Griffin Callaghan

Atlanta, Kansas City

Sports Editor at Cherokee Tribune Ledger-News

Sports editor for the Cherokee Tribune & Ledger News. Formerly @redandblack, @mdjonline. University of Georgia alum.

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Articles

Former Reinhardt Coach Newton Lands at Motlow State

3 days ago | tribuneledgernews.com | Griffin Callaghan

Former Reinhardt men’s basketball coach Justin Newton has landed at Motlow State Community College in Tullahoma, Tennessee. Newton announced his resignation from Reinhardt on May 4, marking the end of his seven-year stay in Waleska. He finished his run with the Eagles above .500 overall at 114-94, including a 90-86 mark in Appalachian Athletic Conference play. Newton now joins a Motlow State program in need of direction after finishing with losing records in three of its last four season.
Feuerstein Transfers to Duluth

5 days ago | tribuneledgernews.com | Griffin Callaghan

Woodstock High School point guard JJ Feuerstein is reportedly headed to Duluth, according to Kyle Sandy’s boys basketball transfer list. Feuerstein, a 5-foot-10 rising senior, has played a key role in the Wolverines’ turnaround over the last two seasons under coach Eric Blair. He was an All-Cherokee County Honorable Mention in each of the last two years. In Duluth, Feuerstein joins a program that just broke a five-year playoff drought.
County Standouts Make Senior All-State Game

5 days ago | tribuneledgernews.com | Griffin Callaghan

Six Cherokee County baseball standouts made the 2025 Senior All-State games, played on May 31 at Mercer University's Claude Smith Field. Seniors from Cherokee and River Ridge’s teams represented the county, along with Warriors coach Josh Thomas and Knights skipper Jeff Runion. Both coaches led their respective programs back to the state tournament in 2025.
River Ridge’s Finley Parker Details USA Hoops Run

5 days ago | tribuneledgernews.com | Griffin Callaghan

River Ridge girls basketball star and 2024-25 Class AAAAA state champion Finley Parker earned an invite to the USA Basketball Junior National Team trials, where she competed with the country’s best U16 high school players. Parker, a rising junior with the Knights, was invited to take part back in April, following her first state title and River Ridge’s second in three years. She fell short of the team’s final roster, but Parker said the experience was unmatched.
Boys Lacrosse Player of the Year: Jake Bertils, Sequoyah

1 week ago | tribuneledgernews.com | Griffin Callaghan

Sequoyah coach Ben Sparks summed up Jake Bertils’ senior season in one word: heartbeat. After leading the Chiefs (7-11) to their second straight playoff appearance, Bertils, an Alabama-Huntsville signee, was voted the 2025 Cherokee County Boys Lacrosse Player of the Year by area’s coaches. “To be voted Player of the Year, it feels very rewarding knowing how much work I put in during the offseason,” Bertils said.
Boys Lacrosse Coach of the Year: Pete Manderano, River Ridge

1 week ago | tribuneledgernews.com | Griffin Callaghan

It was a historic season for River Ridge and coach Pete Manderano. The Knights (10-9) won the first playoff game in school history this year, and advanced to the Division semifinals in what was their second postseason appearance in the last five years. The year of firsts earned Manderano the nod for 2025 Cherokee County Coach of the Year. River Ridge was among the county’s best teams in 2024, winning 12 games, but it fell short of the playoffs after suffering four losses by a combined four goals.
Offers Rolling in for Cherokee County Stars

1 week ago | tribuneledgernews.com | Griffin Callaghan

The Division I offers continue to roll in for Cherokee County football standouts, headlined by Sequoyah running back Will Rajecki, who just added Vanderbilt to his rapidly growing line of collegiate suitors. Rajecki, following his massive 2,700-yard, 28-touchdown season, now holds 16 offers including the Commodores. His biggest offer, though, comes from Georgia and running backs coach Josh Crawford.
Richard Morgan to Lead Reinhardt Basketball

1 week ago | tribuneledgernews.com | Griffin Callaghan

Reinhardt has found its new men’s basketball coach, ending what was just a 24-day search for the program’s new leading voice, Richard Morgan. The move, announced on Wednesday afternoon by new Executive Director of Athletics Jonathan Burton, comes after former coach Justin Newton resigned. Now, Reinhardt goes with a veteran presence in Morgan. “Coach Morgan separated himself from a very talented pool of coaches,” Burton said in a story posted to the Eagles’ athletics site.
Knights Headline All-Region 6-5A Teams

1 week ago | tribuneledgernews.com | Griffin Callaghan

Following a second consecutive state championship season, River Ridge, fittingly, dominated the All-Region 6AAAAA boys soccer teams. Ten Knights made the list between first and second teams, while coach Phil Thomas was named 2025 Coach of the Year and Nolan McLure earned the Player of the Year nod. This year’s championship match hero, River Ridge’s Gracen VanGilder, led the way as the first-team goalkeeper.
Eagles Lacrosse Coach Reynolds to Retire

1 week ago | tribuneledgernews.com | Griffin Callaghan

Reinhardt women’s lacrosse coach Roy Reynolds announced his retirement on May 22, marking the end of a wildly successful career in Waleska, which included an NAIA national championship in 2024. Reynolds, who founded the program back in 2016, took the Eagles to six straight national tournaments, beginning in 2019. He was named the 2024 NAIA Coach of the Year following the team’s national title run.