Asheboro to rename gym for Coach Martin Smith

By MIKE DUPREZ

The Hub

Asheboro is naming its gymnasium, which us undergoing renovations, in honor of former player and later longtime Blue Comet coach Martin Smith.

Smith, who graduated in 1961, played basketball and baseball for the Blue Comets. He then played both sports at Catawba College. 

Then he became a legendary coach at Asheboro, compiling over 1,100 wins in boys’ basketball, baseball and cross country. His 1976 basketball team won the Western North Carolina Activities Association championship. Smith, who retired in 2004, took the 1986 Blue Comets baseball team to the NCHSAA 3-A state championship.

Altogether, he directed Asheboro teams to 28 conference championships and was named conference coach of the year 25 times.

The gym renovations are expected to complete in December and a naming ceremony will be held in early 2023.

VOLLEYBALL

*Chloe Dixon paced a balanced effort with 12 kills and 12 digs as Randleman beat Asheboro 25-20, 25-19, 29-31, 25-11. Gabi Carter had 8 kills, 4 digs and 3 aces. Mollie Hall contributed 7 kills and 7 digs. Haley Hinshaw, Camden Scott and Ava Jones all had six kills. Jones also had 7 digs and 3 blocks. Hinshaw also had 12 digs and 3 aces. Kenzie Roach led with 29 assists and Camryn Vickery had 11. Karli Kennington had 24 digs, 4 assists and 3 aces.

Ellen Long led Asheboro with 14 kills while Piper Davidson had 15 digs and 12 kills. Lia George had 11 digs and 4 kills.

*Kaitlyn McCoy had 14 kills and 10 digs in Trinity’s 25-18, 25-23, 25-18 win over Eastern Randolph. Sarabeth Johnson added 11 kills. Karrington Batten had 10 kills, 3 blocks and 2 aces. Ellla Johnson had 11 digs and Madison Burgiss had 29 assists.

*Davidson had 16 kills and 12 digs in Asheboro's 23-25, 19-25, 25-14, 25-21, 15-13 loss to North Davidson. Long had 15 kills while Sara Hildreth got 11 kills and 2 aces. George had 7 kills and 7 digs.

*Emma Mazzarone had 14 kills and Riley Mazzarone had 30 assists in Providence Grove’s 25-22, 25-21, 25-18 win over Wheatmore. Paige Needham had 10 kills, Mailey Way had 14 digs and Dyyanna Wade had 6 blocks.

*Madelyn Smith led the way with 20 kills, 14 digs and 3 blocks as Southwestern Randolph held off Uwharrie Charter 21-25, 25-22, 31-29, 25-18. Riley Key had 15 kills and 4 blocks. Raegan LeRoy had 45 assists and 12 digs. Riley Key had 15 kills and 4 blocks. Gracie Hodgin had 12 kills, Coley Shiflet had 23 digs and Carleigh Whitson had 21 digs.

Chloe Painter led Uwharrie Charter with 9 kills, 2 blocks and 2 aces. Dacia Lowery had 4 kills and 4 blocks.

*Hodgin had 12 kills and 4 aces in Southwestern Randolph’s 25-12, 25-23, 25-20 win over Providence Grove. Key also had 12 kills along with 3 blocks for the Cougars. Smith contributed 10 kills and 7 digs. Raegan LeRoy had 37 assists and 7 digs. Coley Shiflet added 22 digs.

Emma Mazzarone led Providence Grove with 9 kills and Needham added 7.

*Dixon had 11 kills, 16 digs and 2 aces in Randleman’s 25-18, 20-25, 25-15, 25-16 win over Eastern Randolph. Jones had 9 kills, 2 blocks and an ace for the Tigers. Hinshaw had 13 digs, 7 kills and 3 aces. Scott had 10 kills and Carter had 8. Roach had 29 assists and 3 digs. Vickery had 16 assists while Kennington got 21 digs.

Addie Flinchum led Eastern Randolph with 13 kills while Logann Beaver had 11 and Nyasia Wharton 6.

SOCCER

*Collin Burgess scored two goals in Wheatmore’s 4-1 win over Eastern Randolph. Nick Galloway made 10 saves.

*Luke Beasley, Riley Queen and Anakin Lester all scored two goals in Wheatmore’s 8-1 rout of Thomasville.

*Omar Esparza got a hat trick in Trinity’s 6-0 victory over Providence Grove.

GIRLS GOLF

*Caroline Wright of Providence Grove shot a 35 to earn medalist honors in a four-way match with Oak Grove, Asheboro and  Eastern Randolph. Asheboro’s Salem Lee was second.

Oak Grove won the team title. Providence Grove was second.

CROSS COUNTRY

*Eastern Randolph’s Brecken Snotherly won the girls race by over 90 seconds in the PAC-7 preseason meet at Wheatmore. Robert Burton of Providence Grove edged Wheatmore’s Zach Hazelwood by three seconds in the boys’ race.

Providence Grove won both team titles.