state playoffs - Randolph Record

13 Nov

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Diego Bustamante

Randolph RecordSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, athlete of the week, Class 3-A, Diego Bustamante, prep soccer, state playoffs

Asheboro, boys’ soccer Bustamante regularly contributes to the Blue Comets’ big offensive numbers. He’s a senior for the top-seeded team in the West Region for the Class 3A state playoffs. At the beginning of this week, Bustamante ranked second on the Asheboro team in goals with 29 and in assists with 28. He had two in each of those categories when the state playoffs began Saturday and the Blue Comets trounced visiting West Charlotte 9-0. In 2023, he was the Mid-Piedmont Conference’s Offensive Player of the Year. ***** Photo: Diego Bustamante has been a stellar player for Asheboro’s boys’ soccer…

11 Nov

Prep football: E. Randolph, Randleman to start at home in states; Asheboro returns to postseason

Randolph RecordSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, class 1-A, Class 2-A, Class 3-A, Eastern Randolph Wildcats, nchsaa, prep football, Randleman Tigers, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, state playoffs

Eastern Randolph and Randleman will play home football games to begin the state playoffs Friday night, while Asheboro makes a long-awaited return to the postseason. Eastern Randolph (10-0), the Piedmont Athletic Conference champion for a fourth year a row, is the No. 4 seed in the Class 1A West Region with a game against No. 29 seed Swain County (1-9). In Class 2A, fourth-seeded Randleman (8-2), which has lost its last two games, is home against No. 29 seed East Gaston (4-6). No. 27 seed Southwestern Randolph (6-4) visits sixth-seeded East Surry (8-2), which holds a seven-game winning streak and…

10 Nov

Prep soccer: Top area seeds show power as states begin

Randolph RecordSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, nchsaa, prep soccer, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, state playoffs

Win Smith of Asheboro makes a move around a West Charlotte player during Saturday’s Class 3A game in the boys’ soccer state playoffs. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) Asheboro and Southwestern Randolph hold No. 1 seeds for the West Region in the boys’ soccer state playoffs, which began during the weekend. Both teams will play every game at home through the regional final if they advance. It was a strong first-round showing for teams from Randolph County, though one team tumbled in an upset loss. Second-round games were set for Tuesday, with winners playing in the third round Thursday night…

07 Nov

Prep soccer: Asheboro, Southwestern Randolph hold top seeds going into state playoffs

Randolph RecordSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, class 1-A, Class 2-A, Class 3-A, nchsaa, prep soccer, Randleman Tigers, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, state playoffs

Asheboro and Southwestern Randolph hold No. 1 seeds for the West Region in the boys’ soccer state playoffs, which begin this weekend. Asheboro is atop the bracket in Class 3A. Southwestern Randolph is in the same spot for Class 2A. Both teams will play every game at home through the regional final if they advance. First-round games will be held Saturday, with the second round Tuesday. West Charlotte is the opening opponent for Asheboro (22-2), which won the Mid-Piedmont Conference. No. 12 seed Ledford (12-7-4) and No. 21 seed Montgomery Central (9-9) are the only other teams from the league…

04 Nov

Prep soccer: Three area teams set standard with state playoffs approaching

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Cam Letterlough, Mid-Piedmont Conference, nchsaa, piedmont athletic conference, prep soccer, Randleman Tigers, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, state playoffs

A few boys’ soccer teams from Randolph County could be in good positions to make some noise in the postseason. Championship efforts from Asheboro in the Mid-Piedmont Conference and co-champions Randleman and Southwestern Randolph in the Piedmont Athletic Conference came with some dominating performances. Because of Hurricane Helene’s impact on the western part of the state, the beginning of the state playoffs has been delayed as the North Carolina High School Athletic Association adjusted the postseason calendar for the sport. The pairings and seeds will be announced Thursday. First-round games will be contested Saturday, and for teams advancing there will…

27 Oct

Prep volleyball: Season ends for county teams in state playoffs

Randolph RecordSportsclass 1-A, Class 2-A, piedmont athletic conference, Prep volleyball, Randleman Tigers, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, state playoffs, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles, Vickery

Southwestern Randolph teammates Jade Matias, left, and Bailey Blackmon go up for a block against Newton-Conover during a match in the state playoffs last week. (Thadd Sanders / For Randolph Record) UCA, Randleman reach third round before home defeats ASHEBORO – The volleyball season came to an end during the weekend for Randolph County high school teams. Uwharrie Charter Academy, the Piedmont Athletic Conference Tournament champion, was the last team standing before suffering a loss to visiting Cornerstone Charter in the Class 1A third round of the state playoffs. Earlier in the day, PAC regular-season champion Randleman went down in…

20 Oct

Prep volleyball: PAC Tournament champ UCA, runner-up Randleman hold high seeds for states

Randolph RecordSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Mid-Piedmont Conference, nchsaa, piedmont athletic conference, Piedmont Athletic Conference Tournament, Prep volleyball, Randleman Tigers, state playoffs, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles

Uwharrie Charter Academy coach Lee Kennell addresses the team during a match earlier this season. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) RANDLEMAN – Uwharrie Charter Academy’s volleyball looks all heated up again. The Eagles are Piedmont Athletic Conference Tournament champions and hold big aspirations for the state playoffs. UCA upended regular-season champion Randleman to win the PAC Tournament last week. The teams split two matches in the regular season. Both teams received high seeds for the state playoffs The Eagles are seeded fourth in Class 1A West, entering the state playoffs with a 26-3 record. Eastern Randolph is in the bracket…

14 Jul

Wheatmore’s Messner takes turn in soccer spotlight

Bob SuttonSportsClass 2-A, North Carolina East-West All-Star Game, prep soccer, state playoffs, Wheatmore Warriors

Wheatmore’s Maggie Messner, left, makes a play against Wilkes Central’s Riley Huffman during the 2023 state playoffs. (Randolph Record) TRINITY – Maggie Messner had a huge impact for Wheatmore’s historic success in girls’ soccer. She was a bit under the radar with the Warriors, so she’s excited about the recognition that comes with a spot in next week’s North Carolina East-West All-Star Game. “For me, the best part is that because I’m not getting to play at the next level, I get to showcase myself and show what I can do and how I’ve developed,” Messner said. “I get to…

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…

12 Jun

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Troy Carver

Randolph RecordSportsathlete of the week, class 1-A, Prep baseball, state champion, State championships, state playoffs, Troy Carver, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles

Uwharrie Charter Academy, baseball Carter has been a key member of back-to-back state championship teams with the Eagles. The senior infielder has been a steady performer in the field and at the plate. Carver scored the winning run in the eighth inning of Game 1 of the state championship series against Northside-Pinetown in Holly Springs. The next day in Game 2, which turned out to be the title-clinching game, he had one of the team’s hits. UCA has racked up 50 victories across the past two seasons.