This week’s Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week is sophomore wrestler Thalia Paterno. This season, the Cedar Ridge women’s wrestling team won its first conference championship in school history. Paterno leads the team with a 34-4 record, going undefeated in conference matches. This season, Paterno started the year with consecutive runner-up finishes. At the Atkins Invitational in Winston-Salem, Paterno rolled to the championship final after pinfall victories over Shavon Shavers of R.J. Reynolds, Piera Sherrell of East Forsyth and Danna Valentin-Zotelo of Atkins High. In the Red Wolf Invitational on November 22, Paterno reached the final in the 107-pound tournament after pinfall wins over Arianna Bottoms of Atkins High, Elena Tavares of Catawba Ridge and Alena McNaughton of Panther Creek. On December 13, Paterno won all four of her matches at the Coggins Duals at Southwest Guilford High in High Point. On December 28, Paterno finished fourth at the Tiger Holiday Classic at Chapel Hill High School, one of the most prestigious wrestling tournaments in the southeast. As a freshman, Paterno became the first female wrestler from a Hillsborough-based high school to win in the Jim King/Orange Invitational at Orange High School. Paterno captured the 100 pound championship. Paterno will attempt to qualify for the State Championships at the 5A East Regionals at Southeast Alamance High School on February 7.
