The tenure of Steve Mayhew as Cedar Ridge men’s and women’s tennis coach has brought unprecedented success to the programs.
His son, Josh, graduated in June as the most accomplished men’s player in the history of Hillsborough. Josh became the first player in Cedar Ridge or Orange history to reach the 3A State singles final four times. He also played for the 3A Mideast Regional championship four times. Mayhew was the captain of the 2022 Cedar Ridge men’s team that won the Central Carolina Conference championship, the first such title in school history.
While Josh has moved on to Belmont-Abbey, his sister, Cameron, has goals of her own for her senior year. On Tuesday night, amid a sticky and sweltering evening at Red Wolves Tennis Court, Cameron Mayhew, Raven Mowles-Airing, Catherine Ballenger, Annabeth Lundberg and Dupree Sorenson commemorated Senior Night with its first win over Orange since 2019.
The Red Wolves won four singles matches to defeat the Lady Panthers 6-3. All four singles wins came from Cedar Ridge seniors.
Mayhew and Ballinger each captured two victories as the Red Wolves (4-2, 2-0 in the Central Carolina Conference) remained undefeated in league play.
Mayhew defeated Erinn Sollars at #1 singles 10-2. Later, Mayhew and Adeline Cummings became the first team to defeat Orange’s top doubles team of Erinn and Shannon Sollars this season. in a match that captured the attention of everyone on hand since it was the last of the night, Mayhew and Cummings won 8-5.
Mayhew and Cummings are now 4-1 as a team in 2023.
“That’s the best I’ve seen Adeline play,” said Steve Mayhew, a former tennis player at Orange. “She was solid. She and Cameron complimented each other. It was a great, great match. It was close. The Sollars are a great team. There were a lot of close matches.”
While Mayhew and Cummings’ victory was icing on the cake, it was Ella Caltabiano and Ballenger who ensured the Red Wolves’ victory. Caltabiano and Ballenger defeated Molly Kruse and Ellie Wilson 8-0 for Cedar Ridge’s fifth win of the night.
Earlier in the night, Ballenger defeated Kruse 10-7 at #5 singles.
Mowles-Airing defeated Ellie Wilson 10-2 at #4 singles. Lundberg knocked off Orange sophomore Kyla Mehl 10-5.
In the tightest match of the night, Orange’s Makayla Davis and Kyla Mehl defeated Mowles-Airing and Lundberg 9-8 in a contest that came down to a 7-point tiebreaker. Davis and Mehl won 7-5.
This fall marks a farewell tour for Steve and Cameron Mayhew. It’s Cameron’s senior year. Steve will step down as Cedar Ridge tennis coach at the conclusion of the women’s tennis, partly because he wants to follow Josh’s at Belmont-Abbey.
“We feel fortunate to get the win,” Mayhew said. “We didn’t have many unforced errors. They had to beat us and we forced errors. That’s what you have to do in doubles.”
On Wednesday night, Cedar Ridge continued a span of three matches over three sweltering days by beating Eno River Academy 7-2 at Red Wolves Tennis Courts. Mayhew, Cummings, Caltabiano and Ballenger each won two matches.
Mayhew defeated Abby Winslow 8-0 at #1 singles. Cummings knocked off Betts Roney at #3 singles 8-1. At #1 doubles, Mayhew and Cummings teamed to beat Winslow and Roney 8-1.
Caltabiano won at #2 singles over Rebecca Kirby 8-2. Ballenger defeated Quinn Parker 8-0 at #5 singles. Caltabiano and Ballenger won at #2 doubles against Kirby and Chiara Menolascino 8-1.
At #3 doubles, Mowles-Airing and Lundberg defeated Parker and Lily Kate Philipps 8-3.
For Eno River, Eleanor Finkle defeated Mowles-Airing 8-5. The Bobcats’ Menolascino defeated Lundberg 8-1.
The Red Wolves will resume CCC play on Thursday when they travel to Mebane to face Eastern Alamance.
“It’s very nice,” Mayhew said. “Our players have stepped up and played outstanding. I couldn’t be more proud of them.”