Cedar Ridge High School

The past four years, Cedar Ridge baseball has started each Central Conference season by splitting a two-game series against Walter Williams.

For an experienced team with lofty expectations this year, the Red Wolves want to start the league campaign with a sweep of the Bulldogs. On Tuesday night, they couldn’t have asked for a better start.

Junior Grant McGuffey drove in four runs as Cedar Ridge stormed out to a 5-0 lead and dominated Walter Williams 12-2 in five innings at Red Wolves Field. Senior Quinn Finnegan, who has committed to Division I Wagner College, earned his first win of the season by striking out five in four innings.

The first six Red Wolves to step up to the plate all reached in the bottom of the first, starting with a line drive up the middle by Ian McGuffey. After junior Dominic Sena walked, John Grove loaded the bases on an infield hit. Grant McGuffey drove in two runs with another single to centerfield. Finnegan scored Grove on a throwing error to first base. Freshman Jesse Velazquez drew a bases-loaded walk to score Finnegan.

Cedar Ridge added two more runs in the second inning starting with singles from Sena and Grove. Aidan Ryan lined to right field to score Sena and McGuffey.

Grove, who finished 3-for-3, doubled to right field in the bottom of the third to score Ian McGuffey, who reached off a single to centerfield.

Finnegan led off the fourth with a hard grounder to left field for a single. John Morgan reached on an error, allowing Finnegan to reach third base. Cedar Ridge executed a double steal where Morgan reached 2nd while Finnegan scored off the throw. Velazquez popped out to centerfield and scored Morgan on a sacrifice.

Cedar Ridge (2-4 overall, 1-0 in the Central Conference) will host Chapel Hill on Wednesday night at 7.

Orange 7, East Chapel Hill 1: After struggling offensively in consecutive losses to Millbrook and Grimsley last week, Orange took advantage of free bases to secure a win over the Wildcats in Hillsborough on Tuesday night.

Garrett Sawyer sent a classic pop-up home run over Orange’s left field porch  to even the game in the third inning, then reached base on the most crucial sequence of the game during a four-run 4th inning. After Mason Grooms got on board with a roller to right field with two out, Kayden Bradsher was beaned on the front leg. Sawyer swung and missed at a 1-2 pitch, but the ball bounced off the dirt and ricocheted off the fence. Sawyer raced down the line off the dropped 3rd strike to load the bases.

Sophomore Oliver Van Tiem walked with the bases loaded to put Orange ahead 2-1. Designated hitter Henry Hoffman, batting cleanup for the first time in his career, drilled a two-run single up the middle to score Grooms and Bradsher. Gary Miller drilled a single to left field, advancing Hoffman to third. East Chapel Hill installed Tomas Robertson as pitcher to replace starter Ryan Cabe, who moved to catcher. As Eli Horton was at bat, Cabe threw the ball back after an 0-1 pitch over the head of Robertson, which allowed Hoffman to score and increase the Orange lead to 6-1.

Ryan Sawyer earned his third win of the season by striking out ten over five innings. He allowed one run over six hits with zero walks.

Garrett Sawyer started the sixth inning with a double to Scoreboard Ally in right centerfield, the deepest part of Panther Field. Van Tiem sent a fly ball to right field that was dropped, sending Sawyer to third. Hoffman drove in his third run of the game with a fielder’s choice to East Chapel Hill shortstop Sam Smith, who threw out Van Tiem to second but scored Sawyer.

Brown and Grooms threw the sixth and seventh innings, respectively, to close out the win for Orange (4-3).

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This week’s Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week is sophomore swimmer Christopher Seawell. This season, Seawell won the Central Conference championship in the 100 yard backstroke at the Orange County SportsPlex in Hillsborough. As a freshman, Seawell won the conference championship in the 50 meter freestyle. Also in 2024, Seawell teamed with Nikhil Agans, Phillip Cauwels and Jacob Olmstead to win the 200 yard freestyle relay championship. This season, Seawell finished 2nd in the 50 yard freestyle. He qualified for the 3A State Championships after finishing third in the Central Regionals with a time of 1:00.02 at the Greensboro Aquatic Center on February 1. Also at regionals, he finished 6th in the 100 yard freestyle at 51.39 seconds. Seawell finished 14th in the 100 yard freestyle at the State Championships at the Triangle Aquatic Center in Cary. In the 100 yard backstroke, Seawell finished 17th at 1:00.02. Seawell’s performance helped Cedar Ridge swimming to a strong all-around year. Cedar Ridge finished 2nd in the Central Conference behind the leadership from Seawell, senior Phillip Cauwels and freshman J.E. Sandor. Through early morning workouts at the SportsPlex, Seawell continued to improve through his sophomore season. Next year, he will be among the leaders of a Cedar Ridge swimming team that will look to take a step forward in a brand new league.

Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week: Christopher Seawell

This week’s Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week is sophomore swimmer Christopher Seawell. This season, Seawell won the Central Conference championship in the 100 yard backstroke at the Orange County SportsPlex in Hillsborough. As a freshman, Seawell won the conference championship in the 50 meter freestyle.

The Cedar Ridge seniors that ended their wrestling careers at First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro did more than just reach the 3A State Championships this year.

They were part of a group that started with Fernando Martinez and Kaden Tatro which transformed a program.

As sophomores, Ryan Rakouskas and Pierce Prescod were instrumental in Cedar Ridge winning the Central Conference Tournament at Orange High School. A year later, Cedar Ridge defeated crosstown rival Orange for the first time ever. The Panthers’ shadow within the local wrestling community loomed large not just across Hillsborough, but the entire region having won five state championships and 16 consecutive conference championships.

Together in 2023-2024, Rakouskas, Prescod, Tatro, Martinez and a freshman named Favio Jaramillo Esparza would help the Red Wolves march through the Central Conference undefeated to its first regular season championship as a 3A team. It was just the second conference regular season title in school history.

Between 2001-2022, there had only been four wrestlers in Cedar Ridge history that had won 100 matches. Since 2022, that number has doubled between Martinez, Tatro, Prescod and Rakouskas.

In all likelihood, Ezparza will join the group at the first event next November.

At the 3A State Championships, Rakouskas and Prescod ended their accomplished wrestling careers with the Red Wolves inside First Horizon Coliseum. Prescod, at 120 pounds, pinned Ethan Brownlee of South Johnston to reach the quarterfinals and win his 161st career match. He finished tied with Tatro for second place all-time in school history.

Kane Bryson of Pisgah defeated Prescod in the quarterfinals. Bryson would go on to claim the state championship with a 63-1 record for the season. Prescod ended the year 49-10. In the consolation round, Davey McKoy of Smoky Mountain won over Prescod.

Rakouskas came the closest to placing among the three Red Wolves who reached the state championships. At 150 pounds, Rakouskas, the Mideast Regional champion, pinned Eligah Brown of West Charlotte in 46 seconds. James Weaver of Northern Guilford defeated Rakouskas in the quarterfinals.

In the consolation round, Rakouskas defeated Brock Smith of Jacksonville in 2:40. It was Rakouskas’ 147th career win, putting him in 5th place all-time in school history. John Schulz of West Carteret defeated Rakouskas 20-9 to reach the consolation semifinals. Rakouskas ended the season 49-8.

Esparza, in his first state championship appearance at 113 pounds, lost a heartbreaking opening round match to Brayden Reid of Hibriten 12-10. Esparza led 10-9 with time running out before Reid earned a takedown with one second remaining in regulation for the margin of victory.

In the consolation round, Esparza scored a major decision over Bryson Wilhelm of West Rowan 15-3. It was Esparza’s 98th career win. Abrey Verhow of White Oak defeated Esparza in the next match. Esparza  has a career record of 98-45 going into his senior year.

Cedar Ridge and Orange women’s soccer scored so many goals on Monday night, they may as well have enacted rules from the old Major Indoor Soccer League, put up walls around the goals and sidelines, allowing rebounds to turn the game into human pinball and be done with it.

Sophomore Kate Finnegan scored a career-high four goals as Cedar Ridge outscored Northwood 9-6 in its home opener at Red Wolves Stadium. Cedar Ridge (1-1) also received two goals from Fleury Nicholson, who has started her senior season strong.

Nicholson has played varsity at Cedar Ridge since her freshman year. She enters her senior season with 42 career goals and 18 assists.

Alex Tong added a goal for the Red Wolves. Ava Smith, who just finished basketball season, added her first goal at the varsity level. Junior Peyton Decker also scored her first varsity goal.

Cedar Ridge bounced back from a season-opening loss to Riverside at Linny Wrenn Stadium in Durham last week.

Junior Ellamarie Perel had some crucial saves late to earn her first win of the season.

Just two games into the season, Finnegan already has five goals. The Red Wolves are scheduled to face Durham School of the Arts at Red Wolves Stadium on Wednesday night. They will face Southern Nash on Saturday.

This season, Cedar Ridge will go without its leading scorer from 2024. Katie Paulakonis, who scored 43 goals last season, committed to Division I Bellarmine last fall. Paulakonis, who was on the sidelines rooting on her teammates Monday night, recently underwent a medical procedure and didn’t want to risk further injury before she starts her college career in August. Paulakonis’ 43 goals is a single-season school record.

Orange 9, Durham School of the Arts 3: In the heart of downtown Durham, Orange forward Caroline Cathey scored four goals and racked up nine points in a dominant win over Durham School of the Arts.

Sullivan Gaddy, another senior, added two goals and two assists as Orange took its lid lifter over the Bulldogs. Gaddy scored the opener off an assist from Cathey in the 11th minute on an assist from Cathey. Two minutes later, Cathey notched her first goal.

Less than a minute later, Gaddy notch her second goal off a pass from Lucy Mignosa. Then Mignosa added her first goal of the season off a pass from Emma Edwards.

In the 22nd minute, Evelyn Gover scored off a pass from Gaddy as Orange led 5-3 at halftime.

Cora Bailey scored the opening goal of the second half in the 45h minute. Cathey scored separate goals in the 47th and 49th minutes, the ladder assisted by Cora Beth Bailey.

With 15;00 remaining, Cathey scored her fourth goal on an assist from Gaddy. Cathey, a senior, had her first four-goal game. Last year, she had a hat trick in a 6-0 win over Durham School of the Arts in Hillsborough. She also had a hat trick in a 10-1 win over Southern Alamance in 2024.

Last year, Gaddy had seven multi-goal games. It’s the second straight year she scored two goals against DSA. Last year, Gaddy scored 20 goals as Orange finished 9-6-2 overall, 6-4-2 in the Central Conference.

Right away, Orange will face a crucial conference contest this week. On Wednesday, the Lady Panthers are scheduled to face Eastern Alamance in Hillsborough. Last year, the Eagles split the season series with Orange. The Lady Panthers defeated Eastern Alamance 4-3 in Hillsborough behind two goals from Gaddy, along with tallies from Cathey and Bailey. Eastern Alamance would gain revenge, beating Orange 3-2 in Mebane in the regular season finale.

Eastern Alamance would defeat Orange 4-1 in the opening round of the 3A State Playoffs behind a hat trick from junior Abby Brinker.

The game against Eastern Alamance on Wednesday may fall victim to rain, which is in the forecast.

The Lady Panthers will host Carrboro in Hillsborough on Friday night.

This week’s Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week is senior wrestling Ryan Rakouskas. This week, Rakouskas ended his grappling career at the State Wrestling Championships at First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro. Last month, Rakouskas won the 150-pound Mideast Regional Wrestling Championship. At the state championships, Rakouskas pinned Eligah Brown of West Charlotte in the opening round in 46 seconds. Rakouskas would go on to pin Brock Smith of Jacksonville. Rakouskas concluded the year 49-8 after reaching the state championships for the second time in his career. He finished his wrestling career with 147 career wins, fifth all-time in school history. Earlier this winter, Rakouskas earned his 100th career pinfall victory. Rakouskas is a part of a senior class that changed the balance of power in local wrestling circles. In his junior year, Rakouskas was a part of Cedar Ridge’s first regular season wrestling championship as a 3A team in wrestling, finishing undefeated in conference action. That included its first-ever win over Orange. This year, Cedar Ridge won at Orange for the first time. Rakouskas won the 150-pound Central Conference championship in 2024 and 2025 at Williams High School in Burlington. On Friday, Rakouskas started his third season playing on the Cedar Ridge lacrosse team, where he is a long-stick midfielder.

Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week: Ryan Rakouskas

This week’s Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week is senior wrestling Ryan Rakouskas. This week, Rakouskas ended his grappling career at the State Wrestling Championships at First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro. Last month, Rakouskas won the 150-pound Mideast Regional Wrestling Championship.

The season ended last week for the Cedar Ridge men’s basketball team, but they took steps forward this year. In November, they ended a 16-game road winning streak when they defeated Seaforth 59-50 in Pittsboro. It was the first road win for the Red Wolves’ men’s basketball team since February 3, 2023. Senior Braeden Wilbourn scored 16 points, 13 in the second half. In just his third varsity game, Tripp Beasley scored 15 points. Later that week, the Red Wolves won another road game over Durham School of the Arts at Sykes Gymnasium. Cedar Ridge surpassed its win total from all of last season on December 11 when they defeated Eno River Academy at Red Wolves Gymnasium in Hillsborough. Wilbourn scored 20 points against the Bobcats while Beasley added 15 points. Cedar Ridge coach Mike Jones found some important front line players like junior center Jack Kelsey and forward Kevin Ntim. On January 28, Cedar Ridge defeated Southern Alamance 52-43 in Graham, it’s first Central Conference road win in nearly two years. Kelsey and sophomore guard Jordan Jacobson scored 16 points for the Red Wolves against the Patriots. Cedar Ridge defeated Northern Durham 61-57 in Hillsborough on December 13. As Wilbourn will graduate in June, the Red Wolves will look to build around Beasley, Jacobson, Ntim and Kelsey for next season and beyond.

Cedar Ridge men’s basketball’s Braeden Wilbourn & Tripp Beasley discuss win over SEAFORTH

The season ended last week for the Cedar Ridge men’s basketball team, but they took steps forward this year. In November, they ended a 16-game road winning streak when they defeated Seaforth 59-50 in Pittsboro. It was the first road win for the Red Wolves’ men’s basketball team since February 3, 2023.

Appeals from Orange High Principal Jason Johnson and athletic director Jason Knapp apparently didn’t sway the North Carolina High School Athletic Association realignment committee.

On February 14, the committee released its third draft of conferences that will go into effect in August, based on the new, expanded eight classification model by the NCHSAA, which is shifting away from the traditional four classifications.

The latest draft keeps Cedar Ridge and Orange as 5A teams. They would be in a conference with Durham School of the Arts, Seaforth, South Granville, J.F. Webb and Carrboro.

The only change from the prior two drafts is the inclusion of Carrboro, which is currently classified as a 4A team. The other six teams would be 5A. It would make the new conference, which is yet to be finalized or named, a split 5A-4A league. In previous drafts, Carrboro was penciled in for a league with Southwestern Randolph, Jordan-Matthews, Uwharrie Charter, Eastern Randolph, North Moore and Northwood.

Since 2021, Cedar Ridge and Orange have competed in the Central Conference with teams primarily based in Alamance County. It started with Western Alamance, Eastern Alamance, Walter Williams, Person, Northwood and the two Hillsborough schools. In 2023, Southern Alamance replaced Northwood, which dropped down to 2A.

If Johnson and Knapp had their way, Orange would be in a league that maintains rivalries with Alamance and Person County schools. On February 4, Johnson and Knapp made their appeals heard in front of the realignment committee in Chapel Hill.

“In a nutshell, our students are going to have to be out of class longer,” Knapp said. “That schedule keeps our students in class longer and it’s more beneficial to us as an athletic department.”

Currently, the longest distance for a conference game for Orange High is the trek to Western Alamance. 28 miles separates Orange from Western Alamance. Cedar Ridge’s longest road trip is Person, which is 29 miles, or about 45-50 minutes via bus.

On top of that, Alamance County Schools have traditional media outlets. While the Burlington Times-News scaled back its sports division in 2019, they still have consistent sports coverage. Bob Sutton, the longtime Sports Editor of the Times-News, is now a writer for the weekly Alamance News.

The presence has helped Alamance County Schools retain a strong fan base amid a growing district. Over the weekend, there were solid turnouts at Orange High School as the Western Alamance women’s basketball team and the Eastern Alamance men’s basketball team competed during the Central Conference Tournament in Hillsborough.

“Alamance County schools travel well,” Knapp said. “The proximity isn’t very far. You have Eastern Alamance 20 minutes away. Southeast Alamance 20 minutes away. Southern (Alamance) and (Walter) Williams are probably 30 minutes.”

Under the proposed new conference, Orange would have a 47-mile trip for conference games at Webb High School in Oxboro. The Panthers would travel 36 miles for conference games against Seaforth in Chatham County.

Cedar Ridge would travel 48 miles to Oxford and 30 miles to Seaforth. Both the Cedar Ridge men’s and women’s basketball teams had road trips to Seaforth and DSA this season.

Among Knapp’s major concerns is not just varsity sports.

“All the schools over there (Alamance County) have very good JV and varsity programs,” Knapp said. “To go along with that, we’re not really sure if that would be available in the new conference if that’s going to be available as far as junior varsity programs.”

Durham School of the Arts is the current incarnation of Durham High School, which traces it roots all the way back to 1906. Once a rival to Orange High, Durham High became a magnet school in 1995 after winning a football title the old Crescent Conference. Since it was rebranded Durham School of the Arts, the institution has never fielded a football team.

As Orange and Cedar Ridge wait for the final decision from the realignment committee, football scheduling for 2025 has been delayed. With potentially only six teams fielding football teams in the new league, local athletic directors have been unclear about how many non-conference games will be required for next year.

“That concerns us, as well,” Knapp said. “We feel like we need to do what’s best for Orange High School. Our student-athletes are our biggest concern.”

This week’s Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week is sophomore wrestler Alejandro Briones. This season, Briones won his second Central Conference championship. At Walter Williams High School, Briones pinned Orange High’s Sebastian Guardia in 1:36 to take the conference crown. Briones, the top-seed, pinned Aiden Cameron of Southern Alamance in the semifinals. Briones has been a quick study for the Red Wolves. A regular starter during his freshman year, he was an invaluable presence during Cedar Ridge’s run to the Central Conference regular season championship in 2023-2024. Briones went 23-14 in his freshman year and defeated senior Mason Tanner of Eastern Alamance to win the 2024 Central Conference championship at 144-pounds. Last week at the Mideast Regional championships at Cedar Ridge High, Briones reached the semifinals and came one win shy of qualifying for the state championships. He starts the tournament by pinning Gavin Macmurray of E.E. Smith. In the quarterfinals, Briones outscored Kyan Webster of Eastern Guilford 24-20. Briones hasn’t lost to a Central Conference opponent in his first two years. He has accumulated 66 wins in his first two varsity seasons. As Pierce Prescod and Ryan Rakouskas graduate, Briones will be one of the grapplers that head coach Scott Metcalf relies on to lead the Cedar Ridge wrestling program into the future.

Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week: Alejandro Briones

This week’s Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week is sophomore wrestler Alejandro Briones. This season, Briones won his second Central Conference championship. At Walter Williams High School, Briones pinned Orange High’s Sebastian Guardia in 1:36 to take the conference crown. Briones, the top-seed, pinned Aiden Cameron of Southern Alamance in the semifinals.