In February, Panther Creek tight end Dan Beilinson was given a shot to impress some of the state's coaches and earn a spot in this year's Shrine Bowl, an annual football game played between the top high school football players in North and South Carolina.

Beilinson, a Duke recruit who is leading Panther Creek in receptions and receiving yards, learned this month that he will be on the North Carolina squad.

Beilinson is the first player in school history to earn the honor, and it's not uncommon for this area to have at least one player on the squad.

One player has been selected to the Shrine Bowl from a Tri-Nine Conference team every year since 2007.

Graham breaks record: Thomas Graham will go for his fourth consecutive North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association 3A cross country championship this Friday at Charlotte's McAlpine Park.

And if last weekend is any indication, Graham is ready to do something special.

At the Triangle Independent Schools Athletic Conference meet on Saturday, Graham ran a 15:07, which broke the previous WakeMed Park record by a N.C. high school runner.

Graham has said that he would like to break the 15-minute mark at McAlpine, which is a faster course than WakeMed.

Chargers win TISAC: Cary Academy's volleyball team won its conference tournament title last weekend, defeating North Raleigh Christian Academy 25-21, 25-21, 25-15. The Chargers also won the regular season title despite dropping its first conference match in four years earlier this season.

Cary Academy entered this week's playoff matches 22-8 overall. The Chargers, seeded fourth overall in the NCISAA 3A playoffs, received a bye to Thursday's quarterfinals.

The 3A quarterfinals, semifinals and finals will be played at Cary Academy Oct. 28-29.

Knights start playoffs: The NCISAA 8-man football playoffs start this Friday, and Cary Christian (5-4) has an opening road game at Northeast Academy (5-4) in Lasker.

The winner will likely play two-time defending state champion Word of God in the second round.