GALLERY: Horse Parade in downtown Asheboro
Hundreds of riders came out during the 20th annual Asheboro Fall Roundup Horse Parade in downtown Asheboro, on November 7, 2021.
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Asheboro
High turnout, GOP ground game impacts contested municipal races
Hailey Lee, left, and current Asheboro School board member Gidget Kidd react to Lee winning a seat on the Asheboro City School board Tuesday, November 2, 2021 (The North State Journal)
ASHEBORO — Municipal races in Randolph County are technically non-partisan races but the presence of partisan poll workers and field operations in this year’s Asheboro races proved that politics is rarely without partisan influence. In this year’s race for Asheboro City School board, the county Republican Party endorsed four candidates and sent mailers on behalf of their preferred candidates. Those four candidates — incumbents Baxter Hammer and Beth Knott and newcomers Hailey Trollinger Lee and Adam Hurley — won by wide margins. High turnout – possibly field by the GOP ground game – buoyed certain candidates and pushed victory margins.
In the Asheboro City Council race, the lone Republican — incumbent Walker Moffitt — won the most votes of any candidate. Moffit and the four school board winners had their names on yellow cards that GOP field operatives were passing out at the polls.
“I am appreciative of Asheboro Republicans who turned out in support of our endorsed candidates,” said GOP chairman Rick Smith in an interview with North State Journal. “It’s clear they don’t want Asheboro students to be divided or labeled by the color of their skin. Hopefully this vote will challenge the Board and school administration to abandon any programs or policies which might lead to that outcome.”
Smith referenced the topics of critical race theory and so-called diversity panels that were heavily debated around Asheboro prior to the election.
Adam Hurley, who won his first attempt at public office, told North State Journal in October that issues surrounding “equity and inclusion” were one of the reasons he ran for the school board. “I credit the win to the people of Asheboro seeing what is at stake and taking a stand for our children,” said Hurley. “The people have spoken and they don’t want progressive ideology in the classroom.”
Hailey Trollinger Lee, who told NSJ she was against teaching critical race theory in schools, said she was humbled to be elected to the board. “I’m grateful for all of those who have supported me and helped encourage me throughout this process,” Lee said. “Thanks to everyone who came out to vote over the last several weeks. This really means a lot to me and I am looking forward to putting in the work for our district.”
Prep Football Roundup: Wildcats complete unbeaten regular season with blanking of Randleman
Na’heim Lilly runs for a touchdown during Eastern Randolph’s road victory at Randleman on Friday night. PJ WARD-BROWN/NORTH STATE JOURNAL
ASHEBORO — Eastern Randolph completed an undefeated regular season by whipping host Randleman 46-0 on Friday night.
The Wildcats (9-0 overall, 5-0 Piedmont Athletic Conference) received four touchdowns from Na’heim Lilly and two touchdowns from Elias Alston in securing the outright league title.
Lilly’s 34-yard run opened the scoring in the first quarter. He added a 2-yard run in the second quarter. He finished with 174 rushing yards on 20 carries.
Alston caught two touchdown passes from Stratton Barwick, the latter on a 52-yard play.
The Wildcats have posted shutouts in back-to-back games.
Randleman (4-6, 2-3), which lost three of its last four games, was limited to 136 yards of total offense.
The Tigers had won the past three meetings with Eastern Randolph.
Providence Grove 66, Wheatmore 12: At Trinity, Luke Thomas threw for three touchdowns as Providence Grove won its third game in a row to complete the regular season.
The Patriots (8-2, 4-1) will be the top seed out of the PAC for the Class 2-A state bracket because Eastern Randolph is a Class 1-A team.
Zane Cheek and Caleb Rogers both scored two touchdowns for the Patriots. Zander Cheek, Zach Lohr and Lemuel Coltrane all caught touchdown passes. Chase Whitaker and Logan Fox had touchdowns on interception returns.
Providence Grove led 35-0 in the second quarter.
Wheatmore (3-6, 0-5) received touchdowns from Reece Linton and Perry Welch.
Southwestern Randolph 53, Trinity 6: At Asheboro, Easton Clapp scored three touchdowns and had a big game on defense as Southwestern Randolph capped the best regular season in school history with a home romp.
The Cougars (8-2, 3-2) ended up in third place in the PAC.
Clapp scored on runs of 40, 33 and 20 yards as part of gaining 127 rushing yards. He also intercepted two passes and made a tackle for a safety. He was credited with 10 tackles.
Teammate Adam Cole compiled 107 yards of total offense, scoring on runs of 7 and 5 yards. Keaton Reed, who threw for a touchdown and ran for a touchdown, passed for 150 yards. Bryson Reid made a touchdown catch.
Trinity (4-6, 1-4) finished the season on a three-game losing streak.
Montgomery Central 32, Asheboro 14: Wednesday night at Troy, Asheboro ended its season with a road loss and its ninth straight defeat overall.
The Blue Comets (1-9, 0-5 Mid-Piedmont Conference) won their opener at Randleman but never repeated that kind of result.
Asheboro scored on a Charles Perry run and on Tyshaun Goldston’s touchdown catch on a pass from Khyland Hadley-Lindsay in the finale.
Montgomery Central (1-8, 1-4) snapped a 12-game losing streak.
Four soccer teams to start states at home
Uwharrie Charter Academy’s Max DeNamur takes a shot on goal against Wheatmore during their conference soccer game last month in Asheboro. PJ WARD-BROWN/NORTH STATE JOURNAL
ASHEBORO — Four boys’ soccer teams from Randolph County schools will open the state playoffs with home games Monday.
Asheboro tops the list as a No. 4 seed in the West Region bracket for Class 3-A. The Blue Comets (14-1-3) take on North Lincoln in the first round.
Asheboro gained the top spot for seeding out of the Mid-Piedmont Conference after it tied with Ledford in the regular season. Both teams had 8-0-2 records, though the Blue Comets won a postgame shootout after Tuesday night’s tie to determine a seeding tiebreaker should one be needed. It turned out to be necessary after each team completed its regular season by winning again.
Asheboro defeated visiting Montgomery Central 5-0 in Wednesday’s regular-season finale, with two goals from Diego Valdez Plata and one each from Julio Ruiz, Daniel Gutierrez Resendez and Jose Cortes.
In Class 2-A, No. 9 seed Trinity (11-6-1) is home against No. 24 seed North Surry. Wheatmore (9-8) is the No. 28 seed with a trip to fifth-seeded North Forsyth.
In Class 1-A, No. 6 seed Uwharrie Charter Academy (10-3-1) is home against No. 27 seed Avery County. Eastern Randolph (10-4-2) is the No. 12 seed with a home matchup with Cornerstone Charter.
UCA and Eastern Randolph were tied at 9-2-1 in Piedmont Athletic Conference play. They split two games, with Eastern Randolph winning 3-1 and UCA claiming the rematch by 5-1.
Eastern Randolph scored four or more goals in nine of its last 11 games. The Wildcats are 6-0-1 in home games.
Prep Roundup: Wheatmore girls advance in tennis; Asheboro soccer streak ends
TRINITY — Wheatmore advanced in the Class 2-A dual team state playoffs for girls’ tennis by edging visiting Reidsville 5-4 in a first-round match that was contested across two days, concluding Thursday.
The Warriors won two of three doubles matches.
Kara Comer (No. 1 singles), and Mikalah Walls (No. 5) and Carmen Turgeon (No. 6) were winners in singles and doubles for Wheatmore.
The seventh-seeded Warriors (12-2-1) head to second-seeded Hendersonville (14-0) for the West Region’s second-round match Tuesday.
In Class 1-A, undefeated Mount Airy advanced via a forfeit against Uwharrie Charter Academy.
Boys’ soccer
Asheboro had an 18-game unbeaten streak that extended to last season snapped when it lost for the first time this season, falling 2-1 to visiting Burlington Williams in a non-league game Thursday night. Jose Cortes had the Asheboro goal in the first half.
Ty Thompson and Max Sommer scored second-half goals for Williams (13-3-2).
It was a matchup of former conference combatants until this summer’s realignment kicked in. Williams was the 2019 state champion. In last winter’s season (the 2020 campaign that was pushed back several months), Asheboro and Williams played to a tie and then Asheboro won a rematch as part of the Blue Comets’ three-game winning streak to end the season.
Asheboro (13-1-2) enters the final week of the regular season with a showdown Monday night at Ledford with first place at stake in the Mid-Piedmont Conference. The teams played to a 0-0 tie Oct. 6 in Asheboro.
Cross country
In Thursday’s Mid-Piedmont Conference championships, Seth Hydzik was Asheboro’s top boys’ finisher in seventh place at Denton Farm Park.
For the girls, Asheboro’s Sophia Roman was tops for Asheboro in fifth place.
Central Davidson was the team champion for boys and girls, with Oak Grove the runner-up in each case.
PREP FOOTBALL ROUNDUP: Cougars’ comeback leads to record night
Southwestern Randolph’s Eli Gravely makes a catch over Randleman’s Jozey Akines. PJ WARD-BROWN/NORTH STATE JOURNAL
Southwestern Randolph hits seven wins as Cole collects school TD mark
RANDLEMAN — It took a record-breaking performance for Southwestern Randolph to win its latest football game.
And that could mean more records for the Cougars this season.
Southwestern Randolph overcame host Randleman for a 28-23 victory Friday night.
Junior receiver Adam Cole scored two touchdowns to set the single-season school record for touchdowns.
The Cougars (7-1, 2-1 Piedmont Athletic Conference) have matched the school record for wins. They’ll try to break that in Friday night’s showdown at Providence Grove.
It took plenty to defeat Randleman, which built a 10-0 lead.
The Tigers (3-5, 1-2) have been on a conference championship run in recent seasons. They brought a three-game winning streak into this matchup.
“Randleman has been a dominant force in Randolph County,” Baxter said.
Randleman had racked up points on Chris Gentry field goals of 40, 37 and 44 yards. There also was Micah Thurston’s 25-yard touchdown run for the Tigers.
Baxter said the coaching staff challenged the players at halftime.
“That little fork in the road, got to make a decision,” he said. “Am I going to step up and be different now or I’m going to go back to what I’ve done in the past. And our kids responded.”
Before the half, Cole scored on a pair of pass plays. One came on a hook and lateral, with quarterback Keaton Reed throwing to Bryson Reid, who flipped the ball to Cole on the play for 58 yards.
“They got us a couple of times,” Randleman coach Shane Timmons said. “Kids made great plays. … We didn’t make enough plays to win the game. Couldn’t make enough of those plays.”
In the second half, Southwestern Randolph turned to a consistent ground attack. It eventually paid off.
Running back Easton Clapp scored touchdowns on runs of 7 and 2 yards. He also ran in a two-point conversion.
Randleman countered with quarterback Christian Long’s 2-yard touchdown run.
Southwestern Randolph quarterback Keaton Reed finished 7-for-11 for 150 yards. Clapp racked up 155 yards on 17 carries.
Cole’s touchdowns eclipsed a school record of 19 TDs – and he did so in just eight games.
“I’m glad he’s on my team,” Baxter said. “He’s electric in the open field.”
Randleman’s Evrodd Cassady gained 108 yards on 28 carries. Long was 10-for-19 for 84 yards.
Eastern Randolph 38, Providence Grove 16: At Ramseur, Na’hiem Lilly racked up 180 rushing yards, with three touchdown runs and another touchdown catch.
Stratton Barwick threw for 230 yards as the Wildcats (7-0, 3-0) rolled to the home victory. Jake Fesmire also had a touchdown.
Eastern Randolph led 24-8 at halftime. Malachi Letterlough added 84 rushing yards.
For Providence Grove, Luke Thomas threw for 174 yards with touchdowns, making touchdown passes to Zander Cheek and Lemel Coltrane – the latter on a 61-yard play.
Providence Grove led 8-0 after Thomas’s 12-yard pass to Cheek, who ran in the two-point conversion.
Trinity 35, Wheatmore 14: Trinity won for the third time in four games in Friday’s rivalry game, avenging a loss from the spring season.
Among the big plays was David Makupson’s 77-yard pass to Bo Gibson. Gibson also was credited with an 83-yard kickoff return.
For Wheatmore (3-4, 0-3), Jake Haynes threw for a touchdown and ran for a touchdown.
North Davidson 47, Asheboro 0: At Lexington, the Blue Comets went on the road and suffered their first shutout of the season. It marked the seventh consecutive loss for Asheboro (1-7, 0-3 Mid-Piedmont Conference).
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FRIDAY’S GAMES
Wheatmore at Eastern Randolph, 7:30
Southwestern Randolph at Providence Grove, 7:30
Randleman at Trinity, 7:30
Ledford at Asheboro, 7:30
PREP NOTES: Area girls pick up league golf titles
ASHEBORO — Two girls from Randolph County schools have won individual conference championships in golf.
Asheboro’s Salem Lee shot 77 on Monday for the Mid-Piedmont Conference title at Winding Creek Golf Club. The Blue Comets finished second in the team standings.
• In last week’s Piedmont Athletic Conference Tournament, Providence Grove was the team winner, led by Caroline Wright’s 41 at Colonial Country Club.
Providence Grove posted 143, for a 15-shot edge on Southwestern Randolph. Randleman (173) was third and Trinity (190) was fourth. The event was shortened from 18 to nine holes because of weather concerns.
Morgan Heilig of Providence Grove was the runner-up with 47, followed by Southwestern Randolph’s Lindsey Auman (48) and Randleman’s Paulina Palmer (50).
Randleman racks up baseball honors
The North Carolina Baseball Coaches Association released its 2021 all-state teams and it’s heavy on players from Class 2-A state champion Randleman.
Randleman’s Hunter Atkins, Brooks Brannon, Andrew Cox, Braylen Hayes, Trey Way and Ryan White made the list. They were joined by Southwestern Randolph’s Bryson Hogan on the Class 3-A list and Uwharrie Charter Academy’s Hunter Hill and Colt Wilkins on the Class 1-A list.
Randleman has had at least one selection in 10 consecutive seasons when an all-state team was named (skipping 2020 because of the pandemic-shortened season). The Tigers have had multiple selections in eight (2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021) of those 10 seasons.
Wheatmore’s Hales chooses college
Senior outfielder / pitcher Robert Hales of the Wheatmore baseball team has decided to play for St. Andrews University in Laurinburg.
Hales has been a three-year starter for Wheatmore. St. Andrews competes in the NAIA and posted a 28-19 record in 2021.
Prep Football Roundup: Cougars cruise back to win column
ASHEBORO – Keaton Reed threw for two touchdowns and ran for another as Southwestern Randolph got back on track by defeating visiting Wheatmore 55-12 in Monday night’s make-up game in Piedmont Athletic Conference football.
Adam Cole scored three touchdowns – one on a run and two on receptions – for the Cougars (5-1, 1-1 PAC), who were coming off their lone loss in a setback to unbeaten Eastern Randolph.
Easton Clapp ran for a touchdown and returned an interception for a touchdown. Lane Dalke scored on a touchdown run.
Reed rushed for 117 yards and threw for 150 yards. Cole was charted for 85 receiving yards and 53 rushing yards.
For Wheatmore (3-3, 0-2), which trailed 48-6 at halftime, Cade Hamilton and Perry Welch scored touchdowns.
Providence Grove 49, Randleman 21: Friday at Randleman, Luke Thomas threw for two touchdowns and ran for another score and Caleb Rogers scored on three runs as the visiting Patriots rolled in the PAC game.
Zander Cheek returned a kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown and also caught a TD pass. Joe Coltrane also caught a touchdown pass.
Rogers’ scoring runs came from 4, 3 and 4 yards out.
Providence Grove (5-1, 1-0) pulled away after leading 28-21 in the third quarter.
Randleman (3-4, 1-1) had a three-game winning streak snapped despite Ervodd Cassady’s 144 rushing yards on 29 carries, including a 1-yard touchdown. Micah Thurston, on a 6-yard run, and Lucas Gneiting, on a 7-yard pass from Christian Long, also scored touchdowns.
Eastern Randolph 43, Trinity 7: Thursday night at Trinity, the visiting Wildcats (6-0, 2-0) rolled in another PAC game.
Eastern Randolph was sparked by linebacker John Maness’ interception on the first series of the game, setting up the first score.
Trinity fell to 3-2, 0-1.
Central Davidson 68, Asheboro 13: Thursday night at Asheboro, the host Blue Comets dropped their sixth game in a row as Central Davidson’s Cory Casilac scored six touchdowns as part of his 272 rushing yards on 18 carries.
The Spartans improved to 6-0 overall and 2-0 in the Mid-Piedmont Conference.
Khyland Hadley-Lindsay scored on a 6-yard run and Ameer Khan recovered a fumble for touchdowns for Asheboro (1-6, 0-2).
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Upcoming games
Friday
Providence Grove at Eastern Randolph, 7:30
Southwestern Randolph at Randleman, 7:30
Trinity at Wheatmore, 7:30
Asheboro at North Davidson, 7:30
Monday
Trinity at Providence Grove, 7:30
Classic opportunity
Local group starts a classic car dealership
ASHEBORO — While new car sales are stalled by technology shortages, a new business in Asheboro is focused on vehicles that celebrate carburetors, manual transmissions and American steel. Carolina Classic Cars celebrated their business and showroom opening last week with a grand opening event scheduled for October 16.
Carolina Classic Cars bills itself as a classic car dealership and will offer traditional dealership service like financing, service and detailing. Car collectors Charlie Glass and Mike Allen have been in the classic car business together for five years and have a passion for fine-tuned, restored classic automobiles.
On Thursday, September 30, the company held a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of the Carolina Classic showroom and business offices. Asheboro Mayor David Smith along with Asheboro City Councilmen Charlie Swiers and Walker Moffitt attended.
In an interview with North State Journal, Glass, the showroom manager, said the dealership would be focused primarily on American-made cars.
The company will provide service through Allen Automotive, which is adjacent to the showroom. Glass said they are working with several financing companies to provide multiple options for people wanting to buy a classic vehicle.
“We have 18 cars in the showroom right now,” said Glass. “Our target is to have about 20 cars in inventory.” They will also have a few project cars on their outside lot for sale.
Glass and Allen are partnering with owners Candace and Mike Bongiovanni to make the new business a reality. “Mike and I have been doing this for years on our own. We met Candace and Mike and decided to become partners with them,” said Glass.
When asked about his existing inventory, Glass said he was excited about the diversity of vehicles they have on site for the company’s grand opening on Sept. 16. “We have a beautiful 1937 Ford Coupe that has been restored and modified,” said Glass. “It has everything a new car has.”
Glass also highlighted a newer classic 1974 Jeep CJ. “Every nut and bolt on it is brand new. It’s show quality,” said Glass. The orange Jeep is listed as a complete restoration on the company’s web side “with absolutely no flaws.
The company plans to buy, sell, trade and consign vehicles but they are still looking for more inventory before their grand opening. Glass and Allen are headed to Myrtle Beach to prospect for new cars this weekend. “We buy at car shows and auctions. These cars are hard to find,” said Glass. “There is a lot of work in tracking them down.”
Carolina Classic Cars, located at 120 Spring Forest Road Asheboro.
Revving up small-town roots
Cox’s Harley-Davidson celebrates 60 years as Asheboro business
ASHEBORO — When the late Recil Cox traveled into Asheboro from the country to take a job in textiles, it led to much more.
Now 60 years later, that legacy continues to flourish in what became Cox’s Harley-Davidson of Asheboro.
“You surround yourself with good people,” said Stephen Cox, grandson of the founder. “If these people are good people, you’re going to get everything out of them every single day.”
of Cox’s Harley-Davidson, are together for this 2005 photo as part of a Relay for Life fundraiser that raised $101,000. (Photo courtesy of the Cox family)
A 60th anniversary celebration of the business will take place Saturday at the store on N.C. 134 near Pinewood Country Club.
The owner is Jan Cox, daughter of the founder. Her son, Stephen Cox, is the general manager.
It’s a business that has stood the test of time and expanded. The Asheboro store employs about 25 people.
All this because Recil Cox, who grew up on a farm in southeast Randolph County, developed a reputation as a mechanic and could repair motorcycles.
“It just kind of went from there,” Stephen Cox said. “We were known early on as a service dealership because of my grandfather.”
Owning a Harley-Davidson dealership comes with clout and responsibility.
Stephen Cox still has the letter that was sent from the Milwaukee headquarters to Recil Cox, welcoming him as an official Harley -Davidson Motor Co. dealer. It’s dated Sept. 22, 1961.
In part, the letter reads: “Your first year of operation is an important one for you. This is the period in which you establish a solid foundation for the years ahead. Right at the start, it’s desirable that you form good habits and that all of your procedures are correct.”
In the mid-1990s, Recil’s son, Gary “Poochie” Cox took over ownership. He died in 2010, followed by Recil Cox’s death in 2017.
The Cox family added stores in Rock Hill, S.C., and Mansfield, Pa. The Pennsylvania store has been sold, but the Rock Hill location remains under the family’s control and is larger than the Asheboro store.
But the Randolph County store is still considered the headquarters.
Saturday’s celebration is to be tied to Motorcycles for Mammograms, an annual ride and benefit that’s organized by Joy Hicks. It’s a fundraiser that goes to support uninsured women in Randolph County so they can receive mammograms. Hicks, a breast cancer survivor, is business manager for Cox’s Harley-Davidson.
Also involved with the anniversary will be a motorcycle giveaway, axe throwing, food trucks and other vendors. The headline event will be an afternoon appearance by country music singer Sammy Kershaw, with Cory Luetjen and the Traveling Blues Band serving as the opener.
The Cox family is hoping to meet – and reminisce with — many community members.
“It just felt like now as the time to do it,” Stephen Cox said of the anniversary blowout.
Other than family, Eddie Berry is the longest-serving employee. He has been involved since the 1970s, though he became full-time after retiring from a career in law enforcement. His title is service manager.
Stephen Cox, who lives in Greensboro, said the business has held up strong during the pandemic. He said power-sports goods have been in high demand.
For the Cox family, the business has allowed the family to make connections around the globe. Stephen Cox said there’s pride that this stems from a small-town family.
“It has taken us all over the world because of a little ol’ Asheboro business,” Stephen Cox said. “It has been a good business, a neat business to be in. At the end of the day, it’s the people that make this place run.”