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ER girls Brecken Snotherly v Wheatmore

Piedmont Athletic Conference all-conference lists for winter sports

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Eastern Randolph’s Brecken Snotherly goes up for a shot vs. Wheatmore during the past season. Snotherly was named the Player of the Year in Piedmont Athletic Conference girls’ basketball. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

Here’s a list of the Piedmont Athletic Conference’s major award winners and all-conference selections for winter sports:

Boys’ basketball

Player of the Year: Dominic Payne (Trinity)

Coach of the Year: Matt Kiser (Southwestern Randolph)

All-Conference

Eastern Randolph: Davonte Brooks, Timothy Brower, Pierce Leonard, Nicah Taylor

Southwestern Randolph: Sean Adkins, Nathan Ellis, Thomas Leal, Landon Williamson.

Trinity: Brandon Campbell, Dylan Hodges, Dominic Payne.

Randleman: Tyshaun Goldston, Greg Price.

Uwharrie Charter Academy: Ashton Troutman.

Providence Grove: Chase Whitaker.

****

Girls’ basketball

Player of the Year: Brecken Snotherly (Eastern Randolph)

Coach of the Year: Brandon Varner (Randleman)

All-Conference

Randleman: Gracie Beane, Gracyn Hall, Audra Petty, Elizabeth York.

Eastern Randolph: Brecken Snotherly, Kenly Whitaker.

Southwestern Randolph: Jordin George, Caressa King.

Wheatmore: Brianna Hill, Kynndi Routh.

Uwharrie Charter Academy: Ashara Spruill, Savannah Surratt

Trinity: Autumn Gentry, Kennedy Jackson.

Providence Grove: Allie Frazier.

****

Boys’ swimming

Swimmer of the Year: Chris Hall (Trinity)

Co-Coaches of the Year: Michelle Hinson (Wheatmore), Tammie Swaim (Trinity)

All-Conference

Wheatmore: Thomas Crews, Aiden Dean, Jace Leonard, Jude Leonard, Alexis Vega-Torres.

Providence Grove: Hayden Parker, Ashton Taylor, Austin Williams.

Trinity: Chris Hall.

****

Girls’ swimming

Swimmer of the Year: Samantha Marin (Randleman)

Co-Coaches of the Year: Michelle Hinson (Wheatmore), Tammie Swaim (Trinity)

All-conference

Wheatmore: Emily Cribbs, Sydney Hall, Paisley Hollifield, Victoria Joyce, Ava Williamson.

Randleman: Emma Herring, Kendall Fortson, Samantha Marin, Mackenzie Roach.

Trinity: Callie Jones.

*****

Uwharrie Charter Academy’s Grayson Roberts pins South Davidson’s Jesse Pope during the Class 1-A East Region final at 170 pounds. Roberts was voted as the top upper-weight wrestler in the Piedmont Athletic Conference. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

Wrestling

Lower Weight Wrestler of the Year: Aldo Hernandez (UCA)

Upper Weight Wrestler of the Year: Grayson Roberts (UCA)

Coach of the Year: Chris Waddell (UCA)

All-conference

Uwharrie Charter Academy: Lorenzo Alston, Corbin Grissom, Aldo Hernandez, Ethan Hines, Jadon Maness, Jack McArthur, Grayson Roberts, Carson Robinson, Jair Ulloa, Brennan Worrell.

Trinity: Lawson Coltrane, Levi Dennis, Brayden Hall, Gavin Hardister, Spencer May, Gavin McCall, Bear Schaefer, Joey Smith, Edgard Mora Vasquez.

Southwestern Randolph: Jose Flores, Erick Lopez, Luke White.

Wheatmore: Dominic Hittiepole, Trey Swaney.

Providence Grove: Ross Allred, Colton Wood.

Eastern Randolph: Bryce Foland, Adrian Lopez.

Randleman: Caden Thorne, Braxton Walker

NCHSAA logo

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

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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 2021 for Montgomery Central, finished his final prep season with a 52-2 record. In the state tournament, he had a pin, a 10-3 decision and then dominated Alleghany’s Cameron Worrick for a second-period technical fall in the final.

Alston’s first season resulted in a 54-2 record. He was efficient in the tournament with a pin and two major decisions, the latter coming by 11-3 against Robbinsville’s Willie Riddle in the championship match.

UCA junior Ethan Hines (106), senior Grayson Roberts (170) and junior Jaden Maness (195) were runners-up.

Hines dropped a 1-0 decision to Avery County’s Cooper Foster in the title bout.

Roberts, the 2022 champion at 160, lost a 1-0 decision to Avery County freshman Cael Dunn after recording a pair of pins in the tournament. Roberts ended his last season with a 50-5 record.

In the 195 final, Avery County’s Seth Blackledge pinned Maness in 1:33.

Third place for the Eagles went to Carson Robinson (160), while teammate Alec Millikan (152) was fourth. Eastern Randolph’s Adrian Lopez (126) placed third.

Class 2-A

Flores capped a 30-2 season by defeating Mt. Pleasant’s Colt Kluttz 3-0. He won three earlier matches by decision, including a 12-11 outcome against Walkertown J’Lynn Sheff in the semifinals.

Trinity’s Spencer May was the runner-up at 120, dropping 7-5 sudden-victory decision in the final to Eden Morehead’s Jared Thomas. May had three pins to reach the final, with two of those coming in first periods.

Providence Grove senior Colton Wood was a repeat place winner, taking third at 285 pounds. His only loss was a one-point loss that went to overtime to Maiden’s DJ Spring, the eventual champion. He was sixth last year.

Trinity had a solid showing with Brayden Hall (113), Joey Smith (220) in fourth place and Levi Dennis (126) in fifth place.

Wheatmore had Trey Swaney (132) and Dominic Hittepole (160) both in fourth place.

Luke White (138) of Southwestern Randolph finished sixth.

Class 3-A

Asheboro senior Diego Gutierrez was the only one of the four Blue Comets entrants to win a bout in the tournament. He placed third at 120 with a 4-1 record to complete the season with a 41-2.

His only loss in the tournament came in a 4-3 decision to East Henderson’s Gunner Marshall in the semifinals. Marshall was the eventual runner-up.

UCA wrestling Carson Robinson v ER Bryce Foland Feb2023

Prep wrestling: UCA sends 10 to state tournament

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Uwharrie Charter Academy’s Carson Robinson, top, works on Eastern Randolph’s Bryce Foland during the 160-pound final in the Class 1-A East Regional. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

Five county schools have regional champions

ASHEBORO – Aldo Hernandez and Grayson Roberts will try to repeat as state champions as Uwharrie Charter Academy will send 10 wrestlers to the state tournament.

UCA, as the host school, rolled through Friday and Saturday’s Class 1-A East Regional.

Hernandez at 138 pounds and Roberts at 170 pounds were regional champions, joining 106-pounder Ethan Hines, 145-pounder Lorenzo Alston, 160-pounder Carson Robinson and 195-pounder Jaden Maness with those first-place spots.

The Eagles were overwhelming team champions with 251 points compared to runner-up North East Carolina Prep’s 152. Eastern Randolph was sixth with 115½.

The multi-day state tournament at the Greensboro Coliseum begins Thursday for Class 2-A, Class 3-A and Class 4-A, while Class 1-A starts Friday. Finals are slated for Saturday night.

Hernandez, who won in the 2021 states for Montgomery Central, and Roberts both moved up one weight class since last season.

Robinson won by a first-period injury default against Eastern Randolph’s Bryce Foland in the final.

The top four finishers in each weight class qualify for states.

UCA will also send regional runners-up Brandon Jordan (126), Jack McArthur (132) and Corbin Grissom (182) along with third-place finisher Alec Millikan (152). The Eagles will have entrants in 10 of the 14 weight classes.

Other than Foland, Eastern Randolph’s qualifiers are Jamie Crabtree (third at 106), Adrian Lopez (third at 126), Ian Moore (third at 220) and Carter Self (fourth at 120).

Class 2-A

At Bunn, Spencer May of Trinity, Dominic Hittepole of Wheatmore and Jose Flores of Southwestern Randolph won titles in the Mideast Regional.

May won at 120, Hittepole at 160 and Flores at 220.

Trinity was team runner-up behind Eden Morehead. Southwestern Randolph was fourth.

Trinity’s contingent at the state tournament also will include Brayden Hall (second at 113), Gavin Hardister (second at 182), Levi Dennis (third at 126), Joey Smith (third at 220) and Baron Justice (fourth at 138).

Wheatmore is sending Hittepole, Trey Swaney (second at 132) and Randy Spencer (fourth at 195).

Aside from Flores, Southwestern Randolph’s state qualifiers are Luke White (third at 138), Mason Leonard (third at 145) and Janaksel Perez (fourth at 106).

Providence Grove’s Colton Wood (285) heads back to the states after a runner-up spot in the regional. Teammate Mitchell Freeman was fourth at 152.

Randleman’s Braxton Walker (second at 195) and Kaelob Pearce (fourth at 132) advanced to states.

Class 3-A

At Lexington, Diego Gutierrez of Asheboro won at 120 pounds in the Midwest Regional at North Davidson to lead four Blue Comets into the state tournament.

Gutierrez went 4-0 to improve to 37-1.

Xavier Santos (113), who was a state qualifier last year, Christian Diaz (160) and Eddie Soto (195) also moved on with fourth-place regional finishes.

UCA wrestling team photo after winning 2023 state duals

UCA wrestlers pin down state duals title

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Here’s the Uwharrie Charter Academy wrestling team after winning the Class 1-A dual team state championship by defeating Avery County on Saturday in Greensboro. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

GREENSBORO – All the pieces came together for Uwharrie Charter Academy’s wrestling team in another tight battle with Avery County.

So this time, the Eagles won the Class 1-A dual team state championship.

“Anytime you do something like this, it’s pretty special,” UCA coach Chris Waddell said. “It takes plenty – so moving parts to make it happen. It takes a collective effort.”

Both teams won seven matches, but UCA racked up crucial points with pins and a technical fall to secure their second title in four seasons by prevailing 39-36 on Saturday afternoon at the Greensboro Coliseum’s fieldhouse.

UCA avenged a loss to Avery County in last February’s state final.

Jaden Maness, the 195-pounder for UCA, clinched the team outcome with a pin of Brandon Cabrera in 3:20.

“It was a big deal, sealed the dual,” Maness said. “Get the team the state title, it was a really big moment.”

Uwharrie Charter Academy’s Jaden Maness is in control of Avery County’s Brandon Cabrera in the title-clinching bout at 195 pounds in the Class 1-A dual team state final. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

The pin was important because it gave the Eagles enough points with one match left on the docket.

“Getting this pin for this team,” Maness said. “I love this team. It means a lot to me to get this pin and sealing the dual and getting the state title.”

There was plenty to celebrate for the Eagles (36-0). Waddell gained his 700th coaching victory.

He said the Eagles have been a committed and determined group.

“They train 11 months out of the year,” he said. “They do everything together. Hang out together.”

Avery County topped the Eagles 39-30 last year, when UCA entered the meet with a 35-0 record.

This year’s final began at 285 pounds, with UCA sophomore Caden Bond moving up a division to take the team’s spot in that match. He delivered with an 8-0 decision against Connor Brewer.

“I thought Caden did exceptionally well,” Waddell said. “For Caden to be able to do that, he’s only a sophomore and as hard-nosed as they come.”

Avery County (27-8) won three of the next four bouts for an 18-9 lead. Only Ethan Hines, with a technical fall by shutout at 113, prevented a four-match sweep.

Then the Eagles put it into gear.

Lorenzo Alston of Uwharrie Charter Academy works toward a first-period pin of Avery County’s Garrett Potter at 152 pounds in the Class 1-A dual team state final. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

In a clash of 2022 state champions, UCA’s Aldo Hernandez pinned Grant Reece in 1:08 of 132. That earned Hernandez the selection as the Most Valuable Wrestler of the meet. He won the 132 states last February, while Reece won at 126.

UCA 138-pounder Jack McArthur won with a second-period pin. Avery County pulled even in team scoring by winning at 145 before Lorenzo Alston produced a 17-second pin in the 152 bout.

Another decision for Avery County came before Grayson Roberts, also a 2022 state champion for UCA, received a forfeit at 170.

Cael Dunn, son of Avery County coach Matthew Dunn, notched a pin for the Vikings at 182 before Maness removed all doubt about the team outcome. UCA forfeited the 220-pound match to account for the final scoring.

Uwharrie Charter Academy wrestling team members celebrate coach Chris Waddell’s 700th career victory after winning the Class 1-A dual team state championship Saturday in Greensboro. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

UCA won the 2019 title before Avery County topped the Eagles for the 2020 crown. There wasn’t a tournament in 2021 due to the pandemic.

UCA and Northwest Guilford, which toppled Wilmington Laney 52-24 for the Class 4-A title, are the state’s only undefeated teams.

Next for the Eagles and other qualifying wrestlers will be individual regionals Friday and next Saturday following the next week by the state tournament. UCA is the host school for the Class 1-A East Regional.

ER Brecken Snotherly shoots v UCA Jan2023

Prep Roundup: Snotherly, Payne maintain rapid scoring paces: UCA, Asheboro wrestlers roll

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Eastern Randolph’s Brecken Snotherly prepares to launch a shot last week against Uwharrie Charter Academy. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

Here are some notable performances from around area high schools last week:

In girls’ basketball, Southwestern Randolph defeated host Eastern Randolph 59-52 as Jordin George had 15 points.

Still, it was a special week for Eastern Randolph senior Breck Snotherly, who eclipsed the 1,000-point mark with the Wildcats. Plus, she has more points from her time at Winston-Salem Christian.

Snotherly racked up 32 points in the Southwestern Randolph game. The next night, Snotherly produced 21 points when Eastern Randolph defeated host Jordan-Matthews 58-11.

She capped the week with 34 points when Eastern Randolph defeated visiting Uhwarrie Charter Academy 58-42 on Friday night.

Boys’ basketball

In Trinity’s 88-59 home romp past Providence Grove, Dominic Payne racked up 30 points, Dylan Hodges had 26 points and Brandon Campbell notched 18 points.

Payne, a junior guard, reached the 1,000-point career mark in late December.

Davonte Brooks tallied 29 points when Eastern Randolph beat visiting Southwestern Randolph 70-55. Later in the week, Timothy Brower pumped in 22 points to lead five Eastern Randolph players in double figures in a 96-51 drilling of visiting UCA.

Randleman topped visiting UCA 68-42 with Greg Price scoring 22 points. Ashton Troutman’s 23 points paced UCA.

Jerquarius Stanback’s 26 points carried Asheboro past visiting Oak Grove 74-56 in a Mid-Piedmont Conference opener.

Wrestling

Uwharrie Charter Academy, the host school, went 10-0 across two days in the Pin Down Autism Super Duals.

The Eagles smashed most of the competition. The closest meet came with a 51-21 beating of Southeast Guilford.

Lorenzo Alston of UCA went 10-0. Posting 9-0 records for UCA were Jack McArthur, Aldo Hernandez, Carson Robinson and Grayson Roberts. Corbin Grissom was 8-0 and Jair Ulloa went 7-0, while Brandon Jordan and Caden Bond both won nine matches and Brennan Worrell won eight times.

** At Walnut Cove, Asheboro won all five meets Saturday in the Rick Williams Duals at South Stokes.

The Blue Comets won against Patrick (Va.) County (by 42-31), Elkin (63-12), South Stokes (60-16) Reagan (51-28) and Starmount (42-30).

Xavier Santos (113 pounds), Diego Gutierrez (120, 126) and Michael Brady (182) all went 5-0 for Asheboro.

Wheatmore girls soccer Summer Bowman reacts June 2022

Championships help define 2022 for Randolph County sports

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Summer Bowman of Wheatmore reacts after scoring a goal against Clinton in the Class 2-A state championship game. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

Here’s a recap of notable Randolph County-related sports stories for 2022:

** Asheboro’s summer collegiate baseball team undergoes a rebranding that includes a name change. The new name is the Asheboro ZooKeepers in a switch from Asheboro Copperheads.

Randleman’s girls’ basketball team under the direction of coach Brandon Varner had a stellar season a year ago and the Tigers are off to another strong start this season. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

** Randleman’s girls’ basketball team goes through an undefeated regular season and completes a 25-1 season. The lone loss came in the Class 2-A West Region semifinals to Shelby.

** David Makupson of Trinity captures a state championship in Class 2-A wrestling at 138 pounds to cap a remarkable high school career. Uwharrie Charter Academy underclassmen Aldo Hernandez (132 pounds) and Grayson Roberts (160 pounds) are Class 1-A state tiltists.

Also, UCA reaches the Class 1-A dual team state final, where it lost to Avery County in Greensboro.

** Steve Luck leaves his position as athletics director at Asheboro High School. Later in the year, he becomes commissioner for the Mid-Piedmont Conference.

** Eastern Randolph’s Connor Carter is the Class 1-A state runner-up in Class 1-A boys’ golf.

** Providence Grove’s softball team racks up an incredible season, going all the way to the Class 2-A West Region’s fourth round before suffering a defeat. The Patriots finish with a 24-1 record.

** Wheatmore’s girls’ soccer team turns in a perfect season with a 25-0-0 record that culminates in a Class 2-A state championship. The Warriors defeat Clinton 4-1 in the title game in Cary.

** Randleman’s baseball team repeats as Class 2-A state champion with a dominating regular season and postseason. The Tigers are stocked with college prospects and churn out a 33-1 record, sweeping Whiteville in the best-of-3 state finals in Burlington.

** McCrary Park undergoes numerous changes at the beginning of a massive renovation project for the baseball facility in Asheboro. The project is off schedule causing Asheboro High School to play at an alternate site and the Asheboro ZooKeepers to begin the season with extra road games.

Off the field, there are changes announced after the 2022 season, including Melissa Godwin joining the club as general manager for the Coastal Plain League team, which is a summer circuit for college players.

** Randleman catcher Brooks Brannon is a ninth-round draft choice of the Boston Red Sox. So he steps away from a baseball scholarship at North Carolina to launch a professional career.

Randolph County Post 45’s Tyler Parks slides home during an American Legion Southeast Regional game vs. Rock Hill, S.C., in Asheboro. It was one of the games at McCrary Park, where a new field surface was in place this year. Parks is a Southwestern Randolph standout. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record).

** American Legion baseball is a hot summer topic.

Eastern Randolph Post 81 has a breakthrough season and emerges as a contender in Area 3. Randolph County Post 45 is the host team for the Southeast Regional, but its bid to reach the national tournament is foiled on the second-to-last day of the regional tournament so the club finishes with a 31-13 record.

** Asheboro’s boys’ soccer program has unprecedented success, but falls one victory shy of reaching the Class 3-A state championship game. The Blue Comets post a 23-2-2 record.

** Eastern Randolph’s football team goes undefeated in the PAC for the second year in a row. The Wildcats reach the Class 1-A West Region semifinals before falling to eventual state champion Mount Airy.

** Tot Hill Farm Golf Club in Asheboro is sold from its original ownership group to a man who runs courses in the Charleston, S.C., area.

** Football coach Calvin Brown directs Providence Grove to another winning season. That includes the school’s first-ever football victory in the state playoffs by winning at McMichael. Weeks later, Brown accepts the coaching position at Asheboro High School.

ER Davonte Brooks in hoops Dec2022

Prep Notes: 41-point mark hit twice by area boys; UCA, Trinity wrestlers excel

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Eastern Randolph’s Davonte Brooks goes up for a shot last week against Wheatmore. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

 

It was a big week for top scorers around Randolph County basketball last week.

Dominic Payne of Trinity and Davonte Brooks of Eastern Randolph were in the same category at times.

Payne poured in 41 points Friday in a 65-64 victory at Uwharrie Charter Academy. On the same night, Brooks posted 41 points in a 99-47 romp at Wheatmore. Teammate Timothy Brower had 28 points.

Wheatmore’s Parker Kines had more than half of his team’s points in that game with 26.

Payne scored 29 points in a 60-48 victory at Wheatmore.

Against Trinity, UCA’s Ashton Troutman racked up 33 points for more than half of his team’s scoring.

Brooks had big effort in a non-conference victory at Burlington Williams with 26 points in the 73-52 result.

Consider those individual totals when also on Friday night the final score of Randleman’s victory at Southwestern Randolph was 34-33.

On the girls’ side, Elizabeth York of Randleman scored 22 points in a 53-40 victory at Eastern Randolph. The Wildcats received 24 points from Kenly Whitaker.

Wrestling

At Asheville, Uwharrie Charter Academy had three individual champions and won the team championship in the Great Smoky Mountain Grapple at the downtown civic center.

Champions for UCA were Ethan Hines (106 pounds), Aldo Hernandez (138) and Lorenzo Alston (145).

Hernandez was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Wrestler, defeating Enka’s Noah Tocaben 12-6 in the final after a technical fall of Hoke County’s Landen Nelson in the semifinals.

Third place went to Jack McArthur (132), Carson Robinson (160) and Grayson Roberts (170). Roberts, a 2022 Class 1-A state champion, dropped a 14-7 decision to Maryville, Tenn.’s Michael Colligan, the eventual runner-up, in the semifinals.

The tournament included teams from multiple states. UCA scored 189 points to runner-up Newton-Conover’s 186.

  • At Indian Trail, Trinity rode the strength of six titlists to a third-place team finish in the Porter Ridge Invitational.

Trinity’s Brayden Hall (113), Spencer May (120), Levi Dennis (126), Charles Schaefer (138), Gavin Hardister (182) and Joey Smith (220).

Edgr Vasquez Mora (106) placed third for the Bulldogs.

Porter Ridge won the team title with 183 points, followed by South Point with 165½ and Trinity with 162½.