Cedar Ridge High School

Next week marks the beginning of Cedar Ridge senior pitcher Quinn Finnegan’s final season. Finnegan is a true renaissance man with the Red Wolves. Just last week, Finnegan appeared on WRAL’s Brain Game with Cedar Ridge. This year, Finnegan wants to take the Diamond Red Wolves to the Central Conference championship. In December, Finnegan signed with Wagner College based out of Staten Island, New York. Through his relentless work ethic, Finnegan has been a constant at the Barn, a local facility for baseball players. A founding member of Cedar Ridge’s DECA Club, Finnegan is a three-time co-Captain of the Cedar Ridge baseball team under head coach Bryson Massey. He has a 4.38 grade-point average, 31st in his class. He was inducted into the National Honor Society last year. Finnegan was an All-Central Conference selection last season after helping Cedar Ridge finish in 3rd place in the Central Conference. With the graduation of Mason Cates, Finnegan will be the top man in the Red Wolves pitching rotation in a highly competitive conference. Cedar Ridge will open its season with three home games next week. They will open against Jordan on Tuesday night at 7 PM. On Wednesday, the Red Wolves will face Burlington Christian Academy. Then they’ll take on South Granville next Friday.

Cedar Ridge pitcher Quinn Finnegan discusses signing with Wagner College

Next week marks the beginning of Cedar Ridge senior pitcher Quinn Finnegan’s final season. Finnegan is a true renaissance man with the Red Wolves. Just last week, Finnegan appeared on WRAL’s Brain Game with Cedar Ridge. This year, Finnegan wants to take the Diamond Red Wolves to the Central Conference championship.

For Cedar Ridge senior Pierce Prescod, his wait to reach the 3A State Wrestling championships wasn’t denied. It was just delayed. Last Saturday, Prescod finished third in the Mideast Regional championships at Cedar Ridge High School at 120 pounds. Prescod had to overcome some anxious moments in the consolation semifinals. Facing Westover Connor Dean, Prescod got out to a 5-1 lead at the end of the first period. Prescod scored a slam that left Dean injured. It was reminiscent of 2023, when Prescod was disqualified in the consolation semifinal at 120 pounds. This time, the slam was ruled legal. Prescod was awarded the win when Dean couldn’t continue. Prescod would go on to finish in 3rd place in the regional with a decisive technical fall victory over Chris Schroth of Union Pines 20-4. Prescod is now 49-8 on the season. On Saturday in the opening round of the 3A State Tournament at First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro, Prescod pinned Ethan Brownlee of South Johnston in 5:53. Prescod is now tied with Kaden Tatro for second place all-time in school history in career wins. Prescod has now won 161 matches. Earlier this year, he celebrated his 100th career pinfall win. Prescod will face Kane Bryson of Pisgah in the state quarterfinals on Sunday.

Cedar Ridge senior Pierce Prescod discusses qualifying for state wrestling championships

For Cedar Ridge senior Pierce Prescod, his wait to reach the 3A State Wrestling championships wasn’t denied. It was just delayed. Last Saturday, Prescod finished third in the Mideast Regional championships at Cedar Ridge High School at 120 pounds. Prescod had to overcome some anxious moments in the consolation semifinals.

After being a member of Orange’s men’s cross country state championship in November, junior Myles Jermyn nearly won an individual state title in Winston-Salem.

At the 3A State Indoor Track & Field Championships at the JDL Fast Track on February 15; Jermyn finished 2nd in the 3,200 meters. The longest race in track & field came down to a thrilling finish as North Buncombe’s Michael Ferguson edged Jermyn to the finish line by .62 of a second. Ferguson crossed the finish line at 9:24.38, while Jermyn clocked in at 9:25.00.

Jermyn’s teammate, junior Lucas Van Mater, finished at 9:37.44.

Meanwhile, Cedar Ridge nearly had its first individual track and field state champion since 2022. Junior Ender Buchanan finished second in the pole vault, topping out at 14-feet. Swansboro’s James Yesunas captured the state championship at 14-feet, 6-inches.

Orange junior Owen Grant finished tied for 16th at 11-feet, 6-inches.

Cedar Ridge’s last state champion in track & field was Caroline Fowlkes, who won the pole vault in the 2022 outdoor track and field championships at Truist Stadium at North Carolina A&T University in Greensboro.

Orange’s relay team of Cyrus Neal, Grant Schid, Van Mater and Jermyn finished 2nd in the 4×800 meter relay. They closed at 8:16.39. Croatan won the state championship at 7:59.66.

Cedar Ridge senior Naomi Dyreng finished in the top-five in two separate events. She finished 5th in the 1,600 meters at 5:16.18. North Lincoln had the top two finishers. Olivia Ferraro claimed the state title at 5:07.95, while Bella Green finished 2nd (5:09.91).

Dyreng also finished 5th in the 3,200 meters (11:38.42). Morgan Miller of First Flight claimed the state title at 10:49.37, a good 14 seconds ahead of the runner-up, freshman June Leis of A.C. Reynolds (11:03.96).

Orange junior Adeline Alvis finished 5th in the long jump at 17-feet, 6-inches. Alvis also nearly medaled in the 4×400 relay. Running the anchor leg with Gianni Burnette, Asia Whitsett and Kayla Willey, Orange finished at 4:13.05. Franklin’s team earned the bronze at 4:12.85. Greensboro Dudley, who won the overall women’s team championship, earned the gold medal at 4:01.82.

The Orange men’s 4×400 relay team of Riley Potter, Cyrus Neal, Hunter Albert and Gabe Yen finished 10th at 3;38.41. Dudley, which won the overall men’s state championship, earned the relay state title with a time of 3:29.45.

Neal finished 8th in the 1000 meters at 2:43.77. Croatan’s Noah Guerrero won the state title at 2:30.29.

Orange finished 13th in the women’s  4×800 relay. Sullivan Gaddy, Kayla Willey, Evelyn Over and Caroline Cathey finished at 11:03.97.

Orange’s Clara Flowkes came in fourth in the women’s pole vault as she cleared 8-feet, 6-inches. Blythe Jaworsky of North Lincoln claimed the state title at 10-feet, 6-inches.

Will Berger: Former Cedar Ridge pitcher Will Berger continues to excel as a member of the Wofford men’s track & field team. At the Bulldog Invitational in Birmingham, AL on February 14, Berger set a new school record in the 3,000 meters. He finished at 8:44.20. Last month at the Mondo College Invitational at the JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem, Berger finished 11th in the 3,000 meters at 9:14.76. Berger returned to the track this winter after redshirting last season. He also competes in cross country and outdoor track & field with the Terriers.

Caleb Barreto: The former Orange Panther is now a sophomore on the Division III Methodist men’s basketball team. This season, Barreto has played in ten games and is averaging 3.2 points per game. Barreto scored a season-high ten points in a game against Apprentice on November 13 in Newport News, VA. Most recently, he played against Greensboro College.

Takia Nichols: The North Carolina Central softball team went 1-2 in the HBCU Collegiate Invitational in Covington, GA last weekend. The Eagles opened with a 4-2 win over Southern University. Nichols started at first base and went 1-for-3. Nichols had a game-tying RBI single in the sixth as the Eagles scored three runs in its final at-bat to win. Alcorn State edged Central 8-7 in the Eagles’ second game on Friday. Nichols had a two-run double on Saturday, but Prairie View A&M defeated the Eagles 11-8. Games against Florida A&M and Grambling State were canceled due to the weather.

Mary Moss Wirt: The Elon softball team defeated Morgan State to start the Elon Classic at Hunt Softball Park last week. Wirt started as catcher as the Phoenix won 2-1 in eight innings. The remaining two games of the event were cancelled. Wirt played as a pinch-runner against N.C. State in Elon on Tuesday, a game the Wolfpack won 4-0.

Connor Kruse: The Lenoir-Rhyme men’s lacrosse team stormed back from a 6-0 deficit to defeat #8 Rollins 15-9 at the Moretz Sports Complex in Hickory. Rollins led 6-0 at one point. Lenoir-Rhyne is ranked #4. Kruse got one shot off as the Bears improved to 4-0. Lenoir-Rhyne will face #8 Indianapolis in Hickory on Saturday.

Nick Cardone: Now a sophomore, Cardone made his season-debut for the Division II Catawba men’s lacrosse team. Cardone played on defence as Catawba defeated Belmont Abbey 13-11 at Shuford Stadium in Salisbury. Catawba improved to 3-0.

Cy Horner: The Division III Methodist men’s lacrosse team scored eight unanswered goals to defeat Guilford College 10-7 at Monarch Stadium in Fayetteville. Horner fired seven shots, grabbed three ground balls and created one turnover.

Josh Crabtree: Also playing for Methodist, Crabtree had one ground ball and created two turnovers. The Monarchs are 1-2 and will face Virginia Wesleyan in Fayetteville on Saturday.

College baseball season got underway earlier this month. Here’s a list of Orange and Cedar Ridge products that are now playing at the next level.

Dante DeFranco: A former middle infielder with Cedar Ridge and Orange, DeFranco enters this season as a graduate student with the Charlotte 49ers. Charlotte had a wild 10-9 win over Old Dominion on Friday where they rallied from a 7-1 deficit to win. DeFranco started the second game of the season, a 3-1 loss to Northeastern, on February 14 as a designated hitter.

Ryan Honeycutt: Honeycutt has started his freshman year at Division II Lenoir-Rhyne. The Bears are 11-1 and won its opening game in the South Atlantic Conference over Wingate on Friday at Durham Field in Hickory.

Cross Clayton: Clayton has started his freshman season at Gaston College in the National Junior College Athletic Association. The Rhinos are 10-3-1 overall.

Mason Cates: The former Cedar Ridge hurler is now at Catawba Valley Community College in Hickory. The Red Hawks are 6-7 overall, 2-1 in Region X in the NJCAA.

Coltin Hedrick: A freshman at Wake Tech Community College.

Wyatt Hedrick: A freshman at Wake Tech Community College. The Eagles have opened the season 4-6, 1-2 in Region X.

Cedar Ridge senior Ryan Rakouskas has become the first Red Wolf wrestler to win a regional championship since Fernando Martinez in 2022. Last Saturday, Rakouskas won the 150-pound championship at the Mideast Regionals at Cedar Ridge High School. In his final match inside his home gymnasium, Rakouskas pinned Royce Espinoza of Triton in 23 seconds to take the championship. In the semifinals, Rakouskas advanced when Eastern Guilford’s Kolby Gryder, the top seed in the weight division, couldn’t continue after Rakouksas legally slammed him. Rakousksas was the #4 seed in the tournament. Two years ago, he finished third in his weight division when the regionals were held at Cedar Ridge. This is the second time that Rakouskas has qualified for the state championships. Rakouskas’ win over Gryder was the 144th of his career. It put Rakouskas past Fernando Martinez for fifth on the all-time school wins list. Rakouskas has been a varsity wrestler for four years at Cedar Ridge under head coach Scott Metcalf. He will end his career the way every wrestler in the state dreams of ending their careers–at the Greensboro Coliseum competing for a state championship. Rakouskas will start the state championships on Saturday against Eligah Brown of West Charlotte.

Cedar Ridge’s Ryan Rakouskas discuses winning the 150-pound Mideast Regional Championship

Cedar Ridge senior Ryan Rakouskas has become the first Red Wolf wrestler to win a regional championship since Fernando Martinez in 2022. Last Saturday, Rakouskas won the 150-pound championship at the Mideast Regionals at Cedar Ridge High School. In his final match inside his home gymnasium, Rakouskas pinned Royce Espinoza of Triton in 23 seconds to take the championship.

Scott Metcalf has had to spend more on printing banners in recent years.

Inside the Cedar Ridge wrestling room, there’s a big sign listing the career win leaders in school history. Between 2001-and-2021, four Cedar Ridge wrestlers won 100 career matches.

That number has doubled over the past four years. And one more could join the group next weekend.

“This senior class is a special class,” Metcalf said.

Just to the right of that banner is a list of state qualifiers, which will also need to be refreshed.

On Saturday, Ryan Rakouskas won the 150-pound Mideast Regional championship at Cedar Ridge High School. Rakouskas, who qualified for the state championships for the second time in his career, made quick work of Royce Ezpinoza of Triton, needing just 22 seconds to score the pin in the championship match. It was Rakouskas’ final match in his own gymnasium.

Rakouskas, who was the #4 seed, became the first Cedar Ridge wrestler to win a regional championship since Fernando Martinez won at 113-pounds in 2022 at Union Pines High School. As fate would have it, Rakouskas surpassed Martinez on the school career wins list when he upset top-seeded Kolby Gryder of Eastern Guilford in the semifinals on Saturday. Rakouskas delivered a legal slam in the second period to take a 7-5 lead. Gryder was injured and couldn’t continue after being checked by medical staff.

Rakouskas now has 145 career wins, fifth in school history.

“I’m very surprised,” Rakouskas said. “I wasn’t expecting to make states, honestly. I had a tough weight class. I thought I had a 50-50 shot, but I wasn’t expecting to win it at all. So I was pleasantly surprised.”

On Friday, Rakouksas opened by scoring a technical fall over Issac Cisneros of Harnett Central 22-1. In the quarterfinals, Rakouskas pinned Ben Rich of Western Harnett, who has a record of 45-8, in 2:58.

It continues a year of milestones for Rakouskas. In November, he won his 100th career match. Last month, he scored his 100th career pin.

“Ryan is one of those kids who really likes throws,” Metcalf said. “When you can throw somebody, you have a chance to win against anyone you face on the mat. He’s been a joy to coach.”

It was also a day that Cedar Ridge senior Pierce Prescod had waited three years for. He finally qualified for the state championships at 120 pounds in a situation that was downright eerie.

Two years ago, when the regionals were also held at Cedar Ridge, Prescod was disqualified in the consolation semifinals when his opponent couldn’t continue after what was ruled an illegal slam. Prescod, who won 44 matches as a sophomore, fell one win shy of the state championships.

In the consolation semifinals on Saturday, on the exact same mat where he was disqualified two years ago, Prescod slammed Connor Dean of Westover at the end of the first period.

Dean stayed down. Images of 2023 flashed through Prescod’s mind as he waited and waited to see if Dean could continue. The officials ruled it was a legal slam since Prescod had his knee down on the mat upon initiating the throw. Dean couldn’t finish. Prescod, who was leading 6-1 at the time, would advance to the consolation final, ensuring his first trip to the state championships.

“I was worried,” Prescod said. “I waited about two minutes and I wasn’t sure if the slam was legal. I was pacing and thinking ‘This can’t be happening.’ Then coach (Metcalf) came over and told me we were good. I was relieved.”

For added measure, Prescod dominated Chris Schroth of Union Pines, winning a tech fall 20-4 to finish in third place.

Last year at regionals, another wrestler from Union Pines denied Prescod’s opportunity to go to the state championships. In the consolation semifinals, Keaton Crawford defeated Prescod 11-9 in a sudden death round. Prescod won 45 matches in his junior year, but again fell one win short of Greensboro.

Prescod now has 160 career wins, third all-time in school history. He is one victory shy of tying Kaden Tatro, who graduated last summer, for second place. The all-time school record is held by Chandler Collins, who amassed 166 wins from 2003-2007.

Cedar Ridge junior Favio Jaramillo Esparza will go to the state championships at 113 pounds for the first time. Esparza pinned Union Pines Caiden McDermott to reach the semifinals. Esparza pinned Joshua Sasser of Harnett Central in 43 seconds to reach the 3rd place match. Esparza, who won the Eagle Invitational in Mebane in December, earned his 97th career win.

Orange will not have a representative in the state championships. Senior Jayden Medley reached the consolation semifinals. Union Pines’ Dantrell Williams defeated Medley 5-1. Medley ends the season 31-10.

Panthers freshman Jordan Barbee also reached the consolation semifinals. Greensboro Dudley’s Devin Cotton defeated Barbee via tech fall.

This week’s Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week is freshman swimmer J.E. Sandor. From the start of the season in November, Sandor broke school records. In his first high school meet at the Orange County Sportsplex, Sandor broke the school record in the 100 yard butterfly with a time of 57.03 seconds on December 9. Sandor broke his own record repeatedly throughout his freshman year as the Cedar Ridge men’s swimming team finished second in the Central Conference. In January, Sandor won the Central Conference championship in the 100 yard breastroke at 1:07.91. He took the silver medal in the 100 yard butterfly at 57.03. At his first Central Regional Championship meet at the Greensboro Aquatic Center on February 1, Sandor broke his own school record in the butterfly at 55.41 seconds. Sandor finished second in the regional and advanced to the 3A State Championships at the Triangle Aquatic Center in Cary. He also finished 4th in the 100 yard breaststroke as he touched the wall at 1:06.22, just .05 seconds away from getting the bronze. On February 7, Sandor completed his freshman season with an eleventh place finish at 55.30 seconds in the butterfly. With many underclassmen, the future is bright for the Cedar Ridge swimming team. Sandor will spend the spring and summer with his traveling team.

Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week: J.E. Sandor

This week’s Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week is freshman swimmer J.E. Sandor. From the start of the season in November, Sandor broke school records. In his first high school meet at the Orange County Sportsplex, Sandor broke the school record in the 100 yard butterfly with a time of 57.03 seconds on December 9.

There will be dreams realized and hopes dashed as the 3A Mideast Regional Wrestling championships get underway at Cedar Ridge High on Friday afternoon.

Some local grapplers will be looking to return to the Greensboro Coliseum, now known as First Horizon Coliseum, for next week’s state championships.

Others will be looking for redemption.

In 2023, Cedar Ridge hosted the regional championships. It was a weekend of triumph for several local stars. Orange’s Acoya Isley captured the 195-pound title when his opponent in the final, Eastern Guilford’s Karin Sein, couldn’t continue.

Cedar Ridge’s Fernando Martinez, competing at 113 pounds, had a pedestrian 4th place finish after falling to Person’s Christina Lemaire in the consolation final. A week later, Martinez would wrestle for the State Championship in Greensboro.

Then there was the case of Pierce Prescod, who was a sophomore in 2023. Competing at 120 pounds, Prescod was one win away from the state championships in the consolation semifinals. He appeared to have a power advantage against South Johnston’s Carson Corl,  who landed awkwardly when Prescod slammed him within 30 seconds of the first period. The takedown was ruled out of the circle. Corl claimed he couldn’t continue due to injury, which led to Prescod being disqualified.

Two years later, Prescod hasn’t forgotten. He still hasn’t qualified for the state championships and this weekend is his last chance.

“I still think about it,” Prescod said last month. “I was so pumped up and wanted to continue with the match. He took the easy way out. It still motivates me, but it helps me control my adrenaline when I compete.”

Prescod, who recorded his 100th career pinfall victory earlier this winter, is the #4 seed at 120 pounds. Sporting a record of 44-7, Prescod will open against Orange’s Logan Scarantino on Friday. Earlier this year, Prescod secured his 100th pinfall victory. Last month, he won the Central Conference championship after pinning Eastern Alamance’s Elijah Watson in 3:36.

He’s also looking to continue his climb up the all-time Cedar Ridge wins list. Prescod is at 156 career victories, currently third on the all-time list. He needs four more victories to tie Kaden Tatro, who graduated last year, for second place.

Chandler Collins, who competed from 2003-2007, holds the all-time record with 166 wins.

Another Cedar Ridge senior, Ryan Rakouskas, will look to qualify for the state championships for the third time. In his sophomore season, Rakouskas finished 3rd at 145-pounds. Rakouskas, who became the eighth Cedar Ridge wrestler to win 100 matches in November, is seeded 4th in the 150 pound tournament. With a record of 43-6, Rakouskas will open against Issac Cisneros of Harnett Central. Last month, Rakouskas pinned Markus Thomas of Orange to win the conference championship at Walter Williams High School in Burlington.

Cedar Ridge sophomore Alejandro Briones, who has already won 65 matches in his career, is the #3 seed at 144 pounds. Briones racked up his second conference championship last month. He will open against Gavin Macmurray of E.E. Smith on Friday.

Orange senior Jayden Medley will make his final attempt to reach the state championships at 215 pounds. Medley, who won the Eagle Invitational in Mebane in December, is 28-8. He is seeded #3 and will face Dakota Rodriguez of Cape Fear on Friday.

Orange freshman Jordan Barbee, who won all five matches in the Rumble in the Jungle event at Carrboro High in December, will compete in his first regional final. Barbee, 23-9 this season, is the #11 seed and will face Trenton Westbrook of Cape Fear in the opening round.

The biggest favorite in the entire field will likely be Person senior Trevquan Gary. The #1 seed at heavyweight, Gary won the 3A State Championship last year.

After finishing second in the Central Conference regular season behind Person, Cedar Ridge was the only Hillsborough team to reach the 3A State Dual Team Tournament two weeks ago. For the second year in a row, the Red Wolves traveled to Jacksonville, this time for the opening round. The Cardinals, who eventually reached the Eastern Regional final, defeated the Red Wolves 60-18. Rakouskas, Jordin Blue and Favio Esparza Jaramillo all earned pinfall fins for Cedar Ridge.

It was a successful season for the Cedar Ridge men’s swimming team. The Red Wolves finished 2nd in the Central Conference championships last month at the Orange County SportsPlex in Hillsborough. Sophomore Christopher Seawell captured the 100 yard backstroke state championship at 59.78 seconds. Red Wolf freshman J.E. Sandor won the 100 yard breaststroke conference championship with a time of 1:07.91, beating out Liam Miller of Walter Williams. Sandor set the school record in the 100 yard breastroke in his first high school meet in November. Sandor, Seawell, Zion Green and senior Philip Cauwels finished 2nd in the 400 yard freestyle relay, finishing only behind Orange, who would eventually win the state championship. At the 3A State championships inside the Triangle Aquatic Center in Cary on Friday night, Seawell finished 14th in the 100 yard freestyle. Sandor, in his first state championship meet, finished 11th in the 100 yard butterfly, touching the wall at 55:30 seconds. He finished 2nd in the Central Regionals in the butterfly at 55.41 seconds. He also finished 4th in the breaststroke. Cauwels, in his final meet for Cedar Ridge, finished 11th in the 200 yard freestyle at 1:52.94. There are promising building blocks for Cedar Ridge as they venture into the future under head coach Amanda Jones.

Cedar Ridge swimming’s Philip Cauwells, Christopher Seawell & J.E. Sandor discuss season

It was a successful season for the Cedar Ridge men’s swimming team. The Red Wolves finished 2nd in the Central Conference championships last month at the Orange County SportsPlex in Hillsborough. Sophomore Christopher Seawell captured the 100 yard backstroke state championship at 59.78 seconds. Red Wolf freshman J.E.