Trinity Bulldogs - Randolph Record

07 Feb

UCA wrestlers aim for team title repeat; Reign ends for Trinity

Bob SuttonSportsBrandon Jordan, Brennan Worrell, Caden Bond, Dual team state finals, Hayden Waddell, Jaden Allred, Joseph Trahan, Lawson Coltrane, Lorenzo Alston, prep wrestling, Trinity Bulldogs, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles

UCA’s Rick Riccardella wraps up Union Academy’s Matthew Walsh during last weekend’s match during the second round of the Class 1A dual team state playoffs. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – Uwharrie Charter Academy wrestlers have displayed more dominance and the Eagles hope to take it to a familiar level in Saturday afternoon’s Class 1A dual team state championship. UCA (38-1) tangles with Mt. Airy at noon at the coliseum fieldhouse in Greensboro, seeking a third consecutive state title. “We won rings the last two years and we plan to go back and do it again,” 144-pounder Brandon Jordan…

04 Feb

A moment to savor on the mat: Trinity’s Coltrane would relish team repeat

Bob SuttonSportsBrandon Coggins, Dual team state finals, Lawson Coltrane, nchsaa, prep wrestling, Trinity Bulldogs

Lawson Coltrane (Bob Sutton / Randolph Record) TRINITY — Lawson Coltrane had one of those moments that will be etched in memories forever in Trinity wrestling circles. Too bad he didn’t even know it was coming. In last year’s Class 2A dual team state final, it was Coltrane’s pin in the 165-pound class that clinched the championship for the Bulldogs. “Whenever I went out there, I didn’t even know it was to clinch it,” Coltrane said recently. “I just went out there. In my head, ‘I’m going to pin this kid, get this done for the team.’ Whatever it is,…

03 Feb

Reigning champs UCA, Trinity start strong in state duals

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, class 1-A, Class 2-A, David Lambright, Dominic Hittepole, Eastern Randolph Wildcats, Jaden Allred, Joseph Trahan, Lawson Coltrane, Lorenzo Alston, nchsaa, prep wrestling, Trinity Bulldogs, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles, Wheatmore Warriors

Uwharrie Charter Academy’s Brennan Worrell prepares to pin Union Academy’s Nehemiah Parker during a Class 1A second-round meet Saturday. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) Uwharrie Charter Academy and Trinity wrestling teams began their quests to repeat as dual team state champions with two home victories apiece Saturday. UCA, the top seed in Class 1A East Region and the Piedmont Athletic Conference champion, and Trinity, the No. 1 seed for Class 2-A in the West Region, cruised in the opening rounds. If they win regional semifinals and finals Wednesday night, they’ll be headed to state finals Saturday at the coliseum fieldhouse…

31 Jan

Bradley departs Trinity football coaching position

Bob SuttonSportsBear Bradley, Noah Bradley, piedmont athletic conference, prep football, Trinity Bulldogs

TRINITY — Bear Bradley is done after two seasons as Trinity’s football coach, sensing a different type of opportunity as an assistant coach at a larger school. Bradley resigned to take a position at Greensboro Grimsley, which is the reigning Class 4A state champion. “It was basically for me,” Bradley said Friday. “Better for more career, going into one of the highest levels (of high school). For me, to be a part of that group is pretty special. … It’s a good time for me to reflect and learn.” The Bulldogs went 8-13 under Bradley, including a 3-7 record during…

31 Jan

UCA, Trinity hold top seeds for state duals; Eastern Randolph, Wheatmore, Asheboro also qualify

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, class 1-A, Class 2-A, Class 3-A, Cliff Thompson, Dominic Hittepole, Eastern Randolph Wildcats, nchsaa, prep wrestling, Trinity Bulldogs, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles, Wheatmore Warriors

Uwharrie Charter Academy’s Brennan Worrell, top, works against Avery County’s King Orvosh in a 120-pound match last year in the Class 1A dual team state finals. (Randolph Record) Uwharrie Charter Academy and Trinity wrestling teams will begin their quests to repeat as dual team state champions with home meets Saturday. UCA, the top seed in Class 1A East Region and the Piedmont Athletic Conference champion, is home against Lakewood. The winner meets either Union Academy or Albemarle in the second round. Trinity begins Class 2A competition as the top seed in the West Region, facing Brevard and then, if it…

30 Jan

Trinity wrestlers eye another team title

Bob SuttonSportsAiden Burkholder, Brandon Coggins, Class 2-A, Dual team state finals, Jaden Allred, Joseph Trahan, Lawson Coltrane, nchsaa, prep wrestling, Trinity Bulldogs

Trinity wrestling coach Brandon Coggins reacts during a key moment in last year’s dual team state final against Seaforth. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) TRINITY — Trinity’s wrestling team has a hard act to follow after what the Bulldogs did last winter. But they say they’re up for the challenge as they’ll try to repeat as Class 2A dual team state champions. “It was a surreal moment,” junior heavyweight Joseph Trahan said of last year’s title. “It definitely will be a lot of pressure. We have the ability to do it again.” That’s the mindset for the Bulldogs when the…

24 Jan

Area schools don’t shift in second NCHSAA league draft

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Eastern Randolph Wildcats, nchsaa, Providence Grove Patriots, Randleman Tigers, Randolph County School System, realignment, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, Stephen Gainey, Trinity Bulldogs, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles, Wheatmore Warriors

There were no changes involving Randolph County schools in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association’s second draft of conference alignments. That revised draft was released this week. “What I gather is our schools are pretty happy where they are,” said Stephen Gainey, superintendent of the Randolph County School System. RCSS has six high schools as part of the NCHSAA. Gainey began a term as NCHSAA president last summer, so has a keen eye on the topic. Appeals and comments from schools regarding the conference make-ups are due Tuesday. The realignment committee is scheduled to meet again Feb. 3-4. “A…

22 Jan

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Desiree Rondon

Randolph RecordSportsDesiree Rondon, piedmont athletic conference, Prep Basketball, Trinity Bulldogs

Trinity, girls’ basketball Rondon helped Trinity secure its first Piedmont Athletic Conference victory in almost two years in a 34-28 home victory against Eastern Randolph last week. Rondon, a post player, was credited with pulling in a team-high 12 rebounds in the game. Rondon is one of two seniors on the Trinity team. She ranks fourth among the Bulldogs in scoring. Entering this week, Trinity held an 8-8 overall record as it bids for its first winning season since 2016-17. *** *** Photo: Desiree Rondon of Trinity takes a shot during a holiday tournament last month in Asheboro. (PJ Ward-Brown /…

20 Jan

Prep wrestling: Busy Trinity team claims tourney title; Others win in Jet Invitational

Bob SuttonSportsAiden Burkholder, Bliss Joyce, Briana Joyce, David Lambright, Eastern Randolph Wildcats, Edgar Vasquez, Lawson Coltrane, Maddox Carson, Mitchell Freeman, prep wrestling, Providence Grove Patriots, Simeon Hammett, Stephen Cross, Trinity Bulldogs, Wheatmore Warriors

Five Trinity wrestlers grabbed individual titles and the Bulldogs were team champions in the Sarah Wilkes Invitational on Saturday in Eden. It was the first of two tournaments in three days that at least some of the Bulldogs participated in. Aiden Burkholder (106 pounds), Stephen Cross (113), Edgar Vasquez (126), Simeon Hammett (132) and Lawson Coltrane (165) were the champs for Trinity, which also had three runners-up. Among 12 teams, Trinity was the champion with 198½ points, with host Eden Morehead the runner-up at 179. Burkholder defeated Southeast Guilford’s Jacob Bone with a 56-second pin in the final. Cross edged…

18 Jan

Prep girls’ basketball: Cougars stay clean; Trinity halts PAC skid; UCA notches historic comeback

Randolph RecordSportsJordin George, piedmont athletic conference, Prep Basketball, Providence Grove Patriots, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, Trinity Bulldogs, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles

ASHEBORO – Southwestern Randolph keeps plugging along, staying undefeated in girls’ basketball with Friday night’s 59-45 victory at Uwharrie Charter Academy. Jordin George racked up 19 points and Macy Allred had 15 points for the Cougars in the Piedmont Athletic Conference game. Southwestern Randolph improved to 15-0 overall. Kayla Brown’s 14 points were tops for UCA. ** While most teams in the county played just once during the week because of final exams, it was an eventful week for UCA. The Eagles pulled off the biggest comeback in program history when the topped host Ambassador Christian 53-51 in overtime of…