Uwharrie Charter Academy - Randolph Record

03 Feb

UCA excels for pressure-packed Class 1-A team title

Bob SuttonSportsclass 1-A, nchsaa, prep wrestling, state playoffs, UCA Eagles, Uwharrie Charter Academy

Uwharrie Charter Academy's wrestling team claimed the top hardware in Saturday's Class 1-A dual team final. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) Eagles wipe out deficit with pins to defend crown GREENSBORO – Uwharrie Charter Academy wrestlers say they thrive on embracing pressure situations. One after another, the Eagles had chances to show that on a big stage Saturday afternoon. Needing to get through most of the back half of the Class 1-A dual team championship meet against Avery County without a glitch, the Eagles clicked time and time again. Then it came down to 215-pounder senior Jaden Maness in the final bout.…

24 Aug

Taking their shots: Area teens hit targets with new passion

Bob SuttonSportsAmateur Trapshooting Association, Trapshooting, Uwharrie Charter Academy

Colson Allen, left, and Isaac McCoy from Randolph County were in Illinois for a major trapshooting competition earlier this month. (Courtesy photo) ASHEBORO – Randolph County teenagers Colson Allen and Isaac McCoy took a school pastime and have made it a full-fledged hobby. Trapshooting has taking them to multiple states for competitions and they’ve come home with recognition for their accuracy. “I started with the school with hunter safety,” Allen said. “My school coach (J.D. Goodwin) got me into ATA.” They recently returned from the Amateur Trapshooting Association’s Grand American event at the World Shooting & Recreational Complex in Sparta,…

16 Aug

UCA’s high school building ready; Delays expected for younger students

Randolph RecordNewsEducation, Randolph County Schools, ribbon cutting, UCA, Uwharrie Charter Academy

ASHEBORO — The new high school building for Uwharrie Charter Academy opens next week. The new facility will house the high school and career academy. A ribbon cutting was held last Thursday, with an appearance by Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, who’s running for governor in 2024. Classes begin Monday, and students will be welcomed to the new facility. Staff members have spent the past couple of weeks on-site preparing for the opening. It hasn’t gone quite as smoothly for UCA’s elementary school facilities. UCA superintendent Sharron Castelli announced an adjustment to the school calendar for early grades. “We will have…

13 Aug

Roberts walks away after historic UCA career on mats

Bob SuttonSportsChris Waddell, class 1-A, Grayson Roberts, prep wrestling, State wrestling, Uwharrie Charter Academy

Uwharrie Charter Academy’s Grayson Roberts reacts after winning a Class 1-A individual state title at 160 pounds in February 2022 to cap his junior season. (Randolph Record file photo) ASHEBORO – Grayson Roberts tends to downplay some of his accomplishments from high school wrestling. But the recent Uwharrie Charter Academy graduate doesn’t dismiss the impact the sport had on his life. “I love the sport. It definitely changed my life,” Roberts said. “Speaking on my younger self, I was a little bit of a wild child.” Roberts is the only four-time state place finisher in UCA history. He placed…

08 May

Area teams hold No. 2 seeds for state playoffs in baseball, softball

Randolph RecordSportsnchsaa, Prep baseball, Prep softball, Randleman Tigers, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, Uwharrie Charter Academy

Caleb Stickle and the Uwharrie Charter Academy baseball team are diving into the state playoffs this week. (P.J. Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) Baseball teams from Randleman and Uwharrie Charter Academy and the Southwestern Randolph softball team all landed No. 2 seeds in the West Region for the state playoffs. Brackets were unveiled Monday. Play begins Tuesday. Teams that advance will be slated to play second-round games Friday. Here’s a look where Randolph County teams were seeded: Baseball Randleman (20-4) welcomes No. 31 seed Reidsville (11-14) for the first round in Class 2-A. A victory would mean that No. 15 Forbush (20-7) or…

19 Apr

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Ben Medinger

Randolph RecordSportsathlete of the week, Ben Medinger, high school sports, Prep baseball, prep sports, student athlete, Uwharrie Charter Academy

Uwharrie Charter Academy, baseball Medinger has been a steady performer for the Eagles, and he’s one of the core veterans on the team. UCA went 3-0 last week, including winning a pair of tight Piedmont Athletic Conference matchups with Eastern Randolph. Medinger scored a run in the team’s 3-0 decision against Eastern Randolph. Medinger, a senior utility player, is among the top UCA players in on-base percentage and run production. He was one of two UCA selections for the All-PAC team in 2022. Entering this week with an 8-9 record, the Eagles are within two victories of matching last year’s…

22 Mar

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Cade Hill

Randolph RecordSportsAOTW, athlete of the week, Cade Hill, high school baseball, piedmont athletic conference, Prep baseball, prep sports, Uwharrie Charter Academy

Trinity, baseball Hill has helped Trinity to an unbeaten start in Piedmont Athletic Conference play through four games. In last week’s series-opening victory against Southwestern Randolph, the senior right-hander was the winning pitcher by working five innings and allowing one earned run in Trinity’s 16-6 romp. Hill also had a double in that game. The Bulldogs and defending champion Randleman were the only teams without a loss in league play through the first two weeks of the PAC season.

26 Feb

Shore likes set-up with UCA baseball

Bob SuttonSportsGrant Little, Old North State League, piedmont athletic conference, Prep baseball, Rob Shore, Uwharrie Charter Academy

ASHEBORO – Rob Shore knows what it takes to be successful in high school baseball and he likes what he sees entering his first season as Uwharrie Charter Academy’s coach. Shore moved up to the top spot after one season as an assistant when Lee Kennell stepped down. “I’ve always liked the smaller school and smaller setting,” Shore said. Keeping track of Shore’s credentials is no simple task. He was an assistant coach for six years at Southwest Guilford before an 11-year run as Trinity’s coach. That was followed by four years at Ledford, where his 2018 team reached the…

19 Feb

Prep wrestling: UCA duo, Southwestern Randolph’s Flores secure state titles

Randolph RecordSportsAldo Hernandez, Colton Wood, Diego Gutierrez, Grayson Roberts, Greensboro Coliseum, Jaden Maness, Jose Flores, Lorenzo Alston, nchsaa, prep wrestling, Spencer May, Uwharrie Charter Academy

GREENSBORO – Senior wrestler Aldo Hernandez became a three-time state champion, including two seasons in a row for Uwharrie Charter Academy, and two underclassmen from Randolph County schools also won state championships. Hernandez captured the Class 1-A title at 138 pounds with a dominating performance across two days at the Greensboro Coliseum. Freshman teammate Lorenzo Alston won at 145 pounds. In Class 2-A, it was a three-day meet, capped for Southwestern Randolph 220-pound sophomore Jose Flores with Saturday night’s championship. UCA had three runners-up, and finished third in the Class 1-A team standings. Hernandez, who nabbed a state title in…

15 Feb

UCA receives 10-year renewal

Bob SuttonNewscharter school, NC Department of Public Instruction, Randolph County Schools, Schools in Randolph County, UCA, Uwharrie Charter Academy

ASHEBORO — Uwharrie Charter Academy has further confirmation that its long-term future appears bright. Randolph County’s only charter school was notified that the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction has voted to recommend a 10-year renewal for the school, which has grades K-12. “This is our first renewal, and the max you can get is 10 years,” said Sharon Castelli, the school’s superintendent. “Which means we’re going to be around a little longer.” The final stamp of approval should come from the Charter Schools Advisory Board in the spring, something that’s considered just a formality at this point. UCA is…