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Mid-Piedmont Conference

Trinity baseball Jake Little from May2022 NEW CROP

Check on college-bound athletes from area schools

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Jake Little of Trinity made a big impact in baseball for the Bulldogs and he’ll continue playing in 2024. (File photo)

Here’s a check on some of Randolph County’s top athletes from the Class of 2023 with their college intentions:

** Asheboro’s Nicolas Chavez signed to go to UNC Asheville for men’s track and field. He was a hurdler and pole vaulter for the Blue Comets.

** Katelyn Thomas of Asheboro is headed to Anderson (S.C.) University to play women’s tennis. She has been on the Mid-Piedmont Conference all-conference team the past two years.

** Diego Gutierrez of Asheboro is going to Carolina University for men’s soccer. He also was a wrestling standout for the Blue Comets.

Edwin Perez is slated to play men’s soccer at Chowan, which is the same destination for Asheboro teammate Calvin Smith. Smith was the Defensive Player of the Year in the Mid-Piedmont Conference, while Gutierrez and Perez were all-conference choices.

** Trinity’s baseball team had several players pegged to extend their playing careers. A trio of All-Piedmont Athletic Conference players will make stops in junior college.

Pitcher and outfielder Jake Little is going to Florence-Darlington Tech in Florence, S.C., to play for the Stingers, who’ve been a regional power. Pitcher Cade Hill is heading to Rockingham Community College. Jaxson Coble, who also played football for the Bulldogs, is going to Guilford Tech after being dubbed the Bulldogs’ top offensive player in 2023.

** Three-sport standout Dylan Hodges of Trinity is set to play men’s basketball at Division III Pfeiffer.

Hodges was a high-flying swingman, averaging 17.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and a team-best 2.5 steals per game as a senior. Hodges was also a receiver for the football team, while he excelled as a high jumper and sprinter in track and field.

** From Providence Grove, Caroline Wright is going to Pfeiffer to play women’s golf. She was last year’s Player of the Year in the Piedmont Athletic Conference for girls’ golf.

Previous stories have documented intended destinations for many other Class of 2023 athletes from Randolph County.

Asheboro baseball Tanner Marsh swing 2023

Mid-Piedmont Conference all-conference spring lists

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Tanner Marsh of Asheboro was named the Player of the Year for Mid-Piedmont Conference baseball. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

Here’s a list of the Mid-Piedmont Conference’s major award winners plus Asheboro’s all-conference selections for spring sports:

Baseball

Player of the Year: Tanner Marsh (Asheboro)

Pitcher of the Year: Garrett Roark (Ledford)

Coach of the Year: Kevin Goss (Ledford)

Asheboro: Connor Adams, Davis Gore, Tanner Marsh.

 

Boys’ golf

Player of the Year: Aidan Wilson (Oak Grove)

Coach of the Year: Randy Mercer (Ledford)

Asheboro: David Elliott, Luke Payne

 

Girls’ soccer

Offensive Player of the Year: Keelan Moore (North Davidson)

Defensive Player of the Year: Reese Sullivan (North Davidson)

Coach of the Year: Jose Duarte (North Davidson)

Asheboro: Carlisle Dozier, Natalie Flores, Madison Luck, Natasha Mederos, Tess Moody.

 

Softball

Player of the Year: Alex Gray (North Davidson)

Pitcher of the Year: Alissa Russ (Oak Grove)

Coach of the Year: Danielle Diluzo (Oak Grove)

Asheboro: Morgan Coward, Taylor Davis.

 

Boys’ tennis

Player of the Year: Logan Thoma (Ledford)

Coach of the Year: Caleb Robertson (Central Davidson)

Asheboro: Patrick Piansay.

 

Boys’ track and field

Sprint Events MVP: Valentino Mark (Asheboro)

Distance Events MVP: Hunter Creech (Oak Grove)

Field Events MVP: Brecken Crotts (Central Davidson)

Coach of the Year: Calvin Keller (Oak Grove)

Asheboro: Connor Adams, Nicolas Chavez, Lance Everhart, Valentino Mark, 1,600 relay.

 

Girls’ track and field

Sprint Events MVP: Azaria Martin (Montgomery Central)

Distance Events MVP: Jillian Parks (Central Davidson)

Field Events co-MVPs: Rebecca Wilson (Asheboro), Emma Hadley (Oak Grove)

Coach of the Year: Shawn Loggins (Oak Grove)

Asheboro: Lia George, Sion Murrain, Jalaya Showers, Rebecca Wilson, 400 relay, 800 relay.

Asheboro boys Jerquarius Stanback at Ledford

Asheboro athletes rank high on Mid-Piedmont Conference lists

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Jerquarius Stanback of Asheboro takes a shot during a boys’ basketball game at Ledford in the Mid-Piedmont Conference. He was named the league’s Player of the Year. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

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

Boys’ basketball

Player of the Year: Jerquarius Stanback (Asheboro)

Defensive Player of the Year: Tanner Marsh (Asheboro)

Coach of the Year: Brian Nance (Asheboro

Asheboro: Jerquarius Stanback, Tanner Marsh, Hakeeme Butler, D.J. Headen.

 

Girls’ basketball

Player of the Year: Trista Charles Stanback (Oak Grove)

Defensive Player of the Year: Haley Long (Oak Grove)

Coach of the Year: Sissy Rauch (Oak Grove)

Asheboro: Sion Murrain

 

Boys’ swimming

Swimmer of the Year: Connor Cayer (Central Davidson)

Co-Coaches of the Year: Jennifer Brinkley (North Davidson), Brian Thoma (Ledford)

Asheboro: Tyler Smith

 

Girls’ swimming

Swimmer of the Year: Jenna Koh (Ledford)

Coach of the Year: Rachel Greene (Oak Grove)

Asheboro: Megan Becker, Maci Columbia, Madison Burnette, Fiona Wolfe-Roberts

 

Wrestling

Wrestler of the Year: Diego Gutierrez (Asheboro)

Coach of the Year: Jake Berrier (Asheboro)

Asheboro: Diego Gutierrez, Bearik Bigelow, Xavier Santos, Sammy Salinas, Michael Brady, Eddie Soto

Asheboro volleyball coach Kelly Smith headshot

Asheboro turns to Eastern Randolph alum as volleyball coach

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ASHEBORO – Kelly Smith has been hired as the new volleyball coach at Asheboro.

Smith will be the team’s third volleyball coach in three years. She replaces Kim Black, whose third stint as head coach of the program lasted just one year.

Smith, an Eastern Randolph alum, was coach of her alma mater’s volleyball team in 2017 and 2018 before going to Southern Guilford for three years. She spent time as volleyball and girls’ basketball coach at Southern Guilford, though without a winning season.

She has been away from varsity competition during this school year.

“I felt like I wanted to come back into the gym,” Smith said of returning to the varsity level.

Smith was a volleyball and basketball standout at Eastern Randolph, graduating in 2006. She played basketball collegiately at West Virginia and East Carolina.

In 2022, Asheboro went 7-15 with a 4-6 record in the Mid-Piedmont Conference. Black, who guided the Blue Comets to the 1994 Class 3-A state championship, is the all-time winningest coach in Asheboro volleyball history with a 253-112 record.

Smith works as a physical education teacher at North Asheboro Middle School. She said in her time with Asheboro City Schools that she has felt connected to the high school because of the close relationship between the district’s schools.

While she didn’t attend Blue Comets volleyball matches in 2022, she saw some practices because the high school team used the middle school gym while renovations take place at the high school.

During the past few months, Smith has coached volleyball and girls’ basketball at the middle school. She said she intends to remain as the volleyball coach at North Asheboro Middle School with that season in the second half of the school year. With middle school operating for grades 6-12, she could have a seven-year connection with some players.

“It works perfect,” she said.

Smith, who lives in Franklinville, said an Eastern Randolph-Asheboro non-conference volleyball match has been scheduled for 2023.

Asheboro boys Hakeeme Butler v Oak Grove Feb2023

Prep Basketball: Eastern Randolph teams reach PAC finals; Asheboro boys suffer upset loss

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Asheboro’s Hakeeme Butler takes a shot against Oak Grove during the Mid-Piedmont Conference Tournament semifinals. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

RAMSEUR – Both Eastern Randolph basketball teams will be in the championship games on their home court Friday night.

The finals matchups for Piedmont Athletic Conference Tournament were set after Wednesday night’s results.

The 6 p.m. girls’ game pits Randleman (23-1) against Eastern Randolph (17-6) followed by the boys’ title game between Trinity (20-6) and Eastern Randolph (23-2)

On the girls’ side, second-seeded Eastern Randolph defeated visiting Southwestern Randolph 75-49 behind Brecken Snotherly’s 37 points.

The third-seeded Cougars (18-8) received 14 points from Maddie Small.

** Top-seeded Randleman rolled past fifth-seeded Uwharrie Charter Academy 58-40 with Jordan Booker pouring in 17 points, Audra Petty posting 16 points and Graycn Hall adding 15 points.

Ashara Spurill scored 10 points for visiting UCA (11-15).

** In the boys’ tournament, top-seeded Eastern Randolph had a difficult time in turning back fourth-seeded Randleman 48-45.

The Wildcats had scored at least 58 points in every previous game this season. They led by 12 points at halftime, but couldn’t put Randleman away.

Davonte Brooks racked up 18 points and 13 rebounds for Eastern Randolph.

Greg Price’s 18 points led Randleman (15-11), which closed the gap in the final seconds on Christian Long’s 3-pointer on the game’s last shot.

** Dominic Payne scored 30 points as third-seeded Trinity edged second-seeded Southwestern Randolph 67-66.

Dylan Hodges had 17 points and Brandon Campbell provided 13 points for the visiting Bulldogs.

Southwestern Randolph (15-10) had been the only PAC team to defeat Eastern Randolph this season. Nathan Ellis had 21 points and Sean Adkins added 16.

Mid-Piedmont Conference

Wednesday night at Ledford, fifth-seeded Oak Grove upset top-seeded Asheboro 67-61 in the conference tournament semifinals.

Asheboro (19-5), which was the defending tournament champion, had gone through the 10-game league slate undefeated in the regular season. It had an 11-game winning streak overall.

The Blue Comets, who’ll await the pairings for the Class 3-A state playoffs, received 21 points apiece from Jerquarius Stanback and Hakeeme Butler.

** In the girls’ tournament a night earlier, third-seeded North Davidson topped last-place Asheboro 76-68 despite Salem Lee’s 24 points and Sion Murrian’s 20 points. Sixth-seeded Asheboro’s season ended with a 4-21 record with 10 consecutive losses.

Asheboro boys J Stanback shoots v Ledford Feb2023

Prep Boys: Blue Comets hit decades-long high

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Asheboro’s Jerquarius Stanback goes up for a shot last week against Ledford’s Whit Denny. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

ASHEBORO – There are lots of reasons that have made this a special season for the Asheboro boys’ basketball team.

The goal will be to keep it going.

The Blue Comets won the Mid-Piedmont Conference’s regular season, going through that portion of conference play without a loss for the first time since 1976.

“We knew we would have some success in conference,” veteran coach Brian Nance said. “We had a good first half (of league play) and next thing you know, you’re 6-0, 7-0 …”

Asheboro (19-4, 10-0 Mid-Piedmont Conference) made it to the finish line without a league loss going into this week’s conference tournament. Nance said he liked the Blue Comets’ focus in rematches after defeating opponents in the first rotation through the schedule.

Asheboro played its regular-season home finale by overpowering second-place Ledford 49-37 on Tuesday night to clinch the Mid-Piedmont Conference title. Jerquarius Stanback had 17 points.

The Blue Comets capped the regular season by winning 70-42 on Friday night at Montgomery Central with Camden Walker posting 17 points. That pushed Asheboro’s winning streak to 11 games.

Seniors Hakeeme Butler and Tanner Marsh are three-year starters and Stanback, a junior, is also a returning starter. Senior D.J. Headen had plenty of varsity experience entering the season. Walker, a junior, has been considered the biggest surprise, Nance said, and has provided a shooting threat on the perimeter.

Stanback averages 18 points and 9.5 rebounds per game. In the 10 Mid-Piedmont Conference games, he racked up a triple-double (that included points, rebounds and blocked shots) and seven double-doubles.

In conference play, Stanback’s 14.2 points per outing were followed by Butler and Headen before Marsh checked in fourth on the team at 9.5, giving the Blue Comets balanced scoring.

The Blue Comets enter the conference tournament as the defending champion of that event, rising from the No. 3 seed last year. There’s Wednesday’s semifinal against either North Davidson or Oak Grove and potentially Friday night’s final – both at Ledford.

This is Nance’s 17th season. His teams have won four league tournaments, but never secured a regular-season and tournament title in the same season. That hasn’t happened for Asheboro since the 1996-97 season.

“It has been a fun year,” Nance said. “We would like to win a couple more.”

Piedmont Athletic Conference

** Eastern Randolph began last week by trouncing visiting Trinity 98-70 with Davonte Brooks posting 32 points and Timothy Brower pouring in 24. Then the Wildcats clinched the PAC regular-season title by withstanding an upset from host Providence Grove by 88-84 (see separate story).

** Trinity received 31 points from Dominic Payne and 19 from Dylan Hodges in the clash with Eastern Randolph. The Bulldogs bounced back to top visiting Randleman 61-55 behind 20 points from Payne and 19 from Hodges.

Still, that means third-place Trinity (18-6, 8-4) has work to do to produce its second 20-win season in a row. Greg Price of fourth-place Randleman (14-10, 6-6) had 19 points.

** When Providence Grove whipped host Wheatmore 81-52, Sakai McKoy had 17 points. Wheatmore’s Cooper Black had 27 points.

** Southwestern Randolph kept its hopes alive for a share of the PAC crown by upending visiting Uwharrie Charter Academy 72-46 with Sean Adkins scoring 17 points on Senior Night.

** Fifth-place UCA responded by completing a season sweep of last-place Wheatmore by winning its home finale 76-42.

SWR basketball Nathan Ellis vs ER 013123

Prep Basketball: PAC boys’ race extends to final games

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Southwestern Randolph’s Nathan Ellis goes up for a shot as Eastern Randolph players, left to right, Timothy Brower, Nicah Taylor, Davonte Brooks and Pierce Leonard look on. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

 

ASHEBORO – The big upset from last week came with Southwestern Randolph ending the Eastern Randolph boys’ basketball team’s winning streak at 19 games.

The Cougars won 75-66 at home, so that likely will keep the suspense in the Piedmont Athletic Conference going until the final night of the regular season.

Nathan Ellis led the way with 21 points, while teammates Thomas Leal (14 points), Sean Adkins (12), Kearns Trotter (11) and Landon Williamson (10) all scored in double figures.

Second-place Southwestern Randolph remained just a half-game out of first place by topping visiting Wheatmore 54-34 as Adkins posted 16 points Friday night.

Eastern Randolph hadn’t lost since its opener Dec. 2 at Southwest Guilford.

The Wildcats got back on track by winning 89-76 at Uwharrie Charter Academy on Friday night with a boost from Davonte Brooks’ 24 points (after he had 20 in the Southwestern Randolph game). Pierce Leonard, playing against his former school, tacked on 18 points and Timothy Brower had 17 points. These outputs helped overcome 41 points from UCA’s Ashton Troutman.

Eastern Randolph could secure the outright regular-season title by beating visiting Trinity, which remains in contention, on Tuesday night and host Providence Grove on Thursday night. Southwestern Randolph’s lone game this week was set for Tuesday night at UCA, while Trinity is also home vs. Randleman on Thursday night.

** Trinity played just once last week with Dominic Payne and Dylan Hodges each scoring 23 points in a 68-51 victory at Providence Grove.

** Despite 24 points from Tyshaun Goldston, Randleman fell 64-60 at UCA. The Tigers received 22 points from Christian Long in an 82-41 pounding of visiting Providence Grove.

** In the Mid-Piedmont Conference, Asheboro moved closer to clinching a title by defeating visiting Central Davidson 50-47 and topping host North Davidson 55-48. Hakeeme Butler’s 18 points and 20 points, respectively, those games paced the Blue Comets.

Eastern Randolph’s Logan Beaver launches a shot over Uwharrie Charter Academy’s Blakeley Justus last week. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

Girls’ basketball

Randleman secured the outright PAC championship by defeating host UCA 56-33 as Gracyn Hall tallied 20 points.

The Tigers then won their regular-season home finale by 63-27 against Providence Grove.

** Eastern Randolph won twice, including a 43-34 road victory against host Southwestern Randolph as Brecken Snotherly rolled up 25 points and 11 rebounds. That result avenged a loss from early January.

Next, Snotherly poured in 30 points in Eastern Randolph’s 61-34 victory against UCA. That gave the Wildcats a four-game winning streak entering this week.

Eastern Randolph clinched at least a share of second place in the PAC.

SWR girls Kenzie Martin v Trinty Jan2023

Prep Roundup: Cougars, Tigers head toward girls’ showdown

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Kenzie Martin of Southwestern Randolph goes up for a shot during last week’s victory against Trinity. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

Southwestern Randolph and Randleman are on course for a showdown in girls’ basketball Friday night in Randleman.

The teams have split two meetings this season.

Depending on results leading up to the game, Randleman could be in position to clinch at least a share of the PAC regular-season championship.

Randleman won 55-41 on Dec. 16 at Southwestern Randolph. The teams met again in the championship game of the Davidson-Randolph Christmas Classic at Providence Grove, with the Cougars pulling out a 49-48 victory.

That began a stretch for Southwestern Randolph with four consecutive games decided by single-digit margins. The Wildcats were 3-1 in those.

There was a more comfortable result for the Cougars last week, when Caressa King’s 15 points led four players in double figures in a 65-42 home victory vs. Trinity.

Since its only regular-season loss in two seasons, Randleman put together a five-game winning streak through last Friday. Three of those outcomes were by at least 20 points.

The Tigers held a 17-1 overall record entering this week.

Friday’s game will be the last scheduled road game for Southwestern Randolph.

Also in girls’ basketball, Brecken Snotherly’s 28 points were tops for Eastern Randolph in a 61-37 non-conference trouncing of host Eastern Alamance on Friday night. That gave the Wildcats a five-game winning streak.

Boys’ basketball

Asheboro entered this week with a 4-0 mark in Mid-Piedmont Conference action. D.J Headn scored 20 points in a 76-30 romp past visiting Montgomery Central.

There are numerous challenges ahead for the Blue Comets, who’ll play four of their last six league games on the road.

In the PAC, Southwestern Randolph had four players with double-figure point totals, led by Thomas Leal’s 16 (all in the first half), to overcome Trinity in a 59-50 home triumph. That gave the Cougars a four-game winning streak after a five-game skid to pull the team to a 9-9 overall record.

Dominic Payne’s 34 points and Dylan Hodges’ 10 points accounted for most of Trinity’s offense.

Davonte Brooks of Eastern Randolph racked up 43 points and 15 rebounds in a 97-77 non-league victory at Eastern Alamance.

Providence Grove avenged a loss to Uwharrie Charter Academy by winning 70-65 on the road. That result came despite 31 points for UCA’s Ashton Troutman.

Wrestling

Asheboro has won another Mid-Piedmont Conference championship. This one was clinched by defeating visiting Montgomery Central 36-31 on Friday night at North Asheboro Middle School.

The Blue Comets have won four league titles in a row. The past two have come in the realigned conference.

Calvin Brown headshot Dec2022

Prep football: Brown works on compiling Asheboro staff while finishing duties at Providence Grove

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CLIMAX – New Asheboro football coach Calvin Brown is still finishing his time at Providence Grove.

While no longer the football coach of the Patriots, Brown is remaining at the school in other roles, including as athletics director, through Jan. 20.

Then he makes the full transition to Asheboro.

In more than a month’s time between his introduction as Asheboro’s coach and completely leaving Providence Grove, Brown said he hopes to have in place most of his new staff with the Blue Comets.

“I’d like to have everything lined up,” he said.

Brown, who spent seven seasons as Providence Grove’s coach, said last month that he hasn’t been involved in the process to hire a new coach for the Patriots.

Oak Grove promotes assistant

Oak Grove hired Rob Creason as its next football coach, promoting him from assistant coach.

He replaces Mark Holcomb, who was the only coach in the program’s six seasons and moved on to become the coach at Bishop McGuinness.

Creason is a physical education teacher at Oak Grove.

Oak Grove is in the Mid-Piedmont Conference along with Asheboro, so that league will have at least two new football coaches in 2023.

ER E Cassidy v Mount Airy football Nov 2022

Prep Football Notes: More changes come in Mid-Piedmont Conference; Asheboro man coaches 13-win team

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Mount Airy players cling to Eastern Randolph’s Ervodd Cassady during the Class 1-A West Regional semifinal in November. Mount Airy went on to win the state championship. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

The coaching change at Asheboro isn’t the only change atop a football program in the Mid-Piedmont Conference.

Calvin Brown is leaving Providence Grove to be Asheboro’s new coach, replacing Blake Brewer.

Oak Grove has lost coach Mark Holcomb, who has taken the job at Bishop McGuinness. Holcomb, a former coach at North Davidson, had been at Oak Grove for all six seasons that the program existed.

Oak Grove was 11-1 this year. Beginning with the first varsity season in 2018, the Grizzlies have had records of 5-6, 10-2, 6-3 and 7-3.

Season to savor

An Asheboro man coached a 13-win team this year.

Andrew Carrouth was in his fourth season as North Moore’s coach. His team won the Mid-Carolina Conference title in a league comprised of Class 2-A and Class 1-A teams.

The Mustangs didn’t lose this year until a 27-7 setback to Rosewood in the fourth round of the Class 1-A state playoffs. They finished with a 13-1 record.

Carrouth, 37, spent one season on the Asheboro coaching staff in between head coaching assignments at Southern Alamance, which is his alma mater, and North Moore.

Tough losses

A couple of Randolph County teams lost in the state playoffs this year against teams that went on to play for state championships.

Eastern Randolph’s fourth-round loss by 35-17 to Mount Airy in Class 1-A marked the closest result for Mount Airy in the postseason other than the Granite Bears’ 20-7 victory against Tarboro in the final.

Providence Grove lost in the second round to Reidsville, which went on to finish as the state runner-up in Class 2-A.

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