Cedar Ridge High School

Bryse Wilson: After four consecutive wins with the Gwinnett Stripers of the AAA International League, Wilson was recalled by the Atlanta Braves on Friday. Then on Monday afternoon, the Braves claimed outfielder Billy Hamilton off waivers from Kansas City. Wilson was optioned back to Gwinnett. He didn’t make a game appearance for Atlanta during his latest stint. This season, Wilson has had four stints in Atlanta. His return to Gwinnett could lead to another appearance at Durham Bulls Athletic Park this weekend. On May 5, Wilson threw four innings against the Bulls in a 6-2 Durham win. As of Monday night, Gwinnett is two-and-a-half games ahead of Charlotte for 1st place in the International League’s Southern Division. Durham is three-and-a-half games behind Gwinnett. In 19 starts this season with Gwinnett, Wilson is 8-7 with a 3.58 ERA. He has 106 strikeouts and 25 walks

Adam Chnupa: The former Cedar Ridge Red Wolf is set to start play for Elon University later this month. Last year, Chnupa redshirted. On Monday, the first Football Championship Subdivision top 25 poll was released. Elon, which has made the FCS playoffs the past two years, is ranked #21. Chnupa was All-Big 8 Conference in football and baseball with the Red Wolves.

The fall sports season gets underway this week. There are many names from Orange and Cedar Ridge High Schools participating in soccer and volleyball once again this year.

Chandler Compton: Now a redshirt unior on the Wofford men’s soccer team, Compton played basketball and baseball at Orange until his graduation in 2016. He appeared in two games in his freshman season with the Terriers. In 2018, Compton appeared in 12 games, including five starts. He scored his first college goal against VMI on October 23. Compton played over 90 minutes in five games.

Taylin Jean: The 2018 Cedar Ridge graduate and former Big 8 Goalkeeper of the Year is now a sophomore at Division II Limestone, which has won the Carolinas Conference four consecutive years. The Saints are picked to win the league again. Jean, who played in the East/West All-Star Game in 2018, didn’t play last season.

Brittany Daley: A sophomore for the Greensboro College women’s soccer team, Daley was a regular starter as the Pride compiled an 17-1 record in 2018. Daley played all 18 games last season, starting 15. She assisted on one goal. Daley, who was a center back for Cedar Ridge before graduating in 2018, helped Greensboro win 17 consecutive games before losing to Piedmont College in the USA South Atlantic Conference tournament on November 2.

Jordan Rogers: A sophomore for William Peace University, Rogers played 13 games for the Pacers last year. She scored one goal and two assists. Rogers graduated from Orange in 2018.

Lionel Reid-Shaw: Now at Division III Dickinson College, Reid-Shaw enters his senior year in Carlisle, PA. Reid-Shaw played in 19 games for the Red Devils in 2018 as a center back. Dickinson went 11-6-2 overall in 2018, 5-3-1 in the Centennial Conference.

Lili Henry: Now a junior at Division III Methodist College volleyball team, Henry played in all 27 matches last season, starting 25. She tied for the team lead with 98 sets played and led the team with 843 assists. She was third on the team with 253 digs. Methodist finished 17-10 in 2018, 9-7 in the USA South Athletic Conference.

Jordan Lloyd: A rising junior for the Division III Brevard College volleyball team, Lloyd started all 25 matches for the Tornadoes last season. She was third on the team with 152 kills. Lloyd, whose younger sister Cameron played her first varsity match at Cedar Ridge on Monday night, had three double-digit kill games.

Bailey Lucas: A 2018 Orange graduate, Lucas enters her sophomore season with the Division III Meredith volleyball team in Raleigh. Lucas played 14 matches in her freshman season and recorded 68 assists and 42 digs.

Lauren Brooks: A junior at Western Carolina, Brooks is entering her third season as a cheerleader with the Catamounts.

Special thanks to Jon Franklin for shooting this video and conducting this interview with Cedar Ridge head volleyball coach Anna Seethaler, Shili Quade and Cameron Lanier.

The first game of the new academic year in Hillsborough prep sports was a successful one for the Cedar Ridge volleyball team. The Red Wolves defeated Eastern Alamance 3-0 on Monday night at Red Wolves Gymnasium on scores of 25-8, 25-14 and 25-14. The Red Wolves received strong performances from junior Shili Quade and freshman Cameron Lanier. The Red Wolves have won three straight season openers. On Tuesday night, the Red Wolves will try to go 2-0 when they face Durham School of the Arts at Red Wolves Gymnasium. The game will start at 6:15. 

The Cedar Ridge volleyball team plays two games in two days to start its season. On Monday, they host Eastern Alamance. Then on Tuesday, the Red Wolves host the Durham School of the Arts. On Saturday, Cedar Ridge had a strong start to the season. They won all four of its scrimmage matches at Fairchild Community Center in Burlington, beating Southern Alamance, Greensboro Page, Riverside and the Alamance Acers. Freshman Cameron Lloyd, the younger sister of former All- is 8 Conference player Jordan Lloyd, looks to start her varsity career strong. Marlee Rakouskas is one of the top returning players for 2nd-year head coach Anna Seethaler.

The Cedar Ridge football team will go into next week’s season opener against Carrboro with only one scrimmage under its belt. The Red Wolves were supposed to face Sanderson this week, but it got rained out twice. Red Wolves senior Braxton Mergenthal got plenty of snaps last Saturday in Cedar Ridge’s scrimmage at South Garner. He played on the offensive and defensive line against Apex and South Garner. Mergenthal will be one of the leaders for a Cedar Ridge team making its return to varsity football after not fielding a varsity team in 2018. Mergenthal was among the top performers last season on Cedar Ridge’s JV squad. Hillsboroughsports.com will air Carrboro at Cedar Ridge next Friday starting at 6:45. 

*This interview was taped before the resignation of Antonio King as Cedar Ridge football coach*

August 23rd marks the return of varsity football at Cedar Ridge. The Red Wolves will face Carrboro at Red Wolves Stadium in their season opener. Despite not fielding a varsity team in 2018, wide receiver K.J. Barnes proved to be a standout during the Red Wolves’ junior varsity season. Barnes started at wide receiver and safety. During Saturday’s scrimmage at South Garner, Barnes intercepted a pass against Apex. On the subsequent drive, Barnes caught the only touchdown of the scrimmage from Cedar Ridge sophomore quarterback William Berger. Barnes will join the rest of the Red Wolves for their final scrimmage at Sanderson on Thursday night at 7 before their long-awaited return against Carrboro next week. 

The past two weeks have been a hectic time for Torrean Hinton. When Cedar Ridge football started workouts on July 29, Antonio King was still the head coach. By the following morning, it was announced that King had taken an assistant coach’s job at North Carolina Central. Hinton was appointed King’s replacement. He is Cedar Ridge’s five head coach in six seasons. He inherits a program that didn’t field a varsity squad in 2018. However, Cedar Ridge did have a junior varsity team that had a winning record. On Saturday, Hinton braved a humid day at South Garner High School as the Red Wolves scrimmaged Apex and South Garner. In the opening game, the Red Wolves played a standard game situation against Apex and scored the game’s only touchdown. Elijah Whitaker crossed the goal line. Cedar Ridge will scrimmage Sanderson in Raleigh on Tuesday night at 7.

Bryse Wilson: For the fourth time since July 21, Wilson earned a quality start for the Gwinnett Stripers of the AAA International League. On Friday, Wilson threw seven scoreless innings in Gwinnett’s 10-2 over the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders in Moosic, PA. It was his fourth straight win since being sent down by the Atlanta Braves on July 21. Against the RailRiders, Wilson conceded four hits and struck out nine. In his last four starts, Wilson is 4-0 with a league-best 0.33 ERA. In that span, opponents have hit .191 against Wilson. He has surrendered two runs (one earned) in the last 27 innings with six walks and 25 strikeouts. Wilson has helped Gwinnett take a two-and-a-half game lead over Durham for first place in the International League. He now has a 8-7 record in Gwinnett with a 3.58 ERA.

Training camp has started for college football teams across the country. Many former Orange High and Cedar Ridge High football players will be on the gridiron this season. In one notable case, it will be a notable return for a former Orange High All-State linebacker who hasn’t played a game in nearly two years.

Payton Wilson: A redshirt freshman for N.C. State, Wilson last played on October 27, 2017 against Cedar Ridge. He tore the ACL in his right knee on the opening kickoff, ending his high school career. After enrolling in Raleigh in January 2018, he tore the ACL in his same knee once again last summer. Now, Wilson is prepared to make an impact when N.C. State hosts East Carolina on August 31 at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh.

Coach Dave Doeren was asked about Wilson during ACC Kickoff in Charlotte last month.

“He’s chomping at the bit,” Doeren said. “I’m going to tell you, Payton is an incredible competitor. He was a great wrestler, incredible player in high school. He hasn’t been able to play in a long time. He’s healthy. He’s fully cleared. Probably more excited to play in training camp than anybody on our football team.”

Trent Gill: A redshirt sophomore at N.C. State, Gill will look to see more action in Raleigh this season. Gill, who graduated from Cedar Ridge in 2017, has yet to play for the Wolfpack. He was an All-Big 8 Conference performer in football, and also played soccer and tennis.

Stone Edwards: The 2017 Orange graduate is now a redshirt sophomore at Vanderbilt. In 2018, Edwards played in 12 games for the Commodores. He made seven tackles, one tackle for loss and one sack as Vanderbilt reached the Texas Bowl. They finished 6-7.

Kevin Wright Jr.: A sophomore at N.C. Wesleyan, Wright is gearing up to start at cornerback for the Battling Bishops this season. In 2018, Wright played in two games for Wesleyan, making two tackles and a tackle for loss. Wright is a history major in Rocky Mount.

Jackson Schmid: Now playing at Division III Wheaton College, Schmid is entering his junior season with the Thunder. After starting as Orange’s quarterback, Schmid is now a safety. In 2018, he played three games, making one tackle.

Colin Guentensberger: After suiting up for the East/West All-Star Game last month in Greensboro, Guentensberger will attempt to walk-on at Appalachian State. Guentensberger was the Orange High Player of the Year in 2018.

Francisco McKinley: A four-year starter as Orange’s placekicker, McKinley is also at Appalachian State. He will try to walk-on to the football team. In McKinley’s tenure at Orange, he’s probably best remembered for kicking the game-winning field goal against Southern Durham with less than a minute remaining on September 29, 2017, which paved the way for the Panthers to win its third consecutive Big 8 Conference Championship.

This interview was taped before the resignation of Antonio King aa Cedar Ridge football coach. It’s been a long road for Cedar Ridge football, which didn’t field a team in 2018. Now, with new coach Torreón Hinton leading the way, the Red Wolves will return to varsity action on Friday, August 23 against Carrboro. Seniors Braxton Mergenthal and Braedon Thompson helped lead the Red Wolves in 2018, when they had a junior varsity team. Thompson is the third member of his family to play sports at Cedar Ridge, and his father Mason is an assistant coach. Mergenthal played on both sides of the interior line last season. He also played basketball last year. Hillsboroughsports.com will broadcast Carrboro vs. Cedar Ridge to start its 5th season on August 23.

The Cedar Ridge football team returned to varsity action on Saturday afternoon. After not fielding a team in 2017, the Red Wolves were among 16 teams that participated in the 2nd annual Carolina Collision Centers Football Jamboree at South Garner High School. During a hot, humid afternoon, the Red Wolves faced Apex and South Garner. K.J. Barnes made an interception against the Cougars, which was followed by a touchdown run by wide receiver Elijah Whitaker. Last season when Cedar Ridge fielded a junior varsity team, Whitaker was among the top players on the team playing wide receiver on offense and cornerback on defense. Cedar Ridge will travel to Sanderson High in Raleigh for another scrimmage on Tuesday. 

Jamar Davis: Over the weekend, Davis represented the United States in the Under-20 Pan-American Championships in San Jose, Costa Rica. Davis finished 8th in the triple jump with a mark of 15.47 meters. Geiner Moreno Chiquillo of Colombia finished first with a leap of 16.40 meters. In addition, Davis was named to the Unites States Track & Field and Cross Country Association All-Academic team. To qualify for USTFCCA All-Academic honors, an athlete must have compiled a cumulative 3.25 GPA. Davis also garnered 2019 All-ACC Academic Outdoor Track & Field honors.

Bryse Wilson: In his return to the Gwinnett Stripers of the International League on Sunday, Wilson pitched his best game of the season. Wilson threw seven scoreless innings as the Stripers defeated Rochester 12-1 at Coolray Field in Lawrenceville, GA. Wilson yielded four hits, walked none and struck out four for his first win in Gwinnett since June 22. The win moved Gwinnett one-half game ahead of Durham for first place in the International League’s Southern Division.

Last week, Wilson suffered his first Major League loss with the Atlanta Braves. On July 16, Milwaukee defeated the Braves 13-1 at Miller Park. Wilson gave up four runs (all earned) off six hits in four innings. He walked three and struck out one to fall to 1-1 on the season. On Thursday, the Braves sent Wilson back to Gwinnett and promoted pitcher Kyle Wright. Wilson is now 5-7 with a 4.30 ERA for Gwinnett this season.

Keshawn Thompson: The 2017 Orange High graduate has been placed on full scholarship at Campbell University. Thompson, who was a safety for the 2016 Orange defense that yielded three offensive touchdowns the whole regular season, will start the upcoming season as a redshirt sophomore with the Camels. In 2018, Thompson recorded eight tackles and played in all eleven of Campbell’s games. Campbell travels to Troy on August 31 to start the 2019 season.

Shaquille Bolden: A former defensive back at Orange, Bolden now plays professional football in Mexico. On Sunday, Bolden suited up for Gavilanes in Lexfa Arena Football Mexico. Playing wide receiver and defensive back, Bolden scored three touchdowns and made one interception on Sunday as Gavilanes defeated Tuzos 42-12 in Morlos, Cuernavaca. Bolden also has played professionally in Poland and has received tryouts in the Canadian Football League and the Arena Football League in the U.S.

Mia and Montana Davidson: With Mississippi State softball in the midst of change, Mia Davidson spent part of her summer north of the border. Davidson suited up for Texas-based Scrapyard International during the Canada Cup International Fastpitch Championship in South Surry, British Columbia. Canada won the Canada Cup by beating Scapyard with an 8-4 win over Scrapyard in the championship game on July 15. It’s the second straight year that Canada has won the Canada Cup. Prior to 2018, Canada had not won the event since 1996.

The Davidson sisters will start the 2020 season with a brand new head coach. Samantha Ricketts was named the new head coach of the Bulldogs on Monday morning. Ricketts has served as an assistant coach at MSU since 2015. She replaces Vann Stuedeman, whose contract wasn’t renewed after eight seasons. Stuedeman went 276-189 overall, 69-127 in the Southeastern Conference.