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This week’s Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week is junior lacrosse midfielder Grant Thole. This spring, the Red Wolves won its first game in the 3A/2A/1A State Playoffs since 2022. Thole finished with a goal in the Red Wolves win over Voyager Academy on May 16. He finished the season with 22 goals and ten assists for a Red Wolf team that wound up with a non-losing record for the first time in three years. One of the Red Wolves’ breakthrough wins was on March 10 when they defeated Northwood 6-5. Thole finished with a season-high four goals against the Chargers at Red Wolves Stadium in Hillsborough. Against Western Alamance on March 19, Thole scored four goals as the Red Wolves won 18-7 at Prime Stadium in Elon. In a rematch against the Warriors on May 2, Thole finished with three goals, his third hat trick of the season, as the Red Wolves claimed an 18-7 win in Hillsborough. Against Riverside on April 14, Thole registered one goal and three assists as Cedar Ridge won 13-7 at Linny Wrenn Stadium in Durham. Thole was a co-Captain on this year’s Red Wolf team. They will look to greater things in 2026 in the new Big Seven Conference with its top two scorers, Thole and Joshua Hart, returning.

Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week: Grant Thole

This week’s Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week is junior lacrosse midfielder Grant Thole. This spring, the Red Wolves won its first game in the 3A/2A/1A State Playoffs since 2022. Thole finished with a goal in the Red Wolves win over Voyager Academy on May 16.

This week’s Orange Panther of the Week is senior golfer Keaton Westbrook. The son of former Orange High cross country runner Russell Westbrook, Keaton tried something different for his senior year. Westbrook was an established basketball player who even saw action as a freshman in a state playoff game at West Carteret. After three years on the hardwood, Westbrook played golf this spring and had the lowest average on Orange’s team. In the Central Conference Tournament match in Burlington, Westbrook finished with an 84, tops on the team. In a meet against Person and Cedar Ridge in April, Westbrook finished second in the field with a 9-hole score of 43, just two strokes behind Person senior Grant Phillips. Westbrook also had a 43 earlier this year. Westbrook has played at Occoneechee Golf Course in Hillsborough for home matches and teed it up as we recorded the video that accompanies this piece. Westbrook also played golf during his junior year and it was the most fun he had playing any sport. Westbrook graduated on Friday at the Smith Center in Chapel Hill. In August, he will attend UNC Wilmington and plans to play on the club team. He plays to study Coastal Engineering at UNCW.

Orange Panther of the Week: Keaton Westbrook

This week’s Orange Panther of the Week is senior golfer Keaton Westbrook. The son of former Orange High cross country runner Russell Westbrook, Keaton tried something different for his senior year. Westbrook was an established basketball player who even saw action as a freshman in a state playoff game at West Carteret.

DURHAM–George Benson can get used to Durham.

A resident of costal North Carolina, Benson took a joyous bus ride from Durham County Stadium to Carteret County on May 30 when his Croatan Cougars won the N.C. High School Athletic Association Men’s Lacrosse 3A/2A/1A State Championship. The Cougars ended the three-year dynasty of Lake Norman Charter 13-12 when Dain Sparks scored the game-winning goal with 20 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.

It was the Cougars first state title in men’s lacrosse.

Five days later, Benson was back in Durham coaching a team that would provide another dramatic win. Once again, a Cougar would come up big in the clutch.

David Contreras scored with 1:35 remaining in regulation to lead the White squad over the Blue squad 14-13 to win the Bull City All-Star Cullen Classic for Cancer Men’s Lacrosse game at Koskinen Stadium inside Duke University last Wednesday. Trailing 13-11 with five minutes remaining, the White squad scored three unanswered goals to earn the victory.

Cullen Trent of Willow Spring High started the White squad rally with an overhand goal with 3:08 remaining in the fourth quarter. Exactly one minute later, Cody Keller of First Flight tied the game.

Croatan’s Graham Myers, who was named the Most Valuable Player of the State Championship game, earned the win in net.

Croatan’s Drew DeGeorge, who had a goal and three assists against Lake Norman Charter, played against his usual teammates on the Blue Squad.

“They got to compete against each other a little bit,” Benson said. “It was nice to see them out there running with some high-caliber players. What a great event this is and it’s for a great cause.”

The Bull City All-Star Game is a doubleheader of men’s and women’s games contested annually at Koskinen Stadium. It’s a benefit for the Tony Cullen Memorial Scholarship Fund and the Duke Cancer Institute. This year, the game donated $17,000 to the North Carolina High School Athletic Association to create more scholarships during a presentation between the two games.

Both of the Most Valuable Players in the men’s game came from the Blue Squad. Justin Conly of Cardinal Gibbons, who finished with one goal and four assists, was named the offensive MVP. Goalkeeper Wesley Little of Pinecrest was the Defensive MVP. Little came away with 13 saves.

Myers was presented the Tony Cullen Scholarship.

Tony Cullen played lacrosse at Duke for three seasons and led the Atlantic Coast Conference in total points in 1978 and 1979. He served nine seasons as the Blue Devils head coach. Afterwards, he started a successful communications company while serving as a college official for 12 years. He was part of the inaugural class of the North Carolina Lacrosse Hall of Fame in April 2002. A month later, he died after an extended battle with cancer.

Evan Friend of Cardinal Gibbons scored a hat trick in the opening quarter for the Blue team, which led 6-3 at the end of the first 15 minutes.

The White squad scored four straight goals in a span of 2:52 to tie the game in the second quarter. Croatan’s Matej Roth, Carrboro’s Leland Robinson, East Chapel Hill’s Griffin Galloway and Zach Kerner all scored for the White squad. Cameron Exley of Seaforth, also suiting up for the White team, tied the game off an assist from Green Level’s Harrison Murray with :24 remaining in the first half to give the White squad a 9-8 lead going into halftime.

Overall, there were nine ties in the men’s game.

Brower Evenhouse of Athens Drive put the Blues ahead with 13:06 remaining in the fourth quarter. Robert Saums of Northwest Guilford, who finished with a hat trick, put the Blue squad ahead 13-11 off a pass from Durham Academy’s Merritt Schultz.

Robert Crawford of Apex played goalkeeper for the White squad in the first and third quarters. Jack Altman of Wakefield played goalkeeper for the Blue team.

“I like playing in Durham,” Benson said with a wide smile on his face. “I’ll have to buy some lottery tickets before I go home.”

In the women’s game, the Blue Squad won 17-16. The offensive MVP was Lexi Mullahy of Cardinal Gibbons, who is going to play at the University of Michigan. Mullahy was also the MVP for Gibbons when they defeated Weddington to win the 4A State Championship on May 31.

Millbrook goalkeeper Allyson Gouveia, playing for the White Squad, was the defensive MVP. Laken Wright of Willow Spring scored the game-winning goal off a free position shot with :47 remaining.

Ashton Beale of Chapel Hill tied the game for the White team with 5:00 remaining off a pass from Cuthbertson’s Olivia Brooks.

This week’s Orange Panther of the Week is senior striker Caroline Cathey. This season, the Orange women’s soccer team hosted a game in the state playoffs for the first time since 2017. Fittingly, in her final game in Hillsborough, Cathey scored a goal as the Lady Panthers defeated Southern Nash 7-0 in the opening round of the state playoffs. In her freshman year, Cathey was a member of the first Orange team to advance to the third round of the state playoffs. She assisted on a goal in a first round playoff win at Harnett Central. This season, Cathey scored 16 goals for a Lady Panther team that finished 8-3-1 in the Central Conference. On March 3, Cathey scored four goals in a 9-3 win over Durham School of the Arts. Later that month, Cathey scored two goals in a 7-0 victory over DSA. Against Cedar Ridge on April 23, Cathey scored two goals and dished out two assists. Cathey finished her career with 44 goals and 27 assists across four varsity seasons. In her junior year, she scored a hat trick in a victory over Southern Alamance. Her older brother, Alden, is a lacrosse player at Arcadia University in Pennsylvania. Cathey will graduate next week having been an important part of some of the most successful teams in Orange women’s soccer history.

Orange Panther of the Week: Caroline Cathey

This week’s Orange Panther of the Week is senior striker Caroline Cathey. This season, the Orange women’s soccer team hosted a game in the state playoffs for the first time since 2017. Fittingly, in her final game in Hillsborough, Cathey scored a goal as the Lady Panthers defeated Southern Nash 7-0 in the opening round of the state playoffs.

This week’s Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week is senior baseball pitcher Quinn Finnegan. From the start of his freshman year, Finnegan has been a leader for Cedar Ridge baseball team. In his final three season, Finnegan was a co-Captain for some of the most successful Red Wolf teams in history. Last month, Finnegan ended his career as the starting pitcher for Cedar Ridge’s first home state playoff game since 2018. On April 15, Finnegan earned the complete game win as Cedar Ridge defeated Orange 6-1, the Red Wolves first win at Panther Field since 2018. Finnegan punctuated a six-run 7th inning with a three-run homer to ensure Cedar Ridge’s first win over its crosstown rival since 2018. Finnegan was the leadoff batter during his senior season and hit .263. On March 21, Finnegan threw a complete game two-hitter with nine strikeouts in a win over Person. In his final regular season game, Finnegan threw a complete game in a win over Southern Alamance, who went on to reach the state quarterfinals. In December, Finnegan signed to play with Division I Wagner College of the Northeast Conference. As part of his senior night ceremony, Finnegan rounded the bases after the Southern Alamance win and made sure to tuck some dirt from Cedar Ridge’s home plate in a bottle. He wanted to make sure that a little piece of Cedar Ridge will stay with him during his travels in life.

Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week: Quinn Finnegan

This week’s Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week is senior baseball pitcher Quinn Finnegan. From the start of his freshman year, Finnegan has been a leader for Cedar Ridge baseball team. In his final three season, Finnegan was a co-Captain for some of the most successful Red Wolf teams in history.

This week’s Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week is freshman baseball player Jesus Velazquez. In his first varsity season this year, Velazquez hit .250 as the Red Wolves hosted a state playoff game for the first time since 2018. Among the season highlights for Velazquez came on April 15 when he drove in the game-winning runs in the 7th inning as the Red Wolves rallied to defeat Orange 6-1. Cedar Ridge scored six runs in the seventh inning, keyed by Velazquez’s two-run single. It was Cedar Ridge’s first win at Orange since 2012 and their first win over the Panthers overall since 2018. Jesus entered Cedar Ridge with success as the middle school level. In the 7th grade, he was a member of Stanback’s Orange Person Athletic Conference championship team. While he was a regular starter at second base, he improved as a pitcher as his freshman season progressed. By the end of the regular season, he started on the mound in a win over Southern Alamance, who went on to reach the state quarterfinals. Velazquez went 2-for-3 in a 5-1 win over Person in Hillsborough. He drove in two runs in a 12-2 win over Clover Garden School on March 19. Velazquez will be one of the vital players for head coach Bryson Massey as Cedar Ridge ventures into the brand new Big Seven Conference next year.

Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week: Jesus Velazquez

This week’s Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week is freshman baseball player Jesus Velazquez. In his first varsity season this year, Velazquez hit .250 as the Red Wolves hosted a state playoff game for the first time since 2018.

This week’s Orange Panther of the Week is senior softball shortstop Sadie Cecil. This season, Cecil hit .465 for an Orange team that reached the second round of the 3A State Playoffs. She led the team with 33 hits, 27 runs scored and 21 singles. On March 7, Cecil hit two home runs and drove in four runs as the Lady Panthers defeated Roxboro Community School 4-2. She finished 3-for-4 against the Bulldogs. On April 15, Cecil went 3-for-4 with an RBI in Orange defeated Person 13-8 in Hillsborough. In March, Cecil signed with Mars Hill to play softball with the Lions. In four years at the varsity level, Cecil had a lifetime average of .390 with 46 career RBIs. This spring was the best hitting season of her career. In addition to playing softball, Cecil has been a vital member of the Orange athletic staff the past four years. She is a regular at football practices serving as an aspiring trainer alongside head trainer Emily Gaddy and assistant Alicia Harris. In her junior season, Sadie hit .410 as Orange reached the third round of the state playoffs for the first time since they won the state championship in 2017. This year, Cecil hit 2-for-5 with two doubles in Orange’s win over Triton in the state playoffs.

Orange Panther of the Week: Sadie Cecil

This week’s Orange Panther of the Week is senior softball shortstop Sadie Cecil. This season, Cecil hit .465 for an Orange team that reached the second round of the 3A State Playoffs. She led the team with 33 hits, 27 runs scored and 21 singles.

This week’s Orange Panther of the Week is junior pole vaulter Owen Grant. Last week at the NCHSAA 3A State Outdoor Track & Field championships, Grant finished in the top 15 in the pole vault at North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro. Grant cleared eleven feet, six inches to place 14th overall. In April, Grant won the pole vault at the Orange County Championships at East Chapel Hill. Grant qualified for the Mideast Regional when he sailed over the bar at 12-feet. At the Mideast Regionals, Grant finished second behind eventual state champion Ender Buchanan of Cedar Ridge. Owen is a transfer from Walter Williams who spent his first year in Hillsborough this year. Grant also competed in running events this year. Over the winter, Grant qualified for the 3A State Indoor Championships at the JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem. He finished 16th at eleven feet, six inches. Grant started pole vaulting because he wanted to excel in a field event. He started clearing eight feet and has improved with time. Grant started going to Vault House in High Point to improve his form. He is now with Carolina Pole Vault, where he works with local competitors in the event. Owen will look to take another step forward next November when the indoor season starts.

Orange Panther of the Week: Owen Grant

This week’s Orange Panther of the Week is junior pole vaulter Owen Grant. Last week at the NCHSAA 3A State Outdoor Track & Field championships, Grant finished in the top 15 in the pole vault at North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro. Grant cleared eleven feet, six inches to place 14th overall.

This week’s Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week is senior soccer forward Fleury Nicholson. She joined esteemed company is winning this award for the fourth time in her career. She joins Takia Nichols, Cameron Lloyd, and Josh Mayhew as the only Cedar Ridge athletes to win the award four times. Nicholson scored a goal in the final home game of her esteemed career, a 4-1 win over Voyager Academy. This season, Nicholson was an instrumental part of a Cedar Ridge team that reached the state playoffs for the second straight year. She led the team with 17 assists. She also scored 17 goals. On April 16, she scored a hat trick in a 7-0 win over Person in Roxboro. On March 3, Nicholson scored two goals and three assists in a 9-6 win over Northwood in Hillsborough. Nicholson’s presence and leadership helped sophomore Kate Finnegan adjust to the top forward role in place of last year’s leading scorer, Katie Paulakonis. In her final game in a Red Wolf uniform, Nicholson assisted on both goals in a playoff loss to Richlands. In her junior season, Nicholson scored two goals as Cedar Ridge defeated Williams 4-1 in the state playoffs, its first playoff win since 2018. In August, Fleury will start at UNC-Chapel Hill after leaving an indelible mark on Cedar Ridge soccer for the past four years.

Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week: Fleury Nicholson

This week’s Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week is senior soccer forward Fleury Nicholson. She joined esteemed company is winning this award for the fourth time in her career. She joins Takia Nichols, Cameron Lloyd, and Josh Mayhew as the only Cedar Ridge athletes to win the award four times.

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