Cedar Ridge Track and Field

It wouldn’t appear to be the most dramatic conclusion to a state championship, but it would be enough to get first place.

At least that’s what Caroline Fowlkes thought on Friday morning after she and West Carteret’s Alyssa Cooley both failed to clear 11-feet in the pole vault. Earlier on Friday morning in the 3A State Track & Field Championships at North Carolina A&T University in Greensboro, Fowlkes successfully sailed over the bar at 10-feet-6 inches in her first attempt. It took Cooley two attempts to get over 10’6″. Since Fowlkes only needed one turn to get over, she figured that was enough for her to take the state championship.

Except it wasn’t that simple.

Shortly after the final failed attempts at 11-feet, a North Carolina High School Athletic Association informed Fowlkes and Cooley that they would engage in a jump-off to decide the state champion.

A jump-off?

Fowlkes had never competed in a jump-off. Heck, she had never even heard of a jump-off.

“It was one of the more nerve-racking meets I’ve ever been in,” Fowlkes said.

Suddenly, things got dramatic.

Fowlkes wasn’t going to let a technicality stop her from a state championship that she was the top-seed in. First, Fowlkes and Cooley each had one attempt at eleven-feet, which neither cleared. Then the height was lowered to 10-feet, 9-inches. Neither cleared that either.

At 10-feet, six-inches, Cooley scratched. It was Fowlkes’ turn, and in the final jump of her Cedar Ridge career, she planted a 12′ 7″, 160-pound pole deep into the pit and sailed over the bar with two inches to spare.

Just like that, Fowlkes became Cedar Ridge’s first individual state champion in track and field in seven years.

“I was so nervous,” said Sasha Morphis, head women’s track and field coach at Cedar Ridge. “When both girls scratched their final jump, we didn’t know how they planned to handle the result. We were on our toes the entire time. I never lost faith in her but I was absolutely nervous. I wanted it so bad for her.”

After word spread of her victory, Fowlkes received a congratulatory text message from Phoenix Smith, a longtime teammate and fellow senior who was unable to compete this spring after she suffered a torn ACL last December.

“I really miss seeing Phoenix at practice,” Fowlkes said. “I wish she could have been at the state championships competing with our team.”

Fowlkes completed her state championship a week after winning the Mideast Regional title at Franklinton High School. She is the first Red Wolf to win an individual state championship in track & field since Kacia Vines won in the long jump in 2015, the last of her two state titles.

Fowlkes is only the second Red Wolf in history to win a state championship at the 3A level. The other five female state champions were in the 2A ranks, along with six male state champions.

“She has been an amazing athlete,” Morphis said. “No matter what you ask her to do, she will do it. She never complains and is one of the most dedicated athletes I’ve ever coached. Working with her has been amazing and I will miss coaching her.”

The progressive heavy metal band Dream Theater’s 24-minute epic “Octavarium” concludes with the theme that “Everything ends where it began.” And so it is with Fowlkes, who last competed at North Carolina A&T on May 17, 2019 as a freshman in the state championships. She reached ten feet, good enough for ninth place.

Between then and Friday, there’s been a pandemic that killed her 2020 outdoor season, struggles with new equipment that led to her failing to qualify for the state championships last year and academic demands that led to her considering sitting out this season.

Fowlkes didn’t compete during Cedar Ridge’s indoor season this winter. With a 4.0 grade point average and a member of the International Baccalaureate Program, Fowlkes has been accepted at Appalachian State University. Under the IBP program doctrine, students take almost all of their exams during their senior year. To alleviate the pressure in the classroom, the possibility of skipping this outdoor season did cross Fowlkes’ mind.

Last year, two accomplished Cedar Ridge runners who were members of a school record relay team opted to focus on academics in lieu of their final track season.

“I was pretty concerned about school and my exams this year,” Fowlkes said. “I wondered if I would have enough time for practice, especially in the spring semester. But it ended up being all right. It was good to have something to do after school after studying for exams.”

Fowlkes finished her exams last week just in time to focus on the state championships.

It turned out to be a wise move. Fowlkes won all nine meets she competed in this year. At the Orange County Championships inside Culton-Peerman Stadium at Chapel Hill High School, Fowlkes finished first at 10’6″. At the Central Carolina Conference Championships in Mebane, she set a personal best at 11’6″, over three-and-a-half feet better than the runner-up.

The previous year, Fowlkes finished with no height at the Mideast Regionals at Southern Lee High School. The main problem was adjusting to a new pole. Pole vaulters are required to weigh-in before competitions. After Fowlkes reached a certain weight, she was required to adjust to a 145-pound pole, which was too small for her taste.

“This year, I was prepared,” Fowlkes said. “I jumped with a 165-pound pole, which was perfect for me. The weight of the pole is how much it takes to bend that pole. If I’m jumping on a 160-or-165-pound pole, I just have to be every fast and extra strong to bend it.”

Fowlkes also competed in the high jump this year. She continued to compete with the Cedar Ridge cross country team last fall.

Fowlkes’ father, Thomas, was a pole vaulter at the University of South Alabama. Her mother, Jenna, was a pole vaulter at the University of Florida.

Caroline would like to continue her pole vault career at Appalachian State, but says the school hasn’t reached out to her yet.

For now, Fowlkes will prepare for graduation next month after winning a state championship in the most unorthodox of ways. In her case, everything truly did end the way it began.

Caroline Fowlkes started her Cedar Ridge career by qualifying for the state championships in pole vaulting.

This week, she will end it there.

On Friday, Fowlkes earned her first regional championship, easily taking first place in the pole vault. In the 3A Mideast Track & Field Regional Championship at Franklinton High School, Fowlkes cleared eleven feet, outdistancing her nearest competitor by three feet.

Fowlkes has pole vaulting in her genes. Her mother competed at the University of Florida. Her father was a pole vaulter at the University of South Alabama in Mobile.

At Franklinton, Fowlkes added to her trophy case in what’s been her most successful outdoor season. Last month, she won the Central Carolina Conference championship with a personal best of 11-feet, six-inches at the John Kirby Sports Complex at Eastern Alamance High School in Mebane.

As a freshman in 2019, Fowlkes qualified for the state championships and finished ninth after she cleared ten feet.

In all eight events that Fowlkes has competed in this season, she has finished in first place. She has also competed in the high jump and finished in first place in a dual meet against Orange at Auman Stadium on April 20.

Fowlkes will have plenty of company during the 3A State Outdoor Track and Field Championships at North Carolina A&T State University on Friday.

For the second year in a row, Orange’s Spenser Hampton has captured a regional championship. In what turned out to be a 1-2 finish among Orange Panthers, Hampton won the 3,200 meters with a time of 9:51.41, narrowly holding off his teammate Gabriel Schmid, who clocked in at 9:52.98.

Cedar Ridge’s Roman Morrell finished sixth at 10:33.59. Morrell also finished fifth in the 800 meters at 2:01.06.

Hampton also finished 2nd in the 1,600 meters, an event he won in the 2021 Mideast Regional Championships at Southern Lee High School in Sanford. This year, Hampton came in at 4:33.05, only behind Carrboro’s Quinn Baker. Schmid also qualified for the state championships in the 1,600 with a third-place finish.

In continued a strong season for Orange’s long-distance running. Last fall, Hampton and Schmid were the top two runners for Orange’s cross county team that won the Mideast Regional championship and finished 3rd in the state.

Last June, Hampton won the Mideast Regional Championship in the 1,600 meters. At the state championships, Hampton finished 2nd in the 3,2000 meters.

Orange had three men’s relay teams qualify for the state championships.

Hampton and Schmid joined Ethan Horton and Nick Pell in setting a new school record in the 4×800 relay. Hampton, Schmid, Horton and Pell finished at 8:15.56. Northwood was the only team to finish ahead of Orange. The Chargers crossed the finish line at 8:14.78.

Orange’s 4×100 relay team came in fourth place at 43.67 seconds. The 4×200 team also wound up fourth at 1:31.79.

The Orange men’s track & field team finished in second place with 73.5 points, behind only Southern Nash. It was the best regional for an Orange men’s track & field team since they became a 3A team in 2012.

Orange senior Devin Goss came in 2nd in the 300 meter hurdles. Goss, who will make his first appearance in the state championships, finished at 42.08 seconds. Cape Fear’s Yazeare Pearsall came in first at 41.45 seconds.

Jeffrey Faulkner, Orange’s top sprinter, qualified for the state championships for the first time. In the 400 meter dash, Faulkner finished at 50.80 seconds. Clifton Davis of Walter Williams claimed the regional championship at 49.90. Faulker finished sixth in the 200 meter dash.

In women’s track and field, Orange’s Grace Pell finished tied for third in the high jump at 4-feet, 10-inches.

Photo by Jailen Leach, graduate assistant at North Carolina Central

Marvin Jones: Former Cedar Ridge high jumper Marvin Jones had another first place finish for the North Carolina Central track and field team at the Aggie Classic at North Carolina A&T State University on Friday. Jones jumped 2.06 meters to win the high jump. He was the only competitor to clear 2.00 meters on the day. It is Jones’ fifth victory of the calendar year, but his first in the Eagles’ outdoor season. He has finished in the top five of each event of this outdoor season for Central. Jones also claimed the gold medal in the MEAC Indoor Championships in February.

Phillip Berger: Berger earned his sixth win of the season for the Division III William Peace University baseball team on Friday. The Pacers defeated Averett University 19-6. Berger threw six inning and struck out three. He surrendered three runs off six hits and three walks. Berger is 6-2 with a 4.83 ERA. The Pacers improved to 19-17 overall, 9-7 in the USA South Athletic Conference.

Bryse Wilson: Wilson started on Thursday night for the Pittsburgh Pirates against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. The Pirates edged the Cubs 4-3. Wilson had his third no-decision of the season. He gave up two runs in the first inning. Wilson threw three innings and gave up three runs off three hits and four walks. Wilson struck out two. On Wednesday, Wilson is slated to start against Milwaukee at PNC Park in Pittsburgh.

Joey Berini: The East Carolina baseball team dropped two out of three games against Tulane over the weekend at Greer Field in New Orleans. On Friday, Berini doubled for the Pirates and scored in the seventh inning. Berini replaced starter Zach Agnos at shortstop. The Green Wave won 11-5. On Sunday, Berini replaced starter Jacob Starling on Sunday at 2nd base. Tulane won 10-5.

Will Walker: On Wednesday, the Pitt Community College baseball team defeated Lenoir Community College 7-4. Walker entered the game as a pinch hitter and went 0-for-1. The Bulldogs swept a doubleheader from Camp Community College in Franklin, VA on Friday. In the opener, Pitt outscored the Hurricanes 13-12. Walker went 1-for-4 with an RBI single in the seventh inning to put the Bulldogs ahead 13-8. On Sunday, Walker went 1-for-2 with an RBI single as the Bulldogs completed a four-game sweep of Camp, winning 15-1. Through 30 games, Walker is hitting .343 with five home runs and 28 RBIs.

Matt Hughes: On Saturday, Hughes played as a relief pitcher for the Wake Tech baseball team in a 13-3 loss to Guilford Tech Community College.

Mia Davidson: On Tuesday, Davidson hit a walkoff home run for the Mississippi State softball team to defeat Louisiana-Monroe 2-1 at Nusz Park in Starkville, MS. It came during Davidson’s 250th career game with the Bulldogs, despite playing with a cold. Davidson now has 87 career home runs and is now tied for sixth on the all-time NCAA list. Davidson finished 3-for-4 with an RBI against the WarHawks. On Wednesday, Davidson went 1-for-3 as the Bulldogs edged UT Martin 3-2. Mississippi State defeated #18 Auburn 3-2 on Friday at Nusz Park in Starkville, MS. Davidson was hit by a pitch, extending her streak of reaching base to 26 consecutive games, the 10th longest streak in school history. She finished 0-for-2. On Saturday, the Tigers defeated the Bulldogs 5-2. Davidson’s streak ended after she finished 0-for-3. Auburn won the rubber game of the series 9-2 on Sunday. Davidson went 2-for-3 with a double. It was her 10th multi-hit game of the season. This season, Davidson has hit 18 home runs, which is tied for 1st in the SEC with Bri Ellis of Auburn. Davidson has a .402 batting average. She has a .926 slugging percentage, good enough for fifth place in the SEC. The Bulldogs are 29-19 overall, 8-10 in the SEC.

Montana Davidson: Montana entered the UT Martin game as a pinch-hitter.

Tori Dalehite: The UNC Greensboro softball team won two games in the Lady Vol Invitational this weekend at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, TN. On Saturday, the Spartans defeated East Carolina 8-5. Dalehite scored the game-winning run off a double by Makenna Matthijs in the sixth inning. Dalehite entered the game as a pinch-runner. Dalehite also played in the Spartans’s 3-1 win over the Pirates on Sunday, once again as a pinch-runner. On Wednesday, Campbell edged UNCG 5-4 in eleven innings at Amanda Littlejohn Stadium in Buies Creek. Dalehite played as a pinch-runner.

Jaden Hurdle: Jaden Hurdle shared the right side of Orange’s infield with Grace Andrews when the Lady Panthers won the 2017 3A State Softball Championship. Over the weekend, the two were on opposing sides when Patrick & Henry Community College faced Catawba Valley Community College in Hickory. The Patriots and the Red Hawks split the doubleheader on Friday. Patrick & Henry won the opening game 6-2. Hurdle went 0-for-4, but scored a run after she reached on an error in the 4th inning. In the nightcap, the Red Hawks prevailed 5-2. Hurdle went 1-for-4. She also came on in relief of starting pitcher Summer Anderson in the second inning and have one of her most effective outings in the circle this season. Hurdle threw four-and-one-thirds innings in relief. She didn’t give up a run and struck out four. She allowed only three hits. On Thursday, the Patriots swept a doubleheader from Pitt Community College in Martinsville, VA. The Patriots defeated the Bulldogs 5-2 in the opener. Hurdle went 1-for-3 with an RBI single. In the second game, PHCC won 5-1. Hurdle, starting at first base, went 2-for-3 with an RBI double. Hurdle is hitting .394 (2nd on team) with 10 home runs (1st on team) and 35 RBIs (2nd on team).

Grace Andrews: The big doubleheader for Catawba Valley Community College came Tuesday against Louisburg College, who leads the Division II standings of Region X. Louisburg, ranked #4 in the National Junior College Athletic Association, swept the Red Hawks on scores of 10-1 and 12-4, both in six innings. Andrews started at third base and went 0-for-2 in the opener. In the nightcap, Andrews drove in a run with an RBI single. She went 1-for-2. Louisburg is 21-0 in Region X. Against Patrick & Henry on Friday, Andrews finished 1-for-3 in the opening game. In the nightcap, she finished 0-for-2. On Saturday, Catawba Valley split a doubleheader against Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute in Hickory. The Red Hawks won the opener 5-2 over the Cobras. Andrews went 0-for-2. Caldwell won the second game 7-1. Andrews finished 1-for-2. Catawba Valley is 31-7 overall, 14-6 in Region X.

Kara Tackett: Bryant & Stratton Community College defeated the Wake Tech Community College softball team 9-2 on Saturday. Tackett started in centerfield and finished 0-for-2. Wake Tech had a 7-0 led in the second game, but the Lady Bobcats fought back and won 10-9 in Virginia Beach, VA. Tackett started in the circle and had a no decision. She threw four-and-one-thirds innings. Tackett also finished 4-for-4 with two doubles, two RBIs and an run scored. On Sunday, Paul Camp Community College swept a doubleheader against the Eagles. Camp won the opener 9-1 Tackett, starting in centerfield, went 1-for-2. In the second game, the Eagles had a 5-4 lead, but lost 6-5. Tackett started as pitcher and threw five innings with three strikeouts. She finished 1-for-3 at the plate.

Photo courtesy of nccueaglepride.com

Marvin Jones: Former Cedar Ridge high jumper Marvin Jones had another top-five finish this weekend for the North Carolina Central Eagles track & field team. Competing in the VertKlasse Meeting at High Point University, Jones finished 2nd in the high jump. Jones’ leap of 2.10 meters was behind only Beau Allen of Duke University, who finished at 2.15 meters. This season, Jones has had five top-10 finishes for the Eagles.

Mia Davidson: The Mississippi State softball team defeated the #11 team in the country on Saturday. Davidson hit a solo homer in the Bulldogs’ 8-3 win over #11 Tennessee at Lee Stadium in Knoxville, TN. It was career home run #84 for Davidson, which put her in ninth place all-time in NCAA softball history. Davidson finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored. On Friday, Tennessee defeated the Bulldogs 9-1 in five innings. Davidson went 1-for-2. On Sunday, the Volunteers took the series with a 10-1 win in six innings. Davidson went 1-for-1 and was hit by a pitch twice. Mississippi State is 24-12 overall, 5-4 in the Southeastern Conference.

Tori Dalehite: The UNC Greensboro softball team swept Western Carolina in a three-game set in Cullowhee over the weekend. On Sunday, the Spartans finished the sweep with a 9-2 win at the Catamount Softball Complex. Dalehite went 0-for-1 as a pinch hitter. The Spartans are off to a 6-0 start in the Southern Conference.

Grace Andrews: The Catawba Valley Community College softball team’s 20-game winning streak came to an end on Friday. Pitt Community College swept the Red Hawks in a doubleheader. In the opener, the Bulldogs prevailed 3-0. Andrews, starting at third base, went 0-for-2. Pitt outscored CVCC in the nightcap 11-10. Andrews went 1-for-2 with a double and a run scored. Catawba Valley had a Thursday series against Wake Technical Community College canceled.

Kara Tackett: Tackett pitched and played centerfield for Wake Tech against Caldwell Community College on Friday. Caldwell won 18-2 in five innings. Tackett went 0-for-2 and started in the circle for the Eagles. On Sunday, Fayetteville Tech swept the Eagles in a doubleheader in Fayetteville. Tackett started in centerfield and went 0-for-2 in the first game, which Fayetteville Tech won 12-0. In the second game, Tackett went 1-for-2 with an RBI single. The eleven runs by the Eagles was a season-high.

Bryse Wilson: The Pittsburgh Pirates have started spring training. On March 20, Wilson opened the exhibition season against Toronto. He gave up three runs off five hits over two innings with one strikeout. Against Minnesota on March 25, Wilson started and threw two-and-two-thirds innings. He surrendered one run off one hit and three walks, striking out four. On March 30, Wilson started against the Twins again and suffered a loss. He tossed three-and-one-third innings and surrendered three runs off three hits. He had four strikeouts and two walks.

William Berger: The Division III William Peace baseball team defeated Greensboro College 11-4 at the USA Baseball Complex in Cary on Friday. Berger picked up the win. He tallied six strikeouts over six innings. Berger surrendered only two runs off four hits. Berger is now 5-0 with a 3.68 ERA for the Pacers.

Joey Berini: The East Carolina baseball team won its opening American Athletic Conference series over the weekend against Cincinnati. The Pirates won the final game 12-10 on Sunday at UC Baseball Stadium. Berini entered the game as a reserve shortstop. He didn’t make a plate appearance. On Friday, the Bearcats defeated the Pirates 7-3. Berini entered the game as a pinch hitter in the ninth inning and went 0-for-1.

Dante DeFranco: The Charlotte 49ers baseball team was swept by UTSA in San Antonio over the weekend. On Friday, the Roadrunners defeated the 49ers 13-3. DeFranco was inserted into the game as a left fielder in the eighth inning.

Will Walker: The Pitt Community College baseball team swept a three-game weekend series over Richard Bland College. On Saturday, the Bulldogs opened a doubleheader with an 8-0 victory over the Statesmen. Walker started at first base and went 1-for-3 with a walk. On Sunday, Pitt completed the sweep via an 11-3 win. Walker went 1-for-5 with an RBI double. He scored twice. The Bulldogs are now 21-4 overall, 16-4 in Region X of the National Junior College Athletic Association.

Jaylin Jones: Jones entered the Division III Pfeiffer men’s lacrosse team’s game against Southern Virginia on Saturday. Southern Virginia won 17-8 at Knight Stadium in Buena Vista, VA. Jones fired a shot on net and scooped up two ground balls for the Falcons, who had a 12-game USA South Conference winning streak snapped.

Dylan Boyer: Boyer scored his first goal of the season for Division II Queen’s men’s lacrosse team as the Royals defeated Tusculum 23-10 at Dickson Field in Charlotte on Saturday. Boyer scored the final Royals’ goal of the day with 1:44 remaining. Queen’s, ranked #17 in Division II, is now 7-3 overall, 4-2 in the South Atlantic Conference.

Photo by Jalien Leach

Marvin Jones: Adding to what has already been a stellar indoor season, former Cedar Ridge high jumper Marvin Jones won the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title on Tuesday. Jones earned the gold medal at the MEAC Indoor Track & Field championships in Virginia Beach, VA with a 2.10 meter leap. It is his second MEAC high jump championship and his third MEAC deal. In the 2020 MEAC Indoor championships, Jones claimed the bronze. In the 2021 MEAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships, Jones won the gold medal. Jones has qualified for the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships, which will be held in Birmingham, AL on March 11 and 12.

Joey Berini: Berini saw action in each of the first three games for the #12 East Carolina baseball team in its opening series of the season against Bryant University at LeClair Stadium in Greenville last weekend. In the opening game, the Bulldogs defeated the Pirates 10-2. Berini entered the game as a second baseman in the 7th inning. He reached on a one-out single in the eighth inning. On Saturday, the Bulldogs scored a somewhat controversial 5-4 win in ten innings over the Pirates. Berini started at 2nd base and went 0-for-2. On Sunday, Bryant completed the sweep of the Pirates with a 4-3 win, scoring the game-winning run in the ninth inning. Berini entered the game in the fifth inning to play second base. He went 0-for-3.

Cooper Porter: The Pensacola State Junior College baseball team has started its season. Porter, a sophomore who was once committed to N.C. State, closed out the Pirates’ 12-3 win over the College of Central Florida on January 28 in Auburndale, FL. Porter threw two perfect innings in the seven-inning matchup. On February 6, Meridian Community College edged Pensacola State 3-2. Porter threw the last two-and-one-thirds innings and surrendered only two hits with one strikeout. On February 11, East Georgia College knocked off the Pirates 11-4. Porter relieved starter Jake Cohen in the fourth inning. Over two innings, Porter surrendered two runs over two hits with one walk. On February 14, John Logan College rallied to defeat Pensacola State 6-5. Porter suffered his first loss. He threw two-and-two-thirds innings and struck out six. He surrendered three runs off three hits. Porter returned as a position player in an 8-1 win over Bryant Stratton on February 19 in New Orleans. Playing third base, Porter went 1-for-2 with an RBI single and a walk. Later that day, Delgado Community College upended the Pirates 10-2. Porter went 1-for-3. The following day, Porter went 0-for-2 as Delgado defeated Pensacola State 3-0.

Tori Dalehite: The UNC Greensboro softball team continued its season in the Spiro Classic at UNCG Softball Stadium last weekend. In the opening game, the Spartans defeated Rider 10-1 in five innings on February 18. Dalehite started at 2nd base and did not have an official at-bat in the game. She walked twice and had a sacrifice fly in the 4th inning to score Grace Loftin. Dalehite scored off a home run by Makenna Matthijs in the fifth inning. On Saturday, the Spartans rolled past George Washington 7-3. Dalehite went 3-for-3 with a run scored and two doubles. With the Colonials leading 3-1 in the fifth inning, Dalehite doubled down the right field line to bring in Grace Loftin. Dalehite scored the game-tying run off a sacrifice fly by Matthijs. Later on Saturday, UNCG rolled past Rider 8-1. Dalehite, starting at 2nd base, went 1-for-3. The Spartans finished a perfect weekend by beating George Washington 10-1 in six innings. Dalehite went 0-for-3. UNC Greensboro will continue its season with the UNCG Invitational, which starts on Friday. The Spartans will face Loyola Chicago at 2:30PM.

For the swimmers at Orange and Cedar Ridge High Schools, the Orange County SportsPlex is a second home.

Unlike most other athletes who practice in the afternoons, swimmers typically work out before school, usually showing up for practice at 6AM several days per week.

Naturally, it was where Orange held its senior night last Wednesday. Inside the daycare center that was once the home of the workout center in the Sportsplex’s formative years, the swimmers were honored by head coach Ron Geib while Orange Principal Jason Johnson, Athletic Director Mark McCauley and retired baseball coach Dean Dease watched on. While several Cedar Ridge and Orange seniors qualified for February’s 3A Central Regionals at the Greensboro Aquatic Center, one Cedar Ridge relay team that runs the gamut on the experience spectrum made it a senior night to remember.

Cedar Ridge senior Olivia Aitkin, junior Abbygale Pearce, and freshmen Sophia Stinnett and Quinn McCrimmon set the school record in the 200 yard freestyle relay with a time of 1:55.00. On the night, the team of Aitkin, Pearce, Stinnett and McCrimmon qualified for the Central Regionals in the 400 yard freestyle and the 200 yard freestyle relay. In the 400, they recorded a time of 4:14.69, finishing second in the meet that also included Orange, Northwood and Walter Williams.

The Orange contingent of sophomore Katie Belle Sikes, Sandra McCouch, Melissa Campbell and Ellie Wileman won the 200 yard freestyle event at 1:50.02, edging a team from Walter Williams by three-tenths of a second. Sikes, McCouch, Campbell and Wileman had already qualified for regionals in the 200 yard medley relay. On Thursday, they finished second behind a team from Northwood at 1:59.67.

The irony on senior night was a number of freshman set personal bests in their young careers to advance to Greensboro. Cedar Ridge’s Stinnett qualified for four regional events. In addition to the two relay races, she finished 2nd in the 100 yard freestyle at 58.09 seconds. Stinnett also qualified in the 100 yard backstroke at 59.67 seconds.

In the 100 yard Butterly, McCrimmon earned a trip to Greensboro in the 100 yard butterfly, finishing third at 1:07.05. Orange senior Melissa Campbell also automatically qualified at 1:07.26.

Orange sophomore Katie Belle Sikes, who finished second in the 3A State Championships in the 50 yard freestyle last February, won the 200 yard freestyle at 1:56.81. Belle, who had already qualified for the Central Regionals in four different events earlier this year, also won the 100 yard backstroke, touching the wall at 59.71 seconds.

Orange senior Sandra McCouch set a new personal best in the 200 yard Intermediate at 2:29.65. McCouch qualified for Regionals in the opening meet of the season in November.

The Orange men’s swimming team remained undefeated, winning dual matches against Northwood 107-28. They Panthers also defeated Cedar Ridge 97-48 and Walter Williams 119-0.

Two Orange freshmen helped the Panthers win their dual meets and solidified their status for regionals. In the 100 yard butterfly, Luke Roman finished 1st at 1:00.08. Another freshman, Alex Andre, won the 500 yard freestyle at 5:14.16. Cedar Ridge Phillip Cauwels came in second.

Overall, Roman qualified for three regional events. Roman and Andre teamed with junior Andrew Weeks and another freshman, Nick Baczara, to win the 200 yard freestyle at 1:42.52.

The Cedar Ridge men’s team had several strong freshmen of their own.

On November 22, the Cedar Ridge men’s relay team of Hill, Matthew Czar, Nikhil Agans and Jason Pattison won the 200 yard freestyle 1:41.56 in a meet that also included Orange and Eastern Alamance.

The 3A Central Regionals will take place Saturday, February 5 at the Greensboro Aquatic Center.

The 3A Central Diving Championships will be held Thursday, February 3. Orange’s Statz Zitko, who has already finished in the top three in the 3A State Championship three times in his career, has qualified for regionals once again.

This week’s Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week is senior cross country runner Zoe Wade. In October, Wade made the All-Central Carolina Conference team in women’s cross country after finishing 4th at the Central Carolina Conference championships at Northwood High School in PIttsboro. Wade also qualified for the 3A State Championships following a top-20 finish at the Mideast Regionals. Wade has been a varsity cross country runner since her freshman year at Cedar Ridge. In 2018, the Red Wolves women’s squad qualified as a team for the 3A State Championships. Wade is also very active outside of running at Cedar Ridge. She is part of the International Baccalaureate Program. Along with other athletes at Cedar Ridge, she travels to other elementary schools around Hillsborough to train younger athletes in various activities. Wade is currently preparing for the upcoming indoor track & field season. (We apologize for the poor video quality in this interview and we thank Zoe for her patience).

For someone who has run commonly over the past year, the Mideast Regionals at Southern Lee High School stood out for Spencer Hampton.

Not just because it was the hottest weather he’s ever competed in. But also because he claimed his first regional championship.

Hampton, a junior, finished first in the 1,600 meters to take the regional title in Sanford. He crossed the finish line with a time of 4:22.10, a full six seconds ahead of the runner-up, Northern Guilford’s Jack Dingman. Going into the race, Dingman was the only runner in the Mideast region to have a better time than Hampton during the regular season.

Instead, Hampton will go into Saturday’s 3A State Championships at Belk Track inside North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro with the top time regional time in North Carolina. Mount Tabor junior Will Soule captured the Midwest Regional Championship at 4:23.17.

“It was a bit of a surprise,” Hampton said. “Jack Dingman is a great runner, but he had an off day in the 1,600 meters. It was about 93-degrees when it was finally my turn to run. I tried to stay in the shade as long as I could until I had to run.”

Hampton is Orange’s first regional outdoor track and field champion since Jamar Davis, who captured three regional titles (in the 300 meter hurdles, the long jump and the triple jump) in 2018.

“The first half of the race, I was just trying to stay relaxed,” Hampton said. “As I got to around 700 meters remaining, everyone else just kind of dropped off and I managed to maintain energy on to the finish line.”

In addition to the 1,600 meters, Hampton also qualified for the 3A State Championships in the 3,200 meters. He finished 4th in the regionals at 9:54.16. Dingman captured the regional title at 9:35.52.

After Orange only had four representatives in one relay event during the 3A State Track & Field Championships in 2019, they will have ten different representatives in six events for the state championships this Saturday. That includes three separate relay teams.

Orange’s 4×200, 4×400 and 4×800 men’s relay teams all advanced to the state championships. The 4×400 team, consisting of senior Keanu Mims, junior Elijah Danley, senior Jeffrey Faulkner and junior Devin Goss, came in second at 3:32.77. Only Chapel Hill, at 3:29.46, was faster.

The 4×200 team, formed by Mims, Danley, Faulkner and Gesiah Drewery, finished 3rd at 1:32.55 in a close finish at the line. Chapel Hill beat out Orange by .13 seconds for second place. Southern Lee won the regional title at 1:30.98.

Orange finished fourth in the 4×800 men’s relay. The team of Hampton, junior Ethan Horton, junior Nicholas Pell and freshman Alden Cathey finished at 8:37.97.

The sole women’s state qualifier was Orange’s Erin Mink, who came in second in the pole vault as she cleared ten-feet. Northern Durham’s Bailey Tart finished first at 10-feet, six-inches. Cedar Ridge’s Phoenix Smith narrowly missed qualifying for the state championship after she cleared eight-feet, six inches, good enough for a fifth-place finish. Mink, who has competed at Orange since she was a freshman, will make her first state championship appearance.

Orange senior Kayla Brooks, in her final meet for the Lady Panthers, finished sixth in the region in the shot put. Brooks’ best throw was 28 feet, three-inches, one foot behind fourth place finisher Madison Ludlum of Gray’s Creek. Brooks, who is also a cheerleader for the Orange football team, plans to attend Baylor University in Waco, Texas later this summer. She is the daughter of former Orange football player Rod Jones.

Orange junior Samatha George finished 9th in the 300-meter hurdles at 55.33 seconds. Ava New qualified for regionals in the long jump. New and Mink both qualified for regionals in the triple jump.

A high school sports season prolonged by the pandemic has two Saturdays remaining for Hillsborough teams. For one Cedar Ridge wrestler, today will be the end of an established career.

Kady Watkins wasn’t the first female wrestler at Cedar Ridge, but she has been the most successful. When she started wrestling in middle school, there wasn’t a state women’s wrestling championship sanctioned by the North Carolina High School Athletic Association. That changed during her sophomore season.

In 2019, the inaugural Women’s Wrestling Invitational brought 87 participants across eleven weight divisions. Last year, there were 182 wrestlers in 14 weight divisions, who competed at the Carolina Courts in Concord.

In 2019, Watkins became the first female wrestler from Hillsborough to compete for a state championship. A year later, she became the first female wrestler from Hillsborough to win a match in a state tournament when she won a 9-6 decision over Swansboro’s Madeline Coplen at 120 pounds. She finished 5th in the state.

This season, Watkins has been a co-Captain of a team that has already had one wrestler for qualify for next Saturday’s 3A State Tournament. Watkins has won eleven matches for Cedar Ridge this season. Today’s 3rd annual State Women’s Wrestling Invitational Tournament will be held at Kernersville Glenn High School.

Track and Field

Orange’s Spencer Hampton will have a full day today.

Hampton, a long distance runner for Orange, has qualified for three different events during the the 3A Mideast Regional Men’s and Women’s Track and Field Championships, scheduled for today at Southern Lee High School in Sanford.

Hampton, a junior, is in the regional final for the 1,600 meters. His fastest time of the season is 4:24.10. He has nine first place finishes in 2021. Hampton also qualified for the 3,200 meters and will join Alden Cathey, Ethan Horton and Nicholas Pell in the 4×800 relay. The Panthers’ relay team had the second fastest time in the region this year, behind only Big 8 Conference rival Chapel Hill.

Also in the 4×800 relay, Cedar Ridge’s team of Jay Cole, Levi Draughon, Roman Morrell and Harrison Park will be in the regional final field.

Orange will have another men’s relay team in the 4×200 event. Senior Keanu Mims, senior Jeffrey Faulkner, junior Elijah Danley and senior Gasiah Drewery had the second-fastest time in the region at 1:33.07. Mims is going for his second appearance in the state championships. In 2019, he was a part of Orange’s 4×400 relay team, which finished 10th in the 3A State Championships at North Carolina A&T University in Greensboro.

Mims, Faulkner, Danley and Devin Goss also qualified in the 4×400 meter relay. Once again, Chapel Hill was the only school in the Mideast Region with a faster qualifying time this season.

Orange will have three competitors in the 800 meters. Cathey, Pell and Horton all have qualifying marks.

In the women’s 300-hurdles, Orange junior Samantha George will participate in her first regional championship meet. George, a starting guard for the Orange women’s basketball team, ran for a personal-best of 51.70 second in last week’s Big 8 Championships.

George will also be in the 4×400 women’s relay team for Orange. She will join Abby Hengsterman, Avery Hengsterman and Sophia Schultz.

Cedar Ridge will have two qualifiers in the pole vault. Caroline Fowlkes, who qualified for the state championships as a freshman in 2019, cleared 10-feet-six inches in a tri-meet against Southern Durham and Vance County on May 6. Fowlkes also qualified for the 2020 Indoor Track & Field pole vault. Accompanying Fowlkes in the pole vault will be junior teammate Phoenix Smith, who had a personal best of eight-feet, also on May 6.

Orange will also be represented in the women’s 4×200 relay. Freshman Samiya Baldwin, Samantha George, Taia Mitchell and Katheryn Scully qualified after a time of 1:53.73 during the East Chapel Hill Friday Night Lights event on June 4 at Dave Thaden Stadium.

Orange’s Ava New surpassed the regional standard in two different events. She qualified for the long jump with a personal best of 15-feet, four inches. New will also compete in the triple jump after a leap of 31-feet, 01.50 inches.

Orange’s Erin Mink will also be in the triple jump after a season-best 31-feet, nine-inches.

Orange senior Kayla Brooks, who was a cheerleader in football last spring, has qualified for the shot put. Her throw of 29-feet, ten-inches at East Chapel Hill Friday Night Lights was enough to qualify for her first regional competition.