It’s Not How You Start, It’s How You Finish
by Jordan Livesay

The River Ridge Lady Knights are working toward a strong season finish while simultaneously contributing to a charitable cause. The team hosted Pepperell February 7 for its Fight Like a Knight game, a fundraiser to benefit the fight against cancer.  The stands were filled with parents, students, teachers and friends from the River Ridge community who purchased Fight Like a Knight t-shirts. Proceeds from the t-shirt sales will go to the River Ridge Relay for Life team.

Pepperell was tied for first in Region 7-AA, but the Lady Knights pulled out a win in the last seconds of overtime!  Jessica Baker’s three-point jumper with 15 seconds remaining in regulation play took the game to overtime, where Pepperell jumped out to an early seven-point lead.  However, the Lady Knights fought back and sunk a game-winning basket with less than 3 seconds on the clock.

The win put the Lady Knights in fourth place in their sub-region, earning them a chance to advance to the region tournament.  More important, their victory against a top-tier region opponent might give the Lady Knights the spark they need to make a surge in their sub-region.  If River Ridge places among the top three teams in the sub-region tournament, the Lady Knights will clench a spot in the region tournament.

The Lady Knights have greatly improved since the beginning of the season.  With a team comprised of freshmen and sophomores, the season has been filled with highs and lows. Working hard to gel as a team, the Lady Knights believe their big win against Pepperell is the start of great things to come.

Building a Tradition

At River Ridge High School, the baseball program has the daunting task of filling spots with freshmen and sophomores to compete in the program’s inaugural varsity season.  However, there is a bright side: No seniors were lost from last year’s team.  With the team returning every player from last season, River Ridge coaches only have to worry about picking up where they left off.  Their playing experience from last season will hopefully contribute to this year’s success.  

Players have been participating in offseason conditioning, weight training and advanced power training.  Some of their workouts involved sledge hammers, tractor tires and cinder blocks.  Their physical growth is evident, but the athletes are maturing mentally and seem to have a chip on their shoulder.

The Knights baseball team adopted the motto “R-T-L” or “Refuse To Lose”!  In each of their workouts and practices, players are expected to give 110 percent and never give up.  The Knights believe one can only lose if they quit.  The players on this year’s team plan to lay the foundation for a bright future of great baseball at River Ridge High School.

Basketball Cheerleaders

The 2010-2011 varsity basketball cheerleaders at River Ridge High School are very passionate about cheerleading. The 10 girls who made the squad are best friends and treat each other like sisters. Since River Ridge is a new school, the squad consists of freshmen and sophomores who are privileged to be on a varsity team instead of having to wait until their junior or senior years.

The River Ridge cheerleaders have learned to get along with each other and stick together. Before their season started, the cheerleaders went to camp at the Stingray Allstars gym. Stingrays taught the girls a few cheers and their incredible halftime routine. Camp was a time for them to get to know one another and bond as a team, and the girls agree that the experience brought them together.

The first few practices were tough. Learning new cheers, practicing jumps and perfecting the halftime performance took hard work, but it was definitely worth it.  Seeing their spirit on the sidelines is breathtaking. No matter the game’s score, they always try to encourage the team to finish strong. Many cheerleaders will agree that involving the crowd is hard work, but once it happens, the game becomes more exciting. Although there are only 10 cheerleaders, their energy is felt from the stands.

The cheerleaders have a few cheers that they enjoy more than others, but there is an obvious team favorite at River Ridge: “Battle Cry,” which is by far their best chant and sounds amazing when performed in unison. There are other chants the girls enjoy as well, such as “Stomp and Shake It,” “Great Vine,” and “Be Aggressive.” But most of all, the girls enjoy being together on the court laughing and cheering their team to victory!

Swim Team

The River Ridge High School swim team, led by Coaches Sarah Goodbread and Samantha Fraser with the help of captains Austin Maxwell and Madison Gentry, has had another successful year! The team’s second year has brought great recognition to the school.

For a school that has only sophomores and freshmen, River Ridge has made multiple great accomplishments. They have a total of 42 swimmers, which is more than the teams at nearby schools. The Knights placed third overall in Adairsville against 16 teams, second at Darlington and North View, and the girls placed first at Marist versus North Forsyth. With a few meets remaining, Knights swimmers are still hopeful to qualify for state competition. A few swimmers are only a second or two from qualifying. The girls 200 medley relay team of Emma Burke, Catesby Penn, Micaela Campagna and Kimberly Hayes has to shave .016 seconds from their best time to make the cut. Hayes is also less than a second away in the 100 backstroke. Penn is two seconds away from state in the 200 freestyle. The team hopes for more of these great accomplishments as it grows and River Ridge becomes a four-year school.

Beginning at 6:15 a.m., the team practices three times a week at the Woodstock Aquatic Center and Gold’s Gym. The swimmers are very supportive of their team. On meet days, they wear their swim t-shirts and decorate their lockers to show their spirit.

Their support and spirit doesn’t stop at school. At every meet, the swimmers constantly cheer for their teammates in each event. The relays and the 500-yard freestyle race are the most exciting to watch and cheer for. Freshman Bailey Snodgrass says, "I think the 500 is the most fun to cheer for, because it’s usually quiet while they’re swimming and everyone that is swimming can hear me!" Sophomore Maranda Dyer says, "I like cheering for the relays because it makes them go faster and helps them know that we believe in them."

River Ridge swimmers strive to be the best they can be and have a lot of spirit. Cheyenne Harrington says that she enjoys being a part of the team because of all the "great people and friends that you get involved with." She adds, "The relationships are amazing and so tight between the swimmers."

Lady Knights Basketball
by Parker Nayman • photography by Michael Nayman

The 2010-2011 Lady Knights basketball season might include hardwood, hard knocks and eventually, a hard-earned spot in the state playoffs.  Playing freshmen and sophomores with only a JV season under their belts, the team has a full varsity schedule this year. The Lady Knights played in various varsity tournaments over the summer and showed they could compete in this season’s rigorous schedule.  Head coach Jason Taylor reminds them before every game that respect is not given – it has to be earned. The team tries to follow his advice.  

The Lady Knights know how to encourage and push one another during practice in order to make one another better. They have great coaches who comprehend the game and do an extraordinary job imparting their knowledge to the team. They have each other’s best interest at heart and share the common goal of advancing to the postseason.

The team has to work hard in Region 7-AA. They don’t have much experience playing at the varsity level and are expected to make rookie mistakes. They have to hustle, make free throws, take smart shots and minimize turnovers. Perfecting the little things will win ball games. During practice, they continue to work on fundamentals. Taylor says, “Even though these mistakes are expected, we have to play through them and make up for them with our strengths.”

The nine players on the team, focus on proving that they can compete, regardless of their opponents. Each player is just as important and they all have individual roles and strengths. The sophomores are Jordan Livesay, Rachel Psomas, Carson Bedford, Maggie Sigler, Mickayla Elliot and Parker Nayman.  The freshmen are Jessica Baker, Lucy Stone and Jessica Mlaska.  While they may be small in number, their hearts and effort make up for shortfalls.

Youth has its pitfalls but the team feels that it has many advantages.  They have an opportunity not many teams get to experience: they can start a winning tradition. Every time they step on the floor, they are reminded that they have to prove themselves. The only thing they want is a big “W” at the end of the game.  Winning is their goal and sound fundamentals along with game experience will help them achieve it.

River Ridge Wrestling
photography by Taylor Adams

Austin Kile, son of Dan and Eileen Kile, is following in his father’s footsteps.  Dan Kile wrestled in the 105-lb. weight class for coach Frank Keller at Sprayberry High School the year they won state.   He knows what it feels like to be a winner. And, like his father, Austin Kile is a great wrestler who wants to experience the feeling of being a state winner.

A third-year wrestler, Kile is carrying on his family’s wrestling tradition set by his grandfather, father and uncle.  As a sophomore, Kile hopes to also make a name for himself throughout the state of Georgia. He currently wrestles in the 119-lb. weight class for River Ridge High School.

At the inaugural Knights of the Round Table Invitational that hosted 20 teams, Kile beat his competition to earn first place.  “I was very pleased by the turnout for the tournament.  We saw some great competition,” says coach Leslie Morrow.

After practicing in the cafeteria last year, the Knights now have their own wrestling room at the new school.  The team has vastly improved since its first year.  Starting a new program with only one experienced wrestler was one of many obstacles that had to be overcome.  “This year we are continuing to grow as a team with hopes of making some noise within the state during the next two years,” Morrow says.

The River Ridge Knights wrestling team has 24 members, consisting of ninth- and tenth-grade students.  Making a reputation for himself is Chaz Trettel, who wrestled in the 171-lb. class at the tournament and took fifth place after wrestling for only two weeks.  Ryan Garlepp (112) and Davis McKensie (160) are the team’s motivators.  They have positive attitudes, are hard workers and push the other wrestlers on the team to be better.  They keep the Knights working hard to obtain their goals.

Morrow sets a great example for his young wrestlers.  As a three-time individual state champion who represented Sequoyah High School, Morrow can intrinsically motivate his team as well as extrinsically.  He can show them the state champion rings but nothing can describe the feeling of being the best in the state.  Not only was Morrow an individual state winner, but he helped to contribute to the Sequoyah team championship.  It takes a team of individual winners to achieve such greatness.

“The Georgia state wrestling tournament used to be held at McEachern High School.  There is nothing more ominous than walking down those bleachers with the spotlight on you and In The Air Tonight playing through the loudspeakers as you go to battle for first place,” Morrow says.  “I just want one of these young men to experience that.  It is a once in a lifetime experience.”

Knights Prepare to Rock “The Pit”
by Austin Kohler

Preparation for the 2010-2011 River Ridge boys basketball season is in full swing and the Knights are almost ready to hit the court. The Knights have one thing on their minds this season: to win state.  While practice began in November, the road to state started much earlier during the sweltering months of June and July.  In those two months, River Ridge played more than 20 exhibition games against teams from all over the region. Coach Matt Bohon also started his players on an intense workout regimen that continued into the preseason conditioning program that began in September.

The Knights will be playing a full varsity and JV schedule while competing in Region 7-AA. River Ridge will also take on Woodstock, Sequoyah and Cherokee.  Competing on a higher level is not an easy task and Bohon is looking for key players like Nick Masterson and Nick Lang to step up this season and help lead his team.

River Ridge has several freshmen playing on varsity this year and for his team to be successful, Bohon hopes they will execute the fast-break offense and their man defense flawlessly. If successful, the Knights could bring home some hardware at season’s end.

Tip-Off Madness
by Austin Kohler

With tip-off at hand, the River Ridge women’s basketball program is preparing for the season ahead. The Lady Knights are headed by coach Jason Taylor. In the team’s inaugural season, his squad went 15-5 in a full JV schedule as well as 2-2 against tougher varsity opponents. River Ridge’s three-sport star, sophomore Jordan Livesay, along with freshmen teammates Jess Baker and Lucy Stone, are going to be relied upon heavily as the Knights go against a full varsity schedule. “The competition is going to be bigger, tougher and faster than it was last year,” says Taylor. “Their leadership is going to be crucial if we want to contend in the region.”

While the competition might be bigger and faster than last season, so is River Ridge. The Knights acquired a state-of-the-art weight room to go along with the many other athletic facilities. And the Knights have been using their resources wisely. In the summer, the girls held morning practices at Mill Creek Middle School because the new gym at RRHS, known as “The Pit,” wasn’t completed. Immediately afterward, the girls would jog over to the high school and hit the weight room or deal with the intense Georgia heat on the track while going through a tough strength and conditioning program.

While the new facilities will help the Knights, the program is still young. They return all of their players from last season’s team of eighth- and ninth-graders, but sophomore Maggie Sigler isn’t sure that counts for much. “Yeah, we are getting all of the team back and that’s good because we gained some experience, but we are still just ninth- and 10th-graders. It will be tough and take a lot of hard work but I think we are up for the challenge.”

Even though they are young, there is at least one girl who can provide valuable experience for River Ridge. Thanks to the need for jobs in the new building, the Knights were able to acquire one of Cherokee County’s top rising basketball players in Parker Naymen. Naymen, who played for Creekview High School’s varsity program last season, will be a big presence in the paint this season. “She is tall and very strong,” says Taylor. “Her strength along with her good post and ability to finish through contact make her a major asset to our team. It helps that she also comes in as the only one with varsity experience.”

After their strong first season, the girls are hungry for more. While one of their biggest goals is to make the state tournament, it isn’t their most important. What is the number one thing on the team’s checklist? “Respect,” says Taylor. The Lady Knights want to prove that they have what it takes to play in their region on a varsity level.

Swimming Knights Look to Make Splash
by Austin Kohler

The River Ridge High School swimming Knights are hitting the water in preparation for the season ahead. With a 42-man roster, River Ridge hopes to make a region splash in their first season where everyone on the team can contribute points toward the Knights’ overall score at meets. “Last year we had a lot of good swimmers but they were all mostly eighth-graders, so their results didn’t count toward our final score,” says head coach Sarah Goodbread. “This year, we don’t have to worry about that.”

Sophomores Austin Maxwell and Matt Brown will be looked upon to provide the young team with leadership this season. Maxwell and Brown were the only two swimmers to letter for River Ridge last year. While the Knights have the numbers and the raw talent to be a good swim team, they are still without a victory in this season. According to Goodbread, the obstacle the young swimmers face is nothing other than their work ethic. “We have the talent,” says Goodbread. “But there are times at practice that we don’t give it our all and we get sloppy. In the long run, that could really hurt us.”

That will have to change if the Knights want to achieve their goals this season. Goodbread’s main goal is for the team to swim faster and improve their times but she also hopes to send a few swimmers to the state meet on February 12. Goodbread knows she has work ahead but believes that by season’s end, River Ridge could be the home of a state championship team.

Second-Year Knights Hit the Mat
by Austin Kohler

A successful first season, a full weight room and a wrestling room with their own mat will hopefully give River Ridge the momentum needed to make an impact in the world of high school wrestling. At the end of last season, three Knights were one pin away from going to state as freshmen. Davis Mackenzie, Austin Bennett and Ryan Sailor each lost what would have been their qualifying matches, leaving them hungry for more. Second-year coach Leslie Morrow also wants more and is setting the bar high for the young Knights. “The main thing we need to work on is mastering the fundamentals of the sport,” says Morrow. “That is the only way we will become great at what we do.”  

Practice began November 4 with exactly 19 days to prepare for the varsity matchups against Blessed Trinity and St. Francis. Last season, River Ridge used mats donated by Etowah High School in the middle school cafeteria that was the temporary wrestling home while the high school building was being completed. This year, the Knights have their own facility to help the team get bigger. “It’s going to be cool having our own place to wrestle,” says sophomore Austin Kyle. “We finally have a home.”

The new home, along with an influx of freshmen wrestlers and the experience of the sophomores, should impact the end of the season with four or five Knights advancing to the state tournament.

Lady Knights Strong Season Ends Early

River Ridge was one win away from a state tournament bid and a chance to do what no other team before them has done: win state with only sophomores and freshmen. When the final out was recorded in game four of the regional softball tournament, Region 7A-AA dark horse River Ridge had suffered a second loss, knocking the team out of the running for state.

Although their season ended early, the girls have reason to be proud. In only their second year, the Lady Knights took on a full varsity schedule, losing only four times in the regular season and finishing second in region behind powerhouse Rockmart. River Ridge dropped the first game of the region tournament but rallied to come within one game of making state.

The inexperienced squad of underclassmen stepped up to the challenge given to them by head coach Scott Bradley at the beginning of the season. “I challenged them to go out there, do work, and get it done,” Bradley says. “They did that and I’m proud of every single one of them. Now it’s time to review and start looking towards next year.”

There is a lot to look forward to next season. River Ridge returns every member of the 2010 squad next fall. With another year of experience under their belts, the Lady Knights have a good chance to overcome Rockmart and control the region.

The Lady Knights will need to work on their defense during the offseason. The team recorded 59 errors in 23 games during the season while their opponents made 20 errors against River Ridge, a factor that played a big part in the Lady Knights’ big losses. “The reason we slowed down towards the end of the season was because the girls got sloppy and our defense was just a lazy one,” Bradley says.

Other than slip-shod defensive play, River Ridge was stellar. Offensively they outscored opponents 130 -63 and outhit their competition 167-88. Sophomores Sara Bennetts, Ashley Evans and Jordan Livesay and freshman Jessica Baker were a big part of the Lady Knights’ offensive game.  The “Big Four” led the team with a combined .394 batting average, 73 runs scored, and 57 RBIs.  Along with a slugging percentage of .547, 35 base on balls and 32 stolen bases, the four led the team in every category except strikeouts. The Big Four had 35 total strikeouts compared to the rest of the team’s 99 whiffs.

The lone freshman of the Big Four, Jess Baker, hit .444 and scored 20 runs for River Ridge while serving as the team’s only pitcher. Baker started every varsity and JV match for the Lady Knights and did not disappoint. Baker steamrolled through opponents, racking up 103 strikeouts and only 48 earned runs. She had an ERA of just 2.61 and pitched two shutouts while giving up just 107 hits. Her weakness was base on balls. Baker gave 65 batters a free ride to first throughout the season.

Offseason workouts begin in November and as the Lady Knights work throughout the winter, they’ll be looking ahead to next fall where they plan to avenge their six losses and make it to state.  For now, as Coach Bradley says, “It’s time to do work.”

Stacked

At the recent county meet, River Ridge cross country faced the challenge of running against the more established programs in Cherokee County.

For the girls team, Ashley Heibel and Liza Jamison finished among the top fourteen with Ashley placing fourth overall.

Clifton West, Joe Mays and Ryan Worely placed in the boys top 15 in an intense junior varsity race at J.J. Biello Park in Woodstock. The meet, which was hosted and won by Etowah High School, consisted of four races. Each three-mile race was on a twisting gravel trail that led through woods, grassland and past soccer fields. The day was hot but the Knights managed to pull out third in the tough competition.
“I’m proud of them,” says first-year head coach Samantha Fraser.  “It’s obvious that they are one of the best teams in the county.  The next step is to become a top squad in the state. Winning at regionals will help.”

River Ridge looks forward to the Sharptop Invitational as a final tune-up before their regional competition on October 28.

Cheerleading:  A Sport
by Austin Kohler

The perfect recipe for success can be found walking the halls of River Ridge High School.  Mix two parts school spirit, 50 gallons of energy, hearts full of devotion, daily persistence, positive attitudes, a touch of flexibility and a room full of smiles, and the result is the River Ridge High School cheerleading squads.  There are three squads of cheerleaders at River Ridge: football, basketball and competition cheerleaders.

At every River Ridge varsity and freshman football game, the Knights cheer squad can be relied upon to motivate the navy and gold faithful. At varsity games, the varsity and JV squads cheer on the Knights. There are so many girls on the team that fans get a piece of the action no matter where they are sitting. While they don’t perform any stunts, their cheers get everyone on their feet. Sophomore Kyle VanOflen comments, “Yeah, it would be cool if they were flipping in the air and all that but they’re still fun to watch.”  The ladies save their stunts for when they will need them most – on the mat.

Twice weekly, the competition squad meets in the cafeteria and rolls out the mats for practice. For those who think cheerleading is not a sport, a look at their practice routine might cause reconsideration. Their stunts require flexibility, athleticism and intense concentration. Not only is it difficult, it’s dangerous. Girls have injured ankles and broken backs in the sport. Cheering also requires great awareness and choreography. Sophomore Kara Wood received a black eye during one practice after being a foot out of place. Luckily, that has been the worst of the girls’ injuries so far.  Competitions are just around the corner.

As the Knights hit the basketball court in November so will the River Ridge cheer team. Basketball cheer is sometimes considered the lesser cousin to “actual” cheerleading but that’s not the case at River Ridge. The majority of football and competition cheerleaders are planning to try out in late October. “The girls are really excited about the basketball season. It keeps them active and they enjoy it a lot,” says second-year head coach Kathryn Ricker.  Home basketball games at the Ridge are expected to be extra loud, thanks to these ladies.

Whether on the field, court or mat, the River Ridge cheerleaders will be making an impact.  Their hard work and determination are not something to overlook, and fans should show the ladies who support everyone else that they are appreciated.

River Ridge Runners
by Austin Kohler

Fifteen sophomores and freshmen rise before dawn and make their way to campus two hours before any student walks off the bus and into the classroom. Most days are ‘distance days’ for the Knights cross country team to prepare for meets held later in the week. But there is one day that even the most experienced runners dread: hill day.

Every Tuesday morning after warm-ups, runners line up below a steep incline and on “go,” sprint up the hill. They do this four times before moving to lamppost sprints, which is a series of sprints between lampposts in the street. The cycle continues until each exercise has been done four times.

“It’s difficult, it really is,” says first-year coach Samantha Fraser, “but it makes them better and will help come race day.” 

The best day of the week comes on Friday, when the Knights meet at River Ridge field for an intense game of Ultimate Frisbee. Coach Fraser encourages the game because it is a fun way to relax and blow off steam before a meet and after a long week of practice. The only downfall to the game is that most of it is played in early-morning darkness. “It gets pretty intense, especially since its all dark out. It’s rough but a lot of fun,” says freshman Ryan Worley.

Last season the Knights did well running against junior varsity squads, and occasionally varsity when a runner stepped up to the challenge. Sophomores Joe Mayes and Macaulay Vanhoose led the Knights’ lowest times at every meet in their first year running, and both lettered as freshmen.

This season, the goal is to compete on a higher level while competing against juniors and seniors in the county. Team favorite Clifton West thinks the Knights can run with the best of them. “We’ve all gotten much faster, we’re in better shape and I think we can win,” he says.

River Ridge Football History Begins
by Marlee Livesay

River Ridge High School is finally ready for some football.   Last year, 325 students from Sequoyah and Woodstock were redistricted to the new school in Cherokee County.  Not yet complete, the ninth-grade class had to make their home at the middle school for a year until River Ridge was finished. Despite the inconvenience, River Ridge students jumped into their new school with both feet.  They met new friends and new teachers, started new traditions and started playing football.  

The Knights worked long and hard,putting in many hours on the football field.  When they walked in the front doors on August 2, they had a new place to call home. There was a beautiful, new full-fledged high school, complete with athletic facilities waiting for the eager athletes. The team is going to really appreciate having “their” field, “their” locker room and “their” stadium.

Jumping into Region 2A won’t be an easy task for such a young team.  The Knights had a small, makeshift weight room in a classroom last year. It was cramped, but they got in there and did the work anyway. When June came, they were finally able to get into the high school weight room – “their” weight room, where they will spend many hours for the next three years.  The Knights have some catching up to do, but have proven to be a hard-working and determined group.

Head coach Robert Braucht expects to see great things from his players. Key players leading the way for the Knights this year are Jackson Weeg, James Egan and Will Redding.  Summing it up, Braucht says, “I expect nothing less than our best this season. We are still young but very talented.  If we block up front, we will make some noise.”

There will be a lot of firsts in River Ridge football history: the first time players take the field, the first time fans sit in the stands, the first time the announcer gives the play-by-play, the first touchdown, and the Knights’ first win!

Root, Root, Root for the Home Team
by Jordan Livesay and Austin Kohler • photography by John Bowling

It’s that time again. The sun is shining, the breeze is blowing and high school girls across the state are playing softball. At River Ridge High School, 11 freshman and sophomores hit the ground running and are ready to go.  No more loading up on a bus every day after school to an off-campus practice field. The Lady Knights will proudly take their new field and, for the first time, have a real home game.

Each girl brings her own talents to the game. Jess Baker is an iron horse on the circle, having already thrown two complete games this season. She’s given up five hits in those two games. Ashley Evans will be catching and adding some support to the Lady Knights pitching staff. Evans went 3-for-4 with 2 doubles in the opener against Creekview. First baseman Rachel Psomas, second baseman Michelle Friez, shortstop Sara Bennetts and third baseman Meridith Kunsman make up the infield. Shagging the ball deep in the outfield for the Lady Knights will be Maggie Sigler, Jordan Livesay and Lindsay Vinneau.

River Ridge is taking on a full varsity schedule against teams comprised of juniors and seniors. The Knights’ transition into a varsity schedule is made a little easier by the return of all starters from a season ago.  Among the team’s assets, Baker will be relied upon heavily, not just in the circle but also in the heart of the order, along with Bennetts and Friesz.

The Lady Knights have a chance to compete for state this season as they take on their 7AA sub-Region A opponents. River Ridge will also play some of the more established teams in the county on the JV level.  With high expectations for the season,  head coach Scott Bradley says, “Last year, we were able to compete with the JV teams in our county, and those are developed programs, so my thoughts for this season is that we have the chance to do well.”

Bradley, who heads the softball and baseball programs, was brought over from Woodstock High School, where he was an assistant until 2009. Players and assistants have respect for Bradley and can tell that he truly cares for the players and wants them to succeed. Whether it’s in the weight room or on the field, Bradley pushes his players to get better. “We have a lot of work left to get to where we need to be, but I have faith our girls will step up to the challenge,” Bradley says.

The Knights Nation is also expecting great things from the young program. The Lady Knights’ fan base plans to support the team 100 percent, packing the bleachers with navy and gold and ready to cheer the Lady Knights on to victory and deep into the playoffs.

Time Is on Our Side
by Parker Nayman

During the late summer months, a few familiar things usually make their way to the forefront in Georgia. One can usually count on temperatures to reach triple digits. In Cherokee County, the big yellow school buses hit the roads. In Athens, many loyal alums are practicing their barking techniques. And at River Ridge High School, excitement is building for their first varsity football game.

Upon closer inspection, there are other activities and scenes underway but with smaller fanfare. Inside, not out. Air conditioning, not suffocating heat. Echoes, not band music. Hardwood, not green grass. Volleyball, anyone?

The first thoughts of fall sports in the Peach State are often directed toward the gridiron. With Friday night comes marching bands, large crowds, and students adorned in school colors or mascot names painted across their chests. While those moments are enjoyable, excitement is also created by thrills and spills on a much harder surface.

At River Ridge, we are blazing our own trails this fall with our first varsity contests in our respective sports. Being the new kids on the block, everything seems just a bit newer, a bit more of a challenge. Being typical teenagers, we want to fit in socially – we want our friends to think we are cool. We want to compete academically with other kids our age for future spots at the University of Georgia, Georgia Tech, Auburn, Clemson or any other school that is our dream destination for college.

However, when it comes to athletics at River Ridge, we not only want to compete – we want to WIN. For an athlete, winning justifies just about everything. It justifies work and time away from home and friends. Winning validates effort and gives a sense of reward for dedication. For us it means we have to set our sights on a goal of success that can be claimed through victory.

We know that in the early season the road may be rough, littered with potholes that seem almost impossible to miss. As I look at my teammates during our preseason practices, I get the sense that we are ready for whatever challenges come our way. I think we anticipate both good times and bad during the 2010 season, yet I also feel like we will not back down from a challenge.

Coaches Jeff Kirk and Sarah Goodbread seem to be at peace with our team. Encouragement is never far away at practice. No net seems too high and no shot too far-fetched. To think big would be an understatement.

While River Ridge is a full-fledged high school, we are not your “normal” high school. In fact, we are far from it. With only freshmen and sophomores roaming the hallways, the school can feel empty. In just our second year of existence, we fully anticipate good times ahead. While maximum effort and good attitudes are the order of the day, we also want to enjoy the ride along the way.

For Ashley Casey, August Fitch, Callie Greene, Heather Meade, Rhiannon Meyrick, Jessica Mlaska, Alania Mulkey, Parker Nayman and Katie Tyler, it's a matter of believing and achieving. We do believe that we have the capability to help build a successful volleyball program at River Ridge. We do believe that the future holds a key to not only our on-court success but our off-court dreams. It will be through determination and love for the game that will help make this season a building block in the foundation that will be River Ridge volleyball. Piece by piece, one brick at a time. We do believe that we will eventually see a finished product.

Time is on our side.

Reminding ourselves of that simple statement will allow us to eventually achieve our goals as a program. To be successful on the court will validate all the work, sweat and floor burns left behind. It will be worth it.