Prep notebook: Nevada Mareno to run for Team USA

Leesville Road senior Nevada Mareno will run for Team USA.

Mareno is one of six high school runners from across the country offered to run for the United States on Jan. 7 at the Great Edinburgh XCountry Challenge in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Mareno, a Stanford recruit, and the rest of the junior women’s team will run a 4K race. She was second at the Foot Locker Cross County Championships earlier this month and is a two-time N.C. High School Athletic Association 4A champion.

Gill to announce

It’s down to Virginia Tech and North Carolina for Xach Gill, a senior lineman for 4AA football champion Wake Forest High. He will announce his decision Monday at the school at 3 p.m.

Gill had played mostly defensive line for his career but played some on both sides this season and excelled at both. He led the Cougars with 36 tackles for loss (84 overall) and 17 sacks.

Shrine Bowl

The Triangle area made an impact in Saturday’s 17-10 win by North Carolina in the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas.

▪ Larry Rountree III (Millbrook): The Mizzouri running back recruit ran 14 times for 78 yards. His longest was a 22-yard run.

▪ John Singleton (Middle Creek): The uncommitted linebacker intercepted a pass and had three tackles, one for a loss.

▪ Devondrez Moore (Orange): The uncommitted linebacker Moore had two tackles, two for loss.

▪ Matthew Butler (Garner): The defensive lineman had one tackle and one quarterback hurry. He will announce his college decision on Wednesday.

▪ Stone Edwards (Orange): The uncommitted defensive lineman had two tackles and one sack.

▪ Noah Giroux (Garner): The uncommitted kicker made 1 of 2 field goals and was 2-of-2 on extra points.

▪ Other locals: Cardinal Gibbons offensive lineman Jack Bowler, Hillside offensive Matthew Curry and Clayton long snapper Mitch Hall all performed well.

WRESTLING

WRAL Invitational: East Fairmonth High out of West Virginia won the WRAL wrestling invitational on Saturday, totaling 193 points to beat defending 4A champ West Forsyth (185). The top area teams were Riverside in 11th place (90.5), Leesville Road in 12th (85) and a three-way tie for 13th (84 points) with Middle Creek, Union Pines and Wake Forest.

Area champions were Wake Forest’s Joey Hannum (113) and Rocky Mount’s Wilson Smith (126).

North Pitt Panther tournament: Holly Springs was third at the North Pitt Panther tournament, tallying 143 points. Lumberton was first with 194.5 and Dixon High out of Onslow County was second with 165.5. North Pitt was fourth (88.5), C.B. Aycock fifth (76) and Ayden-Grifton and Southern Nash tied for sixth (74).

Area champions include: Holly Springs’ Logan Perentis (132) and Zion Cooke (170), North Pitt’s Sincere King (145) and Mecca Freeman (160), D.H. Conley’s Jarod Ruffin (152), C.B. Aycock’s Joshua Wallace (182), South Central’s Jerell Belcher (195) and Southern Nash’s Kendrick Watson (285).

Chatham Charter Duals: Chapel Hill won the Chatham Charter duals competition, going 5-0 against the likes of West Stanly, Greensboro’s Grimsley, North Forsyth, Providence Grove and host Chatham Charter.

Crusader Duals: Host Cardinal Gibbons went unbeaten in the Crusader Duals, topping East Wake, J.H. Rose, Durham School of the Arts and Fayetteville’s Douglas Byrd.

Warrior Holiday Duals: Pinecrest won the Warrior Holiday Duals, defeating East Duplin, host Eastern Wayne, Gray’s Creek, New Hanover and 1A power Rosewood. The Patriots edged Rosewood 39-25.

This story was originally published December 18, 2016 at 7:05 PM with the headline "Prep notebook: Nevada Mareno to run for Team USA."