Asheboro swimmer Madison Burnette helped the Blue Comets in a relay during the state championships. (Randolph Record file photo)
CARY – Freshman Megan Becker of Asheboro was the runner-up in the Class 3-A girls’ 100-yard freestyle in the state championships Saturday at the Triangle Aquatic Center.
Becker finished the race in 53.57 seconds behind Orange’s Katie Belle Sikes, who set a Class 3-A state meet record of 49.45.
Becker was also fourth in the 200 freestyle in 1:56.40.
Asheboro’s Madison Burnette, Fiona Wolfe-Roberts, Maci Columbia and Becker combined for 10th place in the 200 freestyle relay in 1:48.56.
Ninth in the 400 freestyle relay in 4:01.35.
Indoor track and field
At Winston-Salem, Randleman senior Iniyah Mitchell placed third in the Class 2-A girls’ shot put in the state championships at JDL Fast Track.
Mitchell’s toss of 34 feet, 9 ½ inches was nearly 3 feet farther than the fourth-place mark.
Megan Becker of Asheboro, shown here last month, is one of the qualifiers for the Class 3-A state championships. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)
GREENSBORO – Asheboro and Wheatmore had swimmers qualify for this week’s state meet after regional competitions late last week.
Asheboro swimming coach Chuck Hinson said the Blue Comets had their largest number of regional qualifiers in program history as the team was entered in 20 individual events and six relays in the Class 3-A Central Regional on Friday at Greensboro Aquatic Center.
Freshman Megan Becker was the runner-up in the 200-yard freestyle in 1 minute, 57.67 seconds and second in the 100 freestyle in 53.87.
Sophomore Maci Columbia qualified for states by placing fifth in the 500 freestyle in 5:39.87 and seventh in the 100 breaststroke in 1:16.83.
The girls’ 400 freestyle relay of Fiona Wolfe-Roberts, Madison Burnette, Columbia and Becker placed third in 4:03.35. The same quartet placed fourth in the 200 freestyle relay in 1:48.99.
On the boys’ side, junior Tyler Smith was sixth in 50 freestyle with a personal-best 23.89.
The Class 3-A state championships will be held Saturday at Triangle Aquatic Center in Cary.
In Class 1-A/2-A girls, Wheatmore sophomore Sydney Hall qualified for the states in the 50 freestyle (26.80) and 100 butterfly (1:06.67) from Saturday’s Central Regional. The Class 1-A/2-A state meet will be held Thursday in Cary.
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.
UCA’s Alec Millikan works against North East Carolina Prep’s Anthony Cairo during a 152-pound match in the state duals last weekend. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)
Uwharrie Charter Academy’s wrestling team will try again against Avery County with a Class 1-A dual team state championship on the line.
The teams meet Saturday afternoon at the Greensboro Coliseum’s field house in a rematch of the 2022 title meet.
UCA (35-0) has blown through most opponents, while Avery County (27-7) had stiffer tests to reach this stage again.
These teams are familiar competitors in the finals. 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.
Avery County won 39-30 against the Eagles last February. UCA also carried a 35-0 record into last year’s clash with the Vikings.
UCA and Avery County were host schools for the first and second rounds and then travelled for Wednesday’s third and fourth rounds.
Competing at Rosewood, UCA topped Pamlico 51-9 and Thomasville 51-29. At Swain County, Avery County defeated Mount Airy 45-33 and overcame Robbinsville 39-34.
In the regional final against Robbinsville, Avery County had only six wrestlers in the lineup who had competed in the state championship. One of the newcomers is coach Matthew Dunn’s son, 170-pound freshman Cael Dunn, whose pin in the final bout reserved another spot in Greensboro for the Vikings.
In the first round last Saturday, Avery County sophomore 106-pounder Cooper Foster reached the 100-win mark for his career.
The meet is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. At the same time, the Class 3-A final between Union Pines and Fred T. Foard will take place on another mat.
The Class 2-A final – Bunn vs. Newton-Conover – and the Class 4-A final – Wilmington Laney vs. Northwest Guilford – are scheduled for 4 p.m.
Aside from UCA, only Northwest Guilford (33-0) is undefeated among teams competing Saturday.
Uwharrie Charter Academy’s Brandon Jordan controls North East Carolina Prep’s Christian Test during a 126-pound match. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)
ASHEBORO – Uwharrie Charter Academy’s wrestling team won two duals Saturday to advance in the Class 1-A state playoffs.
The Eagles were at home as the East Region’s top seed, defeating Pender 66-18 and North East Carolina Prep 49-28.
That sends UCA to Wednesday’s action against Pamlico, with Thomasville and host Rosewood also meeting in the third round at that site. The third-round winners meet later Wednesday with a spot in the state final at stake.
The title matchup takes place Saturday at the Greensboro Coliseum complex.
UCA reached the state final last year before losing.
** Also in Class 1-A at Thomasville, No. 11 seed Eastern Randolph upset sixth-seeded North Moore 52-27 before falling to third-seeded Thomasville by 48-33.
** In Class 2-A at Trinity, fourth-seeded Trinity eliminated No. 13 seed West Wilkes 45-30 before falling to fifth-seeded Lincolnton by 43-32.
At Rutherfordton, second-seeded Rutherfordton-Spindale Central topped No. 14 seed Southwestern Randolph 46-20.
** In Class 3-A at Newton, eighth-seeded Ashe County stopped ninth-seeded Asheboro 36-30.
Swimming
At Kernersville, Asheboro’s girls were third and the school’s boys were fifth in the Mid-Piedmont Conference championships last week at the Kernersville Family YMCA.
Megan Becker of Asheboro won the girls’ 200-yard freestyle in 2 minutes, 1.61 seconds and the 100 butterfly in 1:02.35. Teammate Maci Columbia was the winner in the 200 individual medley in 2:29.72 and 500 freestyle in 5:56.20.
The Blue Comets also won the 400 freestyle relay in 4:11.65 with Columbia, Fiona Wolfe-Roberts, Madison Burnette and Becker.
On the boys’ side, Asheboro’s Tyler Smith was the champion in the 100 freestyle in 56.10.
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.
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.
Maddie Small of Southwestern Randolph goes up for a shot against Asheboro during last week’s season opener. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)
Southwestern Randolph ruined the coaching debut for Asheboro’s Mike Headen in girls’ basketball last week.
The host Cougars defeated Asheboro 52-49 in Friday night’s non-conference game.
Headen was promoted from assistant coach to head coach during the summer upon the retirement of Don Corry.
Also in girls’ basketball, a couple of area players who’ve already eclipsed 1,000 career points got off to good starts. They are seniors Gracyn Hall and Autumn Gentry.
Hall of Randleman racked up 16 points in a 73-58 victory against Lexington. Elizabeth York’s 27 points paced Randleman.
Gentry of Trinity had 22 points as the Bulldogs defeated Southern Guilford 50-36.
Wrestling
New coach Jake Berrier of Asheboro has the Blue Comets off to a solid start.
On the first day of action, Asheboro defeated East Gaston 46-27 and West Charlotte 84-0, but sustained a 54-18 loss to host Bandys.
Then in the Forbush Duals, the Blue Comets went 4-1.
They defeated Forbush, Ashe County, Walkertown and Trinity, but suffered a loss to St. Stephens.
Berrier replaced his father, Wes Berrier, as the head coach when the elder Berrier became the school’s athletics director during the summer.
At the Wheatmore Duals, Wheatmore posted a 1-3 team record. Dominic Hittepole and Trey Swinney both went 4-0 for the Warriors. Diego Gutierrez and Matthew Perdue were both 5-0 for Asheboro.
Boys’ soccer
Just a few days after defeating Asheboro in the Class 3-A West Region final, Hickory finished its quest for a state championship.
Hickory, which was the 2021 state runner-up, defeated Jacksonville 2-1 in the championship game Saturday at Browns Summit.
RAMSEUR – Ervodd Cassady scored on a 26-yard run with 6:27 remaining as Eastern Randolph’s football team overcame visiting Robbinsville for a 29-26 victory in a third-round game of the Class 1-A state playoffs Friday night.
The Wildcats, who are the top seed in the West Region, made two defensive stops inside their own 20-yard line in the final two minutes to hold on.
Linebacker A’donye Herbert made a couple of key tackles.
“Just make a play so we can keep moving in,” Herbert said. “It felt great, just one more step to moving in.”
Eastern Randolph (11-1) will meet fourth-seeded Mount Airy (12-1) on Friday night at home in the regional semifinals.
“It’s good we’re heading back in the right direction,” Eastern Randolph coach Burton Cates said.
“I tell them if you’re playing on Thanksgiving (weekend), you’ve had a pretty good year.”
Cassady ran for three touchdowns as part of his 141-yard performance on the ground. He had scoring runs of 2 and 6 yards and also ran for a two-point conversion.
DJ Thomas returned a kickoff 87 yards for a touchdown.
Eighth-seeded Robbinsville (9-4) scored the only 14 points of the third quarter to move to a 26-22 lead, but the Black Knights didn’t score again.
“We didn’t tackle well at times and we didn’t play good on third downs,” Cates said.
Robbinsville’s Cutler Adams rushed for 214 yards and a touchdown.
Cheek, a senior, scored four postseason touchdowns in two games for the Patriots.
Providence Grove’s season ended with an 8-4 record with Thursday night’s loss at Reidsville, where Cheek scored a touchdown.
Cheek scored three touchdowns in the previous week when Providence Grove won a football game in the state playoffs for the first time by winning at McMichael.
Cheek led the Patriots with 38.5 receiving yards per game to go with a team-leading four touchdown catches. He scored 13 touchdowns this season, behind only his twin brother Zane Cheek, who had 20.
