Chad Whitson coached Southwestern Randolph’s softball team to strong seasons. (Randolph Record file photo)
ASHEBORO – Southwestern Randolph softball coach Chad Whitson has resigned after five seasons, the school announced Monday.
The Cougars held a 65-22 record under Whitson’s direction.
Toby Strider, who had been an assistant coach, has been promoted to head coach. Strider also previously coached at the middle school.
The Cougars positioned a 22-2 record this year, going undefeated in Piedmont Athletic Conference play and ranking among the top teams in the state in Class 2-A. Standout pitcher Macie Crutchfield completed her sophomore season.
Infielder Carleigh Whitson, the coach’s daughter, was a senior on this season’s team.
Whitson received conference Coach of the Year honors in 2021 and 2023. The Cougars were league champions or co-champions three times with Whitson as coach.
Jayla Ferguson scores for Uwharrie Charter Academy in a softball victory against North Stokes in the third round of the Class 1-A state playoffs. (Scott Pelkey/Randolph Record)
All in one night, the dreams of state championships for three Randolph County softball teams were dashed.
They all had reached West Regional semifinals, but then Southwestern Randolph, Eastern Randolph and Uwharrie Charter Academy went down Friday night.
Class 2-A
At Asheboro, West Wilkes knocked off host Southwestern Randolph 2-1 in 10 innings.
Leah Greene’s sacrifice fly in the 10th inning for third-seeded West Wilkes was the difference.
Second-seeded Southwestern Randolph (22-2) scored first when Madison Varner drove in a third-inning run. West Wilkes (22-0) pulled even in the next inning on pitcher Lily Profit’s home run.
From the circle, Profit delivered a three-hitter. Macie Crutchfield pitched a complete game with 17 strikeouts for Southwestern Randolph.
The Cougars’ only other loss this year came to Hickory Ridge, which has advanced to the Class 4-A West Regional finals.
Class 1-A
Fourth-seeded Eastern Randolph came up short in a 3-1 loss at top-seeded South Stokes.
Lanie McDaniel had three hits for Eastern Randolph (18-6). She scored the only run on Ayanna Mears’ single in the second inning.
Wildcats pitcher Addie Flinchum struck out 10 batters, but issued six walks and allowed five hits.
Eastern Randolph was in its first road game of this postseason. South Stokes improved to 24-1.
** Uwharrie Charter Academy lost 12-2 at No. 11 seed Union Academy.
Logan Zephir had two hits and Emory Johnson and Molly Bulla drove in runs for the 15th-seeded Eagles (15-4), who had allowed only one run across their first three playoff games combined.
RALEIGH – Kaitlyn Gainey of Asheboro is one of 30 first-year North Carolina State students selected as part of the Caldwell Fellows at the university.
Gainey is a graduate of Southwestern Randolph.
Caldwell Fellows are selected for demonstrating an aptitude for servant-leadership development. Students selected for the Caldwell Fellows program undergo intensive leadership development programming that includes a sophomore seminar on their personal philosophy of leadership and a capstone training at the Center for Creative Leadership in Greensboro.
“Each year we embark on the challenge of identifying first-year NC State committed to developing their leadership and serving in North Carolina and beyond,” Dr. Janice Odom, director of the Caldwell Fellows, said in a statement. “I am delighted that the members of the Caldwell Fellows Class of 2026 are dedicated to NC State’s land grant mission of empowering themselves and others to build brighter futures for their communities.”
The program is named for former N.C. State chancellor John T. Caldwell. It’s the university’s oldest scholarship and fellowship program dedicated to leadership development.
This is the 56th class of Caldwell Fellows. There were a record 315 applicants. More than 150 Caldwell Fellows alums and friends participated in the selection process.
Gainey is the daughter of Randolph County School System superintendent Stephen Gainey.
Providence Grove’s Leela Von Der Hay tags out Southwestern Randolph’s Madison Varner. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)
CLIMAX – Some growing pains are going to be part of the process for Providence Grove’s softball team this season.
That’s fine with coach Tim Brown as long as the Patriots show progress.
Providence Grove was undefeated in the regular season last year, but five starters are gone from that team.
“Comparing everything to last year would be difficult for everybody,” senior pitcher Emma Mazzarone said. “It was a special team. This year could be special, too. You can’t compare to last year because it won’t happen again.”
Brown said the Patriots will be tested regularly in the Piedmont Athletic Conference.
“In Randolph County, you have to bring it every night,” he said. “We’re going to keep (winning) as long as we can.”
Mazzarone and catcher Gracie Smith provide a nice foundation. Mazzarone led the state in strikeouts with 364 in 2022.
The Patriots are learning as they go.
“I think the girls are definitely feeling a little more pressure considering they have to step into last year’s girls’ shoes,” Mazzarone said. “They all know the fundamentals of softball and they’ll be just fine.”
First baseman Callie Lambert said maintaining the standard is important, but not an overwhelming issue.
“There is pressure, but the goal is to always play hard,” Lambert said.
The Patriots dropped a non-conference decision to Oak Grove, a matchup that Brown knew would be a challenge.
“We wanted to see good pitching,” he said.
In the Piedmont Athletic Conference, Providence Grove began with Mazzarone striking out 13 Wheatmore batters in a 10-0, five-inning home victory. Callie Lambert a home run and a double.
The grip might have been loosened on the PAC by contender Southwestern Randolph, which topped the host Patriots 5-0 in Friday’s meeting.
Providence Grove’s only hit off Southwestern Randolph ace Macie Crutchfield was Devon Kelly’s seventh-inning single. Crutchfield struck out 14 with three walks.
Caressa King and Alley Lowe had two hits, including a double apiece, and knocked in runs for the Cougars. Mazzarone struck out 11 batters and walked two.
Other softball …
Earlier in the week, Crutchfield struck out 18 in an 8-0 romp past North Davidson.
Randleman’s Sarah Norton threw two shutouts during the week. She handled Northern Guilford in a 3-0 non-conference game and then blanked Wheatmore 9-0.
Eastern Randolph topped host Southern Alamance 13-10 in nine innings. The Wildcats built a 10-3 lead before Southern Alamance rallied in the sixth and seventh innings to extend the game. Lanie McDaniel had four hits and three RBI for Eastern Randolph and teammate Addie Flinchum, who strikeout 16 from the circle, also drove in four runs.
Randleman’s Elizabeth York looks to go up for a shot against Eastern Randolph’s Logan Beaver. (Scott Pelkey/Randolph Record)
RANDLEMAN – Staying atop the Piedmont Athletic Conference has been a challenge for the Randleman girls’ basketball team.
The Tigers have passed the test and that’s one of the rewarding aspects of another stellar season.
“Right now, everybody is bringing their ‘A’ game against us, but that’s OK,” coach Brandon Varner said.
Randleman withstood threats from Eastern Randolph and Southwestern Randolph during the past week. But it has turned out to be another title season for the Tigers, who are 9-0 in PAC play and 19-1 overall.
So if the Tigers might have looked vulnerable at times, they found the gumption to withstand those situations.
“We’re like their championship (game),” senior Gracyn Hall said of opponents. “Everybody is wanting to beat Randleman because we have that target on our back.”
Randleman’s only regular-season loss in a two-season span came in late December in the final of the Davidson-Randolph Christmas Classic. The Tigers were knocked off by Southwestern Randolph.
But with Friday night’s 55-40 home victory against the Cougars, Randleman made it a sweep of Southwestern Randolph in conference competition and clinched another league championship with three games remaining.
“We’re definitely getting everybody’s best shot,” senior Elizabeth York said. “You learn from it. We didn’t like losing. We had (that defeat) midyear and we don’t want that again.”
Earlier in the week, a 59-54 decision against Eastern Randolph came despite Brecken Snotherly’s 38 points for the Wildcats. York and Jordan Booker each drained a pair of free throws in the last 40 seconds to help the Tigers, who scored the last four points, claim the victory.
Hall ended up with 18 points and 16 rebounds, Audra Petty scored 14 points and York provided 13 points and five assists.
Audra Petty of Randleman looks for a teammate as Eastern Randolph’s Brecken Snotherly defends. (Scott Pelkey/Randolph Record)
A few tight games might be advantageous for the Tigers in the big picture.
“You get the playoff atmosphere,” Varner said. “You don’t want games when you’re blowing everybody out. You get more out of (closer games). We’re like everybody’s Super Bowl right now. You’ve got to battle through that.”
Hall said, “Closer games will end up helping us in the long run.”
Yet a chaotic late-game stretch with Eastern Randolph wasn’t totally ideal.
“I like things to be exciting, but not this close,” York said.
In Friday’s game, York had 18 points and Hall posted 16 points.
Hall and York provide a nice foundation as four-year contributors for the Tigers. Petty, Booker and Gracie Beane are clutch players as well.
“It’s just fun,” Hall said. “We don’t want to let each other down.”
Because some of the Tigers have had key roles for several seasons, opponents are familiar with what Randleman is all about, York said.
“We’ve got experience and everybody is coming for us right now,” Varner said. “Since Christmas, we’ve learned some things about ourselves. It’s character building.”
Randleman is heading for a third 20-win season in four years, the exception coming with a 12-4 record in the pandemic-shortened 2021 season.
And the Tigers are hoping there are more good times to come.
“We don’t always make the best decisions,” York said. “Our effort is what wins the games for us.”
Asheboro’s Elijah Woodley locks in defensively on North Davidson’s Payton Eccles during last week’s game at the Asheboro Recreation Center. In the background, Asheboro’s Jerquarius Stanback keeps tabs on Caiden Bean. (Scott Pelkey/Randolph Record).
With three players scoring 20 or more points, Eastern Randolph came away with a 95-77 road victory against Trinity in boys’ basketball last week.
Pierce Leonard led the Wildcats with 29 points, Nicah Taylor scored 27 and Davonte Brooks had 20.
Those offset Dominic Payne’s 37 points for Trinity. Teammate Dylan Hodges had 22.
The Wildcats followed that by pounding visiting Providence Grove 93-60 to push their record to 15-1 by the end of last week.
** Southwestern Randolph’s Sean Adkins hit the go-ahead basket in 57-56 victory at Uwharrie Charter Academy.
** The duo of Camden Walker (22 points) and Jerquaris Stanback (20) propelled Asheboro in a 74-63 victory at Central Davidson. Walker had 20 points in a 74-37 home romp past North Davidson.
** Tyshaun Goldson of Randleman tallied 28 points as the Tigers won a non-conference game against visiting Ledford by 70-52.
** Trinity was back on the winning path when Hodges posted 23 points in a 67-55 victory at Randleman. The Tigers received 25 points from Goldston.
** UCA road Ashton Troutman’s 38 points in a 58-48 triumph at Wheatmore.
Girls’ basketball
Seth Baxter’s six-season record as girls’ basketball coach at Southwestern Randolph reached 100-34 with last week’s 47-45 victory at UCA.
** Brecken Snotherly’s 28 points and 12 rebounds along with Ziera Watson’s 20 points were enough to help Eastern Randolph past host Trinity 71-55. Trinity received 24 points from Kennedy Jackson.
Snotherly racked up 39 points and 10 rebounds in a 75-26 crushing of Providence Grove.
Asheboro’s Sion Murrain checks out the situation as North Davidson’s Lettie Michael, left, and Kyndall Moore set the defense during last week’s game at Asheboro Recreation center. North Davidson won 64-36. (Scott Pelkey/Randolph Record)
** Sion Murrian’s 24 points lifted Asheboro past host Central Davidson by 69-47.
** Providence Grove’s Jada Nixon had 24 points in a 65-64 overtime loss to visiting Burlington Williams.
Wrestling
At Eden, Uwharrie Charter Academy’s Jack McArthur (132 pounds), Aldo Hernandez (138), Lorenzo Alston (145) Alek Millikan (160), Grayson Roberts (170) and Corbin Grissom (182) were individual champions Saturday in the Sarah Wilkes Invitational at Eden Morehead.
Teammates Spencer May (120) and Joey Smith (220) of Trinity were also champions.
In finals, Hernandez, Millikan and Alston won by first-period pins, Grissom prevailed with a second-period pin and Roberts registered a technical fall in the second period. McArthur defeated Trinity’s Gavin McCall 8-2 in the title bout.
Roberts had three earlier pins.
Ethan Hines (106) of UCA and Levi Dennis (126) of Trinity were runners-up.
Southwestern Randolph’s Madelyn Smith makes a play near the net against Brevard. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)
ASHEBORO – There’s no repeat for Southwestern Randolph’s volleyball team in the Class 2-A state playoffs.
The defending state champion Cougars were eliminated in the fourth round with Saturday’s 21-25, 25-923-25, 25-17, 21-19 home loss to Brevard.
The Cougars, who were seeded second in the West Region, finished the season with a 26-4 record. Brevard advanced with a 23-5 record.
Madelyn Smith had 13 kills and Riley Key added 10 kills in the last match for Southwestern Randolph. Raegan Leroy added 26 assists and Carleigh Whiston posted 10 service points.
In the third round, the Cougars bounced No. 23 seed North Stanly 25-12, 25-9, 25-17 behind Key’s 11 kills, Smith’s 10 kills, Gracie Hodgin’s eight kills and Leroy’s 16 service points.
In a second-round victory against No. 15 seed East Davidson, Southwestern Randolph received 14 kills from Hodgin, 12 kills and 18 digs from Smith and 32 digs from Coley Shiflet. Leroy provided 23 assists, Whitson had 14 digs and Micah Wilson added 13 assists in the 25-20, 25-22, 25-16 triumph.
Also in Class 2-A, No. 13 seed Randleman was ousted in the second round with a 25-21, 25-20, 25-12 loss at No. 4 seed East Surry. The Tigers finished with a 17-6 record.
In Class 1-A, Uwharrie Charter Academy made it to the third round.
The fifth-seeded Eagles topped No. 21 seed Hayesville 25-12, 25-18, 25-22 in the second round.
But two nights later, UCA (16-8) was eliminated by fourth-seeded Highland Tech in a 25-22, 25-27, 24-26, 25-18, 15-12 decision in the third round.
As the Cougars try to repeat as Class 2-A state champions, underclassmen are playing key roles. But Johnston is among the seniors on the roster.
Last week, the Cougars won three matches. They took down Providence Grove in a sweep and then won a five-set match against Randleman to capture the Piedmont Athletic Conference Tournament.
Then on Saturday, the Cougars won against East Surry in the first round of the state playoffs.
Randleman’s Gabi Carter, left, and Mollie Hall defend at the net in the Class 2-A first-round matchup against visiting Bandys on Saturday. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)
Southwestern Randolph had a strong showing to begin defense of its Class 2-A state championship in volleyball.
The Cougars, who are the No. 2 seed in the West Region, opened the playoffs by defeating visiting Surry Central 25-9, 25-13, 25-11 on Saturday.
Madelyn Smith provided 13 kills and nine digs, Riley Key had 10 kills, Raegan LeRoy provided 30 assists and Carleigh Whitston made 10 digs to go with four aces for Southwestern Randolph (24-3).
Also in Class 2-A, 13th-seeded Randleman dispatched 20th-seeded Bandys 14-25, 25-18, 25-13, 25-22 in a home match behind Chloe Dixon’s 18 kills and 18 digs and Gabi Carter’s 12 kills.
Kenzie Roach supplied 29 assists and 13 digs, Karli Kennington turned in 19 digs, Camryn Vickery added 10 assists for the Tigers (17-5).
Three other teams from Randolph County lost in road matches.
No. 18 seeded Providence Grove fell 25-23, 25-23, 25-23 to No. 15 seed East Davidson. No. 29 seed Wheatmore came up short in a 25-10, 25-5, 25-6 loss at fourth-seeded East Surry. No. 32 seed Trinity was ousted in a 25-12, 25-19, 25-16 loss at top-seeded McMichael.
In Class 1-A, Uwharrie Charter Academy dispatched Piedmont Athletic Conference rival Eastern Randolph 25-18, 25-19, 25-23 in the first round. UCA (15-7) swept the Wildcats (5-14) for the third time this season.
Conference tournament
Southwestern Randolph held momentum going into the Class 2-A state playoffs.
The Cougars followed their regular-season title in the PAC by capturing the conference tournament as well.
Madelyn Smith produced 24 kills and 16 digs and Gracie Hodgin had 23 kills and nine digs. Raegan LeRoy’s 64 assists were critical for the offense. Coley Shiflet had 31 digs and Carleigh Whitson made 26 digs for Southwestern Randolph (23-3).
Randleman (16-5), which handed the Cougars their lone PAC regular-season defeat, received 30 digs from Haley Hinshaw, 28 digs from Karli Kennington and 17 digs and 10 kills from Chloe Dixon. Camden Scott had 12 kills and Kenzie Roach chipped in with 17 assists and 10 digs.
Southwestern Randolph took down fourth-seeded Providence Grove a night earlier in the semifinals after receiving bye in the quarterfinals.
Randleman, which had a 12-match winning streak snapped, was playing its third match in three nights after sweeping Eastern Randolph in the quarterfinals and sweeping defending champion Uwharrie Charter Academy in the semifinals.
