hamlin37 is on Mixlr

Bryse Wilson: After two seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers, Wilson officially signed with the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday. Wilson agreed to a one-year, $1.05 million contract. In November, Milwaukee outrighted Wilson, who elected to become a free agent. Wilson, who reached the Major Leagues in 2018 with the Atlanta Braves, signed with an American League team for the first time in his career. He also had a stint with Pittsburgh. In seven Major League seasons, Wilson had appeared in 143 games, including 52 starts. He has a lifetime 4.61 ERA with 305 strikeouts over 413 innings. Last season with Milwaukee, Wilson had 34 appearances with 82 strikeouts over 104.2 innings with a 4.04 ERA. Though the Brewers won the National League Central Division championship for the second straight year, Wilson wasn’t included on the postseason roster.

Payton Wilson: Bryse’s younger brother scored his first professional touchdown as the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 44-38 at Paycor Stadium. Wilson returned a fumble 21 yards with 11:06 remaining in the fourth quarter, which turned out to be the game-winning touchdowns. Wilson finished with three tackles. Following a loss to Philadelphia on Sunday, the Steelers are 10-4, leading the AFC North by one game over the Baltimore Ravens. They have already clinched a playoff spot. Against the Eagles, Wilson had six tackles and broke up a pass. The Steelers will face the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday afternoon at M&T Bank Stadium.

Emerson Talley: The college career of Cedar Ridge women’s soccer’s all-time leading scorer came to an end in the NCAA Division II Tournament last month. Lander defeated Lenoir-Rhyne 3-2 in overtime at the Moretz Sports Complex in Hickory on November 22nd. In her final game, Talley scored the opening goal in the 44th minute. This season, Talley started all 19 games for a Lenoir-Rhyne team that won the South Atlantic Conference regular season and conference tournament. She was named to the third-team All-SAC squad. Talley scored the game-winning goal against Mars Hill on October 16. She ends her college career with five goals and five assists.

Katie Belle Sikes: On November 1, Sikes notched her first collegiate win when Georgia faced Florida. Sikes finished first in the 50 yard freestyle, the event where she won three state championships at Orange. She touched the wall at 22.95 seconds. The #12 Georgia women’s swim team faced the #1 team in the country, Texas, on Tuesday at Jamail Texas Swimming Center. Sikes finished first in the B-Cut of the 50-meter freestyle 22.57 seconds. Sikes teamed with Eboni McCarthy, Charlotte Headland and Helena Jones to finish 3rd in the 200 yard medley relay with a time of 1:38.35.

Trenton Gill: Following its game against the Carolina Panthers on December 1, Gill was released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Gill played in eight games for Tampa Bay after being released by the Denver Broncos in the preseason. Earlier this week, Gill worked out with the Washington Commanders.

Ivy Garner: The former Cedar Ridge forward was named to the All-Conference USA first-team after the Liberty women’s soccer team finished 2nd in the league this fall. Garner finished second on the team with nine goals. She led the conference with eight assists as the Flames reached the CUSA Championship game following a 1-0 victory over New Mexico State. Garner was also named to the United State Coaches All-South Region first-team for the second year in a row. Liberty ended the year 15-2-4, falling to Florida International in the CUSA Championship game.

Ryan Moss: After four years with the Orange men’s basketball team, Moss is now with the Division III Waynesburg Jackets in Waynesburg, PA. The Jackets are 4-6 and defeated Westminster on Monday in its final game before Christmas.

Amiyah Ware: After playing at Cedar Ridge in her junior and senior seasons, Ware is now on the roster for Division II North Greenville. The Trailblazers are 2-9 overall, 2-3 in Conference Carolinas.

Fernando Martinez: After graduating from Cedar Ridge in 2023, Martinez is now a redshirt freshman with Division II UNC Pembroke. Last year, Martinez redshirted for the Braves.

The Orange men’s basketball team has built its identity on defense from the very beginning of this season.

After a sluggish first half against East Chapel Hill on Tuesday, the Panthers turned defense into offense for a blowout home win.

Senior Freddy Sneed scored a career-high 21 points while guard Xandrell Pennix added 16 as Orange (6-2) rolled past the Wildcats 82-63 at Panthers Gymnasium. Orange forced 13 turnovers in the second half to score a season high 82 points and held East to 29% from the field.

East (1-6) was led by Bennett Corley, who finished with 25 points.

The Wildcats led 28-27 at halftime behind Will Charkaclis, who scored eleven points in the first half. The Panthers full-court press’ forced five steals in the opening two minutes of the second half, leading to an 8-0 Orange run. After Sneed tied the game with a free throw, Michael Clark scored in transition to put the Panthers ahead for good with 6:54 remaining in the third quarter. Sneed picked the pocket of East’s Jameer Phelmetta and scored on a lay-in, leading to a Wildcats timeout.

That did little to stem the Orange tide. Panthers center Hector Garrido knocked a pass away from the Wildcats’ Frederick Rothert and scored in transition while getting fouled. His free throw extended Orange’s lead to 35-28.

Phelmetta and Characklis each made 3-pointers to keep the Wildcats within striking distance, but Pennix and Ethan Ellis triggered an 13-2 run, each hitting shots from downtown. The Panthers shot 10-of-14 in the third quarter and outscored the Wildcats 27-11.

Orange jumped out to a 9-4 lead with Sneed scoring consecutive field goals, including a dunk after he forced a steal. Characklis came off the bench to erase East’s deficit, sinking two free throws with 2:35 remaining in the first half to tie the game at 24-24. After a block by Corley, Characklis scored off a pass from center Makai Rhodes to put the Wildcats ahead 26-24.

Orange finished with 13 steals. Sophomore center Jalen Crayton had four blocks.

Orange junior point guard Kai Wade finished with ten points, eight assists and two steals. Wade has scored in double figures in all eight games this season for the Panthers. Wade started the season with a career-high 30 points against Voyager Academy.

Women’s basketball: Orange 52, East Chapel Hill 30: Orange senior center Marshea Byrd tied her season-high with ten points while Evelyn George finished with 12 points and ten rebounds as the Lady Panthers defeated the Wildcats for the fifth straight time.

George registered her fifth double-double of the season and the 15th of her career. George recorded her first double-double during her freshman year against Reidsville during the Eastern Guilford Holiday Tournament on December 27, 2021.

George has scored in double figures in all seven of Orange’s games this year. She recorded her career high with 26 points in a loss to Chapel Hill last week.

East Chapel Hill (1-8) was led by Alana Burroughs with eleven points.

The Wildcats Lauren Steiner scored the game’s opening field goal, but Orange pulled off 12 straight points to turn it into a rout. After Byrd scored the Lady Panthers’ opening field goal, Kyla Mehl drained a 3-pointer off a a pass from junior point guard Maura McMurtry. Byrd added another field goal, followed by another trey from McMurtry. Alexis Stephens, who scored six points in the first half, scored on a short jumper. Orange shot 7-of-13 from the field in the first quarter.

Stephens scored the first four points of the second quarter to expand Orange’s lead to 21-6. The Lady Panthers held the Wildcats to one field goal in the second quarter to take a 26-10 halftime lead. Orange grabbed 18 offensive rebounds and outrebounded the Wildcats 44-35.

Orange will face Western Alamance, the two-time defending Central Conference champions, tonight (Friday) at Panther Gymnasium.

Cedar Ridge sophomore Pierce Prescod has attacked this wrestling season with a fervor comparable to a man on a mission.

That’s because he’s on one–to reach the 3A State wrestling tournament.

In a season that’s already featured several milestones for Cedar Ridge wrestling, Prescod added another on Wednesday night. He recorded his 100th career pin with victories over Jayden Batten of Eastern Alamance and Kenzo Kinoshita of Panther Creek. Prescod is now in fourth place in school history with 140 career wins. He is only behind Chandler Collins, who holds the school record with 166 wins; Kaden Tatro, Prescod’s former teammate, who finished with 159 wins last February; and Josh Collins, a member of the original Cedar Ridge wrestling team that recorded 151 wins from 2001-2005.

Prescod improved to 28-4 with 14 pins this year.

As a sophomore, Prescod won two individual championships as he went into the regional tournament held at Cedar Ridge in February 2024. He faced South Johnston’s Carson Cori in the consolation semifinals of the 120 pound tournament. The winner would reach the state tournament. Just seconds into the match, Prescod slammed Cori, who began holding his back. Cori claimed he couldn’t continue and won on an injury stoppage. Prescod, with 44 wins on the season, was denied a chance to reach the Greensboro Coliseum.

On Wednesday, Cedar Ridge defeated Eastern Alamance 65-18 to improve to 3-1 in the Central Conference.

Alejandro Briones earned two more wins on the night. He defeated Ilia Anokhin of Panther Creek 16-4 in a major decision. Following a forfeit win over Eastern Alamance, Briones is now 28-4 with 15 pins this season.

At 190 pounds, Will Meyer pinned Yugo Hibi of Panther Creek in 18 seconds. Later, he pinned Christopher Schild of Eastern Alamance in 1:40. Meyer is 13-9 with ten pins this year.

Cedar Ridge senior Ryan Rakouskas scored his first technical fall victory of the year, beating Eastern Alamanace’s Carson Gardner 20-3. Following a forfeit win over Panther Creek, Rakouskas improved to 27-2 on the season

Graylon Collins pinned Brayan Acosta in 1:35 to improve to improve to 18-11. It was his seventh pin of the season.

Cedar Ridge is now 14-8 overall.

Both Cedar Ridge and Orange will compete in the Eagle Invitational at the Mebane Arts Center later this afternoon. The tournament will conclude on Saturday.

Person 68, Orange 12: The Person Rockets wrestling team has the inside track on winning the Central Conference regular season championship for the first time after beating the Panthers at Rockets Gymnasium on Wednesday night.

Orange freshman Jordan Barbee, who won all five of his matches at the Rumble in the Jungle at Carrboro High last Saturday, pinned Christian Burwell in the final match of the night. Barbee is a seven-match winning streak and is 13-4 with nine pins.

Orange’s only other victory on the night came from senior Braden Crawford, who pinned Kai Montgomery at 138 pounds. Crawford is 13-4 with nine pins this season.

Person won all 12 of its matches by either pinfall or technical fall. Rockets senior Trevquan Gary, the 2024 3A State Heavyweight Champion, scored a technical fall over Orange’s Eli Clayton 15-0.

Person is 13-0 with wins over both Hillsborough schools. The Rockets edged Cedar Ridge 34-32 on November 26 in Roxboro.

Indoor Track and Field: Orange three-sport athlete Adelyn Alvis qualified for the State Indoor Track and Field Championships during the first Eastern Alamance Polar Bear event of the season in Mebane on Tuesday. Alvis, who was a starter for the women’s tennis team last fall, finished second in the 500 yard dash at 1:18.66. She came in just .54 of a second behind East Chapel Hill’s Ava Maughan.

The State Championsship qualifying standard is 1:22.24.

Orange senior Kingston Purefoy-Farrington came in second in the 55 meter dash at 6.70, just behind Southeast Alamance’s Augustine Koroma, who finished one-hundreth-of-a-second ahead at 6.69.

Orange junior Lucas Van Mater qualified for the State Indoor Championship earlier this fall in the 3,200 meters. It will be his second straight year in the State Championships, which will be held at the JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem on February 14 & 15.

This week’s Orange Panther of the Week is freshman cross country runner Reilly Jermyn. This season, Jermyn finished 2nd in the Central Conference cross country championships at Lake Cammack Course in Burlington. It propelled the Orange women’s team to a runner-up finish as the Lady Panthers qualified for the Mideast Regionals as a team. At regionals, Jermyn finished 4th overall in Louisburg. In the entire event, Orange had the only two freshmen to finish in the top ten: Jermyn and Ava Bishop. It helped Orange finish third as a team and they qualified for the state championships. Jermyn finished 10th, automatically earning a spot on the 3A All-State team. Jermyn comes from a running family. Her older brother, Myles, helped the Orange men’s team win the 3A State Championship at the Ivey Redmon Sports Complex last month. Her father, Kevin, is the cross country coach at Duke University. Following a successful cross country season, Reilly has focused on her winter sport: swimming. Earlier this month, Jermyn qualified for the Central Regionals in the 200 yard medley relay, joined Piper White, Ainsley Rasinske and Zoe Jones. They turned a time of 2:04.92 in its first meet of the season. Individually, Jermyn qualified for regionals in the 200 yard individual medley with a time of 2:39.95. She also qualified for the 400 yard freestyle relay.

Orange Panther of the Week: Reilly Jermyn

This week’s Orange Panther of the Week is freshman cross country runner Reilly Jermyn. This season, Jermyn finished 2nd in the Central Conference cross country championships at Lake Cammack Course in Burlington. It propelled the Orange women’s team to a runner-up finish as the Lady Panthers qualified for the Mideast Regionals as a team.

A low percentage of high school athletes understand what it’s like to reach the biggest stage in their sport and compete for a state championship. Orange volleyball senior Abby Silinski is one of the few that can say they reached the pinnacle. In 2023, Silinski walked under the spotlight at Reynolds Coliseum as Orange faced Kings Mountain for the 3A State Championship. On Wednesday afternoon, Silinski formally signed with Division III Franklin & Marshall University based out of Lancaster, PA. In 2023, Silinski was a valuable defensive presence as Orange finished undefeated in the regular season and secured its first conference championship since 2005. This year, Orange tied with Cedar Ridge for the conference regular season title, then won the conference tournament. The Lady Panthers reached the state quarterfinals. Silinski was named the team’s Most Valuable Defensive Player. In her first year as the starting libero, Silinski led the team with 359 digs. In her sophomore season, Silinski had 209 digs. This year, she was tied for third with 34 aces. In her junior season, Silinski finished with 62 aces. Silinski will graduate in June after serving as a valuable defensive presence for two Orange teams that reached new heights for the program. At Franklin & Marshall, she will be teammates with former Cedar Ridge outside hitter Melissa Benkowitz, who is in the midst of her sophomore year.

Orange volleyball’s Abby Silinski signs with Franklin & Marshall University

A low percentage of high school athletes understand what it’s like to reach the biggest stage in their sport and compete for a state championship. Orange volleyball senior Abby Silinski is one of the few that can say they reached the pinnacle.

Orange seniors Freddy Sneed and Xandrell Pennix were the catalysts in the Panthers’ 82-63 win over East Chapel Hill on Tuesday night in Hillsborough. The Panthers forced 24 turnovers and scored a season-high 82 points in a victory over the Wildcats. The Wildcats led Orange 28-27 at halftime, but Orange charged out to a 8-0 run to start the second half, fueled by Sneed making two steals leading to Panther field goals. Sneed finished with a career-high 21 points as Orange improved to 6-2. Sneed finished with 21 points, six steals, four rebounds and four assists. Pennix closed with a flourish, scoring 16 points off 5-of-10 shooting from 3-point range. Pennix denied any chance for the Wildcats to make a comeback as the Panthers shot 10-of-14 from the field in the third quarter, where they outscored East 27-11. Pennix hit three 3-pointers in the second half as Orange built a 21-point lead. Orange needed the boost after a disappointing loss to Eastern Alamance to open Central Conference play in Mebane on Friday night. Orange, the defending conference champions, will look to go into the holiday break with momentum when they host Western Alamance in Hiillsborough on Friday night. Orange has defeated the Warriors five straight times. Western Alamance opened the season with four  straight wins before losing to Bishop McGuinness last week.

Orange men’s basketball’s Freddy Sneed & Xandrell Pennix discuss win over East Chapel Hill

Orange seniors Freddy Sneed and Xandrell Pennix were the catalysts in the Panthers’ 82-63 win over East Chapel Hill on Tuesday night in Hillsborough. The Panthers forced 24 turnovers and scored a season-high 82 points in a victory over the Wildcats.

The Orange women’s basketball team defeated East Chapel Hill behind the strongest game of the season from center Marshea Byrd on Tuesday night. Byrd tied her season-high of ten points as the Lady Panthers bounced back from a tough loss to Eastern Alamance to improve to 4-3. Orange is under first-year head coach Joshua Underwood. He inherits an experienced team that returns all five starters from last year. Byrd was a starter on last year’s team, which reached the state playoffs and finished 13-13. Orange began the Central Conference campaign with wins in each of its first three games last year and was the only team in the league to defeat Western Alamance, who claimed the conference title. On November 25, Byrd scored ten points as Orange defeated Southern Lee 58-46 in Hillsborough. Orange shot 49% from the field in the win over the Cavaliers. In October, Byrd was named the Homecoming Queen at halftime of Orange’s win over Cedar Ridge. Byrd has been a varsity player for three seasons. Orange will face Western Alamance in a crucial conference game on Friday night in Hillsborough. Over Christmas break, the Lady Panthers will face Southeast Alamance in Haw River to start play in the Southeast Alamance Holiday Hoops Invitational on December 27. The Lady Panthers will also play in the tournament on December 28 and 30th.

Orange women’s basketball center Marshea Byrd discusses win over Southern Lee

The Orange women’s basketball team defeated East Chapel Hill behind the strongest game of the season from center Marshea Byrd on Tuesday night. Byrd tied her season-high of ten points as the Lady Panthers bounced back from a tough loss to Eastern Alamance to improve to 4-3.

In a period of rebuilding for the Orange wrestling program, the Panthers had two freshmen lead them to its biggest sign of progress this season.

Jordan Barbee won all five of his matches while Markus Thomas earned wins in four matches as Orange won the Rumble in the Jungle championship at Carrboro High School on Saturday. The Panthers won all five of its dual matches for its first team championship since the 2022-2023 season.

Orange’s closest match came against Ashley, based out of Wilmington. With two matches remaining, the Screaming Eagles led 38-29 after Carson Lane edged out Orange’s Adrian Sierra at 132 pounds. After Orange senior Braden Crawford earned a forfeit win at 138 pounds, Thomas pinned Elijah Allinen in 52 seconds to secure a 41-38 win for the Panthers.

Orange overcame an 18-0 deficit after the Eagles scored pins in the opening three matches. Sophomore Conner Harward secured the Panthers’ first win with a technical fall over Liam Morrow 15-0. It was the first of five straight Orange victories that included bonus points. Barbee pinned Arturo Cuellar in 1:03 at 190 pounds. Senior Jayden Medley pinned Aidan Weilarcher in 52 seconds. At heavyweight, sophomore Eli Clayton pinned Cason Walker in 1:49.

In all five of its dual matches, the Panthers had competitors in each of the 13 weight classes, which was enough to defeat Bartlett Yancey 51-27. Orange earned five forfeit wins over the Buccaneers. At 138 pounds, Albert Fuentes earned his first varsity win, a pinfall over Jaray Pugh in 3:33, which opened the dual match. Thomas followed with a pin of BY’s Jamir Woods in 29 seconds. After the Buccaneers won three straight matches to take a 15-12 lead, Harward earned a 13-7 decision over Jeshua Garland to even the dual match. After Barbee earned a forfeit win, Medley pinned Tayson Watlington in 35 seconds.

Orange also defeated Greensboro Page 65-12, where they scored pins in four of the opening five matches. Sierra opened with a victory over Joshua Rivera in 1:27. Sierra, a senior, is 11-10 with nine pins this season. Crawford pinned Alan Hoang in 32 seconds. Crawford has the top win percentage on the team so far with a 12-4 record with eight pins.

In a 46-28 victory over Southern Nash, senior Max Molinar earned his first pin of the season at 106 pounds. Molinar defeated Jesus Monroy in 1:11.

Barbee finished the day with four pins. He defeated Southern Nash’s Ryland Robinson in 5:56; Leesville’s Road’s Jesse McArthur in 2:49 and Page’s Luke O’Reilly in 1:33.

The Panthers closed out the day with a 42-27 victory over Leesville Road. At 165 pounds, Andrew Pavalonis started the dual match with a 9-7 win over Milo Wegmann. Brady Mcadams, Medley, and Logan Scarantino all scored pins for the Panthers.

Orange will be in the Eagle Invitational in Mebane this weekend.

Cougar Duals: Senior Ryan Rakouskas came away with five wins as Cedar Ridge finished 3-2 as a team during the Cougar Duals at Apex High School on Saturday.

Competing at 157 pounds, Rakouskas pinned four of his five opponents to improve to 25-2. He leads the team with 19 pins this season.

The Red Wolves ended the day with wins over Northern Durham (66-13), Wllow Spring (53-27) and Apex 41-30. Hoggard edged the Red Wolves 40-39. Topsail also knocked off the Red Wolves 58-15.

Red Wolf senior Alejandro Briones won all five of his matches. He earned a decision over Hoggard’s Thomas Ponce 10-3. Briones also pinned Charles Strickland of Topsail in 2:50. Briones is 26-4 with 15 pins this season.

At 120 pounds, Favio Jaramillo came away with four victories on the day, including a pin over Kellan Needle of Apex. Jaramillo also earned a 9-4 decision over Topsail’s Jacob Pope. Jaramillo ended the day with a forfeit victory over Willow Spring to improve to 25-5.

Senior Pierce Prescod pinned Hoggard’s Corban Barton, his 12th pin of the year. Prescod, competing at 126 pounds, started the day with a technical fall over Ans Issa of Apex 18-2. Prescod is 26-4.