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Asheboro boys soccer Cristian Ortiz smiles 2022season

Soccer duo embraces Asheboro’s rise

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Cristian Ortiz of Asheboro reacts to scoring a game during the Class 3-A state playoffs last fall against West Iredell. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

Blue Comets have two players in NC East-West All-Star Game

ASHEBORO – Calvin Smith and Cristian Ortiz helped take Asheboro’s boys’ soccer program to new heights.

They’re being rewarded with spots in next Tuesday night’s North Carolina East-West All-Star Game at MacPherson Stadium in Browns Summit.

With two players in the summer showcase, it’s an indication of the growth of Asheboro soccer.

Last year’s 23-2-2 record for the Blue Comets was part of a season that ended in the Class 3-A West Region final.

“I was just really proud of how far we made it,” Smith said. “It just kept going. We eventually found ourselves in the regional final.”

Smith and Ortiz earned their spots by playing well in the Mid-Piedmont Conference. Coach John Blake of league member Ledford is the West coach.

Smith, a defender, received numerous honors, including Defensive Player of the Year in the Mid-Piedmont Conference and all-star recognition.

With those accolades corresponding to Asheboro’s stellar two-year stretch, it means even more.

“I always felt we had the best group of players around,” Smith said. “It feels so good when you win with the team. Everybody’s mood is up.”

Asheboro’s Calvin Smith heads the ball during last year’s Class 3-A West Region final against Hickory. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

Smith was a three-year starter for Asheboro. Ortiz, a striker, became an offensive force in his last season with 36 goals after serving mostly as a backup a year earlier.

“I didn’t play that much,” Ortiz said. “I kind of saw what they did.”

Then he carried that into his final high school season.

“I would always be the first one on the field,” Ortiz said. “I would always try to motivate all my teammates.”

Smith’s experience this summer included going with a team based in the Triad to Baton Rouge, La., for the U.S. Youth Soccer’s Southern Regional.

In a few weeks, the 18-year-old will be heading to play for Division II Chowan.

“I wasn’t ready to give up on it,” Smith said. “I’ve been playing since I was about 4 years old. I kind of always had a ball at my feet.”

Ortiz, 18, will be done with organized soccer after this month’s game. He plans to attend UNC Greensboro.

“I’m very excited,” Ortiz said. “I have one last game to play. It’s going to be good to be back on the field in a competitive way.”

Yet in the base of Smith and Ortiz, they’ve left their marks on the Blue Comets. Outsiders have taken notice of the soccer team.

“We never really did it for the attention,” Ortiz said. “I think they’ll still keep it going.”

“I think for sure they’re paying attention now if they weren’t before,” Smith said.

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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.

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.

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ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Mikalah Walls

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Wheatmore, girls’ soccer

Walls, a forward and midfielder, was one of the seniors on the Warriors’ state runner-up team.

Walls was the fourth-leading scorer on an offensive powerhouse. She cranked out 11 goals and provided five assists. She also occasionally took corner kicks for the Warriors.

Walls was honored by the North Carolina High School Athletic Association with a Sportsmanship Award prior to the Class 2-A title game this month at UNC Greensboro Soccer Stadium.

Walls was part of teams that produced a two-year record of 49-1, a state championship and a state-record 49-game winning streak. She also has been a member of the girls’ basketball team at Wheatmore.

Wheatmore girls soccer trio and coach after 2023 loss

Wheatmore’s streak ends in state final loss

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Wheatmore’s Natalie Bowman, left, Izabella Ringley and Mikalah Walls head off the field toward coach Ricky Maness after the Class 2-A state final for girls’ soccer Saturday at UNC Greensboro. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

GREENSBORO – It took two years for Wheatmore to build a record-setting streak in girls’ soccer.

That was gone in a matter of minutes in Saturday afternoon’s Class 2-A state championship game.

Manteo overcame a second-half deficit, scoring four goals in a 13½-minute stretch on the way to dethroning the Warriors in a 5-3 result at UNC Greensboro Soccer Stadium.

“My hat is off to them,” Wheatmore coach Ricky Maness said. “My hat is off to our kids, too.”

Wheatmore’s state-record 49-game winning streak was dashed despite a partisan crowd that came anticipating another championship.

“Enjoy what we had,” Maness said. “It’s an honor to get here two years straight.”

And for a while, it looked like the Warriors might add to their legacy. They led 1-0 at halftime and again 2-1 early in the second half after countering Manteo’s first goal.

But Manteo converted a penalty kick with 17:22 remaining after a Wheatmore handball in the box.

Again, the Warriors nearly responded, but a free kick clanked off the crossbar. Manteo went the other way and took its first lead with 14:20 remaining and boosted the margin to 4-2 about six minutes later.

Ellie Garrison’s second goal of the game for Wheatmore came with 6:02 remaining before another Manteo penalty kick helped seal the outcome.

“Our youth really got exposed,” Maness said. “Three goals caused because of errors. … We weathered the storm a few games in the past.”

Maness said the Warriors seemed worn down by the mid-afternoon heat, though Manteo wore black jerseys that might have put the Redskins more susceptible to the conditions.

Wheatmore benefited from goalkeeper Lucy Lockwood’s presence. She came through with numerous stops that, for a long time, might have been considered game-defining moments. She had 10 saves, though Manteo converted on both of its penalty kicks.

“This came could have been even worse their way,” Maness said in noting the Redskins’ strong stretches.

Summer Bowman scored Wheatmore’s first-half goal on an assist from Garrison. Garrison’s first goal came on a header from Natalie Bowman’s free kick.

Leading 2-1, Summer Bowman’s shot off the crossbar nearly made it a two-goal advantage for the Warriors.

Meanwhile, Garrison was often bottled up by Manteo defenders. She also provided an assist.

“Ellie just ran out of gas,” Maness said. “They made her tired.”

Kenzie Flynn had two goals and an assist and Kiley Eckard posted two goals for Manteo (25-0-2), which won the program’s first state championship.

Wheatmore girls soccer Ellie Garrison v Shelby May2023

Wheatmore looks to add to soccer record book in state final

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Wheatmore’s Ellie Garrison tries to gain control of the ball in the state playoffs against Shelby earlier this spring. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

TRINITY – Wheatmore has won a state-record 49 consecutive girls’ soccer games.

Something bigger is at stake for the Warriors on Saturday afternoon: Two straight Class 2-A state championships.

Wheatmore (24-0), looking to repeat, takes on Manteo (24-0-2) in the title game a 2:30 p.m. at UNC Greensboro Soccer Stadium.

Repeat winners have been common in Class 2-A. Since there has been four classes for girls’ soccer, there have been 15 state champions in Class 2-A. Those have gone to eight schools.

Wheatmore is trying to join Swansboro, First Flight and Carrboro with multiple Class 2-A titles during that span.

This year, the Warriors have outscored opponents by a combined 200-12.

Manteo, which has reached a state final for the first time, also has surrendered 12 goals. The Redskins have scored 179 goals.

Manteo won the East Region by defeating Clinton 2-1 in Tuesday’s final. Clinton was Wheatmore’s opponent in last year’s championship game.

There are title games in all four classifications, with UNCG the site for soccer finals for the first time. However, UNCG Soccer Stadium was used for the NCAA women’s semifinals and final in 1997 and 1998.

Friday night’s Class 4-A game pits Wilmington Ashley vs. Ardrey Kell.

Saturday’s first game involves the only classification with two regional top seeds to reach the final weekend as Eastern Alamance takes on South Point at 11 a.m. in Class 3-A. At 6 p.m., Woods Charter meets Christ the King in Class 1-A.

Wheatmore girls soccer Summer bowman header May 30 2023

Wheatmore Warriors head back to girls’ soccer state final

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Summer Bowman of Wheatmore heads the ball for a goal against Pine Lake Prep on Tuesday night. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

MOORESVILLE – Wheatmore is heading back to the Class 2-A final with a chance to repeat as state champion in girls’ soccer.

Summer Bowman scored three goals as the Warriors boosted a state record by winning their 49th consecutive game Tuesday night, topping host Pine Lake Prep 5-2 in the West Region final.

Ellie Garrison racked up two goals. She has a single-season state record of 94 goals.

“A special night for us, having a chance to repeat,” Wheatmore coach Ricky Maness said.

Wheatmore (24-0) meets Manteo (24-0-2), a 2-1 winner against top-seeded Clinton in the East Region final, in the state championship game at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at UNC Greensboro Soccer Stadium.

For the second year in a row, the Warriors advanced to the title game by winning the West Region final on the road.

Wheatmore was up 3-1 midway through the first half and that held up through halftime.

Pine Lake Prep (20-2-2) had a 13-game unbeaten streak end.

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ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Izabella Ringley

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Wheatmore, girls’ soccer

Ringley has been a reliable player for the Warriors, who are trying to complete another undefeated season. She’s a defender and midfielder.

A senior, Ringley rates high on the team in steals. Through the Warriors’ first 21 games, she had tallied four goals and seven assists.

Some of her best work might come on the defensive end in the rare times Wheatmore has been challenged. The Warriors gave up only eight goals during the regular season.

Wheatmore soccer Ellie Garrison v Wilkes Central May2023

Prep soccer: Wheatmore whips up more success in states

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Wheatmore’s Ellie Garrison controls the ball as Wilkes Central’s Lydia Mayes falls during Monday night’s girls’ soccer game in the state playoffs. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

TRINITY – Wheatmore’s girls’ soccer team has been on the fast track in Class 2-A state playoffs.

Looking to repeat as state champions, the Warriors improved their record to 22-0 by defeating seventh-seeded Wilkes Central 6-1 in Monday night’s third-round game.

Ellie Garrison scored three goals, Summer Bowman scored two and Natalie Bowman had one goal. Wilkes Central fell to 15-6.

Next is Thursday night’s home game against No. 14 seed Community School of Davidson.

Monday’s result came after two convincing victories to begin the postseason last week.

Wheatmore’s first-round 9-0 shelling of No. 31 seed Shelby included six goals from Garrison. Summer Bowman had two goals and Mikalah Walls notched the other. Natalie Bowman provided four assists.

In the second round, the Warriors flattened No. 15 seed Forbush 7-0 with Garrison and Summer Bowman each racking up three goals. Kaitlyn Vazquez had the other goal.

Also in Class 2-A, No. 17 seed Providence Grove suffered a 1-0 overtime loss to No. 17 seed Black Mountain Owen in the first round. The Patriots finished with a 12-8-2 record.

No. 28 seed Randleman (7-9-1) lost 3-1 at fifth-seeded East Gaston, while No. 29 seed Southwestern Randolph (9-10-1) was bounced 8-0 by fourth-seeded Hendersonville.

** In Class 1-A, Uwharrie Charter Academy fell 5-2 at second-seeded Christ the King in the second round.

No. 18 seed UCA (8-11-2) began the tournament by defeating No. 15 seed Gray Stone Day School 3-0 with Kendall Jarrell scoring twice and Ivy Redding scoring once. Goalkeeper Abbie Gudino was tracked for 13 saves.

** In Class 3-A, 16th-seeded North Henderson handled 17th-seeded Asheboro 3-0. The Blue Comets ended with a 9-7-4 record.

Wheatmore girls soccer Maggie Messner May2023

Wheatmore seeded No. 2 in West in bid to repeat as state champion in girls’ soccer

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Wheatmore’s Maggie Messner kicks the ball during a game earlier this month. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

Defending Class 2-A state champion Wheatmore will take the No. 2 seed in the West Region into the girls’ soccer state playoffs.

First-round games are slated for Monday night.

Wheatmore (19-0) has outscored opponents 171-8 this year. The Warriors match up with No. 31 seed Shelby (9-10) in the first round.

No. 17 seed Providence Grove (12-7-2) goes to No. 16 seed Black Mountain Owen (10-6).

Randleman (7-8-1) is seeded No. 28, heading to No. 5 seed East Gaston (16-1-2). Southwestern Randolph (9-9-1) holds the No. 29 seed with a trip to fourth-seeded Hendersonville (14-4).

Class 3-A

Asheboro (9-6-4) owns the No. 17 seed with a first-round game at No. 16 North Henderson (12-5).

Class 1-A

No. 18 seed Uwharrie Charter Academy (7-10-2) plays at No. 15 seed Gray Stone Day School (11-7-1).

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