Cedar Ridge High School

Despite losing seven starters from last year’s Central Conference championship team, Cedar Ridge wrestling is still a force to be reckoned with.

Red Wolf senior Ryan Rakouskas won his 100th career match en route to the 157-pounds championship as Cedar Ridge won the Atkins Invitational at Atkins Academic and Technology High School in Greensboro on Saturday. Rakouskas defeated Brice Baker of Oak Grove High in overtime 14-11 in the championship final.

Rakouskas becomes the eighth Cedar Ridge wrestler to win 100 career matches. He is the fourth grappler in the last three years to win 100 matches. Fernando Martinez, who graduated in 2023 and now wrestles at UNC Pembroke, won 100 matches during his senior year. Last year, Kaden Tatro also joined the 100-win club. Senior Pierce Prescod surpassed 100 wins last winter.

Rakouskas finished 35-13 with 29 pins last season. He opened his first tournament of the 2024-2025 season with a pin over Braxton Bragg of East Mecklenburg. In the quarterfinals, Rakouskas pinned Adam Curry of Asheboro in 1:02. He secured a spot in the championship match with a 10-4 victory over Jack Martin of Mount Airy.

Cedar Ridge finished with 159 points, tops in the 25-team field. Atkins Academic and Technology finished second with 137 points.

“I thought we had a shot to crack the top five,” said Cedar Ridge coach Scott Metcalf. “I’m shocked that we won, honestly. We lost seven starters from last year’s team so it’s hardly imaginable that we could be better this year. But this is a really good group of kids who get along great and work really hard. So it’s entirely feasible if things keep coming together.”

The surprise of the weekend was Will Meyer, who captured the 190-pound championship. Meyer has spent the past three years on junior varsity and appeared in three matches at the varsity level last year. He pinned all four of his opponents in the tournament, including a victory over Matthew Oliver of R.J. Reynolds in the semifinals at 2:41. In the championship match, Meyer pinned Glenn Huskey of Rockingham County in 1:58.

Meyer faced a higher-seeded competitor in each of his four matches. He opened by pinning 7th-seeded Michael King of Reagan High in 3:10.

The Red Wolves had three others reach the finals in their respective weight classes. Jordin Blue won three matches in the 165-pound tournament, pinning Jack Steele of Southeast Guilford in the semifinals. Cooper Ranson of Atkins Academic on the championship over Blue. In the quarterfinals, Blue scored a technical fall over Kolvin Walker of Alexander Central.

At 126 pounds, Prescod reached the championship match. Prescod, the top-seed, defeated Braylen George of Mt. Airy 18-2 to advance via technical fall. In the championship match, Omar Rushing of Mt. Airy held off Prescod 4-3. Prescod took a 1-0 lead into the third period, but Rushing scored the only takedown of the match with 37 seconds remaining in the third period. Prescod got an escape in the final seconds, but couldn’t gain the final point.

Alejandro Briones, the defending Central Conference champion at 144-pounds, reached the final at 150 pounds. Briones, who won both of his matches in the season-opening tri-meet at Uwharrie Charter Academy last Thursday, pinned Daniel Runion of R.J. Reynolds in 1:57 in the semifinals. Briones scored two pins and a tech fall leading up to the championship match. Cole Kenerley of East Mecklenburg pinned Briones in 3:09 to win the title. Briones led 6-1 in the opening minute of the match, but Kenerley scored four near fall points in the final 30 seconds of the opening period.

Favio Jaramillo Esparza finished third at 113-pounds. In the consolation final, he pinned Gavin Cranford of Montgomery Central in 3:49.

In the women’s tournaments, Cedar Ridge’s Thalia Paterno reached the final at 100-pounds. Paterno pinned Naria Selomith of West Forsyth in 14 seconds. Victoria Pioquinto of West Forsyth won the championship via pinfall in 3:36.

At 138 pounds, Cedar Ridge’s Chloe Pankratz reached the final, finishing runner-up. In the semifinals, Pankratz pinned the 2nd seed, Amelia Martino of East Mecklenburg in 5:13. Jadyn Magallanes of West Forsyth won the championship.

For the first time since 2021, the Cedar Ridge men’s basketball team has won its season opener.

In a tight game on Friday night, the Red Wolves held on to defeat Carrboro 54-52 at Red Wolves Gymnasium. Sophomore Jordan Jacobson finished with 20 points while senior Luke Orstad finished with 16 points and seven rebounds.

With :5.3 seconds remaining, Or stand missed a freeze throw. Carrrboro’s Sam Kanjorski got free with a 3-point attempt at the buzzer, but Orstad soared across to obstruct the shot, which fell short.

Carrboro (o-1) took a 44-41 lead when Kanjorski knocked down a 3-pointer with 5:39 remaining in the fourth quarter. Orstad and Jacobson took over offensively for the Red Wolves. Orstand scored off a lay-in on a feed from Jacobson. After Cedar Ridge center Jack Kelsey grabbed a rebound, Jacobson found Orstad for another field goal to put the Red Wolves ahead 45-44. Following another Jaguars miss that was rebounded by Braeden Wilbourn, Jacobson sank a 3-pointer on a basket assisted by Orstad. Following a steal by Kelsey, Orstad knocked down two free throws after being fouled by Noah Simmons.

Carrboro’s Bakari Watkins led all scorers with 28 points.

Cedar Ridge shot 8-of-16 from 3-point range and roared out to a 17-2 lead to start the game. Orstad opened with a 3-pointer, followed by another from Jacobson, which forced a Jaguars timeout only two minutes in. After Watkins scored the opening Carrboro field goal, Orstad knocked down two free throws, followed by another 3-pointer from Jacobson.

Carrboro shot 6-of-9 from the field in the second quarter to cut its deficit down to 30-26 by intermission. Carrboro guard Joe Smith sparked the run with a 3-pointer with 5:44 remaining in the first half. Watkins scored the Jaguars final ten points of the first half, including a running one-hander with four seconds remaining in the first half.

In the third quarter, Kanjorski scored off a lay-in to tie the game at 30-30 with 6:27 remaining. Watkins hit two free throws to give the Jaguars its first lead at 31-30.

ORANGE 55, RIVERSIDE 48: Playing its second game in as many days, the Panthers found a way to prevail in a rhythmless, choppy finale to the Voyager Academy Tip-Off Classic in Durham on Saturday.

Kai Wade drained a 3-pointer with 4:32 remaining in the first half to give Orange a six-point lead and the Panthers maintained the lead for the rest of the game, though the Pirates made a late run behind junior Robert McDonald, who led all scorers with 21 points.

McDonald drained a 3-pointer to cut Orange’s lead to two points with 2:36 remaining in regulation, but the Pirates found themselves in foul trouble late in the game. Wade knocked down pressure free throws, sinking 5-of-6 from the stripe in the final quarter. As Riverside switched to a 3-2 zone, Xandrell Pennix picked up a deflected pass and scored off a lay-in.

Pennix, a senior, paced Orange with 15 points.

The two teams felt each other out during the opening minutes. Riverside led 10-9 at the end of the first quarter as the Panthers were limited to three field goals. Panther senior Michael Clark, who finished with 12 points, scored six in the opening quarter.

Riverside was held to six points in the second quarter as the Panthers took a 23-16 lead to the locker room. Orange created turnovers off its full court press and turned them into layups. Freddny Sneed, who finished with eleven points, slammed home his first dunk of the year to give Orange the lead for good.

Orange put four players in double figures. Wade, coming off a career-high 31 point game against Voyager Academy on Friday night, finished with 13 points.

It was the first game for new Riverside head coach Chris Mayshack, who replaced longtime coach Brian Strickland during the offseason.

Orange will host Mount Zion Academy on Friday night in Hillsborough.

“Most humans are never fully present in the now because unconsciously they believe that the next moment must be more important than this one. But then you miss your whole life, which is never not now.”–Echkart Tolle 

From the time he stepped into Cedar Ridge, Quinn Finnegan has lived in the moment.

On the mound. In the outfield. Inside the classroom. At the Barn. Even in the bleachers where he’s a regular for Cedar Ridge sports events, including basketball games where his sister Kate played for the varsity her freshman year.

It all paid off on Wednesday night inside Cedar Ridge’s J-wing. Flanked by his mother Maria, his father Tim, Kate and his younger brother Reese, Finnegan formerly signed with Wagner College based out of Staten Island, New York.

It speaks to Finnegan’s character that his signing ceremony packed the J-Wing with parents, well-wishers, administrators and faithful from the Cedar Ridge and Orange baseball communities, two sides that have had its share of contentious moments. On this night, they gathered as one to speak highly of a senior who has overcome obstacles, both abroad and within, and turned it into a Division I opportunity.

Finnegan, a pitcher with Cedar Ridge’s varsity since his freshman year, is a three-time co-Captain. He has been named All-Central Conference three times. A founding member and President of Cedar Ridge’s DECA Club, Finnegan was inducted into the National Honor Society last year, was the Student Class President his freshman year and has a 4.38 grade point average, 31st in his class.

Finnegan, known as “Q” for short, didn’t get a chance to lead as a middle school student because he lost two full athletic years due to the pandemic. By the time he walked into Cedar Ridge head coach Bryson Massey’s office as a freshman in 2020, he knew what his objective would be: to become a Division I college pitcher.

“I knew he could be a captain the first day he stepped inside of Cedar Ridge,” Massey said. “There was no doubt in my mind as a freshman. There was a reason why I put him on varsity. I knew he had it in him. He was a hard worker. He’s the type of guy who embodies what Cedar Ridge baseball is since I’ve been here and what we’re building.”

When Maria Finnegan was pregnant with Quinn, he was due on December 1. He arrived ten days late. That’s why his uniform number is #11.

Tim and Maria, speaking jointly in front of a crowd for the first time since their wedding vows in 2001, discussed their oldest son’s hard work and dedication.

“It’s so easy to just throw those words around,” Maria Finnegan said. “But it’s another thing to literally live it and see hour-by-hour what that looks like.”

For Quinn, there was school daily from 9AM-to-4PM. In the fall and the spring, he would stay after school for practice and games. After practice, there were workouts at the Barn to train from 90 minutes to two hours. He would come home at around 9PM to stretch, shower, ear and go to bed. He would set the alarm for 3AM so he get up to start working out again.

Six days a week.

And that’s just the physical side.

The mental battle Finnegan has endured emboldens the old saying that it’s darkest before the dawn.

Last year, just before the start of his junior season, Finnegan was on the verge of quitting the sport.

“I was really down on myself,” Finnegan said. “I couldn’t do a single thing right in my mind. Nothing was enough for me. I even hated training each day.”

Finnegan credited sessions with sports psychologist Mike Halpern, along with encouragement from Massey and assistant coach Robert Hege, to regain a mindset that would lead to the best season of his career.

When he was in his cradle, Maria and Tim placed little toys to see if a precursor to his young adult life would take shape. There were basketballs, soccer balls and footballs.

Quinn took a liking to a small, green plastic bat, which Tim carried with him to the podium on Wednesday night.

Ryan O’Keefe, who is the public address announcer for Orange baseball, coached Finnegan for the Hillsborough Youth Athletic Association’s Hawks team ages 8-12 team, where the batters faced a pitching machine.

They went 1-18 his first season.

“Somehow, Quinn decided to stay,” O’Keefe said. “Because he was one of the guys who got it. I really believe when you’re good at T-ball, you’ll be good when you’re 16, too. The best kids on my tee ball team are signing to play in college.

O’Keefe required his players to do well academically and asked them to bring their report cards to practice one day. When he was eight, Finnegan attended Montessori School of Durham, which didn’t submit standard letter grades. Finnegan was frantic and asked his mother to intervene. Finnegan asked his teacher to give a letter grade to submit to O’Keefe.

Hege, who has been Finnegan’s travel coach with the Southern Baseball Academy, is as responsible for his physical development as anyone. Behind his house, Hege runs “The Barn,” a gym that started as a carport where plays worked out. Now, it’s a training facility where players from various schools work out.

Finnegan was among the original members of the Barn, starting when he was in the 7th grade. During winter nights, they had to put plastic around the carport to keep the heat inside. When he isn’t at home or at a Cedar Ridge game, his parents correctly assume he’s at the Barn.

“Quinn was one of the OGs at the Barn,” Hege said. “Now, we have about 20 people constantly there.”

Hege talked with several college coaches during Finnegan’s recruitment. When they asked what type of person Quinn was, Hege would tell them a story about Finnegan’s workouts during the COVID-19 lockdown when kids had to stay home from school. Finnegan would show up at the Barn with matchbox cars to give to Hege’s 3-year-old child to break the boredom of the interminable quarantine.

By the time Finnegan turned 16, Hege allowed him to drive from Cedar Ridge practices to the Barn. In between, they would pick up Hege’s youngest son, Shep, from daycare.

Shep and Quinn quickly grew into a first-name relationship. One day, Hege picked up Shep while Quinn was absent.

“Where’s Quinn?” Shep asked his father. “Are we going to his house? Why didn’t he come get me today? You know he’s a better driver than you are.”

Robbie Liner, Orange High’s junior variety men’s basketball coach who coached Finnegan in baseball and basketball, also spoke during the ceremony.

“Everywhere we went, he had a great time,” Liner said.

During one particularly intense basketball game, Finnegan had some choice words for an official as he walked off the floor. It didn’t escape the attention of Liner or Finnegan’s parents. The following day, Quinn emailed a letter of apology to the entire team and their parents.

“That reaffirmed to me that he had parents that were going to keep him on the right path,” Liner said.

Many of Finnegan’s teammates were at Wednesday’s ceremony. So were Landon Dalehite and Mason Cates, both of whom graduated last June and all played with Finnegan for three years.

From the day the season started, the Cedar Ridge men’s soccer team was pressed with adversity. They lost its top player, Dominic McNerney, to Western Alamance, the only team that finished ahead of the Red Wolves in the Central Conference last season. Two weeks ago, Cedar Ridge ended the season on a bright note when they defeated Vance County 3-2. Niko James scored the game-winning goal off a corner kick with 11:45 remaining in regulation. The Red Wolves avenged an earlier loss to the Vipers. All three goals scored by Cedar Ridge were notched by underclassmen. Freshmen Rodrigo Arellano and Alex Rosales also scored as Cedar Ridge roared out to a 2-0 lead. Edber Lopez assisted on the game-winning goal. It was a gratifying final home game for senior Salomon Hernandez, who was an instrumental part of Cedar Ridge’s most successful regular season in recent memory in 2023. This season, Hernandez scored five goals with three assists. James led Cedar Ridge with eleven goals. Rosales added eight goals. Junior Erik Galunas earned a win in the season finale. Cedar Ridge concludes the regular season with an overall record of 7-10-2 with a 5-7 mark in the Central Conference. They will look to build on a strong season from several underclassmen in 2025.

Cedar Ridge men’s soccer senior discuss season-ending win over Vance County

From the day the season started, the Cedar Ridge men’s soccer team was pressed with adversity. They lost its top player, Dominic McNerney, to Western Alamance, the only team that finished ahead of the Red Wolves in the Central Conference last season.

CHAPEL HILL–Even before last Thursday, it had already been a successful season for Stanback volleyball.

The Bulldogs finished 10-3 in the regular season and claimed the Orange Person Athletic Conference Northern Division championship. To make it even sweeter, the Bulldogs defeated crosstown rival Orange Middle to clinch the division title.

Last week, the Bulldogs went to Chapel Hill looking to add some gravy to its season, but the Smith Cyclones came away with its first-ever conference championship in volleyball.

Smith’s Machi Umenlawiri finished with five kills, 14 digs and two aces while Ally Lamb came away with 14 digs and six kills as the Cyclones defeated the Bulldogs in two sets on scores of 25-19, 25-19 in the OPAC Championship match last Thursday. Smith ended the year 8-4.

Stanback’s Lorelei Lowry finished with seven aces for the Bulldogs, who brought a strong contingent from Hillsborough in trying to avenge an earlier loss in the regular season to the Cyclones.

In each set, Umelnlawiri powered Smith to a strong run off her serve to pull the Cyclones ahead. Stanback racked up four straight points off the serve of Lowry to take a 4-2 lead. Kaitlyn Dixon scored a kill that put the Bulldogs ahead 7-4, leading to a Smith timeout. Smith’s Ainsley Stanley served an ace to start a 10-2 Cyclones run that carried them to the set victory. Umenlawiri served up seven consecutive points, including two aces. Lamb had two kills in the run, each assisted by Lenah Diggs. Stanback’s Naviyah Bowes ended the run with a kill assisted by Kaitlyn Dixon, but the Cyclones still led 14-9.

The Bulldogs chipped away at the Smith lead with Leena Frej delivering an ace and a kill from Kaitlyn Lee that reduced the Stanback deficit to 17-14. Lowry delivered two straight aces to cut the Cyclone advantage to 18-17. Umenlawiri delivered consecutive kills to send the Smith fans into a frenzy, stomping the wooden bleachers with each point. Lamb scored set point on a dunk at the net off a ball lofted to the net.

Lowry opened the second set with an ace, followed by a kill from Dixon assisted by Allie Gallina. The final set belonged to Lamb, who delivered an ace to even the set at 2-2. With the score even 7-7, the Cyclones went on a 7-0 run powered by three kills from Lamb.

The Bulldogs reeled off four straight points, including two more aces from Lowry to cut the Cyclone lead to 15-12. Lamb and Umenlawiri had consecutive kills to make it 17-14, which was as close as the Bulldogs would get to taking the lead. Smith’s Caroline Caldwell served an ace, followed by a kill by Lamb. On match point, a return by the Bulldogs went long.

Stanback assistant coach Izzy Shepherd was a member of Cedar Ridge’s 2021 3A State Championship team. During her junior year of November 2020, Cedar Ridge defeated Chapel Hill inside an empty Smith Middle School during the pandemic. It was the first of three straight conference championships for the Red Wolves, who played at Smith because Chapel Hill’s venerable gymnasium was being renovated.

Football: Orange Middle 32, Gravelly Hill 0: The Orange Middle School Chargers completed a perfect regular season with a victory over the Grizzlies. The game was called at halftime because of a lack of daylight.

Wilbert Torain scored a touchdown for the Chargers. So did quarterback Brayden Robbins, wide receiver Cam Royster and Asher Devore. The Chargers also came up with a safety.

Orange Middle’s Hayden Stone, Jaydan Gutierrez, Hayden Stone and Amare Bost each had strong games for the Chargers on defense.

Orange Middle will go for its second consecutive OPAC Championship when they face Northern Middle at Auman Stadium in Hillsborough. The game will take place on Wednesday afternoon at 5PM.

Orange Middle is 8-0.

This week’s Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week is senior soccer midfielder Edwin Huerta. This season, Huerta had his first career brace in a win over Southern Alamance. Huerta just finished his second season as a varsity soccer player. He won his final game in a Red Wolf uniform when Cedar Ridge defeated Vance County 3-2 at Red Wolves Stadium on October 28. Huerta has been a wrestler for Cedar Ridge for two seasons. In his sophomore season, he reached the finals of the Central Conference 160 pound tournament after he defeated Elijah Farrow of Northwood 7-5. This season on the soccer pitch, Huerta stepped in after the Red Wolves lost its best player, Dominic McNerney, following an 11th hour transfer to Western Alamance. Huerta helped the Red Wolves win five conference games. Huerta is a regular at various gyms in the Hillsborough area, where he powerlifts with Cedar Ridge wrestling coach Scott Metcalf along with various members of the wrestling team. Huerta will return to the wrestling mat next week when the Cedar Ridge wrestling team starts its season against Uwharrie Charter Academy in Asheboro. Cedar Ridge is the defending Central Conference champions and Huerta will be counted on as one of the senior leaders on this year’s team. 

Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week: Edwin Huerta

This week’s Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week is senior soccer midfielder Edwin Huerta. This season, Huerta had his first career brace in a win over Southern Alamance. Huerta just finished his second season as a varsity soccer player.

Photo by Abigail Pfeiffenberger 

Orange Middle 28, Northern Roxboro 20: It was expected that the showdown between Orange Middle and Northern Roxboro on October 23 in Person County would be the biggest threat to the Chargers unbeaten streak to start the year.

Indeed, the Raiders and the Chargers were tied 20-20 with 1:30 remaining in the fourth quarter. After the Raiders scored the game-tying touchdown, the Chargers got a huge kickoff return from Cam Royster, who was finally downed at the Norther 18-yard line. As dusk set on a field without lights, quarterback Brayden Robbins scored the game-winning touchdown, then added a two-point conversion. The Orange defense held up to secure the victory.

Royster, Wilbert To rain and Jakob Silinski also scored touchdowns for Orange Middle.

Orange Middle 36, Culbreth 6: The Chargers ensured that it would host the Orange-Person Athletic Conference Championship game on November 13 with a home victory over the Cougars in Hillsborough on Wednesday.

Wilbert Torain scored two touchdowns, one on offense and another on defense. Torain made an interception and returned it for a touchdown. Asher Devore, Brayden Robbins and Cam Royster also had touchdowns for the Chargers.

Orange Middle will host Gravelly Hill for 8th grade night next Wednesday for the regular season finale.

The Chargers will face Northern Roxboro for the OPAC Championship at Auman Stadium at Orange High School on November 13 at 5PM.

Volleyball: The Stanback Bulldogs have won the Northern Division championship in the OPAC. Stanback, coached by Izzy Sheppard, a member of Cedar Ridge volleyball’s 2021 3A State Championship team, went 10-2 during the regular season. They will face Smith Middle School for the OPAC Championship on November 7. Earlier this month, the Bulldogs defeated Orange Middle to win the division title.

Orange Middle fell to 9-2 after the loss.

Stanback’s junior varsity team won their division title, also finishing with a 10-2 record.

Under the definition of unlikely champions, the Cedar Ridge women’s cross country team would likely fit the description.

Not because of talent, but due to circumstances.

Yet that didn’t stop the Red Wolves from winning the 3A Mideast Regional championship at Owens Recreation Park in Louisburg on Saturday. Senior Naomi Dyreng, the individual Central Conference champions, finished second overall as the Red Wolves came in with 74 points, holding off runner-up Carrboro, who registered 84.

Freshman Isabella Taylor-Hall finished eleventh while another freshman, Illa Diaz, came in 15th. Cedar Ridge, which won the Central Conference championship in Burlington earlier this month, went from finishing fourth in the Mideast Regionals last year to a championship in 2024.

When head coach Jared Buddington started workouts in August, he wasn’t expecting a high level of success so quickly. Abigail Klaitman, the Red Wolves’ second-most experienced runner who finished 7th in the Mideast Regionals last year, has missed most of this season because of injuries.

“I really didn’t expect to be as good as we are,” Buddington said. “We’re really young. We have a lot of underclassmen. Gracie Whitaker has been a huge factor in our success. So has Isabella and Illa. It’s been a pleasant surprise.”

Taylor-Hall showed up on the first day of practice after being absent during summer workouts. Buddington thought Taylor-Hall would be a nice addition to increase participation numbers. Then in the first Central Conference race of the year, Taylor-Hall finished 5th overall to help Cedar Ridge win a tri-meet at Orange. Since then, she’s shaved off nearly three-and-a-half minutes from her personal best.

“She’s sort of become our #2 runner,” Buddington said. “Without Abigail, Isabella has really stepped up to fill that role of the second runner.”

Whitaker, who finished 21st in regionals, has made the eighth biggest improvement in the state from freshman to sophomore year. Last year, her personal best was 25:15.90 . This year, it’s 21:44.09.

“At the very beginning of this year, she said I want us to be a good team,” Buddington said of Whitaker. “She started putting in a lot of miles as soon as soccer season ended. She’s been really consistent.”

Another multi-sport athlete, sophomore Kate Finnegan, finished in 25th place at regionals.

“Without Kate making a big jump, I don’t think the girls would have won the region,” Buddington said. “She was one of our best runners.”

The championship came after a year of turmoil within the program. In 2023, a former head coach was fired in midseason, which attracted an outcry from parents and some students. Buddington, a former Cedar Ridge runner who was an assistant at Pinecrest, was thrust into the position of interim coach. Not only was he in charge of two cross country teams, he was also left trying to unite a divided household. Results didn’t come immediately.

Buddington called a team meeting in the J-wing Auditorium after the head coach’s departure. He vowed to the runners that they would be a good team and would move forward together. Conner Buddington, Jared’s sister-in-law, joined the staff last October.

“I really didn’t know what to do because I had never been a head coach before,” Buddington said. “I wasn’t sure if I was capable of taking over this program. But I had to sit down with the kids. At first, they were upset because they lost a head coach that they had grown to know. I think throughout the last year and three months, they’ve grown to appreciate what we offer the team.”

After winning the conference and regional championships, the Red Wolves will move on to the 3A State Championships at the Ivey Redmond Sports Complex this Saturday afternoon.

“I think there’s a huge value in giving kids in high school a structured running plan,” Buddington said. “I think that giving them all the tools to succeed and telling them exactly what to do each day and letting them see what they need to do really guides them to where they want to be. But I also think we also foster a strong community where we value developing runners and believing in our kids.”

Conner Buddington believes practices have become part of a fun day for the runners.

“They really enjoy being around each other,” Conner said. “They have a lot of fun as individuals, but they have a lot of fun together. So they’re not dreading going to practice. They get to come see their friends and run with their friends. The way they support each other before and after the race. The girls supporting the guys. The guys supporting the girls. It’s a lot of fun to see.”

This week’s Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week is junior volleyball outside hitter Kayla Stoll. This season, Stoll was second on the team in kills with 230 kills as the Red Wolves won a share of the Central Conference regular season championship. Stoll also played middle blocker and led the team with 46 blocks to help a Cedar Ridge team win three matches over Person, who reached the state quarterfinals. In the opening round of the state playoffs against Franklinton, Stoll had a career-high 15 kills as the Red Wolves won a match in the state playoffs for a fifth straight year. In the second round, Cedar Ridge swept Southern Nash in Bailey. Stoll finished with eleven kills. Kayla has been a member of the varsity for three years. This season, she was instrumental in replacing Addie Reid, who graduated last June and is now playing at North Carolina Central. Stoll had 13 kills in Cedar Ridge’s win at Person on August 27, the conference opener. She also had 12 kills against Orange in the Central Conference Tournament championship game. The Red Wolves wrapped up the season with a 18-7 record. For five straight years, Cedar Ridge has won either a conference regular season championship or a tournament championship.

Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week: Kayla Stoll

This week’s Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week is junior volleyball outside hitter Kayla Stoll. This season, Stoll was second on the team in kills with 230 kills as the Red Wolves won a share of the Central Conference regular season championship.