By Jackson Colo
Editor-in-Chief
The Rowdies begin filling the stands for the first home football game at the new M. Douglas Crater Field and Stadium
Between our new athletic facilities, artistic excellence in Hadestown: Teen Edition, and continued academic successes, 2025 was a roaring triumph across all disciplines for R.J. Reynolds High School. Although the new year is filled with anticipation, reflection on the past twelve months is a necessity. One standout is the completion of the latest M. Douglas Crater Field and Stadium, which showcases the cross-curricular interactions that embody what it means to be a Demon.
“There was a lot of preparation that went into game day operations,” Athletic Director Brad Fisher said. “One thing that we had heard from people who didn’t want us to have this facility was that there would be no parking and that it would be too noisy. We received very few complaints during the fall season, showing that the amount of work that we put in really did pay off. That, to me as the administrator, makes me feel better.”
The Crater is not just an athletic facility. It is a community where athletics and the arts come together as one. During the first and second halves of a Friday night football game, Reynolds athletics are put to show; but during halftime, the arts have their chance to shine.
“[Band teacher] Mr. Campbell has really hit his stride this year with the band,” Music Teacher Amybith Harlee said. “They have the practice and discipline of being part of a team that was definitely not there years ago. The marching band is something we can all be proud of, and it’s awesome to have a great band when you have a new stadium.”
Reynolds has not only completed the new stadium but has also finished renovations on the new Wilson Weight Room, promoting safe training for all Reynolds athletes. These new facilities will continue to strengthen Reynolds’ athletic expertise. This past spring, ten athletes committed to play at the collegiate level—a number that Fisher hopes to continue growing.
“I’m always thrilled when we have students who go ahead and continue playing in college,” Fisher said. “I think it’s a fantastic thing. It shows their dedication. When you become a college athlete, it’s a job. As long as they’re ready to take on that additional role, I think that’s great.”
On the other side of campus, the Reynolds theatre department saw similar advances. Hadestown: Teen Edition took Best Musical (Tier Two) at the Durham Performing Arts Center’s Rising Star Awards. Among the rising stars were four Reynolds students who were represented in the Top 10 Best Actor and Best Actress categories for their lead roles in Hadestown. Two of them, Chloe Howard and Campbell Dean, won individual recognition.
“In the spring, Hadestown was amazing,” Harlee said. “I loved that it really showcased what we do well in this department because it was so collaborative. The musical really showed that our students get to learn at that professional level. It was amazing.”
Artistic excellence continued through Reynolds’ fall play, All in the Timing. At the North Carolina Theatre Conference, both the cast and crew received regional recognition for their work.
In the upcoming semester, Harlee hopes to have more standout performances that highlight students’ hidden talents— one of which is Key Club’s Follies. The talent show has been embraced by Reynolds students and by the entire community. Harlee hopes that in the new year, Follies will have its largest audition turnout yet.
“There will probably be more cuts this year than there have been in a long time,” Harlee said. “There is just so much talent. It’ll be fun to see who rises to the top, and to get Follies back to being competitive in a good way. I think it will be a lot of fun this year.”
In addition to advances in the arts and athletics, 2025 brought prosperity to Reynolds’ academics. During the year, Reynolds students saw improvements in their average test scores, with a higher enrollment in Honors and Advanced Placement classes. Despite setbacks at both the district and school levels, principal Calvin Freeman has a positive outlook on the new year.
“We’re still standing,” Freeman said. “We’ve faced challenges internally and externally. We’ve faced challenges as a school district, but we’re still making things happen at Reynolds High School.”