Julie Doran of Holly Springs said she didn't feel any pressure during the N.C. High School Athletic Association 4-A diving championships on Wednesday at Pullen Aquatic Center in Raleigh.

She was seeded fourth and concentrated primarily on having fun and diving as well as she could. She didn't even try to keep up with the scoring.

But it was no surprise at the end when she had won her fourth straight state championship.

Doran is the first girl to ever win four 4-A diving titles and joins Erin Bailey of Fuquay-Varina (1-A/2-A/3-A champion 1996-99) as the only other four-time winner.

"I really didn't feel any pressure," Doran said.

"I just wanted to dive and have a good time. I was seeded fourth, and there were a lot of really good girls there. I really didn't feel confident, but I wanted to have a good time diving."

Doran began diving eight years ago. She had been a gymnast but went to a diving camp and enjoyed it.

She practices eight to 10 hours per week now and in 2007 teamed with Erica Matheis, a University of North Carolina student, to finish sixth in the senior national synchronized diving championships.

She is undefeated this season in high school competition.

Middle Creek's Ragland takes West Johnston job

Randy Ragland took to the teal and black of West Johnston High School very quickly Thursday afternoon.

"That's enough of that red and black," Ragland joked as he slid on a West Johnston polo shirt and baseball cap after being announced as the school's new head football coach.

Ragland comes to West Johnston from Middle Creek, where he led an offense that averaged more than 31 points per game last season.

He coordinated the Mustangs' offense for the past four seasons and previously coached at Fuquay-Varina, the same school he graduated from in 1987.

The Mustangs went 12-2 before falling in the 4-A Eastern Regional championship game to Harnett Central last fall.

Leaving that Middle Creek team - one that will return many of its key players in the 2010 season - was something Ragland admitted he was a bit slow to come to grips with.

However, the allure of West Johnston, a school that opened the same year that Middle Creek did was something that he couldn't turn down.

"A 4-A school in a great conference with athletes that can compete," Ragland said. "This was just a good fit for me in every way."

The Mustangs have thrown the ball with great success over the past three seasons.

Garrett Leatham passed for 3,855 yards (275 per game) in 2009, and Middle Creek topped 2,000 yards passing as a team in both 2007 and 2008.

"That just shows you that I'm a coach who's not afraid to throw the ball down the field," Ragland said. "We're still going to be able to run the ball and play physical, but we'll take some shots down the field as well."

Point production has increased in each of those three seasons as well, from 19.2 per game in 2007 to 28.7 in '08 to last year's 31-plus.

Ragland went out of his way to thank Middle Creek coach Sean Crocker for his willingness to let him coach within his own personality and expressed a bit of regret at leaving such a talent-laden squad coming back this fall.

"But today, I am a Wildcat," Ragland said. "I want the West Johnston family to know that they are getting a coach that takes the responsibility of leading their young men very seriously."

Ragland becomes the fourth head coach in the school's brief history.

West opened in 2002 and has played just seven seasons of varsity football.

Under previous coach Bennett Jones, the Wildcats won their first eight games in the 2008 season, but were just 3-12 in their ensuing 15 games. Jones resigned his post last month, citing personal reasons.

Murphy, Gatling nominated for McDonald's All-American game

Apex boys basketball player Weston Murphy and Athens Drive girls basketball player Keisha Gatling were each nominated for the McDonald's All-American game.

Neither player was selected for the contest, but each received a plaque for their nomination.

Indoor track championships delayed

The 1-A/2-A/3-A and the 4-A N.C. High School Athletic Association indoor track championships were postponed a week and rescheduled for this Saturday, Feb. 20.

The same time schedule will be used, with the 1-A/2-A/3-A competing in the morning and the 4-A competition starting at 4 p.m.

The championships are scheduled for the Eddie Smith Indoor Arena on the University of North Carolina campus in Chapel Hill.