Providence Grove

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Zane Caudle

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Zane Caudle

Providence Grove  |  boys’ basketball/golf Caudle excelled as a guard on the Piedmont Athletic Conference’s regular-season champion boys’ basketball team. That helped lead to a decision to play collegiately at Division III Brevard College. He averaged 15.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 3.3 steals for the Patriots. Caudle was the PAC Player of the Year. Caudle placed fifth in the PAC Tournament for golf. That landed him an all-conference spot in that sport as well.
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Good hands man for all seasons: Providence Grove’s Thomas makes positive impact

Good hands man for all seasons: Providence Grove’s Thomas makes positive impact

Luke Thomas fires a pitch from the mound this spring. He's planning to play college baseball. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) CLIMAX – Whatever the sport at Providence Grove, Luke Thomas had the ball in his hands. Those were good hands for the Patriots. “I like being in control of the game. I don’t like leaning on other players,” Thomas said. “I like being the make-or-break type of guy.” Thomas helped make Providence Grove relevant on just about every level during a high school career that turned out unmatched. “A fixture not only in the football program but a fixture in the…
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ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Makayla McClain

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Makayla McClain

Providence Grove  |  softball McClain completed the season with a team-leading .597 batting average for the Patriots, who were undefeated into the fourth round of the Class 2-A state playoffs. She also was tops on the team with 11 home runs, 41 runs batted in and 34 runs scored for the team that ended up with a 24-1 record for the Piedmont Athletic Conference champions. She also had eight doubles and three triples to go with 14 stolen bases. McClain, a senior infielder, was a four-year member of the Providence Grove team. She’s regarded as one of the program’s top…
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Providence Grove alum receives top honor

Providence Grove alum receives top honor

Former Providence Grove athlete Anna Thomas was named the top female senior athlete at Emory & Henry College. Thomas, a softball player, is the 2021-22 recipient of the Hall Memorial Award, which honors an athlete based on skill, leadership and character. Thomas is considered one of the top outfielders in the Emory & Henry program history. She was part of 87 victories, two NCAA Tournaments on the Division III level and a No. 9 national ranking. During this past spring, she filled in as a pitcher as well. Thomas was the 2019 Rookie of the Year in the Old Dominion…
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ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Edi Austin

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Edi Austin

Providence Grove  |  softball Austin had some big outings at the plate as the Patriots maintained their undefeated record entering the last week of the regular season. Providence Grove beat Trinity 15-0, Uwharrie Charter Academy 7-5 and Randleman 4-0. Austin had a total of seven hits in those games. Austin was a big part of an offense in support of pitching standout Emma Mazzarone. Austin, a senior infielder, drove in three runs in the Trinity game. Against UCA, Austin roped two triples and scored two runs. She followed that by going 3-for-4 with a home run and triple and knocking…
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Prep Notes: Providence Grove softball coach nabs milestone in opening game

Prep Notes: Providence Grove softball coach nabs milestone in opening game

Eastern Randolph’s Brody Gardner hits a double against visiting North Moore in a baseball game Friday. North Moore won 11-8.   Providence Grove softball coach Tim Brown picked up his 100th career victory when the Patriots defeated host Southern Guilford 14-0 to open the season last week. Assistant coach Andy Beane has been there for each of those victories. Makayla McClain, who homered twice in that game, scored four runs for Providence Grove. Mailey Way, who hit two doubles, drove in five runs. Emma Mazzarone pitched the shutout in the game reduced to five innings. Best of seven Two track…
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Prep basketball: Season comes with highlights for area teams

Prep basketball: Season comes with highlights for area teams

Uwharrie Charter Academy’s Alijah Barker shoots the ball against Albemarle’s Walker Wilkins in the first round of the Class 1-A state playoffs Feb. 22 at Uwharrie Charter Academy in Asheboro. Basketball season came to a close for Randolph County boys’ teams in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association by the end of the second round last week. On the girls’ side, only Randleman and Uwharrie Charter Academy made it to the weekend’s third round. Randleman’s season was still going this week. Here are a few notables as the postseason unfolded: Patriots tripped by familiar foe Providence Grove’s boys’ season-ending…
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Area wrestlers stick with it for solid finishes

Area wrestlers stick with it for solid finishes

Uwharrie Charter Academy’s Doug Bowles lifts Mount Airy’s Connor Medvar in the air during the 170-pound bout in the Class 1-A finals Saturday at the Greensboro Coliseum. PJ WARD-BROWN/NORTH STATE JOURNAL GREENSBORO – It was an encouraging start to the state tournament for Randolph County wrestlers Thursday. And not a bad finish either by Saturday. Aside from state champions David Makupson (138 pounds, Class 2-A) of Trinity and Aldo Hernandez (132, Class 1-A) and Grayson Roberts (160 pounds, Class 2-A), there were solid performances that lasted all the way to their final matches. Randolph County wrestlers excelled in the first…
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SWR pulls upset; UCA, Trinity also advance in boys’ basketball state playoffs

SWR pulls upset; UCA, Trinity also advance in boys’ basketball state playoffs

ASHEBORO — Southwestern Randolph knocked off Piedmont Athletic Conference regular-season champion Providence Grove on the opening night of the state playoffs in boys' basketball Tuesday night. Uwharrie Charter Academy and Trinity will continue their boys' seasons. Asheboro, Randleman and Eastern Randolph bowed out along with Providence Grove. In Class 2-A, Southwestern Randolph, which holds the No. 25 seed in the West Region, won 61-58 a rare in-county road playoff game against No. 8 seed Providence Grove. No. 12 seed Trinity beat the No. 21 seed Lexington 55-46. No. 30 seed Randleman traveled to Shelby, losing 52-47. In Class 3-A, No.…
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UCA, Randleman, SWR, Wheatmore advance in girls’ basketball playoffs

UCA, Randleman, SWR, Wheatmore advance in girls’ basketball playoffs

ASHEBORO — Four Randolph County girls' basketball teams advanced to the second round of the state playoffs with wins Tuesday night, while two others saw their seasons end. Uwharrie Charter Academy, Randleman, Southwestern Randolph and Wheatmore cruised in their first-round playoff games. UCA, a No. 3 seed in Class 1-A in the West Region, topped No. 30 seed Bradford Prep 54-38. Also in Class 1-A, Eastern Randolph fell short in a 65-62 loss to Cherokee. Randleman, the top seed in the Class 2-A, dominated No. 32 seed Shelby Burns with a 64-17 victory. No. 11 seed Southwestern Randolph was a…
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