The countdown is on for one of the most hyped nights of the year on February 21st, at 7-9pm, Battle of the Grades at C. Milton Wright. The gym is about to be packed, the student section is going to be loud, and every grade is ready to claim the bragging rights. This year’s matchups feature Junior vs. Senior in the upperclassmen showdown.
The players for the Junior class are Lilly Budelis, Andrew Fuller, Natalie Hunsinger, Cardin Tran, Owen Davis, Dustin Stem, Andrew Canable, Landon Stansbury, Lucas Burton, and coaching for the team is Lanie Gunter, Jill Hatfield, Arynna Hudgins, and Carmine Higgins.
For the senior class students participating, there are Leana Cortez, Christopher Dietz, Briana Quattroche, Kaitlyn Mann, Charlie Kitz, and Cameron Wheeler. Those who coach the team are Kiersten Rurka, Henry Buyse, and Ryan Kilchenstein.
And Freshman vs. Sophomores battling it out in the underclassman game. Seniors want to win in their final year, but the juniors are ready to challenge them and prove a point. Senior Kenzi Milich shared her thoughts heading into the game: “It’s our last year, and we’re not just playing to win — we’re playing for everything we’ve built over the past four years. This is our final chance to represent our class, and all the memories we’ve made in this gym. We’ve put in the work, we trust each other, and we’re leaving it all on the court. We’re not losing — not because we’re seniors, but because we’re ready.” On the other side of the night, the freshmen are ready to make a name for themselves, while sophomores hope their extra year of high school experience will give them the edge.
With school pride on full display and every class ready to give it their all, the Battle of the Grades isn’t just a basketball game — it’s a celebration of unity, tradition, and Mustang spirit. As the final buzzer sounds in the C. Milton Wright High School gym, what truly matters won’t be the score on the scoreboard, but the memories made, the laughter shared, and the pride that brings the entire school together. At the end of the day, the real victory belongs to the Mustang community.
