Jesse O. Sanderson High School - Athletics

Athletics

Sanderson's sports team play under the Sparta identity. The school's motto is "Sumus Spartani. Sumus Optimi." which is Latin for "We are the Spartans. We are the best." Their athletic director is Tony Lewis, also the head football coach. He assumed this position after Bob Catapano retired in 2010.

Coached by Ashley Taylor and assisted by Jason Bochart, Sanderson's men's cross country team won the 2009 NCHSAA 4A State Championship at Tanglewood Park. The team, consisting of Matt Schick, Phill Hathaway, Matt Geisz, Mitchell Feldman, Benjamin Boyles, Andrew White, and Patrick Crawford, beat out rival Needham Broughton High School by 3 points to win their first ever state title in cross country.

Sanderson's men's soccer team has won eleven 4A state soccer championships; they also once held the national record for most consecutive games without a loss at 103, which is still the state record.

Sanderson's wrestling team has placed top three in the conference the last five years and has won the conference championship recently in 2008, 2011 and 2012. Sanderson has placed a wrestler in the state every year since 2008. The team is coached by Jeremy Barefoot(3x Coach of the Year since 2004) and the team motto is "Dedication...determination...DOMINATION!"

Sanderson's cheerleading squad has won multiple state championships(2005,2008,2010) recently under the leadership of coach Jocelyn Bradford, who is also the chief student government adviser at the school. Sanderson's JV and Varsity Cheerleading squads placed first in the Wake County Cheerleading Competition, as well as both winning Grand Champions.