Cedar Ridge High School

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.

The Cedar Ridge women’s tennis team wrapped up its season in the state dual team playoffs on Monday. During its senior night game against Walter Williams, each of the six seniors were honored by their underclassmen. Each underclassmen presented a poster to a senior, explaining to the honoree what they admired about them. All of the posters contained messages of congratulations signed by each player. It was the final match for Ella Caltabiano, who had played varsity for four years. In her final match at South Johnston, Caltabiano won over Alyssa Newton 2-6, 7-5, 11-9 in the ten-point tiebreaker. It was also the final time that Caltabiano and Adeline Cummings teamed together in doubles. Caltabiano and Cummings won over Newton and Olivia Meyers 8-3. Caltabiano and Cummings were named the top doubles team in the Central Conference this year. Caltabiano won 18 matches this season. It was the second straight year that Cedar Ridge advanced to the 3A State Playoffs. Lila Rhoades played #5 singles. Rhoades is also a member of the Cedar Ridge swimming team. It was also the final match for seniors Sydney Lund, Anna Grove and Lily Golden. Cedar Ridge ended the year 9-7 overall with a third-place finish in the Central Conference. They were led by first-year head coach Al Caltabiano.

Cedar ridge women’s tennis seniors Caltabiano, Cummings, Golden, Rhoades, Grove & Lund talk season

The Cedar Ridge women’s tennis team wrapped up its season in the state dual team playoffs on Monday. During its senior night game against Walter Williams, each of the six seniors were honored by their underclassmen. Each underclassmen presented a poster to a senior, explaining to the honoree what they admired about them.

Photo from UNCPBraves.com 

Anaya Carter: Carter has transitioned to libero for the Division II UNC Pembroke Braves. Against Mount Olive on October 23, Carter finished with seven digs, two assists and two aces. Mt Olive won 3-1 on scores of 25-21, 25-19, 23-25, 25-20. Last Tuesday, Lander swept the Braves (27-25, 25-18, 25-14).  UNC Pembroke is 9-13 overall, 6-4 in Conference Carolinas.

Graylinn Serge: The former Cedar Ridge outside hitter made her college debut for UNC Greensboro on September 13 in a win over Norfolk State. Serge is playing as a libero for the Spartans. On October 19, Serge had nine digs in a win over Samford. She played four sets. She has also seen action against Chattanooga, Mercer and at Furman, where she nine digs in a loss to the Paladins. UNCG is 7-14 overall, 2-7 in the Southern Conference.

Cameron Lloyd: The Bucknell volleyball team’s 15-game winning streak came to an end on October 13 when Colgate defeated the Bison 3-1 at Cotterell Court in Hamilton, NY. Lloyd finished with seven kills, 12 digs, three blocks and one ace, but the Red Raiders prevailed on scores 15-25, 25-20, 25-14, 25-14. On October 12, Bucknell swept Loyola (Md.) on scores of 25-17, 25-16, 25-12 at Davis Gym in Lewisburg, PA. Lloyd tied for the team-high in kills with ten. She added seven digs and an ace. The win over the Greyhounds gave the Bison the nation’s longest winning streak, which ended the next day. Nonetheless, Bucknell is tied with Colgate for first place in the loss column of the Patriot League.  This weekend, the Bison will face Lehigh and Lafayette.

Cameron Lanier: Stony Brook swept a two-match set from Elon at Pritchard Gymnasium in Stony Brook, NY last week. On October 19, the Seawolves won 3-1 (25-12, 22-25, 25-16, 26-24). Lanier was second on the team with eight kills. She also had six digs. On October 20, Stony Brooks won 3-2 ( 24-26, 25-15, 25-21, 22-25, 15-4) Lanier had 12 kills. Elon falls to 11-10 overall, 5-5 in the Coastal Athletic Association. They will host Towson on Saturday to start a two-match series.

Lottie Scully: Binghamton University defeated NJIT at West Gym in Binghamton, NY on Sunday (25-15, 25-19, 25-16). Scully started as setter and had 37 assists. It was her eleventh performance with 30 assists or more this year. She also had six digs and one kill. On October 16, Colgate defeated Binghamton 3-1 in Hamilton, NY (25-23, 25-18, 23-25, 25-21). Scully finished with her fourth double-double of the season with 45 assists and 14 digs. She also had three kills. Binghamton is 13-9 overall, 2-2 in the America East Conference.

Ella Wimsatt: Division II Lenoir-Rhyne has won six in a row. Wimsatt played three sets in a sweep of Coker on October 15 at the DeLoach Center in Hartsville, SC. She finished with five kills and two digs. Currently, the Bears sit atop the South Atlantic Conference with a 10-1 record. They are 19-1 overall and will travel to Lander College on Saturday.

Julie Altieri: The Division III Salisbury Sea Gulls has won 12 in a row. Last Saturday, Salisbury defeated Stevens 3-0 at Canavan Arena in Hoboken, NJ. Altieri had 38 assists, six digs, one kill and one ace. Later in the day, Salisbury defeated William Patterson 3-1 on scores of 25-19, 25-27, 25-18, 25-20. Altieri had her fourth double-double of the season with 44 assists and 13 digs. She also totaled four kills.

Grace Young: Greensboro College defeated Southern Virginia at Hanes Gymnasium in Greensboro on Wednesday. Young finished with 16 digs and one ace. Last Saturday, Greensboro swept a tri-match at Mary Baldwin University in Staunton, VA. The Pride defeated William Peace University 3-1. Young played in all four sets and finished with five digs and one ace. Later, Greensboro defeated Mary Baldwin 3-0. Young came away with six digs and one ace. Greensboro is 17-6 overall, 10-3 in the USA South.

Melissa Benkowitz: Franklin & Marshall defeated Ursinus 3-1 at the Mayser Center in Lanaster, PA on Wednesday. Benkowitz had 13 digs and one kill. Last Saturday, the Diplomats knocked off DeSales 3-0. Benkowitz had seven digs and one ace. Franklin & Marshall is 18-3, 6-0 in the Centennial Conference. On October 16, the Diplomats swept Gettysburg for a road win. Benkowitz finished with nine digs and one kill.

This week’s Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week is junior volleyball outside hitter Ellamarie Perel. This year, Perel helped the Red Wolves win a share of the Central Conference regular season championship with a 10-2 league mark. Perel emerged as a strong outside hitter opposite Claire Hargett to help the Red Wolves sweep Orange on September 3 at Panther Gymnasium. Perel, the younger sister of former Cedar Ridge men’s basketball center Harrison Perel, had 141 kills this season. She had a season-high 14 kills in a 3-2 victory over Person on September 19 in Hillsborough. Last week in the Central Conference Tournament semifinals, Perel finished with eight kills as the Red Wolves defeated Person in another five-set match. In addition to playing volleyball, Perel is a member of the International Baccalaureate program at Cedar Ridge. She is also the starting goalkeeper for the Cedar Ridge women’s soccer team, which had its best season since 2005 last year. Perel was goalkeeper as the Red Wolves defeated Richlands 3-1 for its first home playoff win in 19 years. On Tuesday night, Perel delivered four aces and eleven straight winners overall as the Red Wolves swept Franklinton in the opening round of the 3A State Playoffs. Cedar Ridge will face Southern Nash in the second round tonight.

Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week: Ellamarie Perel

This week’s Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week is junior volleyball outside hitter Ellamarie Perel. This year, Perel helped the Red Wolves win a share of the Central Conference regular season championship with a 10-2 league mark. Perel emerged as a strong outside hitter opposite Claire Hargett to help the Red Wolves sweep Orange on September 3 at Panther Gymnasium.

Ellamarie Perel isn’t necessarily a server for the Cedar Ridge volleyball team, but the postseason can bring out something new even with experienced players.

In the third set against Franklinton on Tuesday night, Perel served up eleven straight winners to turn a tight set into a runaway as the Red Wolves defeated the Red Rams 3-0 on scores of 25-19, 25-15 and 25-14 in the opening round of the 3A State Playoffs at Red Wolves Gymnasium.

Cedar Ridge, which received the #13 seed after tying Orange for the Central Conference regular season championship, advance to the second round to face Southern Nash on Thursday night. The Firebirds swept Southern Lee in the opening round.

It’s Cedar Ridge’s 14th state playoff win since the 2021 season and the fifth straight year where the Red Wolves have won a postseason match.

Cedar Ridge’s latest state playoff win hardly resembled its previous one, which was also against Franklinton at Lester Wilder Court. Last year, the Red Wolves won a thrilling five-set match where they trailed 7-4 in the fifth set, only to finish the match on a 9-1 run to advance to the third round.

Cedar Ridge led two-sets-to-nothing, but trailed in the third 8-6 before a return by Franklinton’s Tierrah Simmons sent an attack over the end line. Perel stepped up to serve and started a run of 12 straight Red Wolves points. Perel delivered five aces in that span, which vaulted the Red Wolves ahead 18-8. Senior Ellie Miller, in likely her final match on her home court, served consecutive aces in the match’s final two points.

Cedar Ridge junior Claire Hargett had 14 kills and nine digs. She has 392 kills this season and 810 for her career. Junior setter Mia Marty finished with 26 assists. Middle blocker Kayla Stoll finished with 12 kills.

The Red Wolves improve to 17-6. Franklinton ends the season 13-12 after finishing 2nd in the Big East Conference.

Orange 3, Triton 0: In the opening night of the 3A State Tournament, three of the 16 host. teams in the Eastern Regional lost. Orange quickly dashed any hopes by Triton of playing Cinderella.

Sophomore Sawyer White finished with eleven kills, eleven digs and eight assists as Orange defeated Triton 25-7, 25-12 and 25-10. The Lady Panthers won a state playoff match for the fourth straight year. Orange, seeded fifth overall, will host South Central in the second round on Thursday night in Hillsborough. The Falcons swept West Johnston on Thursday.

Orange rolled out to a 10-1 lead in the opening set. Mariah Poole had three blocks and a kill in the 1st set. White finished with four kills, seven digs and four assists. Ava Wilkerson, who leads Orange with 322 kills, finished with ten kills. It was her 17th match with double-digit kills this year. Poole had consecutive blocks that started a string of nine straight Orange points to finish the opening set. Aubrey Jordan spiked down set point off an assist from White.

Orange never trailed at any point in the match, nor were there any ties. The Lady Panthers started the second set with seven straight points, which included consecutive aces from Katie Silcott. White had two kills during the opening run. Orange finished the second set with an 8-2 run, keyed by an ace by Sawyer White and two more kills by Wilkerson. Silcott had two aces in the second set while Wilkerson added two blocks.

In the third set, Wilkerson had a block that sparked an 8-2 Orange run. Silcott and Aubry Hodges had consecutive blocks. Senior Peyton Sigmon got into the match late and scored an ace. Wilkerson scored match point.

Orange, the defending 3A Eastern Regional champions, has now won a season-best six straight matches. They won three matches over three days to take the Central Conference Tournament last week, beating Western Alamance and Cedar Ridge in five sets on Wednesday and Thursday, respectfully.

Cedar Ridge and Orange’s wins were the theme for a great opening night by Central Conference teams. Five of the league’s six teams won 1st round matches, including 27th-seeded Southern Alamance stunning Quad County Champion South Johnston in five sets. 22nd-seeded Northern Nash, who lost to Orange in the opening round last year, will actually host a 2nd round match against the Patriots after beating South Brunswick on Tuesday. Person, seeded 14th, won at Croatan in five sets.

This week’s Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week is senior tennis player Ella Caltabiano. It’s the third time in her career that Caltabiano has been honored as Red Wolf of the Week. This season, Caltabiano helped Cedar Ridge reach the 3A State Dual Team playoffs. She qualified for the Mideast Regionals, playing against the best players in the state at the Burlington Tennis Center on Friday and Saturday. Caltabiano took over for Cameron Mayhew as Cedar Ridge’s #1 singles player this season and won seven matches. This year, Cedar Ridge’s players had to spend two-thirds of its season on the road while their home court was renovated. She started the year with a 6-0, 6-0 victory against Southern Alamance. Throughout the course of the year, Caltabiano was in three-set matches. Against Orange on September 18, Caltabiano defeated the Lady Panthers’ top singles player, Shannon Sollars 6-1, 1-6, 10-5 (10-point tiebreaker). In a win over Western Alamance on September 25, Caltabiano defeated Reagan Williams 4-6, 7-5, 10-7. In her final home match, Caltabiano defeated Gabby Canup of Southern Alamance 6-2, 6-0. Caltabiano and her doubles partner, Adeline Cummings, recorded a record of 6-4 together. Caltabiano has been a four-year varsity player. Next week, Cedar Ridge will face South Johnston in the opening round of the 3A State Dual Team Playoffs.

Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week: Ella Caltabiano

This week’s Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week is senior tennis player Ella Caltabiano. It’s the third time in her career that Caltabiano has been honored as Red Wolf of the Week. This season, Caltabiano helped Cedar Ridge reach the 3A State Dual Team playoffs.