Month: October 2022

This week’s Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week is sophomore tennis player Adeline Cummings. Cummings has played either #1 or #2 singles for the Red Wolves this season. As a #1 singles player, she has won five times, including a match on August 31 against Northwood where she won 2-6, 6-4, 15-13. That helped the Red Wolves defeat the Chargers 6-3. In her first match of the season, Cummings defeated Southern Alamance 6-1, 6-0. Two days later, she won her singles match against Durham School of the Arts Adeline is in her third year playing tennis. Her father was an All-State player in Florida. This season, Cummings has helped the Red Wolves secure a 3rd place finish in the Central Carolina Conference. Despite having just one senior on the team, the Red Wolves have won three more matches than they did in 2021. Cummings will continue her sophomore season next week at the Central Carolina Conference Championships at the Burlington Tennis Center. Cummings is expected to be in the singles tournament. 

The Cedar Ridge women’s tennis team may only have one senior on its roster, but they made sure that Senior Night was one worth remembering.

The Red Wolves improved to 7-4 in the Central Carolina Conference with a win over Western Alamance on Wednesday night. With the victory, Cedar Ridge, 9-7 overall, also clinched third place in the CCC, which gives them a fighting chance at a wildcard birth for the upcoming 3A State Dual Team Playoffs.

The only senior on the Cedar Ridge roster is Natalie Lyons, who had a commemorative banner complete with photos hanging up beside the entrance of Cedar Ridge Tennis Courts during its match on Wednesday. Cedar Ridge junior Cameron Mayhew won her match at #2 singles to clinch the dual match for the Red Wolves. Mayhew was extended to a second set tiebreaker, which she captured 7-5 to take her eleventh singles win this season.

Orange 7, Northwood 2: The Orange women’s team is now one win away from the team’s first-ever 3A conference championship. It would also, quite possibly, be the first conference championship won in women’s tennis in school history, regardless of classification.

On Wednesday, the Lady Panthers defeated Northwood in Pittsboro. #1 singles player Erin Sollars, a junior, won two matches on the night. Sollars won her singles match 6-2, 6-3. Once again, Sollars teamed with her younger sister, Shannon Sollars, to win at #1 doubles 8-4 and clinch the team match for the Lady Panthers.

Erin Sollars now has 23 overall wins this year. The team of Erin and Shannon Sollars is 12-3 this season.

Junior Makayla Davis and senior Sydney Rogers also won two matches on the night. Davis captured her singles match 6-2, 6-2. Rogers won at #5 singles 6-0, 6-2.

Davis and Rogers teamed together at #2 doubles to prevail 9-8 Davis and Rogers won off a tiebreaker that ended 7-2.

Senior Madelyn Horn, who now has 25 overall wins on the season, won the marathon match of the night. Horn captured her match at #6 singles 5-7, 6-2, 10-5 (10-point tiebreaker).

The senior team of Isabel Jones and Katelyn Van Mater won at #3 doubles 8-3. Orange is 10-1 in the Central Carolina Conference, currently tied in the loss column with Walter Williams. Orange and Williams split their season series. The Lady Panthers only remaining conference match will be against Eastern Alamance on Thursday night. It will also be Senior Night at Orange High Tennis Courts. Horn, Rogers, Van Mater, and Jones will all be honored during a pregame ceremony.

Cedar Ridge 7, Eastern Alamance 0: On Monday in Mebane, Cedar Ridge rolled to its fourth shut out win of the season against the Eagles. Mayhew won at #1 singles 6-3, 6-2. Sophomore Ella Caltabiano won at #2 singles 6-0, 6-0. The Red Wolves only lost six games in the five singles matches. Caltabiano improved to 11-4 in singles matches in 2022.

Sophomore Adeline Cummings won at #3 singles, while junior Catherine Ballenger won at #4 singles. Ballenger now has 12 overall wins in 2022. Annabeth Lundberg won 6-1, 6-0 at #5 singles.

Cedar Ridge’s doubles team of Raven Mowles-Aring and Molly Alvesson won the only doubles match 8-0.

Orange 9, Person 0: Orange climbed closer to a share of the Central Carolina Conference regular season championship with a win over Person on Monday at Panther Tennis Courts. Of the nine matches, Orange didn’t lose a game in four of them.

Erin Sollars won 6-0, 6-1 at #1 singles. Shannon Sollars won at #2 for her 24th overall win of the season. Senior Katelyn Van Mater earned two victories on the day. Van Mater won at #5 singles 6-0, 6-0. She teamed with Jones to take home a win at #2 doubles 8-0.

Jones won at #3 singles 6-1, 6-1. Horn captured a victory at #4 6-2, 6-0. Grace Allred won at #6 singles 6-0, 6-0.

Erin and Shannon Sollars rolled to an 8-0 victory at #1 doubles. Horn and Allred teamed to win 8-3 at #3 doubles, the most competitive match of the day.

The Orange volleyball team has officially clinched a automatic trip to the 3A State Playoffs. On Tuesday night, the Lady Panthers defeated Person 3-1 on scores of 25-7, 17-25, 25-11 and 25-19. The fourth set was tight until senior Caitlin Carden ended a long volley with a rare kill where she got an outstretched fist on a ball, which flailed over the net and inside the end line by a foot. Carden ended the night with two kills, 20 digs and eleven assists. Junior Ella Wimsatt nearly had a rare triple-double. She finished with eleven kills, ten digs and eight aces. Orange finished the first set with 12 consecutive points. In that run, Wimsatt had seven aces. Aubrey Jordan, a freshman, led Orange with eleven kills. It was the first time that Orange has swept the season series from Person since the two teams became conference rivals last year. Orange is now 13-7, 8-1 in the Central Carolina Conference. The Lady Panthers will travel to Northwood to face the Chargers on Thursday night. 

Men’s Cross Country: It was a dominant day for Hillsborough runners at the Central Carolina Conference meet hosted by Eastern Alamance High School at Lake Cammack Course in Burlington on Wednesday.

In a meet featuring six teams from the CCC, the top eight finishers were from either Orange or Cedar Ridge High School. Orange junior Gabriel Schimd finished first at 17:27.00. It was Schmid’s third first place finish this season. In August, Schmid won the Early Bird Challenge at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary. He also won a twi-meet at Northwood High School on September 20. Schmid was Hillsboroughsports.com’s first Orange Panther of the Week for the current academic year.

Cedar Ridge senior Roman Morrell continued his strong season with a second-place finish. Morrell crossed the finish line at 18:17.80. Morrell has six top-three finishes this season, including three victories. He was last week’s Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week.

Orange, the defending 3A Mideast Regional Champions, won the overall men’s team competition with 19 points. Panther runners took spots 3rd-through-7th. Junior Alden Cathey, a member of Orange’s men’s lacrosse team, came in 3rd at 19:24.71. Panther sophomore Peter Musser finished fourth (19:54.6); Orange freshman Lucas Van Mater came in fifth (19:58.22); Orange’s Aidan Viola finished sixth (20:21.48) and Panther sophomore Cyrus Neal finished seventh (20:42.82).

Cedar Ridge freshman Ryan Matthews came in eighth at 20:45.61. The Red Wolves finished third as a team with 68 points, just six points behind runner-up Eastern Alamance.

Orange freshman Myles Jermyn came in 12th. Cedar Ridge senior Grayson Weienfeld finished 13th.

Women’s Cross Country: Cedar Ridge sophomore Naomi Dyreng had a runner-up finish at the Eastern Alamance meet on Wednesday. Dyreng crossed the finish line at 23:13.64. The winner was Eastern Alamance’s Catherine Parker, whose finishing time was 22:29.09.

Cedar Ridge sophomore Abigail Kalitman finished third at 23:57.20.

Orange sophomore Kassi Scarantino, who is a member of the women’s soccer team, was the highest placer for the Lady Panthers. She crossed the finish line in fifth place at 25:49.37.

Cedar Ridge finished 2nd in the team standings with 55 points. Eastern Alamance came in first in the team standings at 40 points. Orange was third at 56 points.

Orange’s Caroline Cathey came in ninth (26:14.60). The Lady Panthers’ Kyla Mehl finished tenth (26:35.32).

Peyton Decker finished 11th for the Red Wolves.

Women’s Golf: The Orange and Cedar Ridge women’s golf team participated in the sixth Central Carolina Conference meet of the season at The Valley Golf Course, hosted by Western Alamance High.

In a six-team competition, Orange finished tied for fourth with Northwood. Samantha Durham posted the low round of the day for the Lady Panthers with a 57. Kayla Pope shot a 59. Shannon Murphy finished with a 60 while Shannon Dorsi finished with a 68.

Cedar Ridge had two players participate. Alice Ann Kohler and Emily Worthy each finished with a 68.

On September 26, Eastern Alamance hosted a meet. Orange’s Murphy had the lowest round of the day for the Lady Panthers with a 53. Murphy’s lowest round this year is a 49, set at the Valley on September 6. Durham finished with a 51. Dorist carded a 57.

Cedar Ridge’s Worthy had the lowest round at Eastern Alamance with a 69. Kohler had a 72.

Over the past few years, the state playoffs have been dominated by local volleyball teams.

It certainly appears that Cedar Ridge and Orange will take the two automatic state playoffs spots in the Central Carolina Conference this year. Exactly who will finish first will likely be determined on October 12 when Orange travels to Cedar Ridge to complete the regular season series.

But there’s a chance that Hillsborough will have a team in the 3A State Soccer Playoffs for the first time in five years.

The Orange men’s soccer team is currently ranked #25 in the 3A East Region. The Panthers had a five-game winning streak spanning September 14-26. Though Orange stubbed its toe in a 4-0 loss at Eastern Alamance last week, the Panthers still likely control its own fate. However, it won’t be easy this week. On Monday, the Panthers travel to defending 3A State Champion Western Alamance. Then on Wednesday, the Panthers will host Walter Williams, currently the #1 ranked team in the 3A East Region.

Orange’s last trip to the 3A State Playoffs came in 2017. Jamar Davis, who will surely go down as one of the most versatile athletes in Orange High history, led the Panthers in scoring that season. In a wild scoreline, Orange defeated White Oak 6-2 in double overtime to advance to the second round. It was Orange’s first win in the state playoffs in eight years. Davis had a hat trick as the Panthers scored four goals in 25 minutes.

The Orange women’s soccer team has put itself in a position to win a conference championship, which would most likely be a first in school history. Last week, the Lady Panthers surprised Walter Williams 5-4 at Panther Tennis Courts. It was the Bulldogs first loss of the season. Shannon and Erin Sollars won the deciding doubles match, beating Abigail Brown and Jaden Wilson 9-7.

The Lady Panthers defeated cross town rival Cedar Ridge 6-3 on Wednesday. Orange will host Person on Monday. Orange looks likely to reach the 3A State Dual Team playoffs for the second straight year.

Without any further delay, here’s the Magnificent 7 for the week of September 11-17.

1. Cameron Lloyd, Sr. Cedar Ridge–Lloyd played three matches over three days for the Red Wolves volleyball team. She had a season-high 20 kills in a 3-0 win over Southern Alamance on September 14. Lloyd had six kills, two aces, a block, and eight digs against an improved Western Alamance squad in Elon on September 13.
2. Makayla Davis, Jr. Orange–Davis won five matches as the Orange women’s tennis team captured wins over Northwood, Riverside and Roxboro Community School. Davis won her singles match against Northwood 6-2, 6-0 and teamed with Sydney Rogers to win at #2 doubles 8-6. Two days later, Davis won a singles match over Riverside 8-1, then teamed with Rogers again to win at #2 doubles 8-5.
3. Cameron Mayhew, Jr. Cedar Ridge–Once again, Mayhew worked by the hour in defeating Walter Williams 4-6, 6-3, 12-10 on September 14. The following day, the Red Wolves’ women’s tennis team defeated Western Alamance 8-1 in Elon. Mayhew finished with a 6-0, 6-0 singles win. Later, she teamed with sophomore Adeline Cummings to win at #1 doubles 8-2.
4. Enzo Bruhns, Jr. Orange–Scored game-winning goal for the Orange men’s soccer team in a 3-1 win over Cedar Ridge to win the opening leg of the Hillsborough Derby on September 14. It was Orange’s first win over Cedar Ridge since October 2018.
5. Naomi Dyreng, Soph. Cedar Ridge–Dyreng had her first career first place finish for the Cedar Ridge women’s cross country team in a tri-meet against Northwood, Western Alamance and Walter Williams. Dyreng crossed the finish line at 22:50.61 as the Red Wolves women’s team finished 1st with 25 points.
6. Katie Silcott, Fres. Orange–Led Orange in assists and aces as the Lady Panthers rolled to a victory over Northwood on September 13. Silcott has alternated between setter and outside hitter for the Lady Panthers in recent weeks. Orange is currently one game behind Cedar Ridge for 1st place in the Central Carolina Conference.
7. Shannon Murphy, Orange–Murphy shot the lowest round for the Orange women’s golf team this season during a meet at the Valley in Burlington on September 6. Murphy shot a 51 to lead the Orange women’s golf team.

Photo courtesy of ACCSports.com

Payton Wilson: In the first-ever Textile Bowl where both teams were ranked in the Associated Press top ten, #5 Clemson defeated #10 N.C. State 30-20 at Memorial Stadium in South Carolina on Saturday night. Wilson, who was recruited by Clemson while he attending Orange High School, led the Wolfpack with eleven tackles. He finished with six solo tackles, assisted on five and had one tackle for loss. The Wolfpack (4-1, 0-1 in the Atlantic Coast Conference) fell to #14 in this week’s AP Top 25. They will host Florida State on Saturday night at Carter-Finley Stadium.

Keshawn Thompson: The Campbell Fighting Camels rolled past previously undefeated North Carolina Central 48-18 at Barker-Lane Stadium in Buies Creek on Saturday. Thompson, a graduate student, finished with two tackles as the Camels improved to 2-2. Campbell will start play in the Big South Conference when they face Charleston Southern next Saturday.

Darius Satterfield: On Thursday, Johnson C. Smith defeated Elizabeth City State 49-14 at Irwin Belk Stadium in Charlotte. Satterfield attempted a 34-yard field goal for ECSU. The Vikings are 1-5, 1-2 in the CIAA. They will travel to Virginia Union on Saturday.

Braxton Mergenthal: Division III Bridgwater defeated Hampden-Sydney 27-17 at Jopson Field in Bridgewater, VA on Saturday. Mergenthal had three tackles for the Tigers, who fell to 1-3. Hampden-Sydney will travel to Ferrum next Saturday to continue play in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference.

Trenton Gill: On Sunday, the New York Giants defeated the Chicago Bears 20-12 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Of Gill’s five punts for Chicago, three were downed inside the 20-yard line. He averaged 52.8 yards per punt. His longest was 58 yards. Chicago is 2-2 and will travel to face the Minnesota Vikings next Sunday.

Bryse Wilson: A correction from last week. Wilson actually has two more starts scheduled for the Pittsburgh Pirates this season. On Wednesday, Wilson had the longest outing of his Major League Career as the Pirates defeated the Cincinnati Reds 4-3 in ten innings at PNC Park. Wilson threw eight innings of shutout baseball with six strikeouts and only one walk. He gave up only three hits in 90 pitches. Wilson left the game with Pittsburgh leading 4-1, but the Pirates bullpen gave up three runs in the ninth inning. The Pirates will wrap up its season against St. Louis on Tuesday.

Lottie Scully: The Binghamton volleyball team has now won three straight matches. On Tuesday, the Bearcats swept Niagara 3-0 on scores of 25-16, 25-15, 25-16. Scully, a freshman, had four kills, 33 assists, an ace and ten digs. On Sunday, Binghamton opened its American East Conference slate with a sweep of the University of New Hampshire in Durham, NH on scores of 25-19, 25-22, and 25-20. Scully had 34 assists, along with one kill, one ace and 12 digs. Binghamton is 10-4 overall, 1-0 in the American East. They will host the University of Maryland-Baltimore County on Friday night.

Avery Miller: In its only game last week, the Pitt Community College volleyball team defeated Louisburg College 3-0 (25-11, 25-18 and 25-21). Miller, who played two sets, finished with one kill and three digs. A match against Wake Technical Community College, scheduled for Saturday, was postponed because of Hurricane Ian.

Ivy Garner: Garner, who played soccer and tennis for Cedar Ridge in 2017-2018 before she transferred to Eno River Academy, is now a freshman for the Liberty University women’s soccer team. Garner made her college debut in a 3-0 win over Campbell on August 28 at Osborne Stadium in Lynchburg, VA. Garner reported into the game as a substitute and played three minutes. On September 1, Garner assisted on a goal as the Flames defeated Marshall 3-2 in Lynchburg. In the 38th minute, Garner assisted on goal scored by Saydie Holland. Against Richmond on September 4, Garner played 28 minutes as a reserve as the Flames defeated the Spiders 1-0. Garner had a career-high two shots in a loss to #11 Penn State, 2-1, on September 8 in Jeffrey Field. In her first start with Liberty, Garner scored her first college goal against Pitt on September 11. Garner scored the opening goal off an assist from Bridie Herman. The Panthers would come back and beat the Flames 3-2. Garner scored her second college goal in a 1-1 tie against Stetson on September 15. Garner evened the game in the 25th minute on an unassisted goal. Liberty defeated Florida Gulf Coast 2-0 on September 18. Garner had a career-high six shots, four of them on net. On September 23, Garner assisted on the only goal as Liberty defeated Jacksonville State 1-0 at JSU Soccer Field. Rachel DeRuby notched the goal off the helper by Garner in the second minute of the game. Against Kennesaw State on September 25, Garner assisted on an insurance goal by Halle Engle in the 85th minute as the Lady Flames won 2-0. Liberty blasted Central Arkansas 6-0 last Thursday. Garner, once again starting, has another assist on a goal scored by McKinley Burkett. On Sunday, Garner scored the final goal in Liberty’s 4-1 win over North Alabama. Garner played 56 minutes and fired four shots. Thus far in her freshman year, Garner has played in eleven games. She has scored three goals with four assists with 13 shots on goal. Liberty is 4-0-1 in the Atlantic Sun Conference, 9-3-2 overall.