional team crown. Alston, a junior who had two earlier technical falls and received a forfeit, is undefeated and will be aiming for this third state championship. Paxton Kearns (113), Andrew White (126), Rick Riccardella (138) and Caden Bond (175) were UCA’s runners-up. Also going to the…

12 Feb

Providence Grove’s Mitchell Freeman finds comfort again on wrestling mats

Bob SuttonSportsBrooks Freeman, Mitchell Freeman, nchsaa, prep wrestling, Providence Grove Patriots

Mitchell Freeman (Bob Sutton / Randolph Record) CLIMAX — Providence Grove senior Mitchell Freeman doesn’t put much stock in keeping track of his wrestling win-loss record, though it’s so good that he’s seeded third for the Class 2A Mideast Regional. He just wanted a chance to be a factor in the postseason after an injury that cost him an entire season. Freeman is back for his final chance, still sensing he’s trying to make up ground. “The hardest part is feeling behind,” he said. “I felt like I was ahead of the pack after that sophomore season, and then I was…

08 Feb

UCA Eagles wrestlers pounce on Mount Airy for dual team state title

Bob SuttonSportsBrennan Worrell, Caden Bond, class 1-A, Dual team state finals, Hayden Waddell, Lorenzo Alston, nchsaa, prep wrestling, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles

Here's the Uwharrie Charter Academy wrestling team after winning the Class 1A dual team state championship Saturday in Greensboro. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) It’s not so much pressure on Uwharrie Charter Academy’s wrestling team to keep the trend going as it’s the pressure applied by the Eagles that keeps them atop the state in Class 1A. The Eagles showed that again in securing their third consecutive dual team state championship Saturday afternoon, defeating Mt. Airy 48-15. “I think the pressure just motivates everyone to keep going,” junior Brennan Worrell said. The Eagles grabbed an early lead and then finished…

07 Feb

UCA wrestlers aim for team title repeat; Reign ends for Trinity

Bob SuttonSportsBrandon Jordan, Brennan Worrell, Caden Bond, Dual team state finals, Hayden Waddell, Jaden Allred, Joseph Trahan, Lawson Coltrane, Lorenzo Alston, prep wrestling, Trinity Bulldogs, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles

UCA’s Rick Riccardella wraps up Union Academy’s Matthew Walsh during last weekend’s match during the second round of the Class 1A dual team state playoffs. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – Uwharrie Charter Academy wrestlers have displayed more dominance and the Eagles hope to take it to a familiar level in Saturday afternoon’s Class 1A dual team state championship. UCA (38-1) tangles with Mt. Airy at noon at the coliseum fieldhouse in Greensboro, seeking a third consecutive state title. “We won rings the last two years and we plan to go back and do it again,” 144-pounder Brandon Jordan…

04 Feb

A moment to savor on the mat: Trinity’s Coltrane would relish team repeat

Bob SuttonSportsBrandon Coggins, Dual team state finals, Lawson Coltrane, nchsaa, prep wrestling, Trinity Bulldogs

Lawson Coltrane (Bob Sutton / Randolph Record) TRINITY — Lawson Coltrane had one of those moments that will be etched in memories forever in Trinity wrestling circles. Too bad he didn’t even know it was coming. In last year’s Class 2A dual team state final, it was Coltrane’s pin in the 165-pound class that clinched the championship for the Bulldogs. “Whenever I went out there, I didn’t even know it was to clinch it,” Coltrane said recently. “I just went out there. In my head, ‘I’m going to pin this kid, get this done for the team.’ Whatever it is,…

03 Feb

Reigning champs UCA, Trinity start strong in state duals

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, class 1-A, Class 2-A, David Lambright, Dominic Hittepole, Eastern Randolph Wildcats, Jaden Allred, Joseph Trahan, Lawson Coltrane, Lorenzo Alston, nchsaa, prep wrestling, Trinity Bulldogs, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles, Wheatmore Warriors

Uwharrie Charter Academy’s Brennan Worrell prepares to pin Union Academy’s Nehemiah Parker during a Class 1A second-round meet Saturday. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) Uwharrie Charter Academy and Trinity wrestling teams began their quests to repeat as dual team state champions with two home victories apiece Saturday. UCA, the top seed in Class 1A East Region and the Piedmont Athletic Conference champion, and Trinity, the No. 1 seed for Class 2-A in the West Region, cruised in the opening rounds. If they win regional semifinals and finals Wednesday night, they’ll be headed to state finals Saturday at the coliseum fieldhouse…

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…