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ER boys postgame video at South Stokes

Widespread success reshapes Eastern Randolph’s reputation

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Among the thrills for Eastern Randolph during the past school year came following a road victory against South Stokes in the boys’ basketball state playoffs as coach Johnny Thomas and the team celebrate. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

 

RAMSEUR – Eastern Randolph had a different kind of school year in 2022-23.

For athletics director Foster Cates, the perception of athletics at the school might be changing.

That’s because the Wildcats advanced to the Class 1-A state championship game in boys’ basketball. That had never happened before.

“It has been such a football and baseball dominant school forever,” Cates said. “I wanted to make it a one-stop shot. You can come to school and do all three.”

The Wildcats won the Piedmont Athletic Conference title in football last year. They followed that with the PAC crown in boys’ basketball, coinciding with a strong regular season and postseason from the girls’ basketball team.

The fan support followed, with Eastern Randolph drawing big crowds at home and on the road for basketball games.

“It gave the community something to rally around after football season,” Cates. “That’s a long wait before the next (football) season. It was great for the community.”

Cates said the boys’ basketball team’s high-scoring games heightened the interest.

“It’s entertainment,” he said.

The girls’ basketball team had a late-season eight-game winning streak and later won two games in the state playoffs.

In football, after a first-round bye in the state playoffs, the Wildcats won two games before they were eliminated. Combined with the basketball success, there were certain positives.

“Probably getting as far as we did in both sports,” then-senior running back / linebacker Devonte Brooks said of the school year’s highlights.

There seemed to be nonstop attention on Eastern Randolph.

“It was pretty exciting,” Brooks said. “I just wanted to make it a basketball and football school, not just a one-sport school. Leave it better than I found it, that’s all I’m trying to do.”

The buzz around Eastern Randolph athletics continued in the spring.

The baseball team advanced to the Class 1-A West Region finals, extending its season to late May. The softball team won three games in the state playoffs.

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ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Kahlin Graham

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Eastern Randolph, baseball

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Graham played a variety of positions for the Wildcats, often in the infield as the third baseman. He also was listed as a pitcher.

The Wildcats reached the Class 1-A West Region finals before falling to eventual state champion Uwharrie Charter Academy.

Graham is set to continue playing baseball at Guilford College.

** During the summer, we recognize seniors from the past school year.

PG girls basketball new coach Johnathan Gainey

Providence Grove finds next girls’ coach

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CLIMAX – Providence Grove moved quickly this summer to hire a new girls’ basketball coach.

Johnathan Gainey is the new coach, filling the vacancy caused by the departure of Dylan Eppley.

Gainey previously coached girls’ teams at Winston-Salem Prep and Winston-Salem Reynolds. He also was the boys’ basketball coach at his alma mater, Kernersville Glenn.

Eppley left Providence Grove after three seasons to become the boys’ basketball coach at Southern Alamance.

“I felt like this was a move that I needed,” Eppley said of a chance to expand his professional experiences.

Eppley’s Providence Grove teams had a 26-37 record, including 6-18 last season.

Eppley, 30, said he embraced his coaching opportunity with the Patriots as it was his first role as a varsity head coach. Former athletics director Calvin Brown, who became the football coach at Asheboro last winter, was supportive, he said.

“Calvin sold me on Providence Grove,” said Eppley, who also was on the football coaching staff. “He built an athletic department that was very connected.”

Eppley goes from one school nicknamed Patriots to another with the same nickname. He’ll be in a rebuilding phase at Southern Alamance, which is moving from Class 4-A to Class 3-A and is coming off a three-year stretch with an 18-44 record. That includes last season’s 6-19 mark.

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ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Zane Cheek

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Providence Grove, multi-sport

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Cheek was active in each of the sports seasons, beginning as a multi-purpose back for the football team. He averaged more than 90 rushing yards per game as a senior in 2022. He again was selected as an All-Piedmont Athletic Conference player.

He was one of Providence Grove’s key players in boys’ basketball as a guard.

He wrapped up his prep career as a sprinter on the track and field team.

His twin brother, Zander Cheek, also was a standout athlete for the Patriots.

** During the summer, we recognize seniors from the past school year.

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.

Randleman baseball Hunter Atkins v Trinity May2023

Piedmont Athletic Conference all-conference spring lists

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Hunter Atkins of Randleman takes a swing during a Piedmont Athletic Conference Tournament game against Trinity. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

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

Baseball

Player of the Year: Hunter Atkins (Randleman)

Co-Pitchers of the Year: Austin Lemons (Randleman), Cade Hill (Trinity)

Coach of the Year: Ryan Spencer (Trinity)

All-conference

Randleman: Hunter Atkins, Austin Lemons, Shawn Miller, Seth Way.

Trinity: Jaxson Coble, Cade Hill, Jake Little, Landon Mowery.

Southwestern Randolph: Easton Clapp, Adam Cole, Tyler Parks.

Wheatmore: Payton Mooney, Mason Rich.

Providence Grove: Joe Coltrane, Logan Fox, Andrew Thomas.

Eastern Randolph: Samuel Asbill, Stratton Barwick, Ethan Frye.

Uwharrie Charter Academy: Carter Brown, Jake Hunter, Walker Wilkins.

 

Boys’ golf

Player of the Year: Connor Carter (Eastern Randolph)

Coach of the Year: Pete Kilcullen (Wheatmore)

All-conference

Wheatmore: Hunter Marshall, Ryan Marshall, Jayden Martin.

Providence Grove: Brandon Davis, Seth Turner, Cooper Wright.

Randleman: Justin Jackson, Mason Millikan.

Trinity: Bo Earnhardt, Ethan Earnhardt.

Eastern Randolph: Connor Carter.

 

Softball

Co-Players of the Year: Addie Flinchum (Eastern Randolph), Emma Mazzarone (Providence Grove)

Pitcher of the Year: Macie Crutchfield (Southwestern Randolph)

Coach of the Year: Chad Whitson (Southwestern Randolph)

All-conference

Providence Grove: Maddie Flinchum, Devon Kelly, Callie Lambert, Emma Mazzarone.

Southwestern Randolph: Macie Crutchfield, Alley Lowe, Ky Perdue, Madelyn Smith, Maddie Strider, Madison Varner, Carleigh Whitson.

Eastern Randolph: Logan Beaver, Addie Flinchum, Lanie McDaniel, Ayanna Mears, Skylar Pugh, Ziera Watson.

Uwharrie Charter Academy: Kynley Brewer, Molly Bulla.

Randleman: Jordan Booker, Kadie Greene.

Wheatmore: Carmen Turgeon.

Wheatmore’s Summer Bowman heads a ball during the Class 2-A state playoffs in a girls’ soccer game vs. Wilkes Central. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

Girls’ soccer

Offensive Player of the Year: Ellie Garrison (Wheatmore)

Defensive of the Year: Natalie Bowman (Wheatmore)

Coach of the Year: Jimmy Walker (Southwestern Randolph)

All-conference

Wheatmore: Natalie Bowman, Summer Bowman, Shea Driggers, Ellie Garrison, Maggie Messner, Izabella Ringley, Mikalah Walls.

Southwestern Randolph: Macy Allred, Madison Blankenship, Sadie Mabe, Macy Walker.

Uwharrie Charter Academy: Ava Cugino, Alexis Marion, Jazmin Palma.

Providence Grove: Jenny Banuelos, Brooke Ingram, Aaliyah Loveday, Alisa Shaw, Taryn Waugh.

Trinity: Deanna Cobb, Autumn Gentry.

Randleman: Emily Jaramillo Avila, Kendall Fortson, Estefania Jaimes.

Eastern Randolph: Cora Sparrow.

 

Boys’ tennis

Player of the Year: Conner Kelly (Southwestern Randolph)

Coach of the Year: Cassie Wodecki (Providence Grove)

All-conference

Uwharrie Charter Academy: Cadence Butler, Evan Morin.

Wheatmore: Sam Greene, Jacob Younts.

Providence Grove: James Ellis, Hunter Sexton, Chase Whitaker.

Randleman: Ashton Dillon.

Trinity: Bradin Oldham, Dominic Payne.

Southwestern Randolph: Conner Kelly, Asher Perkins, Kearns Trotter.

 

Boys’ track and field

Most Valuable Track Athlete: Tristan Chriscoe (Randleman)

Most Outstanding Runner: Zach Hazelwood (Wheatmore)

Most Outstanding Field Event Participant: Chase Farlow (Randleman)

Coach of the Year: Marty Collinson (Randleman)

All-conference

Trinity: Jose Castillo, Memphis Chap, Zach Cox, Riley Foster, Dylan Hodges, Jacob Hodges, Giovanni Jaimes, Mitchell Marin-Pulido, Dominic Payne, AJ Poe, Robert Ratliff.

Providence Grove: Robert Burton, Malachi Combo, Jackson Rhyne.

Randleman: Tristan Chriscoe, Chase Farlow, Amari Ferdna, Tyshawn Goldston, Landon McGee, Amarion Moton, Ty Moton, Jonathan Sampson.

Wheatmore: Zach Hazelwood, Peyton McDevitt.

 

Girls’ track and field

Most Valuable Track Athlete: Brecken Snotherly (Eastern Randolph)

Outstanding Runner: Jensen Auman (Providence Grove)

Outstanding Field Event Participant: Gracie Beane (Randleman)

Coach of the Year: Ken Wilson (Wheatmore)

All-conference

Providence Grove: Jensen Auman, Maya Barber, Jazmin Cruz, Kaylan Currin, Carolina Duvall, Allie Frazier, Alyssa Kinley, Makayla Leonard.

Randleman: Gracie Beane, Iniyah Mitchell.

Wheatmore: Emma Davidson, Rinnah Edwards, Emerie Everhart, Abigail Lewis, Ariel Martin, Kahmarii McNeil, Kaitlyn Miller, Rylee Reidling, Peyton Wilson.

Southwestern Randolph: Gracie Hodgin, Sadie Mabe, Elizabeth Pierce.

Eastern Randolph: Brecken Snotherly.

Trinity: Kinsley Fox, Sarabeth Johnson.

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ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Alley Lowe

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Southwestern Randolph, softball

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Lowe was an all-conference selection in the Piedmont Athletic Conference for her senior season of softball. She was a three-year regular in the Southwestern Randolph lineup.

She batted .349 with five doubles and two triples for the Cougars (22-2) this year.

Lowe also played as a point guard for the Southwestern Randolph girls’ basketball team.

** During the summer, we recognize seniors from the past school year.

Randleman girls Gracyn Hall shoots in 2022 23 season

Hall makes family connection for NC East-West All-Star Game

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Gracyn Hall of Randleman takes a shot during her senior season. (Randolph Record file photo)

Randleman basketball player’s father competed in football showcase

RANDLEMAN – Gracyn Hall will represent Randleman one more time in girls’ basketball.

It’s appropriate on many levels including a family connection to the North Carolina East-West All-Star Game.

Hall and Eastern Randolph’s Brecken Snotherly are among the players for the West team in Monday night’s game at the Greensboro Coliseum.

“Playing in this game is a very big thing,” Hall said. “Just to be nominated was an honor and then to be chosen for this is special.”

Hall wrapped up a Randleman career during which she racked up nearly 1,700 points.

And now she follows a path traveled by her father almost three decades ago. Tyler Hall was a Randleman quarterback and he was picked for the 1994 North Carolina East-West All-Star Game in football.

“It’s pretty cool, actually,” she said.

Hall, 18, is preparing to head Emory & Henry, where she’ll join the women’s basketball team. The 5-foot-11 player expects to be slotted as a small forward.

The East-West All-Star Game provides a nice connection from her high school career to college. In past years, recent months would have involved offseason competitions.

“Normally during the summer, I’m constantly competing in AAU and traveling,” Hall said. “So I’m trying to do things to get me ready for college and show why I was chosen for this game.”

Hall had a different kind of senior school year because she participated in two fall sports – tennis and golf. She teamed up with classmate Elizabeth York for a runner-up finish in Piedmont Athletic Conference doubles in her only season of girls’ tennis.

“It really helped my footwork and agility,” Hall said.

Randleman had an incredible two-year run in girls’ basketball that included PAC championships and advancing deep into the Class 2-A state playoffs. Hall’s participation in the East-West Game provides an extension of that.

She was a major low-post presence for the Tigers. She also could pop out to the perimeter and sink shots and that’s that versatility that she hopes carries into college.

“She did so many things for us,” said Brandon Varner, who was Randleman’s coach. “She’s so deserving to be playing in this game.”

Hall is proud of what was accomplished with Randleman and how it played out.

“The best part was I was able to go out there with my best friends and win games,” Hall said. “Knowing you did everything you could and got the most out of it.”

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ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Ava Cugino

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Uwharrie Charter Academy, girls’ soccer

Cugino repeated a spot on the Piedmont Athletic Conference all-conference team.

This year, she was second among the Eagles with seven goals and third on the team with 11 assists. She also was one of the primary options on UCA for corner kicks.

UCA produced an 8-11-2 record that included one road victory in the Class 1-A state playoffs.

Cugino also participated in girls’ tennis for the Eagles.

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ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Gabi Carter

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Randleman, volleyball

Carter was rated among Randleman’s top producers in several categories during her senior season on the volleyball team. She was the leader among the Tigers in service percentage and second on the team in aces.

She also made strong contributions in blocks and kills per set. She played as an outside hitter and defensive specialist.

Randleman racked up a 17-6 record in 2022 for its fifth consecutive winning season.

Carter was also a member of Randleman’s Piedmont Athletic Conference champion girls’ basketball team.

** During the summer, we recognize seniors from the past school year.

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