Randleman - Randolph Record

11 Sep

Ag teacher finds right fit at Randleman

Bob SuttonNewsEducation, Mark Walker, Randleman, Randolph County School System, RCSS, Teacher of the Year

Teacher of the Year Mark Walker, center, is flanked by RCSS superintendent Stephen Gainey, left, and Randleman principal Corey Phillips at last week’s banquet. (Photo courtesy of RCSS) RCSS honors Walker with annual award RANDLEMAN – Once Mark Walker became involved with agricultural education, he sensed that would be his best avenue to make a difference at Randleman High School. He stuck with it and he was rewarded for his decades in that capacity as the Teacher of the Year for the Randolph County School System. “I hope I can be more of a voice and do more to…

24 Aug

After years at Randleman, Hamilton becomes principal at Providence Grove

Bob SuttonNewsDennis Hamilton, Education, high school, New principal, Providence Grove, public schools, Randleman, Randolph County School System

Dennis Hamilton (Courtesy photo) CLIMAX – It’s a different location for high school principal Dennis Hamilton, but the people connected to Providence Grove are plenty familiar to him. Hamilton had administrative roles at Randleman for two decades. “I was given an opportunity to take a new adventure at a different school,” Hamilton said. He’s the new principal at Providence Grove after holding a similar position at Randleman. Hamilton was principal of Randleman Middle School when the Providence Grove district was formed and so in 2008 there was a new high school in the Randolph County School System. Many of the…

27 Apr

Randleman golf farm set stage for Hall of Fame

Bob SuttonSportsAmateur golf, Ellen Griffin, NCSHOF, Pro golf, Randleman

Here’s Ellen Griffin with stock-car driving legend Richard Petty, who was at the Randleman farm to pick up a child after a golf lesson. (Courtesy photo) Former instructor created foundation for teaching, playing careers RANDLEMAN – From what was farmland in Randleman to much bigger stages, Ellen Griffin helped grow the game of golf. While that was decades ago, her legacy lives on. “It’s unbelievable people still remember her,” said Charlie Griffin, her nephew. Last week, Griffin was inducted posthumously into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame at Raleigh Convention Center. She was a golf instructor and helped form…

20 Apr

Randleman’s Petty statue honors driver for many deeds

Scott Pelkey, North State JournalNewsRandleman, Richard Petty

RANDLEMAN – Hundreds of residents and fans gathered Saturday afternoon in Randleman to see the unveiling of a statue of the “King of NASCAR” himself, Richard Petty, at the new Richard Petty Tribute Park. The event was the culmination of five years of planning and fundraising by the Randolph County Tourism Development Authority, which raised the funds for the statue and park, along with a donation from NASCAR. The public ceremony took place on Hilliary Street, behind the police station and next to the library. The opening ceremony drew a crowd estimated of more than 200 people, consisting of the…

17 Apr

Plane crash kills one, injures Randleman man

Randolph RecordNewsairplanes, Guilford County, Randleman

Emergency crews responded to the scene of a small plane crash on U.S. 421 last week at the Monnett Road bridge. (Scott Pelkey/Randolph Record) JULIAN – A small plane crashed last week in the vicinity of U.S. 421 southbound near the Guilford County-Randolph County line, killing one person. The single-engine Vans RV-12 went down on an embankment late in the morning April 11 south of Greensboro Executive Airport. It impacted traffic on U.S. 421 near Monnett Road. Kurtis Williams, 52, of Kernersville died at the scene of the crash. He was the pilot. A passenger was James Foecking, 39, of…

07 Mar

College baseball: Thomas notches wins at UNCG; Gardner receives USA South honors

Bob SuttonSportsBrody Gardner, College baseball, Eastern Randolph, Luke Thomas, Providence Grove, Randleman, Randleman baseball, Ryan White

Luke Thomas at UNCG Several alums from Randolph County schools have produced notable opening stretches in their collegiate baseball careers. Providence Grove alum Luke Thomas was the winning pitcher in his collegiate debut, throwing 1 2/3 shutout innings when UNC Greensboro defeated Northeastern on Feb. 18 in the second game of the season. The Spartans scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning. The next day, Thomas took the loss when giving up four late-inning runs to Northeastern. In the season’s second week, Thomas had two outings against Notre Dame, throwing one hitless inning in the second game…

15 Jul

Loud, proud prep career for Brannon

Bob SuttonSportsbaseball, Boston Red Sox, Brooks Brannon, MLB draft, nchsaa, prep sports, Randleman, Randleman athletics, Randleman baseball

Brooks Brannon had a record-setting high school season with some incredible power-hitting numbers. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) Randleman catcher awaits draft after season filled with thrills RANDLEMAN — For all the noise Brooks Brannon can bring to a ballpark, it might be a level of calmness that helped him – and his teammates – most. Yet there could be more commotion connected to his baseball career this weekend when baseball’s amateur draft begins, and the Randleman catcher is bound to be among those selected. Whether he goes from high school to the pros – or chooses a route playing college baseball…

15 Jun

Championships, individual excellence highlight spring prep season in county

Bob SuttonSportsbaseball, prep sports, Randleman, soccer, track and field, Wheatmore

Asheboro’s Arianna Lovingood-Smith’s makes an attempt in the high jump during the Class 3-A state championships last month at North Carolina A&T. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) There was plenty to digest for spring prep sports involving Randolph County teams in addition to Wheatmore’s girls’ soccer team and Randleman’s baseball team winning Class 2-A state championships. Those accomplishments were certainly among the highlights, but other developments deserve certain attention as well. Blue Comets jump ahead Asheboro’s girls’ track and field team won the program’s first conference championship by capturing the Mid-Piedmont Conference title. “We’ve had some good talent come through, but…

03 Jun

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

Bob SuttonSportsClass 2-A, high school athletics, nchsaa, Randleman, Randleman athletics, Randleman baseball, Tigers, 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…

13 Apr

Tigers blank Patriots twice as Randleman closes in on outright PAC title

Bob SuttonSportspiedmont athletic conference, Randleman, Randleman baseball

Randleman’s Hunter Atkins drills the ball during a game against Southwestern Randolph in Piedmont Athletic Conference action last month at Randleman. CLIMAX — Randleman’s baseball team was close to perfect in a couple of ways during a pair of Piedmont Athletic Conference shutouts last week. Those results allowed the Tigers to clinch at least a share of the PAC regular-season championship. “We’ve been swinging it really well,” outfielder Braylen Hayes said. “Pitching is amazing.” Indeed, in Wednesday’s 10-0 victory at Providence Grove, Ryan White retired the first 17 batters he faced. So he had a perfect game until Brady Collins…