What follows is a summary—in the words of the coaches who lead these teams—of the 2023/2024 athletic year at Apex High School and Apex Friendship High School. Win, lose or draw, anyone who has ever participated in athletics knows that being part of a team is its own reward. Through competition, teamwork, hard work and perseverance, these student athletes enriched their lives and the community as well. (All photos courtesy of team coaches.)
Apex High School
Athletic Training (Miles Kliewer)
I am the head athletic trainer at Apex High School, and I am finishing up my 29th year here. I have led a class of sports medicine student aides for all 29 years. This year we had a group of 10 dedicated and hard-working students that took care of our student-athletes on every sports team here at Apex. Through this class they learn how to prevent and treat various athletic injuries. This is accomplished via the classroom setting as well as covering practices and home games. I would say this group of students learned more than the medical aspects of sports medicine, they learned how to be part of a team, collaborate with others, and hone their time management skills. Overall, it was a pleasure to teach and be around these young adults.
Baseball (Coach Lane Olive)
The Apex baseball program has a strong tradition of being a playoff contender every year. During the seven weeks of conference play, Apex held the first place spot for 5 ½ weeks. We made it to the state playoffs and were runner up in the conference tournament. Our final record was 16-9. This year’s team consisted of four players that are continuing their playing career at the next level via scholarships. Cranz Smelcer (Air Force), Chase Klingemann (UNC Asheville), Will Newton (Stonehill College) and Drew Berenyi (Catawba Valley Community College). The coaching staff is excited about years to come for the program with many returning players and the majority of the pitching staff returning. Don’t miss our home opener on February 28, 2025, at 6 PM with the first pitch vs. Broughton. We are also honored and excited to continue the tradition (now in year five) of Mayor Gilbert throwing out the ceremonial first pitch.
Basketball, Women’s Team (Coach Jeffrey Cropper)
Heading into the 2023-2024 season, the Apex women’s basketball teams’ expectations—led by seniors Isabella Pease, Analiza Whittlesey and Destiny Richardson—were “Make the Playoffs or Bust.” Despite the loss of Analiza early in the season due to injury, the expectations didn’t change. The team finished 11-14 (5th in the SWAC) and earned their first playoff appearance in six years. Destiny Richardson earned SWAC First Team All-Conference with Isabella Pease received SWAC All-Conference Honorable Mention in a season where she recorded her 100th career block. The Cougars also excelled off the court with Isabella Pease receiving the Raleigh Sports Club Student Athlete Award for her achievements on the court, in the classroom and in the community. During the locally televised game against Green Level High School, Sara Bess Eskridge received the Tatum & Atkinson Scholar Athlete of the Week Award which put her in the running for a $3,000 scholarship. The expectations and the commitment of this team on and off the court have set the standard for teams to come. With a solid core of returning players and some strong additions, the 2024-2025 Cougars look to continue to build off of the 2023-2024 season.
Cheer and Stunt (Coach Taylor Hartley)
During the 2023-2024 season, Apex Cheerleading thrived. This season, our JV team won first place at all competitions that they competed in, including a state championship for the second year in a row. In addition, our varsity team also received many accolades, including SWAC champions, second place at States, partner stunt state champions for the first time ever, and top 20 at the high school national championship. In addition, we have two athletes continuing their cheerleading career at the college level—Sophia Tate at UNC Wilmington and Bailey O’Connell at Liberty University.
Apex Stunt had an incredible year. We finished second in the SWAC conference with a record of 9-1. We also made it to the second round of playoffs. This team worked incredibly hard all season. We had three athletes selected as All-Conference players in the SWAC: Sophia Tate, Samantha Baron and Charlotte Phelps.
Cross Country (Coach Paul Lockwood)
The Apex High School cross country team celebrated a successful 2023 season with notable performances and several personal records (PRs) achieved by its 90-member squad. The team participated in prestigious meets such as Friday Night Lights in Kernersville, NC, and the Wendy’s Invitational in Charlotte, NC, alongside a strong local competition presence throughout the season.
The women’s team delivered a commendable performance, placing fifth at the conference meet. Sophie Taylor led the team with an All-Conference finish, placing 14th with a time of 20:03. Taylor continued her strong season by qualifying for the state meet at the 4A Mideast Regional where she placed 110th with a time of 20:58. Overall, the girls’ team secured a ninth-place finish at the regional meet.
On the men’s side, Charlie Vickery earned his second All-Conference honor by running a time of 16:31, helping the men’s team to a fifth-place finish at the conference meet. The men’s team also competed at the 4A Mideast Regional, where they finished 10th.
Apex High School’s cross country program recognized the efforts of 26 women and 25 men who earned their varsity letters this season. Special awards were presented to standout athletes, including freshman Payton Tiernan who was named Most Improved on the women’s team, and junior Gibson Hagman who showed similar improvement on the men’s side.
The Coaches’ Awards were given to Carrine Karyani and Maxton Bohm for their dedication and exemplary conduct throughout the season. The Most Valuable Runner awards were deservedly presented to seniors Sophie Taylor and Charlie Vickery for their outstanding contributions to the team.
The end of the season marked a significant moment for the team as they bid farewell to Coach Roy Cooper who is retiring after a distinguished 40-year coaching career. Cooper, who served as the head coach for 37 years and as an assistant for the past three years, has been a pivotal figure in the development of countless athletes at Apex High School and a respected ambassador for the sport in Wake County. As the Apex High School cross country team reflects on their achievements this season, they look forward to building on their success and continuing to excel in the coming years.
Dance (Coach Caroline Brady)
The varsity dance team has completed their inaugural year at Apex with performances at AHS football games, basketball games, and school-wide events. Whether it’s halftime performances, sidelines, or ambassadors of school spirit, the dance team shows up and shows out for the Cougars. This first year, the dance team attended Cougar Camp, Apex’s Party at the Peak, college dance team clinics, the first WCPSS dance team competition, the homecoming parade, Apex Christmas Parade, and several of the dance program members flew to NYC in February to learn more about dance as a profession. Under the direction of head varsity coach Caroline Brady and assistant coach Madeline Kelly, we are looking forward to many more phenomenal years at Apex.
Football (Coach John Mozerka)
The Apex HS football program’s resurgence over the past two years has been due to the players and coaches’ determination, dedication and countless hours of hard work. The Cougars emerged victorious, claiming the SWAC conference title for the first time in 20 years. Advancing to the state playoffs in consecutive years is no small feat, and the Apex football team accomplished just that. Over the past two seasons, the success of the Apex Cougars extended to the college level with an impressive ten players signing scholarship offers to continue their football careers. These signings not only highlight the individual talents of the players but also underscore the strength of the football program at Apex High School in nurturing and developing collegiate-level athletes. In the realm of rivalry matchups, the Apex Cougars football program has emerged as undisputed champions, boasting a flawless 4-0 record against both Cary High School and Apex Friendship High School over the past two seasons. These victories weren’t just about securing bragging rights; they were a testament to the team’s consistency, resilience and ability to rise to the occasion when facing familiar foes. The Apex Cougars’ dominance over their rivals solidifies their status as the premier football program in the region.
Golf (Coach Mark Jessick)
The AHS women’s golf team recorded one of their best finishes both on the course and in the classroom this season. The Lady Cougars finished second in the Southwest Wake Athletic Conference (SWAC) led by sophomore, conference player of the year, and two-time state qualifier Julia Capellini (35.3 scoring average); sophomore, team most-improved Katie Forstchen; and senior, three-time regional qualifier Camilla Marriott (UNC-Chapel Hill Class of 2028). The team’s hard work in the classroom was recognized by the NCHSAA with the Team Scholar-Athlete Award (3.7 unweighted GPA). Four of five team members were recognized with the Individual Scholar-Athlete Award (4.3 average weighted GPA).
The AHS men’s golf team just completed one of their best seasons in nearly a decade with a fourth-place finish in the SWAC and qualifying as a team for the NCHSAA 4A Mideast Regional at Pinehurst #6 where they finished fifth. Freshman Kalan Strable’s +2, 74 there earned him a trip to the 4A State Championships at Pinehurst #9. We say goodbye to our five seniors and wish them all the best: Torin Alviano (UNCC), Adley Calhoun (George Washington), Aidan Ethridge (Coastal Carolina), Lawson Keagy (UNC), and Shane Langan (Air Force Academy).
Lacrosse, Men’s Team (Coach Mark Pryor)
The AHS men’s lacrosse team faced adversity all year in the form of injuries and close losses. They completed the regular season with a record of 9-10 and a fifth-place finish in the SWAC Conference earning a place in the NCHSAA State Playoffs. They upset rival AFHS in the first round 14-11, before ultimately falling to an undefeated Heritage High School team in overtime 7-6. In 2025, the program will return a large majority of the roster, as well as inherit a JV group that finished the year undefeated. The future looks bright for the AHS men’s lacrosse team.
Lacrosse, Women’s Team (Coach Amanda Rutledge)
This year the AHS women’s lacrosse team experienced a great year of growth. The JV team went 12-1 with many returning players who led the way. We are tremendously proud of them. The varsity team went 7-13, which gave us a berth into the playoffs for the first time since 2019. We celebrated the play of sophomore Mackenzie Fleming who scored her 100th point in the playoff game against a strong East Chapel Hill team.
Soccer, Men’s Team (Coach Jerry Oglesby)
For the 2023 season, Apex High Men’s CatSoccer completed a season of strong team building and experience acquisition. Although we did not win as many games as we would have liked, our relatively young (in varsity experience) team was competitive and only missed the playoffs by a couple of games.
AHS CatSoccer was led by our three senior captains: Gavin Moore, Elijah Moss and Patrick Herod. Gavin Moore, Bryan Green and Kaden Hamad all earned 2023 SWAC men’s soccer All-Conference honors. In addition, Gavin Moore will continue his playing career next year, signing at Mars Hill University, and Devon Agostinelli will play collegiate soccer after signing at Barton College.
Soccer, Women’s Team (Coach Andrew MacWilliams)
Apex Women’s Soccer had an outstanding season, finishing as SWAC co-conference champions with a 17-4-1 record and advancing to the second round of the state playoffs for the second consecutive year. Junior forward Emily Degnan led the team and the conference in scoring with 19 goals and 15 assists, earning Conference Player of the Year and First Team All-Region honors. Sophomore midfielder Madison McClamrock contributed significantly with 15 goals and 1 assist, securing both All-Conference and All-Region selections. Senior midfielder Piper Collum added six goals and eight assists to the team’s impressive offensive performance. In goal, junior Mindy McLaughlin was a defensive powerhouse, leading the SWAC with a goals-allowed average of 0.581 and eight shutouts, which earned her both All-Conference and All-Region honors. Senior defender Caitlyn Chaney, recognized as All-Conference and First Team All-Region, along with senior midfielder Braedyn Dohse, who was named to the All-Conference and All-Region teams, provided solid support. Additionally, sophomore Abigail Lowe received Honorable Mention All-Conference recognition. The combined efforts of these talented players contributed to a remarkable season for the AHS women’s soccer team.
Softball (Coach Adam Renzi)
The Apex varsity softball team completed their season in May after winning 13 games and losing in the first round of the playoffs to Wake Forest. Highlights of the season included victories over state number four ranked Wakefield 8-5, and a 3-1 win over rival Apex Friendship. Leah Kendall led the way offensively with a batting average of .507. She also stole 38 bases. May Whittlesey batted .443 with 19 stolen bases. On defense, Avery Dearman was a stalwart at first base with only four errors in 162 chances.
The team graduated eight athletes in 2024 and has graduated an incredible 15 athletes over the last two seasons.
Tennis, Men’s Team (Coach Gwen Yale)
AHS men’s tennis had an outstanding season. After finishing the regular season with a 10-7 record, the team made it to round 3 of the Dual Team State Playoffs—the first time we made the state playoffs since 2018. The team traveled to Chapel Hill High School for round one and won 5-4. AHS won round two against New Hanover in Wilmington, 5-3. The team worked hard in the playoffs. We brought two doubles teams and two singles players to the conference tournament in April, where Ethan Garcia was presented with the Southwestern Wake Athletic Conference Tennis Player of the Year Award. Our two singles players, Ethan Garcia and Ryan Suciu, advanced to the regionals tournament. At regionals, Garcia took second place and went on to states, where he lost to the state champ in the semifinals. It was a great season. Watch for us in 2025.
Tennis, Women’s Team (Courtney Jordan)
The AHS women’s tennis season was a dynamic journey marked by camaraderie, laughter, and plenty of thrilling matches. With 12 committed members—five seniors, three juniors, two sophomores, and two freshmen—our team showcased resilience and teamwork. A highlight was defeating Cary High School twice in one of Wake County’s historic rivalries. We also shined at the conference tournament, especially Evelyn Stubbs who reached the second round in the regionals tournament in Pinehurst. Off the court, Meredith Overcash’s selection for the Western Wake Tennis Association Scholarship highlighted our team’s excellence. Excitement for the future of women’s tennis at our school is palpable, with anticipation of even more interest and success to come.
Track and Field (Coach Roy Cooper)
The men and women’s indoor track & field teams had a successful season, as eight trips to the JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem afforded ample opportunities for the Cougars to compete. Highlights of the season included a second-place finish for the women’s team in the SWAC indoor championships, as well as a 13th place finish in the State 4A Championships. The men’s team finished eighth in the conference and 40th at the state meet. Maddie Flower capped an incredible career with the Cougars as she set individual school records in the 300-meters, 400-meters, and 500-meters. In addition, Brooke Mays, Maddie Flower, Emily Degnan and Madison McClamrock set a new school mark in the 800-meter relay while finishing fifth at the state meet. Also at the state meet, Flower and McClamrock finished third and fourth in the 500-meters, and the girls 1600-meter relay team of McClamrock, Stella Flannery, Sarah Galdi, and Flower finished sixth and missed the school record by less than one-tenth of a second. Joe Beck led the men’s team throughout the indoor campaign, finishing second in the SWAC conference meet and fifth in the state in the pole vault. Joe was the lone Apex representative on the indoor All-Conference team. Nine girls earned First Team All-Conference honors. They were M.J. Korzon, Caroline Thompson, Naomi McBride, Maddie Flower, Madison McClamrock, Brooke Mays, Emily Degnan, Addie Fornes, and Stella Flannery. Numerous athletes earned spots on the Cougars’ all-time top 10 lists or established classification records in events. Benton Capps, James Knorr, Adam Qaimari, and Landon Turrick ran the second fastest 1600-meter relay in school history during the indoor season. Jaden Gales, Mack Bandi, Naomi Decker, and M.J. Korzon all tied or established new freshman class records, while Tricia Oh, Madison McClamrock, Natalia Roda, and Austin Herndon did likewise in setting sophomore class records.
2024 Outdoor Track & Field
The women’s team finished tied for third at the SWAC conference meet, and the men’s team improved to sixth from their indoor team finish. Joel Huang was the sole All-Conference performer for the men’s team, as he won the 400-meter dash at the conference meet. Madison McClamrock was the only First Team All-Conference representative for the women’s team, as she also won the 400-meter dash title. Second Team All-Conference honors were earned by Maddie Flower, M.J. Korzon, and the women’s 3200-meter relay team of Addie Fornes, Sarah Galdi, Natalia Roda, and Sophie Taylor. Over the course of the season, several Apex athletes turned in all-time top 10 performances. Multi-event standout Naomi McBride led the way, as she moved into the fifth spot in the triple jump, sixth in the 100-meter high hurdles, and 10th in the long jump. M.J. Korzon tied the freshman record in the high jump and moved into sixth on the all-time Apex list. Madison McClamrock moved up to fourth on the 400-meter dash list, while both the 3200-meter relay team of Fornes, Galdi, Roda, and Taylor and the sprint medley relay team of Kayla Howard, Mira Saah, Brooke Mays, and Madison McClamrock moved into seventh on the all-time list. Joel Huang, James Knorr, and Joe Beck led the way for the men, with the first two moving into the third and seventh spots on the 400-meter dash list and Beck moving into eighth on the pole vault list. Two relay teams earned their way into the top 10 as well. The 400-meter relay team of Wynton Mann, Joel Huang, Brandon Tate, and James Knorr moved into seventh, while the 1600-meter relay team of Benton Capps, James Knorr, Adam Qaimari, and Joel Huang moved into the fourth slot on the all-time list.
At the state meet in Greensboro on May 17, Joe Beck had two personal bests in the pole vault and finished second in the state. His clearance of 15’ 0” moved him into a tie for third all-time for Apex in that event. Joel Huang was the only other male athlete from Apex to make it to the state meet and he finished 15th in the 400-meter. For the girls team, M.J. Korzon capped off an incredible freshman season by scoring in the high jump with her eighth-place finish. The 3200-meter relay team of Addie Fornes, Sarah Galdi, Natalia Roda, and Sophie Taylor ran a time that was just off their seasons best to finish 10th . Madison McClamrock and Naomi McBride finished 13th in the 400-meter and triple jump respectively, while Savannah Lee finished 16th in the discus in her first-ever appearance at the state meet.
Volleyball (Coach Mike Webster)
Apex women’s varsity volleyball team finished with a 15-8 record overall and placed fourth in the SWAC (the number one volleyball conference in the state). The team recorded 10 wins vs state playoffs teams highlighted by wins over Green Level (2021 State Champion) and Millbrook (2022 State Champion) along with extremely competitive five-set losses to Green Level, DH Conley and 2023 State Champion Middle Creek. The 2023 Apex volleyball team was one of the best Apex volleyball teams in the past 10 years and was part of one of the best volleyball conferences in the history of North Carolina high school sports. Notable awards and accolades include: SWAC All-Conference (Bella Lineberger, Katie Raymer), SWAC Honorable Mention (Kai Hazelett, Mia Hazelett, Carys Kerr), NC Volleyball Coaches Association All-Region 3 Team (Kai Hazelett, Bella Lineberger, Katie Raymer), HSOT All-State Honorable Mention (Bella Lineberger), HSOT All-State Second Team (Katie Raymer).
Wrestling, Women’s Team (Coach Britt Morton)
This was the inaugural year for our women’s team, and they rose to the occasion. They surpassed expectations by going 8-0 in conference and winning the conference championship making it to the NCHSAA Dual Team Regional where they went 1-1. One of our young ladies has been offered, and accepted, the opportunity to continue wrestling at the next level.
Wrestling, Men’s Team (Coach Bob Barbour)
On the men’s side, since 1990 AHS has had more than 60 NCHSAA state championship qualifiers, five NCHSAA state champions, 29 placers, two national Greco Roman champions, a National Belt winner, and one All-American. Many have continued their wrestling careers in college or the military. Several former wrestlers are now officials or coaches. The program is managed by three full-time coaches with multiple years of coaching and wrestling experience. If you have questions regarding our program, please contact Coach Morton (bmorton@wcpss.net), Coach Raho (Draho@wcpss.net), or Coach Barbour.
Apex Friendship High School
Baseball (Coach Gaetano Civitello)
The AFHS baseball team finished 16-12 and 9-5 in the SWAC conference, which was good enough for a second-place finish. We won the SWAC Conference Tournament and received an NCHSAA State Tournament berth. We were also 2024 USA Baseball NHSI Tournament participants, which is meaningful as it is the biggest high school baseball tournament in the country. We boasted four All-Conference tournament players in Owen Cirasole, Luke Hemric and co-MVPs JJ Vondette and Simon Martone.
We also had four All-Conference Honorable Mention players in Owen Cirasole, Connor Payne, Brendan Patience and Bryce Cannon. We had two All-Conference First Team players in JJ Vondette and Brady Byler, and lastly, we had one NHSI All-Tournament Team player in Owen Cirasole.
Basketball, Men’s Team (Coach PJ Lowman)
The team was young, with only four seniors (two starters, Jake and Chuks), and finished fourth in the extremely difficult and competitive Southern Wake Athletic Conference (SWAC) with a record of 19-8. Still, this earned the team a playoff berth. Jake Mattachione was named All-Conference while Kendall Lanier, Chuks Ezeonu and Jadon Green were named honorable mention All-Conference. Jake and Chuks were named to the All-Tournament team for the High Country Holiday Classic (Christmas Tournament) with Chuks being named tournament MVP. Kendall Lanier was chosen by his teammates as Most Valuable Player for the season and David Lozada was voted by his teammates for the “Patriot Award for Best Hustle.” It’s worth noting that over the past six seasons, we have a record of 112-41 with four conference championships and five playoff berths.
Basketball, Women’s Team (Coach Jacob Williamson)
The Apex Friendship women’s basketball team started the season strong with a 4-1 record before experiencing the loss of team captain, Jasmine Nivar, due to injury. The team went on to win just five more games without Nivar and finished the season with a record of 9-17. Still, they had outstanding performances from the team. Amelia Walls secured her first career double-double in a loss to Middle Creek. Ailani Collazo scored a career high 19 points in a December win versus Holly Springs. Avery Kiger racked up an All-Tournament Team selection in the team’s third place finish at the Northwood First Bank Charger Classic. Kiger tallied a career high 23-point double overtime performance in a late season loss to the Hawks of Holly Springs. She would also go on to be selected as an All-Conference player in the Southwest Wake Athletic Conference. The team pushed into the playoffs and received a berth in the 2023 Women’s 4A NCHSAA Basketball Tournament, marking the seventh consecutive year of making the playoffs. This allowed Jasmine Nivar to return from injury for one game and eclipse the 1,000-point mark in just 65 career games. A trying year on the court for the Lady Patriots did not seep into their academic efforts as the team finished with 93% of the team attaining Academic All-Conference for their tremendous work in the classroom.
Cheer (Coach Samantha Moreno)
The AFHS cheerleading team had an exceptional season, showcasing their extraordinary talent and dedication. They began with a first-place finish at the Triangle Pre-States Cheer Competition, setting the tone for their success. The team continued to excel, securing a commendable second place at the highly competitive NCHSAA Invitational and another impressive second place at the Wake County Cheer Competition. A standout moment of the season was Liza Flynt’s remarkable solo performance at the SWAC Cheer Competition. Her incredible routine earned her a well-deserved second-place finish, exemplifying her personal skill and hard work while bringing pride and recognition to the entire AFHS cheerleading team. AFHS cheer bids farewell to seven wonderful seniors who will be greatly missed. Their contributions have left a lasting impact on the team.
Cross Country (Coach Ryan Matthews)
Our boys’ team finished third in the SWAC Championship meet and were led by junior Isaac Cowell and freshman Sam Cowell who both earned All-Conference honors. They then finished fifth in the 4A Mideast Regional to advance to the state meet. The men finished 15th as a team at the state meet.
Our girls finished sixth in the SWAC Championship meet and were led by Addison Doran who finished 18th and Meredith Wildes who finished 21st. At the 4A Mideast Regionals, the women finished eighth as a team, and freshman Meredith Wildes advanced on to the state meet as an individual.
Golf (Coach Austin Evans)
The AFHS women’s golf team had a great fall 2023 season. We had five players average below a score of 50 for our nine-hole conference matches, which qualified them for the NCHSAA 4A Central Regional Championship at Longleaf Golf and Family Club. They were freshman Carly Kline, junior Gracie Hancock, junior Elise Risner, sophomore Isabel Mancus and junior Ciara Federico. The team placed sixth in the season-long standings in a very competitive SWAC conference. Carly Kline earned All-Conference honors with a 42.1 scoring average on the season. Additionally, sophomore Lilli Yates earned medalist honors in a nine-hole conference match at Raleigh Golf Association. Looking forward to the fall 2024 season, we are excited to return all but one player from last year’s team and will compete for a conference championship.
The AFHS men’s golf team began the spring 2024 season with high expectations coming off a tremendous 2023 season. Sophomore Daniel McBrien followed up his NCHSAA 4A State Championship victory in 2023 with Conference Player of the Year honors in 2024, boasting a scoring average of 35.2 in conference play. We had an incredible five players make All-Conference honors, all of whom maintained a scoring average of 40 or below on the season. They were senior Braeden Gillen, senior Ben Barnes, senior Conner McNeill, junior Miller Browne and sophomore Daniel McBrien. Ben, Miller and Daniel all qualified for the NCHSAA 4A State Championship at Pinehurst No. 9, highlighted by Daniel’s two-day total of 3-under par and a T-6 finish. Though we will lose five seniors this season, all of whom contributed significantly in competition, our team is full of talented players who look forward to continuing the tradition of great golf at AFHS.
Gymnastics (Coach Linda Haswell)
The Apex Friendship gymnastics team had an incredible 2023-2024 season. They regained their title of SWAC conference champions once again—this being their sixth year out of the last seven as SWAC conference champions. The varsity gymnastics team was led strongly by our captains, senior Meredith Morris and senior Bella O’Bryant. Both Meredith and Bella this season scored perfect 10s on events and were also named All-Conference this year and for the last three years. Other All-Conference gymnasts who helped lead this team to their success this season were junior Addison Moore, junior Eva Garcia and freshmen Isabella Deberry. The entire team truly came together this season and pushed through the physical and mental obstacles to win most of their meets, earn the title of conference champions, and end up being in the top three teams at the NC State Championships. As their coach, I could not be prouder of their hard work, determination and the perseverance they showed to be the team they needed to be for their high school. Excited to see what this team will bring next year.
Lacrosse, Men’s Team (Coach Peter Hagermoser)
The AFHS men’s lacrosse team had the best regular season in the school’s history, finishing the regular season at 13-6 and securing their third consecutive playoff berth. The team was led by senior Mason Bader who is a Rutgers University commit. He finished his career at AFHS with the school record in points, goals and assists. The defense was led by senior Sean Harris, junior Jaxon Alongi, and sophomore Jaxon Bader. Mason Bader was awarded USA Lacrosse All-American. First All-Conference was awarded to Mason Bader, Jaxon Bader and Tim Criddle. Second Team All-Conference was awarded to Sean Harris, Jonathon Barbee and Samuel Clodfelter.
Lacrosse, Women’s Team (Coach Emily Johnson)
The AFHS women’s lacrosse team had their most successful year in program history, making it to the fourth round of state playoffs for the first time. They finished the season 17-4, which is the most wins in a season in school history and they finished second in the conference with a conference record of 11-3. Several athletes hit milestones and broke records. Seniors Carly Bagnasco and Megan Council both scored their 200th career point, while seniors Ella Bailey and Mia Cosentino scored their 100th goals. Junior Kaitlyn Knuettel and sophomore Brooke Cecco both scored their 100th career point. Carly Bagnasco broke the school record for goals, assists and points, while Mia Cosentino broke the record for draw controls in a season and in program history. Carly Bagnasco, Ella Bailey, Megan Council and Mia Cosentino were named to the All-Southwest Wake Conference Team, while Kaitlyn Knuettel, Brooke Cecco, Savannah Randolph and Emma Johnson were named Honorable Mention All-Southwest Wake Conference. Bagnasco was named USA Lacrosse All-American Team, Second Team All-State, Second Team All-Region. Cosentino was named Second Team All-State and Second Team All-Region, while Megan Council was named Second Team All-Region and Third Team All-State. Ella Bailey was named Third Team All-Region, and Kaitlyn Knuettel was Honorable Mention All-Region. Both Ella Bailey and Savannah Randolph were named to the USA Lacrosse Academic All-American Team for their hard work on the field and in the classroom.
Softball (Coaches Payton Harrell and Wayne English)
AFHS varsity softball had a record-breaking season finishing 20-4 overall and clinching the SWAC Conference title, for first time in school history, with a 13-1 record. This was the first 20-win season for the Patriots and their first appearance in the fourth round of the NCHSAA 4A State Championship. Coach Payton Harrell was named SWAC Coach of the Year; Sydney Joyce was named conference Co-Pitcher of the Year; and Avery Kiger, Lauren Archambault, Sydney Joyce and Cheyenne Christman were named SWAC All-Conference Selections. Avery Kiger, Lauren Archambault, and Sydney Joyce were also named 4A All-District. Two players, Avery Kiger and Lauren Archambault, will be playing collegiate softball next year. We look forward to all we can accomplish together next season.
Tennis (Coach Rebecca Brogden)
The AFHS women’s tennis team started off the fall season strong with returning State Champion and senior Julianne Izod leading the team at the number one position. Her sister, Carolyn, held the number two position as a freshman. Senior Alex McCord, along with the senior Izod and junior Brianna Blizard, captained this team to an 11-5 finish. We came in second in the conference behind Green Hope High School. Julianne and Carolyn capitalized on their skills and sister power to earn the 4A State Doubles Championship title, the second in a row for Julianne. Both were recognized by Mayor Jacques Gilbert in front of the Apex Town Council for their accomplishments. Julianne went on to earn Female Athlete of the Year at Friendship for her success in the sport as well as for the leadership and integrity she exhibits on and off the court. The women’s team also qualified for the Dual Team tournament and lost to a strong Jordan High School team in the first round.
The AFHS men’s tennis team had a really strong skill- and team-building season. The men locked in and worked hard to face off against a very competitive field. Junior Arush Gupta led this team at the number one position with a singles record of 8-1. He was followed by freshman Gabe Baldwin at the two spot who had an overall record of 15-10. The skill level runs deep on this burgeoning team with a lot of talent in the players holding the remaining positions. Seniors Ellis Cohen and Matthew Muentener captained this team to a 3-11 finish, which is one win better than the previous season. The team looks to come out strong in the spring of 2025.
Track and Field (Coach Ryan Matthews)
The men’s team had a good indoor track season that ended at the state meet with an 18th place finish. In outdoor track and field, the team won the Patriot’s Invitational and Apex Lions Relays. At the SWAC Conference Championship meet, the team took first place as a team and had stellar performances by Amir El-Amin (long jump/relays), Tayshawn Ingle (100/200 relays), Daniel Griffith (hurdles/high jump), Owen Lee (pole vault), Tyler Melby (pole vault) and Sam Cowell (3200m). They then won the 4A Mideast Regionals at Pinecrest and advanced all relays plus Tayshawn Ingle (100/200), Amir El-Amin (long jump), Owen Lee (pole vault) and Tyler Melby (pole vault).
In outdoor track and field, the women finished sixth at the SWAC Conference Championship meet. At the 4A Mideast Regional meet, they placed 15th and Addison Doran advanced to the State meet in the 3200m.
Volleyball (Coaches Payton Harrell and Emily Johnson)
AFHS volleyball finished with a 6-13 overall record and 3-11 conference record. The volleyball team made it to the first round of the 4A NCHSAA State Championship after battling competitive SWAC conference programs. Carly Markham was named SWAC All-Conference selections. Sophia Matthews and Maddie Goodwin will be playing volleyball collegiately next year. This team faced adversity throughout the season and showed resilience as they put in the work and dedication to get better each day. We look forward to all we can accomplish together next season.
