Cedar Ridge Women’s Tennis

Women’s Tennis:

Orange 7, Cedar Ridge 2: For the third year in a row, the Orange women’s tennis team will have a winning season.

Not only that, but with one more win, the Lady Panthers will have its most wins since they returned to the 3A ranks in 2012.

On Wednesday, Orange completed a season sweep of Cedar Ridge with a 7-2 win at Orange Tennis Courts. It concluded a long 48-hour stretch fo the Lady Panthers that started on Tuesday when they completed a suspended match against Walter Williams, then played an entire dual match against the Bulldogs.

Against the Red Wolves, Orange (11-4 overall, 5-3 in the Central Carolina Conference), senior Tea Jones had two wins on the day. At #4 singles, Jones won 6-4, 6-2. Jones teamed with senior Jinkie Andrews to win at #3 doubles 8-4. So far in 2021, Jones has an overall record of 16-8.

Cedar Ridge sophomore Cameron Mayhew also earned two wins on the afternoon. Mayhew captured her match at #1 singles 6-3, 7-5. After dark, Mayhew teamed with senior Chloe Patz at #1 doubles to win over Finley White and Grace Pell 8-1.

Pell, a sophomore, improved to 11-4 in singles action this year. At #2 singles, Pell prevailed in a three-set match over Patz 6-3, 2-6, 10-7 (10-point tiebreaker). It was the fifth time this year that Pell has played in a three-set match, and the second time it happened against Patz.

Senior Jinkie Andrews won 7-6 (7-5), 6-3 at #3 singles for Orange. Sophomore Erin Sollars and freshman Shannon Sollars earned singles victories for Orange.

Jera Hargrove & Erin Sollars won at #2 doubles 8-3.

Cedar Ridge 5, Northwood 4: On Monday, Cedar Ridge became the first women’s tennis team two hand Northwood a loss in CCC action.

After nearly three hours of action, the entire dual match came down to the final doubles match. Cedar Ridge’s freshmen duo of Ella Caltabiano and Adeline Cummings defeated Northwood’s Kaylee Fisher & Kendall Leberge 8-3 to earn the Red Wolves biggest win of the season.

Cedar Ridge captured three of the five singles matches. Sophomore Cameron Mayhew pulled out a tight match over Evelyn Lippers 7-6 (7-5), 7-5. Mayhew is 6-2 in singles action this year.

The Red Wolves won both singles matches that went to three sets. At #2, Patz defeated Julia Earnshaw 1-6, 6-2, 10-8. At #5 singles, senior Olivia Kelly defeated Fisher 6-2, 2-6, 10-8. Cummings won at #6 singles 6-1, 6-2.

Walter Williams 5, Orange 4: In the completion of a suspended match from earlier this month, Williams held off to take sole possession of 2nd place in the CCC.

The completion of the suspended match wasn’t decided until the final doubles match. Williams’ Kaori Naruse & Lauren Taylor defeated Andrews & Jones 9-7 to take the match. Pell and Andrews won singles matches for Orange.

Orange evened the overall dual match with wins at #1 and #2 doubles. Finley White and Grace Pell teamed to win at #1 doubles 8-6. At #2 doubles, Erin Sollars and Jera Hargrove won 8-2.

Williams 5, Orange 4: Another match that wasn’t decided until #3 doubles. White & Pell won at #1 doubles 8-5, while Hargrove & Sollars captured the #2 doubles match 8-1.

Pell won at #2 singles 8-3. Shannan Sollars won the only other Orange player to win a singles match, defeating Lauren Turner 8-5.

Orange is 11-4 overall, 5-3 in the CCC with two dual matches remaining in conference play. Orange will hold its senior night match next Thursday against Roxboro Community School.

Women’s Golf:

In the fourth Central Carolina Conference meet of the season, Cedar Ridge senior Olivia Aitkins had her best finish of the season at Caswell Pines Golf Course in Blanch. Aitkins finished with a 49 and wound up tied for fifth in a eight-team meet.

Aitkins, who committed to play softball at Amherst College last week, was the highest placer among any of the Hillsborough participants.

Orange’s Samantha Durham had her best round of the season with a 50, which was best among the Lady Panthers. Orange senior Sarah Durham had a 57. Shannon Dorsi, Kayla Pope and Lucia Godinez also participated.

Eastern Alamance’s Emily Matthews finished first with a 33. Western Alamance’s Makayla Martinez finished 2nd with a 39, and the Warriors won the overall team standings with 137. Northwood was second with 144.

Trent Gill: The N.C. State football team grabbed the headlines across the college football world with a thrilling 27-21 win over #9 Clemson in double overtime in front of 56,919 at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh on Saturday night. It was State’s first win over a top-10 team since 2012. Gill, a former Cedar Ridge linebacker, placekicker and punter, delivered the opening kickoff of the game. All three of Gill’s kickoffs went for touchbacks. The Wolfpack punted six times. Each time, Gill did the honors and had an impressive average of 51 yards per punt. His longest was 57 yards. Four of his six punts traveled over 50 yards. Gill was also the holder on field goals and extra points. On Sunday, N.C. State entered the Associated Press top 25 rankings for the first time this year at #24. The Wolfpack will play its final non conference game against Louisiana Tech on Saturday in Raleigh.

Adam Chnupa: The Elon Phoenix football team had yet another heartbreaking loss on Saturday. This time, William & Mary defeated Elon 34-31 at Rhodes Stadium in Elon. Chnupa, who was Gill’s teammate at Cedar Ridge, played on special teams for the Phoenix. It was Elon’s Colonial Athletic Association opener. So far this young season, the Phoenix’s two loses to FCS opponents have come by a combined margin of five points. Elon is 1-3 and will travel to Richmond on Saturday.

Bryse Wilson: After winning his first game for the Pittsburgh Pirates last season, Wilson was played on the 10-day Injured List, ending his season. He was removed from the game against the Miami Marlins after 68 pitches because of a strained left hamstring. Wilson was traded by the Atlanta Braves to Pittsburgh at the trade deadline. In eight games, Wilson threw 40.1 innings for Pittsburgh. He has a 4.91 ERA. Wilson is expected to start rehabilitation immediately with only one week remaining in the regular season.

Kayla Hodges: Hodges scored another goal for the Elon women’s soccer team in its Colonial Athletic Association opener. On Sunday afternoon, Hodges collected a loose ball in the middle of the penalty area and tucked it into the lower left corner of the net to tie the game against UNC Wilmington in the 84th minute. The Seahawks would get the game winner in the 89th minute from Audrey Harding to prevail 2-1 at UNCW Soccer Stadium. Hodges now has three goals this season. She played all 90 minutes. Elon is 5-4, 0-1 in the CAA and will host Delaware next Sunday at Rudd Field.

Brittany Daley: The Division III Greensboro College women’s soccer team defeated Pfeiffer 1-0 at N.E. Lefko Field in Misenhemier on Saturday. It was the Pride’s USA South Athletic Conference opener. Daley started at centerback and played her routine 90 minutes. Last Sunday, Greensboro played a scoreless tie against Piedmont College at Pride Field. This time, Daley played 110 minutes, including extra time. Greensboro improved to 3-4-1 overall, 1-0 in the USA South.

Jordan Rogers: The Division III William Peace women’s soccer team played to a scoreless tie against Mary Baldwin at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary on Saturday. Rogers started as a wingback and played all 90 minutes. Also last week, despite being undefeated in three consecutive games, the Pacers named Ozzy Peralta as its interim head coach, replacing Reid Clewis, who had been on the job since December 2017.

Bailey Lucas: The Division III Meredith volleyball team split a quad match at Southern Virginia University in Buena Vista, VA on Saturday. The Avenging Angels swept Mary Baldwin 3-0 on scores of 26-24, 25-16 and 25-13 at Knight Arena. Later in the day, Southern Virginia defeated Meredith 3-1 on scores of 18-25, 25-21, 25-21, and 25-12.

Lucas, after missing three matches, made her return to the starting lineup against the Fighting Squirrels. Lucas had 16 assists, three aces and four digs.

Against the Knights, Lucas started. She finished with one kill, 12 assists, one ace and eight digs. Meredith is 8-5, 2-1 in the USA South Athletic Conference.

Men’s Soccer: Cedar Ridge 2, Eastern Alamance 0

Days after scoring two goals against Orange in the Hillsborough Derby, Cedar Ridge’s Chris Mendez added to his team-lead in goals.

On Monday night, Mendez scored the game-winning goal as Cedar Ridge defeated Eastern Alamance 2-0 at Fred Brady Stadium in Mebane. Senior Jorge Salazar added insurance for the Red Wolves, who improved to 3-7 overall, 2-1 in the Central Carolina Conference. It was the second straight conference win for the Red Wolves.

Mendez now has seven goals on the season. Salazar is second on the team with seven points.

Goalkeeper Benjamin Weaver earned his second clean sheet of the season. It was his second straight win in net.

The Red Wolves were supposed to face Western Alamance on Wednesday night at Red Wolves Stadium, but the game was rained out. Cedar Ridge will host Person on Thursday night in Hillsborough.

Orange 4, Person 1

Orange co-Captain Jasper Tell scored the game-winning goal as the Panthers earned its first win in the Central Carolina Conference over Person on Monday night at Orange Soccer Park.

Junior Dylan Silverman assisted on the opening goal, then added Orange’s second goal later in the first half. In the second half, junior Cooper Zinn notched his third goal of the season. In the final ten minutes, junior Jack Pendergast added the first goal of his varsity career.

Orange’s trip to Northwood on Wednesday night was rained out. The Panthers will travel to Southern Durham on Friday.

Women’s tennis: Williams 5, Cedar Ridge 1:

Last Wednesday, the Red Wolves had just enough time to squeeze in six singles matches against Williams. Three of them went to 10-point tiebreakers in the third set, all of them claimed by Williams.

Red Wolves senior Chloe Patz won the Red Wolves only match at #2 singles over Haven Amick of Williams 7-6, 6-4. Cedar Ridge is 3-3 overall, 2-3 in the CCC. Their match scheduled for Wednesday against Person was rained out. The Red Wolves host Durham School of the Arts on Thursday.

Cross Country:

Two months after finishing 2nd in the state in the 3,200 meters, Orange senior Spencer Hampton made a major impression by finishing 2nd in the Friday Night Lights Festival, one of the biggest cross country events of the regular season at Ivey Redmon Sports Complex at Mount Tabor on September 10.

Hampton finished 2nd out of 238 runners with a time of 16:07.30. The only runner in the entire field to finish ahead of Hampton was North Lincoln’s Stephen Fernetti, who came in six seconds ahead of Hampton.

The strong showing by Hampton helped Orange finish fifth among 30 teams. In addition to Hampton, Orange’s Gabriel Schmid finished 10th. Sophomore Alden Cathey came in 23rd. Senior Ethan Horton came in 83rd and junior James Wheelis came in 93rd.

Providence captured the men’s team competition.

In the women’s race, Orange freshman Carolina Cathey was the top finisher, coming in 123rd. Kassi Scarantino, Sophia Schultz, Maggie Saunders and Margaret Hales also competed for Orange.

Women’s golf:

The latest Central Carolina Conference women’s golf meet was held at the Valley in Burlington on Monday. Orange senior Sarah Durham, this week’s Orange Panther of the Week, finished fifth overall out of 23 competitors with a 51. It was her third top five finish in three matches this year.

Sarah’s younger sister, Samantha, finished only one stroke behind her sister with a 52. Shannon Dorsi, Kayla Pope and Lucia Godinez also competed for Orange.

Cedar Ridge’s Olivia Aitkin tied for 9th with a 59.

Northwood won the team meet with a 151, two strokes better than Eastern Alamance’s 153. Orange came in fourth out of five teams with 168 strokes.

This should be a time for big games and active gyms and stadiums.

There’s potential for drama in volleyball. Cedar Ridge, despite a tough loss to defending 3A State Champion D.H. Conley on Monday, still leads the Central Carolina Conference by a game over Northwood. Orange volleyball has three home games this week.

Plus, Orange will host two football games at Auman Stadium this week. The junior varsity faces Cedar Ridge on Thursday night, the only football game between the two teams from Hillsborough this year. On Friday, Orange will take on Williams in its first home conference game.

But fan participation is back to levels last seen in the spring. After the Orange County School Board’s vote last Monday, attendance has been cut back to two fans per spectator. Hopefully, the mandate will be lifted in time for October when Cedar Ridge could be playing for a volleyball conference championship. Plus, the Orange women’s tennis team is battling for first place in the Central Carolina Conference.

Last week was a solid one for Orange and Cedar Ridge in all of the fall sports. On Sunday, we tipped our hand for one of the honorees of the Magnificent 7 for this week. Here’s a complete list of the best performers of the fifth week of fall sports:

Sarah Durham: This week’s Orange Panther of the Week, Sarah finished tied for 2nd at the CCC meet at the Preserve at Jordan Lake. She finished with a 47, tied with Northwood’s Lily Jordan. Every weekend, Sarah practices her tee shots at Occoneechee Golf Course in Hillsborough. On Sunday afternoon, she was kind enough to meet us on a Sunday afternoon to film the interview that was posted on Monday.

Jinkie Andrews: The Orange tennis senior had two wins in Orange’s 8-1 win over Riverside last Tuesday. Andrews teamed with Tea Jones to win at #1 doubles 8-8. At #3 singles, Andrews defeated Riverside’s Willow Tobin 6-1, 6-2. On Thursday, Andrews earned another win as the Lady Panthers defeated Roxboro Community School 7-2.

Avery Miller: Stong overall game against Person with eight kills and six digs. Against Northwood, Miller had a season-high ten kills. She also finished with eight digs, an ace and a block.

Benjamin Weaver: The Cedar Ridge goalkeeper made some huge saves as the Red Wolves won the Hillsborough Derby over Orange 4-1 at Red Wolves Stadium on Wednesday night. Weaver, who transferred to Cedar Ridge after moving to Hillsborough from Pennsylvania over the summer, may have saved the game with 14:45 remaining when he made a kick save on a shot by Orange’s Darius Corbett with the Red Wolves clinging to a 2-1 lead. Weaver also played well against Northwood in a tight 2-1 loss in Pittsboro, a game where the game-winning goal was scored with two minutes remaining.

Chris Mendez: Mendez scored the game-winning goal for the Red Wolves against Orange. Mendez fired eight shots against the Panthers, five of them on goal. He also finished the scoring when he collected his own rebound and deposited it into the net with 6:02 remaining.

Hannah Shinnick: The Cedar Ridge women’s tennis team defeated Western Alamance 5-4 last week in Hillsborough. Shinnick earned two big wins. She started with a victory at #3 singles over Madison Randleman 6-3, 6-3. At #2 doubles, Shinnick teamed with Olivia Kelly to win 8-5. It was a pair of Cedar Ridge freshmen, Ella Caltabiano and Adeline Cummings, who wrapped up the dual match victory with a 8-3 win at #3 doubles.

Julie Altieri: The Cedar Ridge volleyball team defeated Western Alamance 3-1 last Thursday. Altieri had 27 assists against the Warriors as the Red Wolves remained undefeated in the CCC. Altieri had three aces in the four set to wrap up the win for the Red Wolves. Cedar Ridge will resume conference play on Thursday with a critical game against Person.

Women’s tennis: Cedar Ridge 6, Western Alamance 3: Cedar Ridge sophomore Cameron Mayhew won her third straight match in singles play as the Red Wolves defeated Western Alamance at Cedar Ridge tennis courts on Monday afternoon.

Mayhew, who has competed at #1 singles in all of the Red Wolves’ dual matches so far this season, opened with a 6-2, 6-1 victory.

Cedar Ridge senior Hannah Shinnick won two matches against the Warriors. She opened with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Madison Randleman at #3 singles. At day turned into night, Shinnick teamed with classmate Olivia Kelly at #2 doubles to defeat Madison Randleman & Sophie Touchette 8-5. That win sewed up the match for the Red Wolves, who improved to 3-3 overall, 2-2 in the Central Carolina Conference.

Kelly wonder #5 singles match over Sarah McLaughlin 6-3, 7-5. At #6 singles, Cedar Ridge freshman Adeline Cummings defeated Touchette 6-2, 6-0.

At #3 doubles, Red Wolves freshman Ella Caltabiano teamed with Cummings to win 8-3.

Cedar Ridge will travel to Burlington to face Williams on Wednesday afternoon.

Orange 8, Riverside 1: Orange swept all six singles matches to defeat Riverside at Orange Tennis Courts on Wednesday afternoon. Grace Pell captured her match in three sets. Riverside’s only victory came at #3 doubles. Orange improved to 8-2.

Northwood 6, Orange 3: The Chargers ended Orange’s four-match winning streak on Monday in Pittsboro. Erin Sollars won at #5 singles. Shannon Sollars won in a third-set tiebreak at #6 singles. Once again, Pell was extended to three sets but fell just short. 10-8. The Lady Panthers are 3-1 in the CCC.

Men’s soccer: Williams 6, Orange 1:

Wiliams, who captured the 2019 3A State Championship, defeated Orange 6-1 at Orange Soccer Park on Monday night. The Panthers’ only tally came from junior Cooper Zinn on an assist from Dylan Silverman. It was Zinn’s first goal of the year. Kenan King had four goals for the Bulldogs, who improved to 4-2-2 overall, 2-0 in the CCC.

Orange falls to 3-6, 0-2 in the CCC. The Panthers will play in the opening leg of the Hillsborough Derby on Wednesday night against Cedar Ridge at Red Wolves Stadium. Cedar Ridge has won the last three matches against Orange and four of the last five. Kickoff will be at 6:30 at Cedar Ridge.

Northwood 2, Cedar Ridge 1: The Red Wolves were tied with the Chargers at the half in their conference game at Chargers Stadium on Monday night. Northwood got the game-winning goal in the second half. The Red Wolves are 1-7 overall, 0-1 in the CCC

Women’s Golf: The second Central Carolina Conference meet of the year was held on Monday at the Preserves at Jordan Lake in Chapel Hill. In a field of 24 participants, Orange’s Sarah Durham finished tied for 2nd overall with a 47. Durham tied with Northwood’s Lily Jordan for second place.

Eastern Alamance’s Emily Mathews won the meet with a 35 through nine holes. Western Alamance won the team competition with 149 strokes, seven strokes ahead of Northwood, who finished at 155. Eastern Alamance finished third at 159. Orange was fourth with 168, while Person finished at 185.

Orange’s Samantha Durham, Sarah’s sister, finished tied for seventh with a 51.

Cedar Ridge’s Olivia Aitkin, who is the Red Wolves only golf participant, also finished in the top ten. Aitkin tied with Eastern Alamance’s Sarah Vannavong by shooting a 57.

Orange’s Lucia Godinez, Kayla Pope, Shannon Dorsi also participated in the meet.

Women’s Tennis:

Orange 7, Cedar Ridge 2: After going years without beating its crosstown rival, the Orange women’s tennis team has now won three straight dual matches against Cedar Ridge.

Last Tuesday, the Lady Panthers defeated Cedar Ridge 7-2 at Red Wolves Tennis Courts.

The Lady Panthers won four singles matches and swept the three doubles matches to improve to 6-1, 2-0 in the Central Carolina Conference (a match against Williams on September 1 was suspended and will resume on September 27).

There were two marathon matches. At #2 singles, Orange sophomore Grace Pell went to a third-set tiebreaker against Cedar Ridge senior Patz Chloe. Pell prevailed 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), with Pell taking the 10-point tiebreaker 10-5 to improve to 6-2 on the season.

Tea Jones, last week’s Orange Panther of the Week, had another three-set match against freshman Ella Caltabiano. In the opening set, Caltabiano won 6-3. Jones bounced back to win the second set 6-3, and the 10-point tiebreaker 11-9.

At #3 singles, junior Jinkie Andrews defeated Hannah Shinnick 6-3, 6-4. Andrews later teamed with Erin Sollars for a win at #3 doubles 8-4. Erin Sollars won her match in singles 6-0, 6-2.

Cedar Ridge sophomore Cameron Mayhew, who won the Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week back in June, captured the #1 singles match over Finley White 6-3, 6-1. Freshman Adeline Cummings won Cedar Ridge’s other singles match over Orange freshman Shannon Sollars 7-5, 6-3.

Orange clinched the match at #1 doubles when White and Pell teamed to win 8-4.

Orange 8, Person 1: The Lady Panther improved to 7-1 with the win over the Rockets on Thursday in Hillsborough. Orange took five of the six singles matches to sew up the dual match.

Makayla Davis earned her third singles win of her varsity career at #3 singles, 6-1, 6-1.

White, Pell, Shannon Solars, and Isabelle Lynn also won for Orange.

In doubles: Jinkie Andrews teams with Tea Jones for a win at #1 doubles 8-1. Jones and Madelyn Horn won the most dramatic match of the day at #3 doubles by a score of 8-6. Erin & Shannon Sollars won 8-0 at #2 doubles.

Volleyball:

Cedar Ridge 3, Eastern Alamance 1: Cedar Ridge’s streak of 24 consecutive victorious sets came to an end against Eastern Alamance in Mebane on Thursday night.

The Red Wolves unbeaten streak didn’t end.

After the Eagles became the first team to take a frame from the Red Wolves 27-25 in the opening set, Cedar Ridge rolled 25-10, 25-12 and 25-12 to remain undefeated at 9-0. Cedar Ridge also maintained first place in the Central Carolina Conference at 4-0.

Cedar Ridge will host Western Alamance on Tuesday at Red Wolves Gymnasium, then travel to Western Alamance on Thursday.

Men’s Soccer:

Orange 3, Riverside 0: Just one week after losing to Riverside 3-0 at Linny Wrenn Stadium, Orange rebounded to defeat the Pirates 3-0 at Orange Soccer Park on Thursday night. Panther co-Captain Jasper Tell notched a goal for Orange, and also assisted on another goal by junior Bryan Membreno. Sophomore Enzo Bruhns, in his varsity debut after starting the season on the junior varsity squad, scored a goal that was assisted by freshman Konner Johnson.

Junior goalkeeper Connor McMurty posted the clean sheet for Orange, who improved to 3-5.

Women’s Golf:

Occoneechee Golf Course in Hillsborough hosted its first Central Carolina Conference meet of the season last week. Western Alamance finished first in the team standings at 140 strokes. Eastern Alamance’s Emily Mathews had the top individual score with a 35 through nine holes.

Orange had four players for its squad. Sarah Durham, who was an Orange Panther of the Week in 2020, had the top score for the Panthers with a 47. Durham had the sixth-highest score in the meet.

Cedar Ridge’s only representative was Olivia Aitkin, who shot a 52. Aitkin is a rare three-sport athlete. She is also a swimmer during the winter and is a starting centerfielder for the Cedar Ridge softball team.

This week’s Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week is freshman tennis player Ella Caltabiano. Last week in her first varsity match, Caltabiano defeated Voyager Academy’s Karli McKenna 8-5 at #4 singles. Later in the day, Caltabiano found herself playing at #3 doubles in a match that would determine who would win the season-opener. Caltabiano teamed with Reagan Simmons to defeat Shea Dixon & Fiorella Cendeno 8-3 as Cedar Ridge won the dual match 5-4. On Monday, Caltabiano won her singles match over Kalei Stephens of Person 8-0 as the Red Wolves won 7-2. It was the first sports event where Cedar Ridge competed in the new Central Carolina Conference. Caltabiano didn’t start seriously playing tennis until just a few years ago, but is one of the young stars of a Cedar Ridge team that hopes to makn impact under head coach Steve Mayhew. Caltabiano and the rest of the Red Wolves will return to action on Wednesday when they travel to Northwood. The Red Wolves are 2-0, 1-0 in the CCC.

Men’s Soccer: Orange 4, Graham 1: It appeared the Orange men’s soccer team would come up short in its search for its first road win of the season.

Trailing 1-0 with 15:00 against Graham, the Panthers unleashed four goals in the final 14 minutes to beat the Red Devils 4-1 on Monday night. In the final minute, Orange wingback Jasper Fast attempted a free kick from 24 yards. The ball was stopped on the goal line, but junior Darius Corbett chipped it in for the final goal.

Nicholas Hengsterman earned the win in net for Orange, who will face Riverside at Durham’s Linny Wrenn Stadium on Wednesday.

Orange 9, Henderson Collegiate 0: Orange claimed its first win of the season with a 9-0 win over Henderson Collegiate at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary on Saturday. The game kicked off a 3PM in the midst of 95-degree heat, but the Panthers didn’t let that deter them.

Tyler Mann and Carter Thompson each scored three goals for Orange. Darius Corbett added two goals, while Traver Bruhns added another marker. Thompson, Corbett and Bryan Membreno all had assists. Nicholas Hengsterman earned the clean sheet for the win.

Women’s Tennis:

Cedar Ridge 7, Person 2

The Cedar Ridge women’s tennis team had the distinction of being the first team to play a match in the new Central Carolina Conference on Monday afternoon. The Red Wolves defeated Person 7-2 at Red Wolves Tennis Courts.

Sophomore Cameron Mayhew won at #1 singles 8-0. At #2 singles, Chloe Patz defeated Alora Horton 8-1. Hannah Shinnick won at #3 singles 8-0. Freshman Ella Caltabiano, Senior Captain Olivia Kelly and freshman Adeline Cummings all won their respective singles matches 8-0.

In doubles, Cedar Ridge’s Reagan Simmons and Catherine Ballenger won 8-4. The Red Wolves are 2-0 overall and will travel to Northwood on Wednesday.

Orange 5, Western Alamance 3

The Orange women’s tennis team had a long night in its Central Carolina Conference opener. A match that started in the heat of the day wasn’t decided until nightfall had descended in Elon, but the Lady Panthers won 5-3.

Both the #3 and the #4 singles matches wound up in a third set tiebreaker. Tea Jones won her match at #3 singles, while senior Jinkie Andrews won at #4 singles to put Orange ahead 4-2 in the doubles round. Jones and senior Jera Hargrove won at #2 doubles to clinch the match for Orange. The #3 doubles match was canceled because of lightning.

Orange is 5-1, 1-0 and will host Walter Williams in Hillsborough on Wednesday.

Cedar Ridge 5, Voyager Academy 4

The Cedar Ridge women’s tennis team opened its season last Tuesday with a 5-4 win over Voyager Academy. It was a dual match that came down to #3 doubles.

With the dual match even 4-4, the #3 doubles team of freshman Ella Caltabiano and Reagan Simmons won 8-3 to preserve a win in the season opener. Earlier in the day, Caltabiano won her first match at the varsity level at #4 singles, beating Voyager’s Karli McKenna 8-5.

Senior Chloe Patz captured her #2 singles match 8-3. At #3 singles, Hannah Shinnick won 8-4. Senior Olivia Kelly won 8-6 over Shea Dixon at #5 singles.

Carrboro 7, Orange 2: Orange 5, Carrboro 2

Last Thursday, Orange completed its season-opening match against Carrboro, which was postponed from August 16 because of rain. The Lady Panthers won 5-2. Sophomore Grace Pell captured her match at #2 singles after her opponent retired. In the marathon match of the day, senior Jinkie Andrews defeated Carrboro’s Julianna Curry 11-10, winning a tiebreaker 7-5. Senior Tea Jones, sophomore Erin Sollars and freshman Shannon Sollars all won their singles matches.

The Jaguars won the regularly scheduled match. Jones defeated Carrboro’s Julianna Curry 8-3 at #4 singles. Shannon Sollars captured the match at #6 singles 8-1.

This week’s Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week is freshman women’s tennis player Cameron Mayhew. Last week, Mayhew reached the 3A Mideast Regionals during the Big 8 Women’s Tennis Tournament inside the Lindsay Linker Tennis Courts at East Chapel Hill High School. Mayhew defeated an opponent from Orange 6-0, 6-0 to move into the third round. This season, Mayhew was the top singles player for Cedar Ridge and had some exciting victories. She defeated Orange’s Morgan Gwinn 6-0, 6-7 (4-7) and 10-5. She also defeated a player from Northern Durham 6-1, 6-0. Mayhew teamed with junior Chloe Patz to comprise Cedar Ridge’s #1 doubles team. Last month, Cameron’s brother, Josh, became the first Cedar Ridge player to ever reach a state singles championship match when he faced Chapel Hill’s Dennis Perumov for the 3A State Title. In addition to tennis, Cameron is a self-taught pianist who comprises many of her own instrumental songs. She will start play in the 3A Mideast Regionals on Friday morning at the Burlington Tennis Center.

Arriving eight months later than usual, next weekend’s 3A Mideast Women’s Tennis Regionals will include a singles player from Cedar Ridge and a doubles team from Orange.

Cedar Ridge freshman Cameron Mayhew reached the semifinals of the Big 8 Conference Tournament inside Lindsay Linker Tennis Courts at East Chapel Hill High School on Wednesday afternoon. After receiving a bye into the second round Mayhew won her second round match 6-0, 6-0 to reach the semifinals. Mayhew fell in the semifinals to Northwood’s Evelyn Lippers 6-1, 6-3.

Mayhew is the younger sister of Cedar Ridge sophomore Josh Mayhew. Last month, Josh became the first Cedar Ridge singles player to ever reach the 3A State Men’s Tennis Championship match when he faced off against Chapel Hill’s Dennis Perumov.

A doubles team from Orange comprised of two freshmen reached the semifinals in the Big 8 Tournament. Finley White and Grace Pell advanced to the semifinals with a victory over a team from Northwood 6-4, 6-4.

Cedar Ridge’s Hannah Schinnick won her opening match 10-1, but fell in the second round against Northwood 6-1, 6-3. The Red Wolves’ doubles team of Raven Mowles-Aring and Annabeth Lundberg, both freshmen, won their opening match but lost in the second round 10-1.

The Mideast Regionals will be held at the Burlington Tennis Center starting Friday morning.

WRESTLING:

Over a two-day span, the Orange wrestling team faced the defending 4A State Dual Team Champions as well as the 2020 4A runners-up.

In a long road trip to Mecklenburg County on Tuesday night, 2020 State Champion Hough defeated Orange 46-24. In the same tri-meet, Mooresville Senior defeated the Panthers 37-27. It was the first dual losses of the season for Orange, who had won its opening 15 matches en route to the Big 8 Championship.

On Wednesday night, runner-up Cardinal Gibbons held off Orange 40-30 at Enloe High School. With no 3A State Dual Team Tournament taking place this year, the Panthers ended season 15-3.

Orange senior Kessel Summers defeated Hough’s Tyler Caldwell in 55 seconds. In 2020, Caldwell qualified for the 4A state championships at 120 pounds, where he defeated Riverside’s Issac Ramirez in the consolation round. Summers later faced Davis Freeze of Mooresville, who finished 2nd in the state in the 2020 3A 113-pound tournament. Freeze handed Summers his first loss of the season on a 6-0 decision.

Orange 220-pound senior Hayden Horne maintained his undefeated record on the season with three wins. Against Hough, Horne defeated Anthony Walker in 1:02. Horne held off Mooresville’s Ray Watson. Against the Crusaders, Horne pinned Liam Roldan in 2:20. Horne, who was an All-Big 8 Conference offensive lineman for the Orange football team, is now 13-0 with five pins.

At 170 pounds, Orange senior Henry Joubert-Stanzel defeated Brady Rabb of Mooresville 10-5. Against Hough, Joubert-Stanzel squeezed out a 10-8 decision over Alex Coward. Joubert-Stanzel suffered his first loss of 2021 to Cardinal Gibbons’s Savoy New, 10-4, on Wednesday and is now 15-1 on the year. He leads the team with seven pins.

Brandon Worsham, who qualified for the 3A State Championships last year, improved to 14-2 with six pins. At 182 pounds, Worsham decisioned Mooresville’s Desmond Jackson 11-9. Against Hough, Worsham pinned Matt Digerolamo in 58 seconds. On Wednesday, Worsham pinned Gibbons’ Anton Berg in 2:44.

On Tuesday, Cedar Ridge traveled to Kernersville to close its 2021 dual season. The Red Wolves lost to Ledford 51-30 and to the Glenn Bobcats 48-24.

Cedar Ridge senior Daina Pritchard improved to 22-1 on the season at 145-pounds with a pin over Ledford’s Caleb Brumett in 4:19. Pritchard also earned a forfeit win over Glenn.

Red Wolves senior James Rosati-Brown earned two more wins to boost his record for the season to 21-2. Rosati-Brown pinned Ledford’s  Diego Ponce-Gamez in 1:04.

In a preview of next week’s Women’s State Wrestling Tournament, Cedar Ridge’s Kady Watkins pinned Ledford’s Mahogony Brown in 1:36.

The 3A Mideast Regionals will be held at Eastern Guilford High School in Gibsonville on Tuesday. Eastern Guilford will host the 3A State Men’s Championships on June 26. The Women’s State Championships are set to take place next Saturday at Kernersville Glenn High School.