River Ridge

Cross-Country
Head Coach  Keith Cooper

River Ridge Cross Country continues to achieve success, despite losing runners to graduation, and this season will be no different. Last season’s Cherokee County School District Cross-Country Runner of the Year, Cayden Crismon, will be difficult to replace, but junior Kelly Miles looks ready to step into a leader’s role after a very successful track season and excellent summer workout program.

The girls team will continue their push to achieve a fifth consecutive state finals appearance, where the team has finished in the Top 10 for three of the past four years. Despite losing three senior runners, the Knights still have a solid core of runners that have tasted success at last year’s state finals, as well as the 2022 Track and Field Finals, including Lea Foley, Lauren Philips and Alyssa Roberts.

The boys look forward to the challenge of qualifying for the state finals, with Diego Ladera leading the pack. Other top runners include Ethan Keenum, Tyler Grund, Patrik Liska, Candler Rabun and Wyatt Sepaniak.

Fun day, run day!

Football
Head Coach Michael Collins

The 2022 River Ridge Knights have been working extremely hard this offseason. The focus has been on improving every day in all aspects of the game. The Knights are coming off back-to-back winning seasons and hope to build off that momentum. They will be a young team in many positions, but have several returning players who will have a major impact.

The offense will be led by returning all-state player Jackson Head. Also returning on offense is all-region player Jon Faletra. Brenden Dye, a three-year starter, will join Andrew Hand and MJ Ayers as key returning players on the defensive side of the ball. With the combination of these returners and talented young players, the Knights should be a very exciting team to watch this season.

Volleyball
Head Coach Julie Wilt-Winfield

Winfield and her staff are looking forward to what the 2022 season will bring. With a new and competitive region, there is hope for an exciting season ahead for the Knights. There are a handful of veteran returners who will continue to lead with strength and discipline, but the coaching staff is looking to utilize the team’s young talent.

Last season was full of success; the Knights finished second in the region after a tough regular season, and finished in the Sweet 16. This season, Winfield hopes the team will keep a championship mindset and finish in the top four in the region.

A couple returners, Allie Sweet and Isabela Almeida, are anticipated to lead the Knights in the front row. Both ladies lead by their play and bring a lot to the court and team environment. Winfield also is looking for the entire team to step up to the challenge and compete with grit and hustle to frustrate future opponents.

Softball
Head Coach Andy Marinelli

The Knights have many high-performing players returning to the lineup in 2022 from their state runner-up finish last season. Senior shortstop Lily Bell is coming off a historic junior season in which she received first-team all-region, first-team all-county, first-team all-state and 6A Georgia Dugout Club Player of the Year honors. Junior pitcher Amanda Fulton also is coming off a stellar sophomore season, where she received Region Pitcher of the Year and County Pitcher of the Year honors. The Knights will be looking for big things out of junior Brelyn O’Hearn, as well. She received first-team all-region and first-team all-county honors last season.

Other strong performers from last season include seniors Kaitlyn Stacey, Alexis Hahen and sophomore Emery Butler. Marinelli thinks this year’s lineup has the potential to be the best he ever has had. The Knights will be tested all year long while playing one of the toughest schedules in the state. This year’s schedule includes 16 games against teams that made it to Columbus last season, along with five games against teams that won a state championship last year. Marinelli is excited to watch his team compete every day.

 

Flag Football
Head Coach Mark Lewis

The flag football team’s coaches and players are excited to get the 2022 season started. They have made it to the first round of the state playoffs the past two seasons, but their goal this year is to advance to multiple rounds of the playoffs.

Returning for her third year as starting quarterback, Kathryn Hutchinson will look to continue running a dynamic offense, along with sophomores Kaitlyn Manderano, Pope Scurlock and junior Emma Gomez. Due to graduation and transfers, the team lost four of its best flag pullers from last season. Much of the preseason will be spent finding and developing the speed and aggressiveness necessary for a good defense.

The area schedule starts off against Sequoyah at Roswell High School on Oct. 18.

 

Competition Cheer
Head Coach Jessica Bell

River Ridge is excited to continue to grow its cheer program and bring back its competition cheer squad after a three-year break. The team has a new coach, Jessica Bell, who is looking forward to building on the talent in the young squad. With a successful choreography camp completed, the athletes are ready to develop their skills and work to put together a solid, clean and entertaining routine on the floor. The team is grateful for the school and community support it has received to rebuild, and they look forward to opening up competition this fall at Allatoona. Go Knights!

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Sequoyah High

Volleyball
Head Coach John Edwards

There are high expectations for the 2022 season. Coming off a 50-4 year and the second state finals appearance in three years, this group of nine seniors is hungry to finish their careers on a high note.

With the fast-paced offense led by senior setter and three-time all-state performer Taylor Pecht, the Chiefs are looking to continue their ability to score. All-state players Rosa Fisher and Sara Siefert return as kill leaders. Sydney Huyck also will be called upon to score from the outside hitter position.

Defensively, three-time all-state member Skylar Martin will anchor the team from the libero position. The Chiefs are not the tallest group, but they take pride in playing scrappy defense.

Rounding out this group of seniors, who are 125-9 as varsity players, are Catherine Brumbeloe, Emily Brown, Callie Gaddis and Charlotte Ambrose. They will play an important part on this team, which is positioned to continue the same level of success that the program has enjoyed.

Although the Chiefs will be playing in the hardest classification for volleyball, the team is focused and will strive to maximize its talents and efforts.

Flag Football
Head Coach Andy Maxwell

I am excited about having the opportunity to take over for Emily Goodson this season. Sequoyah had tremendous success the first year under Goodson, making it to the state finals. Having coached football for many years, I look forward to making the transition to flag football.

The team has a core of returning seniors that could make for an exciting season and, hopefully, a return to the playoffs: Quarterback Mary Hobbs, running back Maya McRae and wide receiver Caroline Grayeski will be leading an explosive offense, which should score frequently. Other returning players, such as Clair Williams, will play a huge role in punting and defense. We also have a core of talented upcoming freshmen, led by Rain McRae, which should round out an exciting team this year.

Football
Head Coach James Teter

The 2022 Sequoyah Chiefs could be one of the best teams we have had in several years. The Chiefs look to find a way to get back into the state playoffs, which they have missed the past three seasons while playing one of the hardest schedules in the county.

The Chiefs’ winged-t offense will have experienced ball handlers in running backs Jackson Hancock, Tyler Bell, Cruz Wright and Asante Chimanda, all returning after playing significant time last season.

Sequoyah’s most experienced group on the field will be the offensive line, which has four returning starters in guards Jimmy Anderson and Temitayo Ogundele, as well as Ty Moores at tight end and Dmitri Morris at center. Offensive tackle is where newcomers Carter Ligetti, Brady Curl and Will Scott will battle it out for two spots, to see who will start Game 1.

At wide receiver, the Chiefs have returning starter Cameron Massey, as well as Alex Conti and Ridley Joseph, to anchor the passing game.

On offense, the big question mark is who will be at quarterback. Currently, there are four players working hard to take the position. Although Jaxon Nesbitt and Hunter Scoggins have taken big strides in leading the Chiefs’ offense, there are a lot of things still to be decided before a starter can be named.

On defense, five starters return: nose guard Brady Curl, safeties Jackson Hancock and Bretton Darling, outside linebacker Rowan Steele and corner Ridley Joseph.

The defensive line could turn out to be one of the stronger units on the field, with Brady Curl, Ty Moores, Jimmy Anderson, Temitayo Ogundele, Cole Jordan and Ean Marria working in the rotation.

The linebacker position could be the biggest question mark on defense, with Rowan Steele being the only returning starter. The following players are all fighting to fill the remaining inside and outside linebacker positions: Taiwo Ogundele, Christopher Jordan, Walker Beck, Andrew Zablotny and Nathan Prewett.

The secondary is another strong area this season, with three returning starters: Jackson Hancock and Bretton Darling at the safety positions and Ridley Joseph at corner. Others battling for playing time in the secondary will be Cantrell Davis, Tyler Bell, Jacob Chastain and Cam’ron Walker.

The Chiefs’ kicking game should be solid, with returning punter Daniel Cruz holding down kicking and punting duties.

The season looks promising if the Chiefs can fill in all of the open spots and find a way to navigate through a very difficult schedule, with region opponents in Rome, Allatoona, Creekview and River Ridge, as well as newly added 6A teams Woodstock and Etowah. But, they also will play nonregion opponents Lambert, Rabun Gap, Cedartown and Cherokee. If the Chiefs can find a way to be in the running for a playoff spot by the end of the season, they should be battle-tested and ready to make a playoff run.

Softball
Head Coach Lisa Chapman

The Lady Chiefs are returning a strong group of seniors who finished in the Elite eight last year. New coach Lisa Chapman has high expectations, and believes the team can return to Columbus!

This year’s team will rely on strong pitching in the circle from the senior duo of Ava Fouts and Allison Sparkman, along with a strong core of returning starters — Reagan Hill, Emma Brinkman, Brylee Burns, Madison Gant and Whitney Scherer.

The atmosphere around the team is exciting, and everyone is working hard to make this year successful!

Competition Cheer
Head Coach Cassie Pichon
Assistant Coach Ashlyn Grummer

The Chiefs are coming off an undefeated season in 2021. This year’s team has a bright future, with strong leadership from five amazing seniors: Emma Blackmon, Bailey Combs, Alyssa Geist, Lauren Grays and Kathryn Thompson. These seniors lead this team with their skill set as well as their attitude and work ethic; they also are members of the Football Sideline Gold Squad.

The Sequoyah Varsity Competition team will compete in four regular season competitions. Then, they will head to Warner Robins to compete in 6A region and state sectionals. The top 16 teams from Georgia will advance to the state championship in Macon on Nov. 11.

Cross-Country
Head Coach Corinne Ingram,
Assistant coaches Jason Lathbury and Jon Kendall

The Chiefs are ready for another amazing season in 2022. Coming off a successful 2021 season, the varsity boys, Region 7 6A champions and fourth-place state finishers, will return five of the seven team members. The team will miss Josh Helms and Aiden Ingram, who graduated, but leaders Jake Labasi, Brock Freeman, Nathan Valles, Jack Tucker and Clay Tucker will be returning with hopes of a third run at state and taking another podium spot! Runners to watch for in the upcoming season are Christian Roush, Clint Schuler and many new team members who are showing great potential.

The varsity girls, 2021 Region 7 6A runner-up and state qualifiers, will be a team to watch in 2022. Returning five of seven sixth-place state team members, minus graduates Susanna Rogers and Morgan Freeman, they are looking to make their third consecutive appearance at state. Ella Grace Cothren, Stella Waites, Rylee Fisher, Peyton Harper, Blakely Freeman and Reece Harper are excited to welcome the new freshman members. Freshmen to watch are Rebekah Rogers, Eleni Giannopoulos and Abigail Reiner.

 

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Woodstock High

Cross-Country
Head Coach Wakely Louis

Our expectations for the 2022 season are high for our Woodstock High cross-country team. The girls and boys teams did a great job last year. The girls placed fourth and the boys placed third at region.

Lily Bailey placed sixth place overall and Sam Burmeister placed 14th for the girls. Dillon Watson placed second, Will Sumner placed ninth and Joseph Mines placed 12th for the boys. Both our girls and boys teams made it to state for the first time in four years. The leadership of our senior and junior cross-country runners played an integral part in that success.

We graduated five seniors on the boys team and two from the girls team. Both teams are young, but we still can be very competitive this season. Also, moving from 7A to 6A brings new challenges for our teams, but we welcome those challenges.
During June and July, the cross-country team worked out three to five days a week. The summer workouts helped with our first competitive meet on Aug. 13: the Hoya 2 Mile.

That first meet each year lets our coaching staff know where our strengths and weaknesses are. We will have a new strengthening and conditioning coach on staff at Woodstock, with three major goals — improving athletic performance, reducing athletic injuries and teaching lifelong fitness and movement skills. Staying healthy is our No. 1 priority for success. Hopefully, we can be competitive at region and eventually make it to the 6A state championship at Carrollton.

 

Football
Head Coach Troy Hoff

The Woodstock Wolverines had a productive off-season, working toward the start of the 2022 season. Changes in classification moved Woodstock to Georgia High School Association (GHSA) Class 6A in the competitive Region 6. The Wolverines opened the season Aug. 19 on the road at Osborne High School, and will play a challenging schedule.

The 2022 team is still young and inexperienced, with many players competing for playing time. Seniors Tyler Douthit (first-team all-region) and Chase Blalock (second-team all-region) return to anchor the offensive line. Senior Adonis Garcia (second-team all-region) again will see time on both sides of the ball, at wide receiver and defensive back. Senior Carson Gray (second-team all-region) returns at linebacker and also will see time at running back. Senior specialist Kristian Colina (honorable mention all-region) returns to handle kicking and punting duties.

The growth and development of the team will depend on the level of improvement each week throughout the season. The 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.

 

Volleyball
Head Coach Kelly Audia

The Woodstock Volleyball program has made significant strides of improvement in both skill level and dedication. Players and coaches on all program levels have been working hard to continue to gain momentum for the future.

The 2022 varsity team returns several experienced lettermen, including seniors Alexa Travis, Emily Cunningham, Gracie Cassidy and Payton Kuhn; juniors Annalee Cloys, Lola Burdick and Jessica Rauen; and sophomores Hannah Depp, Kiyla Mighty and Lauren Nobis. Newcomer juniors Kailey Autry and Olivia O’Connor look to bring stability to the team, as well.

The season outlook is extremely positive, and the team looks once again to add growth as well as a significant number of wins in 2022.

 

Softball
Head Coach Alex Gray

After a strong 2021 season that saw Woodstock softball compete in the Sweet 16, and graduating five impact senior players, the coaching staff will be looking for new leaders to emerge for the 2022 season.

There will be plenty of new faces in the mix, with the addition of a strong freshman class. Overall, led by seniors Kacie Wiggins, Savannah Read and Abbey Stickle, we have an amazing group of young women, who are focused on playing the game the right way, and will bring the necessary dedication and work ethic to each practice.

With the athletic talents and versatility this group brings to the table, our coaching staff will be afforded several offensive and defensive strategies to implement against our competition. The 2022 season will see us competing in a new region at the 6A level, with River Ridge, Sequoyah, Creekview, Allatoona, Rome and Etowah. There is no shortage of talent in this region, and we look forward to the challenge. We are Woodstock!

 

Flag Football
Head Coach Sadie Binkley

The 2021 Wolverine flag football team had a very successful season, making it to the first round of state. We had four graduating seniors, who were big contributors to our success on both sides of the ball, and will be greatly missed. Returning key players include senior quarterback Bella D’Apice, senior wide receiver Sophie Gaudette, junior corner Elysium Virnich, junior linebacker/rusher Ali Feuerstein, as well as four other varsity starters.

We have a lot of upcoming talent from our junior varsity and middle school programs competing for positions early in the season, and they will help give us a more competitive edge. Our girls worked extremely hard in the off-season to learn new skills and continue to develop.
We are excited to welcome Fellowship Christian in Area 4 for 6A/7A, along with returning Cherokee County schools and Blessed Trinity. The area will be very competitive this year, and we are excited to see what this season holds. Our season starts at Dunwoody High School, 6 p.m. Oct. 6.

 

Competition Cheer
Head Coach Helen Lane

The Woodstock competition cheer team is very excited about the 2022 season. Our team is guided by amazing seniors: Kenzie Killian, Jilly Logan, Lily Grace McWhorter, Emma Price, Cailin Smith and Faith Walker. These ladies embraced the challenges in our new division and are guiding our team with encouragement, while establishing the importance of teamwork.

Our team demonstrates what it means to support and believe in one another. Having the opportunity to coach these ladies is a dream for our coaching staff, and we cannot wait to see the impressive routines they perform this season.

The team will compete in six invitationals, with our home competition on Oct. 29 at Woodstock High School. Region/sectionals and state will follow. This team’s dedication shows through our athletes gaining new skills to ensure that we maximize our score sheet and put our team in the best possible position to be successful in 6A. We hope that you will come support our amazing athletes; this team is truly one of a kind.
We are Woodstock!