Female wrestler, Marlee Smith, competes in nationals

Marlee taking down her opponent in the nationals.

By Alexis Tarrazi – Straus News

WANTAGE — From as far back as she can remember, Marlee Smith of Wantage has been involved in sports. It wasn’t until second grade that she began to play with the boys.

“She was cheering as a cheerleader and my husband was coaching football. He was one kid short, so he turned to me and said, ‘I’m putting her in,'” said Crissy Smith, Marlee’s mother. “She was this little thing but a tough kid, so we threw football pads on her and she went out there and that was the end of cheerleading.”

Football was the transition Marlee needed to explore another predominantly boys sport, wrestling.

Local filmmaker paints the ‘Town Red’ at Cannes Film Festival

High Point Regional High School graduate Ryan Geiger pictured on right portraying lead role Patrick with Micaiah Castro playing Jeffrey on the left and in the background is Michael Jefferson, who plays Neil. The three are about the enter the garage where they have captured a zombie boy.

By Alexis Tarrazi – Straus News

SUSSEX — With $2,000 in his pocket, a camera and the use of a New Jersey farm, High Point Regional High School graduate Ryan Geiger was able to transport viewers to the 1950s where a zombie virus has broken out in his film “Town Red.”

The independent movie was recently recognized and accepted into the Cannes Film Festival in France in May along with three other festivals.

“I’m super stoked that my movie was played in a different country now,” said Geiger, 27 who served as Director and actor in his film.

When he first was accepted to Cannes, he though it was a mistake. It didn’t really hit him until he landed in France and arrived at the theater where the festival was taking place.