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Asheboro boy soccer happy photo

Early showdowns dot Randolph County prep schedules

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Asheboro boys’ soccer players celebrate a goal during a game last year, which turned out to be a good season for the Blue Comets (File photo)

High school sports games and matches for the 2022-23 school year begin next week with competitions that count on the records.

For most sports in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association, the first date for competition comes Monday (Aug. 15).

Here are a few notable events on early schedules:

•  On Aug. 15, Southwestern Randolph travels to Central Davidson in the first boys’ soccer game with Jimmy Walker back in charge as coach of the Cougars. He founded the program and returned to the coaching role this summer for his third different stint in charge of the program.

•  Also on Aug. 15, Trinity visits Asheboro in a matchup of two of the stronger boys’ soccer teams from Randolph County based on the 2021 season.

These teams held a combined record of 26-9-4 last year, but they didn’t meet. A rematch is scheduled for Aug. 24 at Trinity.

•  Also in the second week of the boys’ soccer season, Asheboro has a non-conference home game with Western Alamance on Aug. 22. Western Alamance is the reigning Class 3-A state champion. Asheboro won 3-0 last August at Western Alamance.

•  On Aug. 17, Southwestern Randolph’s volleyball team opens its season at Asheboro. There are numerous storylines there.

For reigning Class 2-A state champion Southwestern Randolph, it’s the season debut.

It’s supposed to be the third match for Asheboro since the return of Kim Black, who’s also a former Southwestern Randolph coach, as the Blue Comets coach.

That match is at North Asheboro Middle School, where the Blue Comets are playing again this season because of renovations on campus.

Asheboro starts the season Aug. 15 at home vs. Trinity and goes the next night to Randleman.

Southwestern Randolph has its first home match Aug. 23 vs. Oak Grove.

•  In girls’ tennis, Wheatmore was unbeaten in Piedmont Athletic Conference play last season. The Warriors open this season Aug. 15 at East Davidson. The PAC slate starts with a visit from neighboring Trinity on Aug. 22.

•  The Aug. 19 football openers include just one matchup involving two teams from Randolph County. That’s when Randleman goes to Asheboro.

A year ago, Asheboro secured its only victory by winning its opener at Randleman.

Other Aug. 19 football openers for county teams are: Jordan-Matthews at Southwestern Randolph, East Davidson at Providence Grove, Eastern Randolph at Eastern Alamance, Trinity at Chatham Central, West Davidson at Wheatmore.

Randleman boys soccer at first practice of 2022

Photo gallery: Prep teams open practices for fall seasons

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Above, members of the Randleman boys’ soccer team move the goal at the first practice of the season. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

Here’s a glimpse of some of the opening practices in Randolph County on Monday, when teams could officially begin practices for the upcoming fall season.

Eddie Soto of the Asheboro football team goes through a tackling drill on the first day of practice Monday. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)
Coach Seth Baxter addresses his Southwestern Randolph football team on the first day of practice Monday. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)
Asheboro’s volleyball team goes through practice under the direction of Kim Black, who has returned to the program as the coach. The session was held at North Asheboro Middle School because of ongoing renovations at the high school. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

 

 

Randolph County Sports Council spring banquet 2022

Sports Council honors seniors in spring

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Front row, left to right: Madison Farlow, Kylie Vaughan, David Makupson, Molly Strider, Haley Langley, Haley Hedrick. Back row: Gus Shelton, Brody Gardner, Luke Thomas, Gracie Ballard, Edi Austin, Spencer Hall. (Courtesy photo)

SOPHIA – Area high school athletes were recognized for sportsmanship during the Randolph Sports Council’s spring banquet last month at Snyder Farms Restaurant.

Two senior athletes from seven schools were recipients of the sportsmanship awards, which are accompanied by $500 scholarships. Recipients are selected by each school’s scholarship committee.

The recipients were:

  • Madison Arroyo and Tramir Martin of Asheboro.
  • Haley Langley and Brody Gardner of Eastern Randolph.
  • Edi Austin and Luke Thomas of Providence Grove.
  • Kylie Vaughan and Gus Shelton of Randleman.
  • Molly Strider and Madison Farlow of Southwestern Randolph.
  • Gracie Ballard and David Makupson of Trinity.
  • Haley Hedrick and Spencer Hall of Wheatmore.

Darrell Moody, senior advisor to North Carolina football coach Mack Brown, was the guest speaker. Moody, a former NFL scout and longtime college assistant coach, was on past coaching staffs at Asheboro and Eastern Randolph.

Josie Allred at states May2022

Allred jumps to second in state meet

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Southwestern Randolph’s Josie Allred clears the bar in the high jump in the Class 2-A state meet Friday at North Carolina A&T. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record)

GREENSBORO – Senior Josie Allred of Southwestern Randolph was the runner-up in the Class 2-A high jump for girls in Friday’s state championships at North Carolina A&T.

Allred cleared the bar at 5 feet, 2 inches – the same height as winner Katarina Kepley of West Davidson along with East Carteret’s Latecyia Johnson and SouthWest Edgecombe’s Jer’Lisha Pridgen.

Based on number of attempts, Kepley was the champion. Johnson and Pridgen shared third place.

Randleman freshman Gracie Beane was seventh at 5-0.

Beane also placed seventh in the triple jump with a bound of 33-5.

Junior Iniyah Mitchell of Randleman was sixth in the shot put at 34-5. Teammate Kylie Vaughn, a senior, was eighth at 33-3.

Mitchell threw the discus 87-6, placing 13th.

On the boys’ side, Southwestern Randolph junior Adam Cole was sixth in the 100-meter dash in 11.50 seconds. That was slightly slower than his time of 11.22 in a preliminary heat.

Senior Chris Gentry of Randleman in the 110 hurdles (17.75) and senior Michael Connelly of Trinity in the 300 hurdles (43.77) failed to advance to the finals.

Class 3-A

Also Friday, Asheboro senior Arianna Lovingood-Smith posted a mark of 36-7 ½ to claim fourth place in the triple jump.

Lovingood-Smith took seventh in the high jump at 5-0.

Class 1-A

On Saturday, junior Brecken Snotherly of Eastern Randolph had place finishes in two girls’ races.

Snotherly took third in the 1,600 in 5:37.73. In the 3,200, she was seventh in 13:22.46.

For the boys, Eastern Randolph sophomore Josh Brady placed eighth in the 110 hurdles in 22.57 after advancing to the finals with a time of 16.67 in the preliminaries. He withdrew from the 300 hurdles.

Brecken Snotherly ER runner spring2022

Randleman girls, SWR’s Cole lead qualifiers for state track meet

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Eastern Randolph’s Brecken Snotherly has qualified for the Class 1-A state meet in two events. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record)

HIGH POINT – Randleman’s girls excelled in several field events and a Southwestern Randolph sprinter highlighted the boys’ results from Randolph County in Friday’s Class 2-A Midwest Regional track and field meet at High Point Athletic Complex.

Randleman junior Iniyah Mitchell and senior Kylie Vaughan held the top two spots in the shot put at 36 feet, 5 inches and 35-8, respectively. Mitchell was fourth in the discus at 94-5.

Randleman freshman Gracie Beane was the runner-up in two events — the triple jump at 34-¾ and the high jump at 5-0.

Southwestern Randolph junior Adam Cole won the 100-meter dash in 11.30 seconds, barely ahead of High Point Andrews’ Correy McManus (11.33).

Randleman senior Chris Gentry was second in the 110 hurdles in 16.23.

The top four finishers in each event qualified for Friday’s state meet at North Carolina A&T in Greensboro. Place finishers among the top eight were point scorers for their teams.

Also among the girls, Southwestern Randolph senior Josie Allred took third in the high jump at 4-10. Trinity freshman Sarabeth Johnson tied for fifth in the high jump at 4-6. Randleman freshman Ava Jones also cleared 4-6, but was down in the standings based on number of attempts.

Junior Peyton Wilson of Wheatmore claimed fourth in the 400 in 1:04.6.

Providence Grove’s Jensen Auman, Willow Maynor, Kaylan Currin and Mia Browder combined for sixth in the 3,200 relay in 11:44.03. Auman placed seventh in the 3,200 in 14:27.91 and eighth in the 1,600 in 6:46.18.

Wheatmore’s 1,600 relay of Gracie Hodgin, Madeline Work, Kaitlyn Miller and Wilson was seventh in 4:37.80.

On the boys’ side, Trinity senior Michael Connelly was fourth (43.19) and classmate Jonathan Hill was fifth in 43.33 in the 300 hurdles. Hill took sixth in the 110 hurdles in 17.55.

Trinity’s 3,200 relay of Hill, Mitchell Marin-Pulido, Jose Castillo and David Makupson was seventh in 9:15.58.2.

In the high jump, Southwestern Randolph sophomore Lance Everhart was fifth at 5-10 and Trinity junior Dylan Hodges was eighth at 5-8.

Class 3-A

At Mocksville, Asheboro had several strong performances in the Midwest Regional at Davie County High School.

Senior Arianna Lovingood-Smith was second with a leap of 5-2 in the high jump. Freshman Rebecca Wilson was fifth in the event at 4-10.

Lovingood-Smith captured third in the triple jump in 35-8.

Sophomore Sophia Roman was fifth in the 3,200 in 13:18.69. Senior Rose Kidd was seventh in the 400 in 1:04.81.

In the 800 relay, the unit of Jaqueline Holden, Audrey Patterson, Veronica Powell and Sion Murrain was sixth in 1:52.63.

The relay of Patterson, Lovingood-Smith, Powell and Murrain took seventh in the 400 relay in 52.97.

For the Asheboro boys, sophomore Mark Valentino ended up sixth in the triple jump at 41-3½. Junior Nicolas Chavez was seventh in 43.40 in the 300 hurdles.

Class 1-A

Also at Davie County High School, Eastern Randolph junior Brecken Snotherly was second in the 3,200 in 5:47.91 and in the 3,2000 in 13:08.03 in girls’ races at the Midwest Regional. Corvian Community School’s Taylor Worley was first in both races.

On the boys’ side, sophomore Josh Brady of Eastern Randolph was second in the 110 hurdles in 16.37 seconds and third in the 300 hurdles in 44.89.

Freshman Ian Moore took eighth in the discus at 95-9.

The Wildcats’ quartet of Daniel Yarborough, Malachi Letterlough, Daniel Thomas and A’Donye Herbert placed eighth in 47.33 in the 400 relay. The same group was ninth in the 1:38.57 in the 800 relay.

The state meets for Class 1-A and Class 4-A will be held Saturday at N.C. A&T.

SWR_BrysonReid

Reid picked for honor at Panthers game

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ASHEBORO – Two members of Southwestern Randolph’s football team will go from the state playoffs to the pros this weekend.

That’s because senior receiver Bryson Reid of the Cougars was selected as a recipient of a Carolina Panthers Community Captain Award.

As part of the program that honors players who excel in the classroom and the community, Reid has been invited by the Panthers for Sunday’s game against the New England Patriots at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.

“My teammates were so excited for me,” Reid said.

He selected Cougars quarterback Keaton Reed to be his guest for the NFL game-day experience.

Reid is part of the Beta Club at school and he’s involved in youth mission programs with First Baptist Church of Asheboro. Because Reid is a recipient of the award, the Panthers will make a $500 donation to the Southwestern Randolph athletics department.

“His character is what separates him,” football coach Seth Baxter said. “A great leader, and one of those kids you want representing your school.”

Baxter said Reid also made an impact on youngsters when he has been a counselor for youth camps at the school.

Reid, 17, said this will be the first time he attends a Panthers game.

Before that, he’ll be suiting up at least one more time for the Cougars. He’s also a cornerback and is involved on punt and kickoff returns.

Southwestern Randolph (8-2), which has compiled a school-record win total this year, is set to open the Class 2-A playoffs with Friday night’s home game against Polk County.

“It has been a great season,” Reid said. “We’ve been together since middle school. We’ve never really had a winning season.”

Other than when he was on the sideline as a ball boy several years ago, Reid said he has never been part of a football playoff game.

Reid’s junior season was cut short because of torn ankle ligaments. That caused him to miss a couple of baseball games in the spring.

This season, he said his favorite experience was the 42-30 home victory against Starmount because of the atmosphere — a “Blue-Out” with fans wearing school colors. He said he was most fond of teammate Adam Cole chasing down a Starmount ball carrier and causing a fumble – and then the reaction from the Cougars defenders as they blocked for a big return.

Reid said he’s still assessing his college options. He intends to major in political science.

PG_hcBrown

Football Playoffs: Looking for history

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Providence Grove coach Calvin Brown throws up 1 finger for the extra point after a touchdown against visiting Jordon-Mathews in a non-league game in Climax on September 3, 2021. PJ WARD-BROWN/NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Providence Grove, Southwestern Randolph seek playoff breakthroughs

ASHEBORO — Three football teams from Randolph County will play in home games to begin the state playoffs, though one of them will have to wait an extra week before playing.

Undefeated Eastern Randolph (9-0) is the No. 1 seed for the Class 1-A West Region, receiving a bye to the second week of the playoffs. That’s when the Wildcats will be slated for a home game Nov. 12 against the Draughn / Elkin winner.

The others will be getting started Friday night. Here’s a look at those matchups.

 Forest Hills at Providence Grove

Providence Grove assistant coach Grant Handy lifts Running back Caleb Rogers in the air after their 40-34 victory against Southwestern Randolph on Oct. 22. PJ WARD-BROWN/NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Eighth-seeded Providence Grove (8-2) takes on No. 25 seed Forest Hills (6-4) in a Class 2-A West Region game.

Providence Grove is trying to break through in the postseason. It is 0-9 all-time in football playoff games.

The Patriots are undefeated against Class 2-A competition this season. Their losses came to teams (Eastern Randolph and Ledford) with a combined 16-3 record.

Forest Hills won three consecutive games before falling 38-9 at Monroe in the regular-season finale. In each of the Yellow Jackets’ last three losses they’ve surrendered at least 38 points.

Providence Grove has scored 40 or more points in seven of its eight victories. Topping that list was last week’s 66-12 victory at Wheatmore, with seven players scoring at least one touchdown.

The Patriots have reached the eight-win mark in each of the past two full seasons (not counting the abbreviated 2020 season that was shifted to this past spring).

Friday night’s winner will advance to meet the winner of the Community School of Davidson / East Gaston game. Providence Grove will be home again if it wins in the first round.

Polk County at Southwestern Randolph

Southwestern Randolph’s defensive front matches up with South Stanly in a game at Ivey B.Luck Stadium at Southwestern Randolph on August 27, 2021. PJ WARD-BROWN/NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Also in Class 2-A, 16th-seeded Southwestern Randolph (8-2) is amid a historic season. This just adds to it.

The Cougars have set a school record for wins. This will be the program’s first home state-playoff game.

The next thing to mark off the list: Win a game in the state playoffs for the first time.

“We’ve had a great year,” coach Seth Baxter said. “Anytime you’re the only one to do something, that’s special. This is new to this community.”

Southwestern Randolph’s Adam Cole runs against Asheboro in a non-conference game at Lee J. Stone Stadium in Asheboro on September 24, 2021. SWR won 17-7 winning at Asheboro for the first time in school history. PJ WARD-BROWN/NORTH STATE JOURNAL

The Cougars have racked up the most points in a season in school history. Six times they’ve eclipsed the 40-point mark.

Baxter said the players have embraced the season.

“They work as hard on the practice field as they do on the game field,” he said. “They’re just looking forward to playing this week.”

This will be the first meeting between the Cougars and No. 17 seed Polk County.

“We’ve got our work cut out for us this week,” Baxter said.

The winner will face either top-seeded Shelby or 32nd–seeded Black Mountain Owen in the second round.

Randleman at Reidsville

Randleman quarterback Christian Long makes a pass against Eastern Randolph’s John Maness during the regular-season finale at Randleman on October 29, 2021. PJ WARD-BROWN/NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Randleman (4-6) made the field as the No. 29 seed in the West Region in Class 2-A.

The Tigers will go to fourth-seeded Reidsville (9-0), which has made 27 appearances in state championship games and has won state titles the past three seasons.

The chance to play another game is a reward for the Tigers. They picked up some momentum in the middle of the season after beginning with an 0-3 start.

“We’re a better football team now than after that Asheboro game (to open the season),” Randleman coach Shane Timmons said.

The Tigers have lost three of their last four games.

Friday’s winner will face either Chase or Pine Lake Prep.