River Ridge
Cross-Country
Head Coach Keith Hooper
After a successful 2020 season, hopes are high that the team will have state qualifying runners once again.
Although both teams lost many top runners (Ciara Miles, Gabriela Johnson, Grace Chandler, Rylan Hasket, Mason Steele and Nicolas Romero) to graduation, they will be led by senior runners Cayden Crismon, Caitlyn Johnson and Spencer Reppe. Other top returning runners are: Simon Goins, Hannah Mayfield, Kelly Miles and Lauren Phillips for the girls, and Diego Ladera, Blake Mitchel, Candler Rabun and Daniel Roeder for the boys.
Last year, the girls team finished sixth in the state and they are looking to achieve their fourth consecutive appearance in the state finals. The team will be coached by Keith Hooper, Mary Bisgrove and Deanna Crismon.
Flag Football
Head Coach Mark Lewis
Coaches and players are excited about this season. Last year, we made it to the first round of the state playoffs, but our goal this year is to advance to multiple rounds of the playoffs. Last season was a great learning experience, but we feel we are going to be much better prepared to start this season. Over the course of last season, quarterback Kathryn Hutchinson and receivers Grace Hamrick, Molly Hutchinson and Ryan Hutcheson developed a passing game that could put points on the scoreboard, but this season we are looking to gain more team speed, so we can have more explosive plays. We return our top two flag pullers in Molly Hutchinson and Brenna Martin, and our interception leader, Kathryn Hutchinson; defensively, we have a good group, as well. Our area schedule starts with newcomer Blessed Trinity on Oct. 19 at Cherokee High.
Football
Head Coach Michael Collins
The 2021 River Ridge Knights will try to build on last year’s historic season. The focus will be on improving every day in all aspects of the game. The Knights worked extremely hard in the offseason to prepare for a very competitive region.
The Knights have several returning players who will have a major impact. Running back Amehre Morrison is the state’s reigning player of the year. Also returning on offense are All-Region players Carson Lathem, Jackson Head and Andrew Bingham. Dylan Persad, Brian Bradley, Tristan Thompson and Brenden Dye are the key returning players on the defensive side of the ball.
If the Knights can stay healthy and continue to improve, they could enjoy another successful season.
Softball
Head Coach Andy Marinelli
The Knights are returning nine starters from last year’s Sweet 16 run. Seniors Gracie Hughes, Grace Hamrick, Payton Halford, Cat McCulley and Elyse Navarro have started since their freshman year. Juniors Lily Bell, Kaitlyn Stacey and Alexis Haehn also have started since their freshman year.
Sophomores Brelyn O’Hearn and Amanda Fulton started last year as freshmen.
The team chemistry is the best Coach Andy Marinelli has seen in his seven years at River Ridge.
With the amount of experience returning, this will be an exciting team.
Volleyball
Head Coach Julie Wilt-Winfield
After graduating a large senior class that included record-breaking players Gabbi Phillips (setter) and Legacy Guider (libero), who were key to the team’s offense and defense, the Lady Knights have strong returners to take over the leadership roles.
Rising senior Tegan James will continue in the back row, while fellow seniors Sabrina Ewald and Sofia Reyes will fill in gaps, to create an offensive threat. The three seniors bring positive energy and leadership to the program.
Junior Amber Lee will take over the setter position, with freshman Kayla Cleveland. Coach Julie Wilt-Winfield is eager to see what sophomore Allie Sweet and junior Isabela Almeida will bring to the front row. Both young women have proved their mental toughness and athletic ability. Junior Savannah Hollier will complete the front row as another offensive threat.
River Ridge generally has had a veteran back row; however, this season, the addition of two freshmen to the back row will make for a different look, and the coaching staff is ready to see it all in action. Freshmen Kaya Burden, Kayla Cleveland and Jade Thompsen will add depth as the youngest players on the team. Rising junior Makenna Logan also will be part of the back row, and will bring program experience with her.
Sequoyah High
Competition Cheer
Coach Cassie Pichon
The competition cheer program is excited for the upcoming 2021 season. Although the team will be very young, it comes packed with talent, including full-squad standing and many elite stunting skills. The coaches are extremely excited with the work ethic, dedication and determination that this team brought to summer workouts.
“There is something special about this group of girls. I am looking forward to seeing the growth this season and extremely excited about what each of these girls bring to the team,” Cassie Pichon said. Another asset is the addition of Assistant Coach Ashlyn Grummer, who specializes in gymnastics and tumbling, and brings many years of experience from competitive gymnastics and cheerleading. The team will begin competing in October, and will compete in four competitions this season against teams from across the state.
Cross-Country
Head Coach Corinne Snow
The boys cross country team is excited to bring back seven varsity runners from the 2020 state qualifying team. They will be led by seniors Josh Helms and Aiden Ingram. Rising juniors Jake Labasi, Nathan Valles, Jack Tucker, Clay Tucker and Brock Freeman are working hard to return to the 2021 state championships.
The girls will be led by senior Susanna Rogers and juniors Ella Grace Cothren and Stella Waites, coming off a strong track season. Cothren and Rogers had big cross country and track seasons, breaking school records in the 5K, 3200M and 1600M. While the girls team graduated two of our top seven state team runners, we returned with four members of the 2020 state team. We are eager to make it to the 2021 state championship.
Fast Pitch Softball
Head Coach Lane Whitley
After a 2020 trip to state playoffs, the 2021 softball team looks to build on that success. Despite graduating six seniors, we have a great nucleus coming back. Seniors Molly Stevens (a Reinhardt commit), Abby Schreiner and Katelyn Edwards should lead the team to state again this season. We return a strong pitching staff, with Ava Fouts, Allison Sparkman, Kayla Scheiwe and Katelyn Edward.
Last season, we were co-region champs, and we should compete for the region championship again this season. The team will have to get past region foes Creekview, Cambridge and River Ridge to do so.
Flag Football
Coach Emily Ryan
The focus for the 2021 flag football season will be another run at the area championship, along with a third straight trip to the state playoffs. Cherokee County has been a trailblazer getting the sport of flag football off the ground in the state of Georgia, and is only getting more competitive with the addition of new teams to the area. The Chiefs will open up the season at Denmark High School on Oct. 7 against South Forsyth High School, as they look to avenge their loss in the Sweet 16 of the 2020 state playoffs to the War Eagles.
The 2021 Chiefs will be led by seniors Shelby Johnson, Alyssa Santana, Khelsey Shipp and Jamiaah Wilson. The team will look to running back Mya McRae, wide receiver Peyton Harper and tight end Caroline Small to get the offense going. On defense, the Chiefs will look to corners Amelia Griffiths and Kaitlyn Shellenbarger to defend the edge, as well as linebacker Samarah Destin.
With all the returning talent and past success the Sequoyah Chiefs have had, the focus will be on individual roles and continual player development, in order to ensure another successful season.
Football
Head Coach James Teter
The 2021 Chiefs hope to use the 2020 late season momentum to help jump start this season. Although last season started off slowly, the Chiefs rallied to win four of the last five games.
Like every year, the key to having a successful season is the ability to find replacements for key graduating seniors. On offense, at quarterback, the returning starter is junior Matthew Traynor. Also competing at quarterback is junior Alex Conti Jr. At running back, returners are senior fullback Peyton Lucas and senior wingback Jack Piskorz. Competing for playing time at running back are sophomores Jackson Hancock and Tyler Bell, senior Kemar Plummer, and juniors Ben Sanders, Asante Chimanda and Cruz Wright. Sophomore Dmitri Morris is the center. Returning juniors Tayo Ogundele and Jimmy Anderson, along with Will Scott and Walker Back, will compete at guard. Competing for time at offensive tackle are seniors Marshall Ketcham and Zack Barrett, sophomore Asher Martineau and junior Caden McMichen. Junior Ty Moores returns at tight end, along with senior Harrison Hood and junior Michael Kapanowski. Wide receiver finds seniors Ashkon Hunt and Josh Price, and juniors Zach Conrad, Cameron Massy and Demond Baker competing to start.
On the defensive line, seniors Avery Born and Harrison Hood will be the staples up front. Newcomers sophomore Brady Curl and senior Logan St. John will compete at the nose position. Seniors Patrick Beirne and Julian Camacho and junior Deaven Beavers will compete for playing time on the defensive front.
Seniors Chris Miller and Izaiah Sanders and junior Nathan Prewett are vying for starting positions at linebacker. At outside linebacker, juniors Rowen Steele and Carter Sandt, senior Kemar Plummer, junior Cruz Wright and sophomore Chris Jordan will control the edge. In the secondary, junior Matthew Traynor, sophomores Jackson Hancock and Bretton Darling and junior Cameron Massy compete for two starting spots at safety, while juniors Ridley Joseph and Ben Sanders, and sophomores Tyler Bell and Cameron Walker compete for the corner positions.
Volleyball
Head Coach John Edwards
This season sees the return of many familiar faces, as well as increased roles for others, in an effort to stay among the top teams in Class 6A. With appearances in the state finals in 2019 and final four in 2020, the team is motivated to compete against one of the toughest schedules in program history.
Graduated are six varsity members, including state player of the year Paige Powers, who is playing at Georgia Southern. Returning are two first-team All-State players, setter Taylor Pecht and libero Skylar Martin. All-State honorable mention Sara Siefert also returns, as do Catherine Brumbeloe, Sydney Huyck, Rosa Fisher and Sayler Davies. Versatility is the team’s strong point this year, as many players play multiple positions, to maximize the team’s chances to be successful.
Coach John Edwards welcomes new Assistant Coach Jordan Chapman to complement a staff that also includes Matt Roberson, who is coaching JV and assisting with varsity.
Woodstock High
Competition Cheer
Head Coach Helen Lane
Our talented team is led by our five amazing seniors: Madison Coleman, Mattie Graison Earnest, Mikayla Foust, Emily Hunter and Trell Toombs. These young women have helped the team break school records since their freshman year, and our goal is to continue this tradition. Their positive attitudes and encouraging leadership styles are teaching our younger athletes how consistency, teamwork, positivity and determination can help reach individual and team goals.
Our athletes worked hard this summer to prepare for a highly competitive season that includes six invitationals, with home competition on Oct. 30. Region, sectionals and state will follow. Being the head coach of the Woodstock cheerleading program is a true honor, and I am excited to see what our amazing team accomplishes this season.
Cross-Country
Head Coach Wakely Louis
We are looking forward to an exciting cross-country season. Our girls qualified for state last year and, hopefully, we can repeat that this year. The girls’ team should be competitive this year, with our juniors and seniors returning. Team leaders are Samantha Burmeister, Lilly Bailey, Caroline Olvin, Sophie Weissel and Anna Wadsworth.
Our boys came up short by a few points and did not make an appearance at state last year. Joseph Mines was the only athlete to make it to state. The boys have a chance to make an appearance at state this year, under the leadership of Dillon Watson, Joseph Mines, Jafari McEachron and Kevin Hackett.
We will focus on core workouts to strengthen all the muscles, to help improve running form, cut down injuries and boost their overall athletic performance. We want to continue to work hard, but, to accomplish that, we must stay healthy.
Flag Football
Head Coach Mason Wren
After reaching the Sweet 16 in its inaugural 2020 GHSA season, the Woodstock flag football team is looking to continue its success in the 2021 season. The Wolverines welcome Blessed Trinity into Area 4 for 6A/7A, along with Cherokee, Creekview, Etowah, River Ridge and Sequoyah. The Wolverines will lean heavily on returning starters and senior leaders Reece Morrish and Clara Welch. Tryouts take place Sept. 20. The Wolverines will open their season against Creekview at 7 p.m. Oct. 19 at Cherokee High.
Football
Head Coach Troy Hoff
The 2021 Woodstock Wolverines have handled many changes this offseason as they work toward a return to the GHSA playoffs. Troy Hoff was named the new head coach in March, in addition to other coaching changes on the staff. Woodstock plays in the competitive Region 5 AAAAAAA. The Wolverines have a challenging nonregion schedule, and opened their season Aug. 20 at the Den against Sequoyah.
The 2021 team is young and inexperienced, with many players competing for playing time. Returning starters on offense include junior quarterback Dan Comeau and a pair of offensive linemen in, junior Tyler Douthit (all-region) and senior JT Hunter. The defense will be led by a pair of all-region linebackers: senior Preston Lawrence and junior Carson Gray.
Players and coaches had a productive offseason and continue to put a tremendous amount of work into new training protocols and schematic changes. The growth and development of the 2021 team will depend on the level of improvement each week throughout the season. Our goal is to become a competitive program where the teams continually have a chance to win games in the fourth quarter and compete in the GHSA state playoffs.
Softball
Head Coach Alex Gray
The 2021 season is promising. The varsity is returning seven starters from last year, with several new faces in the lineup to enhance our competitive edge. This will be one of the most talented groups of young women this program has seen in a while. Mixed with five seniors who have been three-year starters, our lineup will be rounded out with several talented players competing for playing time.
Our defense is loaded with veteran leadership, and I have high expectations for them. The outfield is led by seniors Brooklyn McNeese and Maddie Carruthers, whose defensive abilities are second to none. The infield will be led by seniors Hannah Forbes and Molly Wiggins (both 2020 first-team all-region), and juniors Kacie Wiggins and Mak Levine. Brooke Hodges, a 2020 freshman starter, will see time in the infield and outfield; we are excited about her growth in the offseason. In the circle, Wiggins and Gracie Menard will lead the charge, with help from junior Savannah Read. New additions include freshmen Abby Gillis and Alyssa Kendall. Victoria Tunon returns from offseason knee surgery. We can’t wait to have her leadership on the field.
Our senior class is a special group, and I look forward to watching them lead this program back to the playoffs this year. Overall, our team is composed of remarkable young women, and they are a pleasure to coach.
Volleyball
Head Coach Kelly Audia
The 2020 season, as it was, became a strong indicator of improvement on the Woodstock sub-varsity levels, but last year’s senior group made definite sacrifices for this program moving forward.
While the 2020 team struggled to win on the varsity level, last year’s seniors were a tremendous influence on the underclassmen. Their attitude and perseverance will be a part of the returning squad’s growth and attitude going forward. Neva Clark, Lauren DeSanctis, Kenzie Lamberg and Brooke Loan long will be remembered for their contributions.
This year’s team will continue to build for the future and compete more consistently than in prior years. The volleyball play and the work ethic are solidly improving, and the team is eager to begin.
Returning key varsity players consist of senior Allison Mascitti (libero/defensive specialist), juniors Gracie Cassidy (middle blocker), Alexa Travis (outside hitter), Peyton White and Payton Kuhn (setters), sophomores Lola Burdick (outside hitter/right side) and Ava Tieman (libero/defensive specialist). Many newcomers will vie for positions early in the year.
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