Wednesday, Sep. 23, 2009

Cary High Hall to induct four

Chaney, Dudley, Gustafson, Ripberger to be enshrined on Friday

The Cary High Sports Hall of Fame will induct four new members on Friday during halftime of a home football game between Cary and Holly Springs.

The 2009 class includes coach Allan Gustafson, tennis star Megan Dillon Dudley, former track star Mike Ripberger and three-sport athlete Carl Chaney.

Carl Chaney (2000)

In his four years at Cary High, Carl Chaney was the consummate three-sport athlete, earning all-conference honors in football, basketball and track and field.

Twice, he made the all-state track team as state runner-up in the high jump with leaps of six feet, nine inches. He also set the school record in the 300m hurdles.

In his senior year of football, he was the second-leading receiver in the state, and his school record of 1,148 yards still stands this day.

Chaney's three years on varsity basketball were some of the best in recent Cary history, as his teams went 38-10 in conference play.

He was the Imps' leading scorer his sophomore and senior years, and finished runner-up in conference player of the year honors his senior year.

His track accolades were enough for him to earn a track scholarship at UNC-Chapel Hill, where he completed his undergraduate work before getting a graduate degree in teaching from UNC-Wilmington.

Today, Chaney works at Cary High, where he teaches history and coaches the J.V. basketball team.

Megan Dillon Dudley (1997)

Megan Dudley, formerly Megan Dillon, was in a class of her own in her four years as a tennis player for Cary High.

Three times, she qualified for the state singles playoffs. In a time when only one singles champion was crowned in all classifications, Dudley advanced to the quarterfinals in back-to-back years in 1995 and '96.

Equally impressive to her four-year run as an all-conference selection, Dudley was also an academic all-conference selection in her four years. After graduation, Dudley went on to N.C. State University, where she graduated in 2001.

From 2001 to 2004, she coached both the boys and girls tennis teams at nearby Green Hope High School, where her teams enjoyed consistent success.

She is now a critical care nurse at Pitt Memorial Hospital in Greenville.

Allan Gustafson (1977)

For the last 22 years, Allan Gustafson has been teaching and coaching at his alma mater.

After starting out as the J.V. boys basketball coach in 1982, Gustafson has since coached boys and girls cross country, golf, J.V. baseball and been an assistant track and field coach. He is the current coach of the varsity boys basketball team, and will be entering his 12th year this season.

Gustafson, or "Coach Gus" to his players, preaches the importance of being a "five-star player." The five stars, according to Gustafson, are to accept responsibility, show respect, develop selflessness, manifest integrity and deserve success.

To this day, Gustafson's teams are recognized by conference rivals as having a never-give-up attitude. Amongst his Cary family, he's recognized one who bleeds Kelly Green.

Gustafson graduated from N.C. State in 1981 with a degree in history education.

He now teaches civics and economics at Cary High and lives in Raleigh.

Michael Ripberger (1980)

In just two years of participating in track and field, Michael Ripberger won back-to-back state championships in the high jump.

Ripberger had been a baseball player when a local track official suggested that coach Roy Anderson look at Ripberger as a potential candidate for jumps.

In Ripberger's junior year, he went back and forth from baseball and track, winning several meets along the way before claiming the state title. After graduating in 1980, Ripberger accepted a full track scholarship to N.C. State, where he later became an ACC high jump champion in 1981 and 1984.

At State, his highest mark -- seven feet, three inches -- not only set the ACC record, but also one for the state.

Ripberger also competed in football his senior year, playing safety and wide receiver.

Today, Ripberger is a member of the Durham Police Department.

He lives in Apex with his wife Wendy and two children Kathryn, 15, and Zachary, 12.