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Uwharrie Charter Academy

UCA baseball Caleb Stickle slides 2023

Area teams hold No. 2 seeds for state playoffs in baseball, softball

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Caleb Stickle and the Uwharrie Charter Academy baseball team are diving into the state playoffs this week. (P.J. Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

Baseball teams from Randleman and Uwharrie Charter Academy and the Southwestern Randolph softball team all landed No. 2 seeds in the West Region for the state playoffs.

Brackets were unveiled Monday. Play begins Tuesday.

Teams that advance will be slated to play second-round games Friday.

Here’s a look where Randolph County teams were seeded:

Baseball

Randleman (20-4) welcomes No. 31 seed Reidsville (11-14) for the first round in Class 2-A.

A victory would mean that No. 15 Forbush (20-7) or No. 18 Providence Grove (14-10) would visit Randleman later in the week. Randleman won two of three games this season vs. Providence Grove.

Southwestern Randolph (9-14) took the last spot in the Class 2-A bracket, meaning a trip to top-seeded Burns (20-4). The winner of that game faces either No. 16 Trinity (15-10) or No. 17 East Gaston (13-9) in the second round.

Wheatmore (8-13) made the field as the No. 29 seed in Class 2-A so the Warriors go to No. 4 seed West Stokes (20-4).

In Class 1-A, UCA (14-10) is home against No. 31 seed Queen’s Grant (8-10). A potential second-round game looms against either No. 15 Murphy or No. 18 Bishop McGuinness.

Eastern Randolph (4-17) is seeded No. 21, visiting No. 12 seed Mount Airy (14-12).

In Class 3-A, No. 26 seed Asheboro (12-11) heads to No. 7 seed Enka (12-10).

Softball

Southwestern Randolph (19-1) takes on No. 31 seed East Davidson (10-8) in the Class 2-A first round.

The Cougars could have a rematch from the PAC Tournament final in the second round later this week. If Southwestern Randolph wins, it would take on the winner between No. 15 seed Providence Grove (13-8) and No. 18 seed West Caldwell (21-6).

Randleman (7-15) is the No. 29 seed and goes to fourth-seeded West Stanly (23-1).

In Class 1-A, fourth-seeded Eastern Randolph (15-5) has a home date with No. 29 seed Bradford Prep (4-7).

No. 15 seed UCA (12-8) is home vs. No. 18 seed Highland Tech (11-7).

 

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ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Ben Medinger

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Uwharrie Charter Academy, baseball 

Medinger has been a steady performer for the Eagles, and he’s one of the core veterans on the team. 

UCA went 3-0 last week, including winning a pair of tight Piedmont Athletic Conference matchups with Eastern Randolph. Medinger scored a run in the team’s 3-0 decision against Eastern Randolph. 

Medinger, a senior utility player, is among the top UCA players in on-base percentage and run production. 

He was one of two UCA selections for the All-PAC team in 2022. 

Entering this week with an 8-9 record, the Eagles are within two victories of matching last year’s win total that came in 25 games. 

 

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ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Cade Hill

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Trinity, baseball

Hill has helped Trinity to an unbeaten start in Piedmont Athletic Conference play through four games.

In last week’s series-opening victory against Southwestern Randolph, the senior right-hander was the winning pitcher by working five innings and allowing one earned run in Trinity’s 16-6 romp. Hill also had a double in that game.

The Bulldogs and defending champion Randleman were the only teams without a loss in league play through the first two weeks of the PAC season.

UCA baseball coach Rob Shore mug

Shore likes set-up with UCA baseball

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ASHEBORO – Rob Shore knows what it takes to be successful in high school baseball and he likes what he sees entering his first season as Uwharrie Charter Academy’s coach.

Shore moved up to the top spot after one season as an assistant when Lee Kennell stepped down.

“I’ve always liked the smaller school and smaller setting,” Shore said.

Keeping track of Shore’s credentials is no simple task. He was an assistant coach for six years at Southwest Guilford before an 11-year run as Trinity’s coach. That was followed by four years at Ledford, where his 2018 team reached the Class 2-A state championship series.

During much of this time, Shore spent from 2008-21 as manager of High Point Post 87, recording more than 300 wins with the American Legion team. Then last year, he took over as coach of the High Point Hushpuppies, a summer collegiate team in the Old North State League. He’ll be with the Hushpuppies again this year.

Shore, 46, teaches exceptional children. He said he considers his baseball roles to extend beyond what happens between the lines.

“It’s a ministry to me,” he said.

The Eagles were 10-15 last season, going 5-7 in the Piedmont Athletic Conference. They won three games in the Class 1-A state playoffs.

UCA lost pitcher Grant Little, who transferred to Southwestern Randolph for his senior season. But catcher Caleb McDaniel, first baseman/pitcher Ben Medinger and outfielder/pitcher Payton McCullom are on board as seniors.

“We’re returning a pretty good nucleus,” Shore said. “I always feel like you win championships with senior leadership.”

There has been plenty going on with UCA’s program, including completing construction of an indoor practice facility.

“This past year has been a little more crazy,” Shore said. “It was kind of nonstop.”

UCA’s non-league games will include matchups with Shore’s former schools Southwest Guilford and Ledford. Trinity is a PAC member.

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Prep wrestling: UCA duo, Southwestern Randolph’s Flores secure state titles

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GREENSBORO – Senior wrestler Aldo Hernandez became a three-time state champion, including two seasons in a row for Uwharrie Charter Academy, and two underclassmen from Randolph County schools also won state championships.

Hernandez captured the Class 1-A title at 138 pounds with a dominating performance across two days at the Greensboro Coliseum. Freshman teammate Lorenzo Alston won at 145 pounds.

In Class 2-A, it was a three-day meet, capped for Southwestern Randolph 220-pound sophomore Jose Flores with Saturday night’s championship.

UCA had three runners-up, and finished third in the Class 1-A team standings.

Hernandez, who nabbed a state title in 2021 for Montgomery Central, finished his final prep season with a 52-2 record. In the state tournament, he had a pin, a 10-3 decision and then dominated Alleghany’s Cameron Worrick for a second-period technical fall in the final.

Alston’s first season resulted in a 54-2 record. He was efficient in the tournament with a pin and two major decisions, the latter coming by 11-3 against Robbinsville’s Willie Riddle in the championship match.

UCA junior Ethan Hines (106), senior Grayson Roberts (170) and junior Jaden Maness (195) were runners-up.

Hines dropped a 1-0 decision to Avery County’s Cooper Foster in the title bout.

Roberts, the 2022 champion at 160, lost a 1-0 decision to Avery County freshman Cael Dunn after recording a pair of pins in the tournament. Roberts ended his last season with a 50-5 record.

In the 195 final, Avery County’s Seth Blackledge pinned Maness in 1:33.

Third place for the Eagles went to Carson Robinson (160), while teammate Alec Millikan (152) was fourth. Eastern Randolph’s Adrian Lopez (126) placed third.

Class 2-A

Flores capped a 30-2 season by defeating Mt. Pleasant’s Colt Kluttz 3-0. He won three earlier matches by decision, including a 12-11 outcome against Walkertown J’Lynn Sheff in the semifinals.

Trinity’s Spencer May was the runner-up at 120, dropping 7-5 sudden-victory decision in the final to Eden Morehead’s Jared Thomas. May had three pins to reach the final, with two of those coming in first periods.

Providence Grove senior Colton Wood was a repeat place winner, taking third at 285 pounds. His only loss was a one-point loss that went to overtime to Maiden’s DJ Spring, the eventual champion. He was sixth last year.

Trinity had a solid showing with Brayden Hall (113), Joey Smith (220) in fourth place and Levi Dennis (126) in fifth place.

Wheatmore had Trey Swaney (132) and Dominic Hittepole (160) both in fourth place.

Luke White (138) of Southwestern Randolph finished sixth.

Class 3-A

Asheboro senior Diego Gutierrez was the only one of the four Blue Comets entrants to win a bout in the tournament. He placed third at 120 with a 4-1 record to complete the season with a 41-2.

His only loss in the tournament came in a 4-3 decision to East Henderson’s Gunner Marshall in the semifinals. Marshall was the eventual runner-up.

UCA building photo

UCA receives 10-year renewal

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ASHEBORO — Uwharrie Charter Academy has further confirmation that its long-term future appears bright.

Randolph County’s only charter school was notified that the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction has voted to recommend a 10-year renewal for the school, which has grades K-12.

“This is our first renewal, and the max you can get is 10 years,” said Sharon Castelli, the school’s superintendent. “Which means we’re going to be around a little longer.”

The final stamp of approval should come from the Charter Schools Advisory Board in the spring, something that’s considered just a formality at this point.

UCA is growing significantly, now at more than 1,800 students. The breakdown is 536 in elementary school (grades K-4), 647 in middle school (grades 5-8), and 661 in high school.

UCA opened in 2013 with 181 students in ninth and 10th. Once the high school was established, lower grades were added.

A new high school building and an adjacent career academy are on target to open in the summer, Castelli said. At that point, the elementary school will move into the current high school, putting all the students on the same campus. Eventually, a separate K-2 wing could be built at the elementary school, Castelli said.

The elementary school is located on Lewallen Road in a former Klaussner Home Furnishings building. That’s about 5 miles from the main campus.

Castelli, who has been in her position since October 2020, said the school had met many of its goals. 

“We’ve been on a good track,” she said. “We’ve been celebrating (the NC Department of Instruction’s decision) all week.”

The renewal process began in September. It involved interviews with parents, staff, and board members, along with an evaluation of the school’s financial status and other data.

UCA has had success in athletics, winning state championships in baseball and wrestling (as recently as this month) on the Class 1-A level. It’s the only high school in the county without a football program.

UCA wrestling Carson Robinson v ER Bryce Foland Feb2023

Prep wrestling: UCA sends 10 to state tournament

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Uwharrie Charter Academy’s Carson Robinson, top, works on Eastern Randolph’s Bryce Foland during the 160-pound final in the Class 1-A East Regional. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

Five county schools have regional champions

ASHEBORO – Aldo Hernandez and Grayson Roberts will try to repeat as state champions as Uwharrie Charter Academy will send 10 wrestlers to the state tournament.

UCA, as the host school, rolled through Friday and Saturday’s Class 1-A East Regional.

Hernandez at 138 pounds and Roberts at 170 pounds were regional champions, joining 106-pounder Ethan Hines, 145-pounder Lorenzo Alston, 160-pounder Carson Robinson and 195-pounder Jaden Maness with those first-place spots.

The Eagles were overwhelming team champions with 251 points compared to runner-up North East Carolina Prep’s 152. Eastern Randolph was sixth with 115½.

The multi-day state tournament at the Greensboro Coliseum begins Thursday for Class 2-A, Class 3-A and Class 4-A, while Class 1-A starts Friday. Finals are slated for Saturday night.

Hernandez, who won in the 2021 states for Montgomery Central, and Roberts both moved up one weight class since last season.

Robinson won by a first-period injury default against Eastern Randolph’s Bryce Foland in the final.

The top four finishers in each weight class qualify for states.

UCA will also send regional runners-up Brandon Jordan (126), Jack McArthur (132) and Corbin Grissom (182) along with third-place finisher Alec Millikan (152). The Eagles will have entrants in 10 of the 14 weight classes.

Other than Foland, Eastern Randolph’s qualifiers are Jamie Crabtree (third at 106), Adrian Lopez (third at 126), Ian Moore (third at 220) and Carter Self (fourth at 120).

Class 2-A

At Bunn, Spencer May of Trinity, Dominic Hittepole of Wheatmore and Jose Flores of Southwestern Randolph won titles in the Mideast Regional.

May won at 120, Hittepole at 160 and Flores at 220.

Trinity was team runner-up behind Eden Morehead. Southwestern Randolph was fourth.

Trinity’s contingent at the state tournament also will include Brayden Hall (second at 113), Gavin Hardister (second at 182), Levi Dennis (third at 126), Joey Smith (third at 220) and Baron Justice (fourth at 138).

Wheatmore is sending Hittepole, Trey Swaney (second at 132) and Randy Spencer (fourth at 195).

Aside from Flores, Southwestern Randolph’s state qualifiers are Luke White (third at 138), Mason Leonard (third at 145) and Janaksel Perez (fourth at 106).

Providence Grove’s Colton Wood (285) heads back to the states after a runner-up spot in the regional. Teammate Mitchell Freeman was fourth at 152.

Randleman’s Braxton Walker (second at 195) and Kaelob Pearce (fourth at 132) advanced to states.

Class 3-A

At Lexington, Diego Gutierrez of Asheboro won at 120 pounds in the Midwest Regional at North Davidson to lead four Blue Comets into the state tournament.

Gutierrez went 4-0 to improve to 37-1.

Xavier Santos (113), who was a state qualifier last year, Christian Diaz (160) and Eddie Soto (195) also moved on with fourth-place regional finishes.

UCA wrestling team photo after winning 2023 state duals

UCA wrestlers pin down state duals title

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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 wrestler Alec Millikan in state duals Jan2023

UCA wrestlers head for title rematch with Avery County

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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.

UCA wrestling Brandon Jordan Jan2023

Prep Roundup: UCA wrestlers keep rolling in state duals

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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.

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