state tournament - Randolph Record

25 Feb

Titles at nearly every turn in Class 2A for Randolph County wrestlers

Bob SuttonSportsAiden Burkholder, Ayden Sumners, Bliss Joyce, Braxton Walker, Dominic Hittepole, Greensboro Coliseum, Jaden Allred, Lawson Coltrane, nchsaa, prep wrestling, Randleman Tigers, state tournament, Trinity Bulldogs, Wheatmore Warriors

Wheatmore’s Ayden Sumners leaps into the arms of coach Kyle Spencer after winning the 126-pound state championship in Class 2A. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) GREENSBORO — Trinity and Wheatmore shared some of the glory in the Class 2A division of the wrestling state tournament. There was plenty to go around. Randleman’s Braxton Walker joined in the fun as part of Randolph County’s huge presence in the classification during Monday's finals. Trinity’s Aiden Burkholder (106 pounds) and Lawson Coltrane (165) won championships along with Wheatmore’s Ayden Sumners (126) and Dominic Hittepole (175). So of the 14 weight classes in Class…

24 Feb

Class 1-A state tournament: Eastern Randolph joins UCA with wrestling titles

Bob SuttonSportsDavid Lambright, Eastern Randolph Wildcats, Greensboro Coliseum, Lorenzo Alston, Maddox Carson, Michael Shropshire, prep wrestling, state tournament, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles

Uwharrie Charter Academy’s Michael Shropshire reacts during his 215-pound championship match in Class 1A on Monday. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) GREENSBORO – The third consecutive individual state championship for Uwharrie Charter Academy junior Lorenzo Alston was an expected highlight. Then look at what Eastern Randolph did in Class 1A during the state tournament at First Horizon Coliseum. The Wildcats produced a state champion for the first time in 22 years – and they had two of them Monday at First Horizon Coliseum. Junior David Lambright (126 pounds) and sophomore Maddox Carson (285) claimed the championships. Michael Shropshire, a junior…

24 Feb

Dozen Randolph County wrestlers reach state finals

Bob SuttonSportsAiden Burkholder, Ayden Sumners, Bliss Joyce, Braxton Walker, Briana Joyce, David Lambright, Dominic Hittepole, Greensboro Coliseum, Jaden Allred, Lawson Coltrane, Lorenzo Alston, Maddox Carson, Michael Shropshire, nchsaa, prep wrestling, state tournament

Randleman’s Braxton Walker has his hand raised after winning a 215-pound quarterfinal bout against Holmes’ Gavin Pierce on Sunday at First Horizon Coliseum. (Bob Sutton / Randolph Record) GREENSBORO – Randolph County wrestling teams will be well-represented in the finals of the high school state tournament. Five Trinity wrestlers (three boys, two girls), two from Wheatmore and Randleman’s Braxton Walker are all in the Class 2A finals, while in Class 1A there are two finalists from both Uwharrie Charter Academy and Eastern Randolph. The finals are slated to begin after the Parade of Champions at 4 p.m. Monday at First…

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

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…

21 Jun

Trinity state champ Hardister discovers right combinations

Bob SuttonSportsBrandon Coggins, Gavin Hardister, prep wrestling, state tournament, Trinity Bulldogs

Gavin Hardister reacts at the end of the state final. (Photo provided) TRINITY – Gavin Hardister had a solid wrestling background as he came up through high school. Then the Trinity wrestler made his final season his best when he became a Class 2A state champion last winter. “I feel like I was always good enough,” he said. “There was always a moment that got in my head. (As a senior), I didn’t let the moment be too big.” He’ll take the next step soon as he heads to Iowa Western Community College, which is a National Junior College Athletic…

17 Feb

Trinity’s Hardister knocks off champ on way to title

Randolph RecordSportsAlex Raymundo, Braxton Walker, Class 2-A, Dominic Hittepole, Gavin Hardister, Greensboro Coliseum, Jaden Allred, Jose Flores, Levi Dennis, nchsaa, prep wrestling, Randleman Tigers, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, Spencer May, state tournament, Trey Swaney, Trinity Bulldogs

Trinity’s Gavin Hardister reacts after defeating Matthew Cranfill of Bandys to win the 215-pound state title in Class 2-A . (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) GREENSBORO – Gavin Hardister had to defeat a defending state champion along the way, but the Trinity wrestler largely dominated the rest of the Class 2-A field at 215 pounds on the way to a state championship. The Bulldogs senior finished it with a 13-5 decision against Bandys senior Matthew Cranfill in Saturday’s final at the Greensboro Coliseum. His toughest match: Against another wrestler from the Piedmont Athletic Conference. Trinity had seven wrestlers with top-six finishes in…

17 Feb

Three UCA wrestlers claim state titles

Randolph RecordSportsAlek Millikan, Carson Robinson, class 1-A, Class 3-A, Eastern Randolph athletics, Greensboro Coliseum, Jack McArthur, Jaden Maness, Lorenzo Alston, nchsaa, prep wrestling, state tournament, Uwharrie Charter Academy athletics

Uwharrie Charter Academy’s Jaden Maness lifts Tyler Stevens of Pamlico County during the Class 1-A final at 215 pounds. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) GREENSBORO – Uwharrie Charter Academy wrestlers were busy in Saturday’s finals of the Class 1-A state tournament, coming away with three championships and two runners-up spots at the Greensboro Coliseum. UCA’s Lorenzo Alston won his second state title by cruising at 150 pounds, while teammates Carson Robinson at 157 and Jaden Maness at 215 also nabbed championships. Eagles seniors Ethan Hines (106 pounds) and Alek Millikan (165) were runners-up, while junior Caden Bond (175) was third. Robbinsville won…

15 Feb

Trinity, UCA lead charge into wrestling states after strong regionals

Randolph RecordSportsAlek Millikan, Alex Raymundo, Bear Schaefer, Braxton Walker, Carson Robinson, Dominic Hittepole, Ethan Hines, Gavin Hardister, Greensboro Coliseum, Jack McArthur, Jaden Allred, Jaden Maness, Joseph Trahan, Kolby Garner, Lawson Coltrane, Levi Dennis, Lorenzo Alston, nchsaa, prep wrestling, Spencer May, state tournament, Trey Swaney

Trinity’s Bear Schaefer works on top against Seaforth’s William Bass during a key match in the Class 2-A dual team final. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) Trinity and Uwharrie Charter Academy will be well-represented in the wrestling state tournament after both schools produced four regional champions. Add in Randleman’s Braxton Walker among wrestlers from Randolph County winning regionals and holding high seeds for the states. Numerous other wrestlers from the county qualified as well and could be contenders for place finishes. Wrestlers in the top four in regionals advance to states. Trinity and UCA claimed team regional titles. Both teams were state…

14 Feb

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Levi Dennis

Randolph RecordSportsathlete of the week, Class 2-A, Levi Dennis, nchsaa, prep wrestling, state tournament, Trinity Bulldogs

Trinity, wrestling Dennis is wrapping up another stellar season for the Bulldogs. He won four matches last week to win the Class 2-A Midwest Regional at 132 pounds. He recorded two pins and a technical fall before defeating East Surry’s Michael Fischer 6-2 in the final. Dennis, a senior, holds a 49-1 record this season. Last February, he placed fifth in the state at 126. He received All-Piedmont Athletic Conference recognition the past two years.