Uwharrie Charter Academy athletics - Randolph Record

14 Nov

Prep Roundup: UCA boys win first under new coach

Randolph RecordSportsPrep Basketball, prep cross country, prep soccer, Preston Steele, Uwharrie Charter Academy athletics, Zach Hazelwood

Uwharrie Charter Academy’s Aaron Smith shoots over Woods Charter’s Levi Haygood. (Gene Galin/Randolph Record) SUMMERFIELD – Preston Steele’s debut as boys’ basketball coach at Uwharrie Charter Academy went well. The Eagles posted a 53-21 road victory at Bethany Community last Thursday. That was followed by Friday’s 66-34 triumph at Woods Charter. UCA girls won their opener as well, prevailing 60-48 at Bethany Community behind Nevaeh Staples’ 17 points and Lainey Thomas’ 15 points. Next, the Eagles won 66-21 at Woods Charter with Staples scoring 16 points. Boys’ soccer Southwestern Randolph’s season ended with a 3-2 home loss to Lincoln Charter…

27 Oct

Prep volleyball: Southwestern Randolph moves on to regional semifinals

Randolph RecordSportsColey Shiflet, Gracie Hodgin, Prep volleyball, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, Uwharrie Charter Academy athletics

Southwestern Randolph’s Gracie Hodgin returns a ball against Mount Pleasant in a state-playoff match earlier this week. (Scott Pelkey/Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – Southwestern Randolph made it to the fourth round of the Class 3-A state playoffs in volleyball with Thursday night’s four-set conquering of visiting West Stanly. The Cougars, who are the No. 3 seed in the West Region, won 25-13, 24-26, 25-15, 25-22 for their third straight home victory in the state playoffs. Next is a regional semifinal Saturday at second-seeded Brevard. Southwestern Randolph (25-4), the Piedmont Athletic Conference champion, holds a 14-match winning streak. Sixth-seeded West Stanly, the…

13 Oct

New UCA basketball coach knows Eagles

Bob SuttonSportspiedmont athletic conference, Prep Basketball, Preston Steele, Uwharrie Charter Academy athletics

ASHEBORO – Preston Steele has had connections to Uwharrie Charter Academy boys’ basketball players and those are becoming stronger. Steele is the team’s new coach. He took the position after it came open a few weeks ago. “I think it was the need that they had,” Steele said. “Things played out fast. I want to make sure the boys are invested in the way they should be.” Brad Monroe was the coach for eight seasons, according to an online listing. He also had been athletics director for some of that time at the school. Steele had been coach of the…

02 Oct

Prep Roundup: Patriots cruise in tennis; Soccer showdown ends in tie

Randolph RecordSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, prep soccer, Prep tennis, Prep volleyball, Providence Grove Patriots, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, Trinity Bulldogs, Uwharrie Charter Academy athletics

Uwharrie Charter Academy’s Rowley Cordier, left, and Wheatmore’s Luarel Ortiz compete for the ball during last week’s Piedmont Athletic Conference boys’ soccer game. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) Providence Grove’s girls’ tennis team won the Piedmont Athletic Conference championship by going undefeated with one match remaining. Last week’s victories for the Patriots came by 8-1 scores against both Trinity and Randleman. In both of those matches, Audrey Frazier, Maya Barber, Noelle Swaim, Abby Greeson and Caroline Tidwell were singles winners for Providence Grove. Boys’ soccer A showdown between Asheboro and host Southwestern Randolph didn’t solve a whole lot in a matchup…

18 Sep

Prep Roundup: PAC makes strong statement in volleyball

Randolph RecordSportsprep soccer, Prep volleyball, Randleman Tigers, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, Trinity Bulldogs, Uwharrie Charter Academy athletics

Trinity’s Serena Dilldine sets the ball as teammate’s Eva Porter, left, and Katelyn Hill look on during a victory last week against Jordan-Matthews. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) Piedmont Athletic Conference volleyball looked strong for most of last week. League members went a combined 5-1 in non-conference competition prior to a rough day for Southwestern Randolph on Saturday. The Cougars had two non-conference showdowns at home, falling in a three-set sweep to then-unbeaten East Surry and dropping a four-set match to McMichael, which also topped East Surry to improve to 12-1. The earlier outcomes included Southwestern Randolph (11-4) taking down host…

11 Sep

Prep Roundup: UCA maintains elite status in volleyball; Cougars click in soccer

Randolph RecordSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, prep soccer, Prep volleyball, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, Uwharrie Charter Academy athletics

Kynnedi Routh of Wheatmore makes a play as teammate Tate McKinney looks on during a match earlier this season at Asheboro. (Scott Pelkey/Randolph Record) Uwharrie Charter Academy has emerged as one of the top teams in Piedmont Athletic Conference volleyball. The Eagles solidified that reputation by sweeping visiting Randleman last Thursday. That pushed UCA’s overall record to 9-0. The Eagles and Southwestern Randolph are the only teams without a PAC blemish on their records. The first meeting between those two teams comes Sept. 19 at Southwestern Randolph. By defeating Randleman 25-16, 25-8, 25-21, it gave UCA five consecutive sweeps. Liza…

05 Sep

UCA moves soccer games to new sportsplex

Bob SuttonSportsChris Waddell, piedmont athletic conference, prep soccer, Uwharrie Charter Academy athletics, Zoo City Sportsplex

ASHEBORO – Uwharrie Charter Academy’s new home for soccer games is the recently opened Zoo City Sportsplex. “We’ve worked with the City of Asheboro on this,” UCA athletics director Chris Waddell said. “It shows volumes the partnerships we’ve been able to create with the city and in Randolph County. Putting this together was a group effort.” The Eagles’ first game at their new home venue comes with Friday night’s boys’ soccer meeting with Woods Charter. Regular home game times will be 6 p.m. The site is less than a 10-minute drive from UCA’s main campus. The UCA girls’ soccer team,…

01 Sep

Wrestling coach Chris Waddell adds AD duties at UCA

Bob SuttonSportsChris Waddell, prep wrestling, Uwharrie Charter Academy athletics

Wrestling coach Chris Waddell is the new athletics director at Uwharrie Charter Academy. (Randolph Record file photo) ASHEBORO – Chris Waddell’s roles have changed at Uwharrie Charter Academy but he’ll still coach the powerhouse wrestling team. His job titles now include duties as dean of students and athletics director. “I’ve been doing a lot of preparation during the summer,” Waddell said. Boys’ basketball coach Brad Monroe previously had the position of athletics director. Waddell had been an assistant athletics director while also the wrestling coach. “It’s an adjustment,” Waddell said. “I like a challenge. I always have.” He has…

29 Jul

UCA alum, ZooKeepers pitcher Hill finds new college home

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Zookeepers, Coastal Plain League, College baseball, Hunter Hill, summer college baseball, Uwharrie Charter Academy athletics

ASHEBORO – Hunter Hill arrived to play summer baseball with the Asheboro ZooKeepers while representing North Carolina Wesleyan. When he leaves, he’ll be heading to another college. Hill, a former Uwharrie Charter Academy pitcher, is transferring to Division II Belmont Abbey. “I’m excited about it,” he said. “I was happy to move up the ladder.” Hill pitched for two seasons for Division III N.C. Wesleyan without a loss on his record. The time in his first season with the ZooKeepers in the Coastal Plain League has given him confidence that he can be successful at a higher level. “It’s a…

28 Jul

In review: UCA’s state titles highlight top area moments

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Brecken Snotherly, Connor Carter, Eastern Randolph athletics, Hunter Atkins, Providence Grove athletics, Randleman athletics, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, Tanner Marsh, UCA wrestling, Uwharrie Charter Academy athletics, Wheatmore athletics

Members of the Uwharrie Charter Academy wrestling team celebrate a dual team state championship last winter. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) There were championships and near misses and an assortment of other superlatives associated with the 2022-23 school year for Randolph County high school teams. Uwharrie Charter Academy racked up a pair of team state championships in Class 1-A. The Eagles secured the dual team wrestling title and a few months later picked up the baseball crown. ** Eastern Randolph’s boys’ basketball team had its most successful season ever by advancing to the Class 1-A state championship game. Wilson Prep won the…