Southwestern Randolph Cougars - Randolph Record

11 Aug

Prep Notes: New quests await top teams such as Southwestern Randolph volleyball, Asheboro soccer

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, prep soccer, Prep volleyball, Providence Grove athletics, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, Trinity Bulldogs

Southwestern Randolph’s powerhouse volleyball team will try to keep it going for another season. The Cougars, who’ve had 25 or more victories the past three seasons, begin their schedule Aug. 14 at home against Oak Grove, which had a 22-5 record last year. Southwestern Randolph, under coach Darby Kennedy, went 25-5 in 2023. The Cougars are a combined 79-14 in a three-year span. That stretch began with the 2021 state championship in Class 2A. Fall sports teams, with the exception of football, can begin regular-season competition Aug. 12. Early soccer tests In boys’ soccer, Asheboro has racked up some of…

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,…

04 Jul

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Caleb Shelton

Randolph RecordSportsathlete of the week, Caleb Shelton, Class 2-A, prep track and field, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, State meet

Southwestern Randolph, track and field Shelton capped his high school career by competing in the Class 2A state meet for track and field. He qualified as a high jumper, finishing 11th in the meet in Greensboro. Shelton was the only entrant from Southwestern Randolph in this year’s state meet. He had success in other events as well during the past season. He competed in some competitions as a triple jumper. He was an All-Piedmont Athletic Conference selection in track and field as a sophomore and senior. This year, he was the conference runner-up in the high jump behind eventual state…

30 Jun

Check on the PAC spring all-conference selections

Randolph RecordSportsAddie Flinchum, Chase Farlow, Dominic Payne, Eastern Randolph Wildcats, Gracie Beane, Jake Riddle, Jake Smith, Jensen Auman, Mollie Bulla, piedmont athletic conference, Providence Grove Patriots, Randleman Tigers, Ryan Marshall, Seth Way, Silas Jessup, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, Trinity Bulldogs, Ty Moton, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles, Wheatmore Warriors, Zach Hazelwood

Addie Flinchum of Eastern Randolph produced a special softball season. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) Piedmont Athletic Conference all-conference Randolph Record Here’s a list of the Piedmont Athletic Conference’s major award winners and all-conference selections for spring sports: Baseball Player of the Year: Seth Way (Randleman) Pitcher of the Year: Jake Riddle (Randleman) Coach of the Year: Jake Smith (Randleman) All-conference Randleman: Tate Andrews, Caden Lasley, Jake Riddle, Braxton Walker, Seth Way. Uwharrie Charter Academy: Tory Carver, Trey Kennedy, Brett Smith, Caleb Stickle. Wheatmore: Caleb Coggins, Clay Hill, Parker Kines. Trinity: Gage Griffiths, Brody Little, Andon Simmons, Ethan Willard Southwestern Randolph: Brady Armfield, Jonah Campbell, Lake Lunsford Providence Grove: Jayten Beasley,…

20 Jun

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Hayleigh Thompson

Randolph RecordSportsathlete of the week, Class 2-A, Hayleigh Thompson, nchsaa, Prep softball, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, state champion, state playoffs

Southwestern Randolph, softball Thompson played a key role as the Cougars captured the Class 2A state championship this spring. The senior had several crucial plate appearances during Southwestern Randolph’s postseason run. She also was the team’s first baseman, helping the infield for a team that rode its pitching and defense for much of the regular season and the state playoffs. Thompson’s single in the final inning of Game 2 of the state championship series against Midway sparked the title-clinching rally. She also had a single and drove in a run during the first game of the title series. Southwestern Randolph…

09 Jun

Southwestern Randolph Cougars turn to Lagrama as baseball coach

Bob SuttonSportsEd Lagrama, Prep baseball, Southwestern Randolph Cougars

Ed Lagrama (Courtesy photo) ASHEBORO – Ed Lagrama filled in at the end of the recent season as Southwestern Randolph’s interim baseball coach. Now, he’ll be the coach moving forward. Lagrama is a former softball coach at Southwestern Randolph. His interim role came when the school sought a replacement for first-year coach Brian Gusa. The Cougars went 3-4 under Lagrama’s direction to complete a 9-15 season. Lagrama had a connection to the baseball team as an assistant coach under Tyler Clapp and also helped when Ethan Marsh led the program. So when principal Brian Hodgin called to ask him to…

06 Jun

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Macie Crutchfield

Randolph RecordSportsathlete of the week, Class 2-A, Macie Crutchfield, Prep softball, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, State championships

Southwestern Randolph, softball Crutchfield completed her junior season as the Most Valuable Player of the Class 2A state championship series. She pitched every inning in both games as the Cougars captured the title by sweeping Midway in games held at UNC Greensboro. In those 12 innings (because Game 1 was reduced to five innings by the mercy rule), she compiled 19 strikeouts and issued three walks. Crutchfield is a three-year starter for Southwestern Randolph, racking up high strikeout totals most of the time. She’s also has provided the team with boost at the plate. In the state finals, she had…

01 Jun

Good to the last play: Cougars claim state title with two runs on final pitch

Bob SuttonSportsClass 2-A, Kami Dunn, Macie Crutchfield, Prep softball, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, State championships, state playoffs, Toby Strider

Here’s the aftermath of the tying and winning runs scoring for Southwestern Randolph on the final play of the Class 2-A softball state championship series. (Bob Sutton / Randolph Record) GREENSBORO – Madelyn Smith’s dash from first base to home plate that sent Southwestern Randolph’s softball team to a Class 2A state championship came amid chaos on the final play of the season. It created more mayhem in terms of a celebration for the Cougars, who won the program’s first title in 14 years. “We have this saying, ‘Why not us?’ ” said third baseman Kami Dunn, who took that…

31 May

Southwestern Randolph in softball, UCA in baseball close in on state titles

Randolph RecordSportsCarter Brown, class 1-A, Class 2-A, Macie Crutchfield, nchsaa, Prep baseball, Prep softball, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, state playoffs, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles

Southwestern Randolph’s softball team and Uwharrie Charter Academy’s baseball team are both one victory away from state championships after winning Friday night in drastically different manners. Southwestern Randolph opened the Class 2-A state finals with a 13-0 blasting of Midway at UNC Greensboro. The game was reduced to five innings because of the mercy rule. The Cougars (22-7) go for their first title in 14 years with Game 2 at 2 p.m. Saturday. If necessary, Game 3 will be held at 5 p.m. or 8 p.m., depending on the status of the Class 4-A finals also taking place on the…

27 May

Southwestern Randolph to play state softball finals at UNCG; In baseball, UCA goes back to same site as last year

Bob SuttonSportsclass 1-A, Class 2-A, nchsaa, Prep baseball, Prep softball, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles

Southwestern Randolph’s softball team will have to go just one county away to play in the Class 2A state finals this week. The Cougars will take on Midway in the best-of-3 series at UNC Greensboro. The Class 4A series between Garner and Weddington also will be at UNCG. In Class 2A, Game 1 will be at 8 p.m. Friday followed by Game 2 at 2 p.m. Saturday. If a third game is necessary, it’s tentatively set for 8 pm.. Saturday, though it will move to the 5 p.m. slot if a third game isn’t needed in Class 4A. The other…