Cedar Ridge High School

Our first Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week for the 2024-2025 academic year is senior women’s cross country runner Naomi Dyreng. Last week, Dyreng finished fourth in a field of over 300 runners at the Pace Yourself Early Bird Challenge at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary. Dyreng was the 2023 Central Conference Cross Country champion and went on to win a regional championship in the 3,200 meters last spring in outdoor track and field. It was her third regional championship in track & field. Dyreng has also qualified for the 3A State Cross Country championships each of the past two years. Earlier this week, Dyreng finished first at the Eno River Academy Invitational in Hillsborough, leading the Cedar Ridge women’s team to a first place finish. Dyreng has been one of the most accomplished runners in Cedar Ridge history. Dyreng has trained with former Orange High cross country runner Gabriel Schmid, who won back-to-back 3A State Men’s cross country championships. As Dyreng starts her senior year on Monday, she says her goal is to help Cedar Ridge women’s cross country as a team. Last year, the Red Wolves finished second in the Central Conference. After this fall, Dyreng will prepare for outdoor track & field next March.

Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week: Naomi Dyreng

Our first Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week for the 2024-2025 academic year is senior women’s cross country runner Naomi Dyreng. Last week, Dyreng finished fourth in a field of over 300 runners at the Pace Yourself Early Bird Challenge at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary.

Cedar Ridge 3, North Carolina School of Science & Math 0: Just 24 hours removed from its first five set match in years, Cedar Ridge bounced back with its first road win of the season in Durham on Thursday night.

Claire Hargett finished with eleven kills and 16 digs while junior Kayla Stoll added seven kills and four blocks as the Red Wolves (2-1) defeated the North Carolina School of Science and Math inside Unicorns Gymnasium. Cedar Ridge’s serving provided eight aces as the Red Wolves won its final game before its Central Conference opener at Person on Tuesday.

Tied 4-4 in the opening set, Cedar Ridge went on a 9-2 run to take a lead it would not relinquish. Hargett started the spurt with a mighty swing for her first kill, followed by a block of the Unicorns’ Megan Cherry. NCSSM’s Cornelia Okonkwo scored from the middle of the floor to cut the Cedar Ridge lead to 9-6, but Hargett and Mia Marty scored off attacks, followed by an ace from Marty. Stoll’s ended the set with her second block of the frame as Cedar Ridge won 25-14.

In the second set, NCSSM led 12-10 after the Red Wolves were called for a double hit. Cedar Ridge erased its deficit with a 5-1 run, starting when the Unicorns were called for a lift. Stoll delivered an ace to give the Red Wolves a 13-12 lead. With the score even at 15-15, Marty scored off a feed from Ellie Miller, starting a 6-2 Red Wolf run. Stoll added her third block while Ellamarie Perel notched her second kill of the set. Marty delivered an ace on set point.

Stoll had two kills as Cedar Ridge jumped out to a 6-1 lead to begin the third set. Junior Emory Williams delivered an ace while Hargett had consecutive kills off assists from Marty. The Unicorns would get as close as 15-12, but Cedar Ridge scored the final ten points of the match. Stoll slammed down match point as the Red Wolves won 25-12.

East Chapel Hill 3, Cedar Ridge 2: The first five set match for Cedar Ridge since 2019 saw the East Chapel Hill Wildcats close out the fourth set on a 11-1 run to even the match, then dominate the fifth set for its first road win of the year.

Hargett finished with 14 kills and ten digs as the Red Wolves suffered its first loss of the season. Perel had nine kills.

East Chapel Hill fought off two set points in the opening frame to win it in overtime. Hargett delivered a spike to put the Red Wolves ahead 24-22. East’s Lucy Murphy and Margaret Jewell had consecutive kills to tie the match. Stoll scored to five Cedar Ridge a 25-24 lead, but a return by the Red Wolves went into the net. Jewell delivered an ace to give the Wildcats the set 28-26.

Cedar Ridge won the second set despite falling behind 4-0 early and trailing as much as 8-2. Five different Red Wolves notched kills, including three each from Hargett and Perel. Williams, who changed to libero in the second set, served an ace to start a 7-0 Red Wolf spree, capped by a kill from Stoll to put Cedar Ridge ahed 24-21. A serve by the Wildcats’ Ruth Ann Soccerorso went long, leveling the match at 1-1.

Cedar Ridge won the third set 25-23, a frame that had eight ties and three lead changes. Cedar Ridge took control with the score at 15-15 when Calla Lundberg tipped one over off a feed from Marty, followed by an ace from Stoll. Charlotte Lowry added a kill to put the Red Wolves ahead 18-15. The set was even at 23-23 when the Red Wolves won a long rally that included Perel making three digs. The point ended with Stoll scoring off a block. Stoll scored off an unassisted kill to give Cedar Ridge the set 25-23.

The fourth set was even 15-15 when the Wildcats went on a 10-1 run, led by consecutive aces from Murphy. Giselle Barrett and Austin Harris has back-to-back kills to start momentum that Cedar Ridge couldn’t stop again.

East continued rolling in the fifth set, scoring the first six points. An ace from Soccorso led to Cedar Ridge head coach Latacha De Oliveira calling timeout. That did little to help as East built an 11-3 lead behind an attack from Murphy from Avery Ellis. Austin Harris scored match point as East captured the set 15-7.

The last time Cedar Ridge played a five-set match, it was against Orange on October 8, 2019 inside Red Wolves Gymnasium.

Just two weeks into the season and there has been early adversity for the Cedar Ridge men’s soccer team. Their top goal scorer from last year, Dominic McNearney, transferred to Western Alamance just a few days before the season opener against Carrboro. It was a crucial blow for a squad that came one win away from the Central Conference championship in 2023. The Red Wolves do return senior midfielder Solomon Hernandez and junior goalkeeper Erik Galunas. Last year, Hernandez scored the game-winning goal when Cedar Ridge stunned Western Alamance 1-0 at Red Wolves Stadium. Hernandez was also a valuable defensive presence throughout the season, including when Cedar Ridge played Western Alamance to a scoreless tie in Elon. In the season opener, Galunas stopped a penalty kick against Carrboro. Last season, Galunas was a huge presence in net as the Red Wolves had its most successful season since 2016. They hosted a state playoff game against Southern Lee. Cedar Ridge will try to get on track on Friday afternoon when they face West Johnston at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary. The Red Wolves are 0-2 and are coming off a loss to Vance County in Henderson. Sophomore Niko James has scored two goals so far this season, including one against the Vipers earlier this week.

Cedar Ridge men’s soccer Erik Galunas & Solomon Hernandez discuss start to the season

Just two weeks into the season and there has been early adversity for the Cedar Ridge men’s soccer team. Their top goal scorer from last year, Dominic McNearney, transferred to Western Alamance just a few days before the season opener against Carrboro.

There was a quiet change inside Red Wolves Gymnasium to start this volleyball season on Monday night.

All of the players who played on Cedar Ridge’s 2021 3A State Championship are gone now. The core of the group graduated in 2023, a unit that brought home three consecutive conference championships. Their coach, Fiona Cunningham, existed with them for an assistant job at North Carolina Central. She’s now at East Carolina.

Addie Reid, Rachel Alverson, Natasha Buchler-Fosado, Graylinn Serge and Ellie Woolson added the 2023 Central Conference Tournament championship, at Orange High no less, before they turned their tassels in June.

Now, a generation that played junior varsity and at Stanback Middle School while Cameron Lloyd, Cameron Lanier, Julie Altieri, Melissa Benkowitz, Grace Young and Anaya Carter set a legacy of domination have their turn to carry Cedar Ridge volleyball into the future and forge their own path.

On Monday night, they got off to a good start.

Junior outside hitter Claire Hargett, the only returning starter, finished with 20 kills as the Red Wolves defeated Jordan 3-1 on scores of 25-9, 25-17, 22-25 and 25-17. In her first varsity start, libero Sydnee Tapper finished with 20 digs.

Junior setter Mia Marty finished with 14 assists, eight kills and eleven digs for the Red Wolves  (1-0), who shut down the lights during the pregame introductions as public address announcer Jon Franklin read off the starting lineups and the only lights in the building came from the cell phones of the Cedar Ridge student section.

Ellamarie Perel finished with five kills and six digs. Hargett and Perel were voted co-Captains earlier this month to lead a young team.

“The players have confidence in Ellamarie and Claire,” said Cedar Ridge head coach Latacha De Oliveira, who started her second year. “They see a lot of leadership in them. So we expect big things out of both of them.”

Cedar Ridge didn’t lack for attackers against the Falcons (1-3). Seven different players registered kills in the opening set as the Red Wolves seized control with a 8-3 run, capped by an ace from Tapper and a kill from Stoll assisted by Ellie Miller. Perel closed out the set with an unassisted kill.

Cedar Ridge has six juniors on its roster.

“We have mostly juniors,” De Oliveira said. “We pulled (sophomore) Alex Engel up from junior varsity at the last minute. She played through some nerves but did a good job. Overall, most of our players are either juniors or seniors.”

Jordan led for most of the third set behind four kills from junior Tamari Hill.

Cedar Ridge never trailed in the fourth set, jumping out to a 5-1 lead behind an ace from Emory Williams, who shares time with Tapper as libero. Perel and Stoll had kills on consecutive points, which triggered a 5-1 Red Wolf run that continued following another ace from Tapper that landed in the heart of the Jordan floor, leading to a Falcon timeout.

A spike from Madi Hill closed the Falcon deficit to 19-16, but Hargett closed out the match with five kills in the fourth set. Following a kill by Stoll set up by Miller, Marty delivered an ace on match point.

It was a positive first step in a new chapter for Cedar Ridge volleyball. They once stood in the shadows of giants, and now they seek to return the Red Wolves back to the top of the Central Conference. Hargett, who led the team with 333 kills in 2023, figures to be the leader.

“Claire isn’t new to this,” De Oliveira said. “She led us last year in several different areas. But having her and Kayla (Stoll) as starters, they were both with us last year. It makes a big difference. They have the confidence, they have the experience. They played in some big games.”

The Cedar Ridge volleyball team started another era with a win in its season-opener. The last players who were members of the 2021 3A State Championship team graduated in June. On Monday night, five new starters took the floor as the Red Wolves defeated Jordan 3-1 at Red Wolves Gymnasium on scores of 25-9, 25-17, 21-25 and 25-17. The lone returning starter from last year’s team that won the Central Conference Tournament, Claire Hargett, finished with 19 kills and 16 digs as the Red Wolves won its season opener. Junior Kayla Stoll, a regular rotation player from 2023, came away with 7 kills and ten digs. Ellamarie Perel, in her first career start, finished with six kills. She also scored set point to put the Red Wolves ahead two-sets-to-nothing. Cedar Ridge opened up a 16-5 lead in the opening set after going on a 10-1 run. Hargett supplied two kills during that run while Stoll had an ace. Senior Charlotte Lowry also started for Cedar Ridge. Second-year head coach Latacha De Oleveira has a roster full of juniors returning from a team that reached the third round of the 3A State Playoffs last year. Cedar Ridge is 1-0 and will return home to face East Chapel Hill on Wednesday night in Hillsborough. First serve will be sometime between 6:20 and 6:30.

Cedar Ridge volleyball’s Claire Hargett & Ellamarie Perel discuss season-opening win over Jordan

The Cedar Ridge volleyball team started another era with a win in its season-opener. The last players who were members of the 2021 3A State Championship team graduated in June. On Monday night, five new starters took the floor as the Red Wolves defeated Jordan 3-1 at Red Wolves Gymnasium on scores of 25-9, 25-17, 21-25 and 25-17.

One of the most decorated female runners in Cedar Ridge history started her senior season with a strong showing at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary.

Naomi Dyreng finished fourth on Saturday in the Pace Yourself Early Bird Challenge at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, the first official meet of the new academic year in cross country. Dyreng was the highest finisher from a 3A school with a time of 19:54.15. Runners from Wake County schools took the top three spots, led by Kaleigh McHale of Middle Creek, who won at 19:25.96.

Last spring, Dyreng won her third Mideast Regional championship in outdoor track and field. Running at UNC Pembroke, Dyreng took the 3,200 meters title for the second straight year at 11:34.59. She finished second in the regional 1,600 meters race. She would finish 8th in the 3A State Championship meet at Truist Stadium at North Carolina A&T University.

In 2022, Dyreng won the 1,600 and 3,200 meters regional championships at Franklinton High School.

Last year, Dyreng won the Central Conference women’s cross country championship at Lake Cammack Course in Burlington. She led a Red Wolves team that finished second in the conference. As a sophomore, Dereng finished second in the conference.

Dyreng has qualified for the 3A State Women’s Cross Country championships twice. In 2023, she finished third in the Mideast Region in Louisburg. She would go on to come in 23rd in the state championships.

Cedar Ridge’s women’s team finished 12th out of 15 teams during the Early Bird Challenge. Sophomore Gracie Whitaker finished 58th. Ila Diaz, Isabella Taylor-Hall, Eliana Sobus, Anne Williams, Anna Peterson, Kate Finnegan, Annaya Srivasava, Anna Neuman and Samantha Quade also ran for the Red Wolves.

The Cedar Ridge men’s team finished eleventh out of 18 teams in the Early Bird. Junior Ryan Matthews was the highest finisher for the Red Wolves, coming in 21st out of 306 runners. Matthews time was 17:15.22. John Ngunjiri, another junior, finished 54th at 18:15.41. Elie Nadahiriwe came in 101st. Michael O’Melia, Landin Tillet, Ryan Rakouskas, Shea Spiller, Levon Copanioini, Phillip McLamb, William Neumann and Porter Sterling also ran for Cedar Ridge.

The Red Wolves men’s and women’s teams will have its first dual meet of the season against Eno River Academy on Tuesday.

Women’s Tennis: Orange 9, Voyager Academy 0: The Orange women’s tennis team continues to barnstorm while their home court is completing renovations in Hillsborough. It didn’t really matter on Friday afternoon as the Lady Panthers swept the Voyager Academy Vikings at Eno River Racquet and Swim Club in Durham.

Senior Shannon Sollars, juniors Molly Kruse and Adelyn Alvis each won two matches. Sollars won at #1 singles over Carrington Foster 8-1 (each match was limited to one set). At #4 singles, Kruse defeated Suhayma Chaudhry 8-1. Alvis won her match at #6 singles 8-0.

Sollars and Kruse won at #1 doubles over Foster and Addie Baker 8-1. Sollars won all four of her matches to open her senior year last week. Alvis teamed with junior Kyla Mehl at #3 doubles to complete the sweep for the afternoon over Chaudhry and Morgan King 8-0.

Freshman Kalynn Mason captured her second singles match of the year, winning at #2 singles over Addie Baker 8-5, the only thing resembling a competitive match on the day. Sophomore Ellie Wilson knocked off Alaina Bustillo 8-2. Oakley Gaddy, a junior, completed Orange’s singles sweep with a 8-1 win over King.

At #2 doubles, Lindsay Woodall and Casey Robinson rounded out the clean sweep for Orange with a 8-1 win over Huda Chaudhry and Bustillo.

Orange will start Central Conference play on Monday (today) against Western Alamance in Elon. It will continue Orange’s string of road matches as they wait for their home court refurbishments to be completed. The Lady Panthers will play at Walter Williams, the defending conference champions, on Thursday in Burlington.

Coming off its most successful season since 2016, Cedar Ridge men’s soccer wasn’t supposed to have a rebuilding season this year.

They only lost four seniors from 2023, when they won 12 games and hosted a state playoff matchup against Southern Lee. Magical moments happened throughout the season, starting with a six-game undefeated streak and a 1-0 win over Western Alamance when Solomon Hernandez headed in the game-winner late in the second half. The entire team posed in front of the scoreboard following the biggest result for the Red Wolves in years.

Even when tryouts started three weeks ago, it appeared most of the pieces from last year’s remarkable squad would return. But nothing is as certain nowadays in sports as it seems.

Last week, senior Dominic McNerney, who led the team with nine goals in 2023, transferred to Western Alamance. It came as a surprise to Cedar Ridge head coach Chauncey Brummell. McNerney participated in the team’s summer camp at UNC Greensboro and attended tryouts on August 1.

On top of that, junior midfielder Gael Antunez-Nunez is ineligible for the season. Antunez-Nunez racked up eight assists in 2023, second on the team behind senior Iliah Babchenko, who graduated in June.

“It’s a major loss,” Brummell said during practice last Friday. “You just rely on your seniors. We’re going to have some growing pains, obviously. It’s going to be rough for us as the season begins. Once we get out full team back, we should be able to overcome some of those hurdles.”

Hernandez, who scored six goals last season, sat out most of the summer after tearing the meniscus in his right knee. Usually, Hernandez trains with Wake FC at Ting Park in Holly Springs, but the layoff led to him missing Thursday’s season-opener against Carrboro. He’s slated to return at Vance County on Monday night.

Junior goalkeeper Erik Galunas is back. In 2023, Galunas was named to the All-Central Conference team after he posted five clean sheets and 12 wins overall.

Cedar Ridge is also spending a lot of time on the road to open the year. They start with four straight road games, including contests at Vance County on Monday, at Asheboro on Wednesday and a trip to WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary on Friday to face Cape Fear.

A short-handed Cedar Ridge team dropped its season-opener to Carrboro 4-1 last week at Jaguars Stadium. Galunas saved a penalty kick in the second half. Junior Niko James scored the Red Wolves’ first goal of the year in the second half. Carrboro (1-1) won its home opener after starting the year with a loss at Orange.

Cedar Ridge does return junior midfielder Edber Lopez, who scored three goals last season. There’s also Alejandro Macero-Ramos, who also netted three goals in 2023.

The Red Wolves will play its opening home game against Vance County on August 26. They will start Central Conference play against Person on September 11 in Roxboro.

“The goal is to keep everyone positive,” Brummel said. “Yeah, we’re hurting a little bit because of Dom’s departure. One person isn’t the face of Cedar Ridge soccer. We just have to work harder. We’ve got some kids who are talented. It’s just going to take us some time to gel because they’re new.”

Southern Durham 3, Orange 0: The Spartans, the defending Northern Lake Conference champions, defeated Orange at Spartan Stadium on Wednesday night. Chris Morales, Juan Soliz and Joseth Banegas each scored goals for the Sparans, who are 1-0-1.

Orange goalkeeper Hector Garrido made eight saves, including a penalty kick, in his second varsity start. The Panthers fall to 1-1 and will host Durham School of the Arts on Monday night in Hillsborough. Last year, the Panthers defeated the Bulldogs 2-1 in the Bull City.

It was Midnight Madness for Cedar Ridge football last week. The Red Wolves practiced in pads for the first time this season under head coach Brent Bailey, attracting fans for a Midnight Madness event at the Cedar Ridge football field last Friday night. The entire Red Wolf volleyball team came out as the players practiced under cooler conditions. Among the players warming up was junior Thomas McDermott, who is slated to start at quarterback for the season opener against East Chapel Hill on August 22 at Red Wolves Stadium. Tight end Mason Hughes, who will be a junior this year, will be among the targets that McDermott will look for. Juniors Carlos Baldwin and Luis Donjuan will be among the offensive linemen, while Jayden Harvey will line up as a pass rusher. Throughout the summer, Coach Bailey has beefed up Cedar Ridge’s coaching staff. Among the new additions are defensive coordinator Ryan Johnston, previously the head coach at Jordan-Matthews. There’s also Phil Credle, previously the quarterbacks coach at Cleveland High School in Clayton. Coach Bailey has more players out for the team as the Red Wolves look to build stability in football. You can hear Cedar Ridge’s season opener against East Chapel Hill on Hillsboroughsports.com on August 22 live from Red Wolves Stadium. Kickoff will be at 7PM.

Cedar Ridge football players discuss Midnight Madness practice to kick off season

It was Midnight Madness for Cedar Ridge football last week. The Red Wolves practiced in pads for the first time this season under head coach Brent Bailey, attracting fans for a Midnight Madness event at the Cedar Ridge football field last Friday night.