Cedar Ridge High School

This week’s Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week is senior running back/linebacker/wrestling James Este Wittinger. Last season, Este Wittinger scored the game-winning safety as the Red Wolves football team defeated East Chapel Hill at Red Wolves Stadium. Este Wittinger scored all eight points for Cedar Ridge in the game. In the second half, he scored the Red Wolves’ only touchdown of the game. He notched the safety when he tackled an East Chapel Hill running back in the end zone. Last February, Este Wittinger qualified for the 3A State Wrestling Championships for the first time. He had the prestigious honor of ending his season wrestling at the Greensboro Coliseum. Competing at 195 pounds at Cedar Ridge High School, Este Wittinger finished fourth in the 3A Mideast Regional. Este Wittinger opened with a win over Triton’s Alex Parrilla in 3:53. In the consolation round, Este Wittinger edged Western Alamance’s Cameron Pettigrew 3-2. In the next round, he went to overtime to defeat Adaris McBride of West Johnston. He defeated Victor Rodriguez of Person via pinfall in 4:44 to earn a trip to the state championships. This week, Este-Wittinger will start his final football season when Cedar Ridge journeys to Chapel Hill to face the Tigers at Culton-Peerman Stadium.

Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week: James Este Wittinger

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There are numbers in sports that are synonymous with excellence.

23–Michael Jordan’s jersey number.

715-Career home runs hit by Hank Aaron to break Babe Ruth’s all-time record.

511–Career wins by Cy Young, the most in Major League history.

Locally, the numbers that the Class of 2023 Cedar Ridge volleyball team left behind when they graduated in June are eye-popping and will only grow more impressive over time.

Together, Cameron Lloyd, Julie Altieri, Cameron Lanier, Grace Young, Melissa Benkowitz, Anaya Carter, Isabelle Sheppard and Lauren Cecil teamed to win 84 games with only ten losses. They won 40 consecutive matches against Central Carolina/Big 8 Conference opponents. Fiona Cunningham, who coached the Red Wolves from 2020-2022, never lost a conference game.

Lloyd ended her career with 1,062 kills, the most in school history. Lanier finished with 671 kills, second-most in team history.

Last year, Cedar Ridge won 62 consecutive sets en route to its third consecutive conference championship. They will carry a 28-game home court winning streak into the new season that begins Monday with its first-ever matchup against Eno River Academy.

That will be far from the only thing new for Cedar Ridge. The seniors that amassed the most wins in school history have scattered across the region to launch their college careers. Some are nearby. Lanier had her first practice at Elon University on Tuesday. Young participated in media day at UNC Asheville on Monday. Carter is at UNC Pembroke. Others have ventured beyond the state.

Lloyd left for Bucknell University in Pennsylvania earlier this week. Altieri, the all-time assists leader in school history, is at Salisbury University in Maryland. Benkowitz now resides in Lancaster, PA with Franklin and Marshall University.

When the reign of the Red Wolves seniors ended in the 3A Eastern Regional Championship game against J.H. Rose in Greenville last October, the underclassmen knew there would be new starters for 2023. What they didn’t know is there would also be a new coach.

Last month, Cunningham stepped down after three seasons to become an assistant coach at North Carolina Central University. Cunningham led the Red Wolves to the 2022 3A State Championship, an Eastern Regional championship, three regular season conference titles and two conference tournament championships.

In Cunningham’s place, Latacha De Oliveira was named as her replacement on July 10. De Oliveira previously was the head coach at Durham Academy. She took 2022 off from coaching high school, but grew familiar with several Cedar Ridge players while serving with the Chapel Hill Area Volleyball Club (CHAVC). De Oliveira coached Graylinn Serge, one of the Red Wolves’ eight seniors on this year’s team, when she was a member of CHAVC at age 13.

“It’s been awesome getting to know these girls,’ De Oliveira said after the Red Wolves swept a three-set scrimmage against Wake Christian Academy on Tuesday night at Red Wolves Gymnasium. “These girls play with a lot of heart. They’re very athletic.”

De Oliveira also coached Lanier and Benkowitz at CHAVC. Her hiring as the new head coach of the Red Wolves came a month before the season started.

“It was all very last minute,” De Oliveira said “I heard there was an opening and was asked to apply for it. I interviewed with Coach (Andy) Simmons. I knew the history of the school and how successful they have been. It’s a very good program. I had a chance to talk with Fiona before I was hired and I know this school has a great program. I love the support of the crowd.”

While eight seniors have graduated, Cedar Ridge won’t be lacking in experience. Senior middle blocker Addie Reid, a three-sport athlete, returns with 174 kills and 87 total blocks. Reid has been a regular rotation player for the past two years. In 2022, Reid had eight kills and four blocks in the state championship game against North Iredell.

Serge was the backup libero to Young last season and also played regularly during the state championship season. Last year, she had 23 aces with 215 digs.

Senior Rachel Alverson begins her third year on the varsity. She had a career-high 244 assists as a setter last season, along with 49 digs.

As a freshman in 2022, Mia Marty started in several postseason games while Altieri battled ankle issues. Marty, called up from the junior varsity just in time for the CCC Tournament, finished with 16 assists against Walter Williams in the semifinals, then added 19 assists in the title victory against Orange.

Another sophomore, Claire Hargett, will attempt to fill the outside hitter slot that Lloyd left behind. Hargett played regularly as a freshman, mainly in garbage time, registering 99 kills over 49 sets.

Natasha Buchler-Fosado, Cecilia Kenan, Ellie Woolson, Caroline Park and Alexandra Hood comprise the remainder of the senior class.

After hosting Eno River on Monday, Cedar Ridge will travel to Raleigh to face Millbrook on Tuesday night.

Once May rolls around, the high school sports scene traditionally dies down. This year, the Orange County Hockey Club was just getting off the ground in June. Though their schedule was limited to two games, Orange County won both of its games convincingly. In June, Orange County defeated Chapel Hill 10-2 on June 4 at Invisalign Arena in Morrisville. Will Deis of Orange High School scored four goals. Aidan Raedy of Eno River Academy notched two goals. Glenn Farmer and Andrew Kutchma also scored. The following week, Orange County defeated Enloe 6-4 in its final game of its brief first campaign. Farmer finished with a hat trick, while Kane Clark, Bryce Nelson and Raedy also scored. Vaughn Clough of Eno River Academy was the winning goalie in each of Orange County’s two wins. Orange County was coached by Thomas Loch, an all-Central Carolina Conference golfer who played on the varsity basketball team for four years. Loch graduated in June. The Orange County Hockey Club aims to play a full schedule for next year in the Triangle High School Hockey League. They’re accepting donations at their Intagram page. Go to @ochs_hockey and click on the bio to learn more about how to donate.

Members of the Orange County Hockey Club discuss win over Chapel Hill

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Thomas Loch, dapper in a black suit, stepped away from the bench holding a sheer of paper and his blond hair slicked back.

Officially, he’s the coach of the Orange County Hockey Club, but really it’s a figurative job title. He isn’t Rod Brind’Amour, laboring over line decisions, defensive pairings and who to put on the ice on the power play. But someone has to stand behind the bench and organize things, especially for a fledgling team in a new league.

The Orange County Hockey Club is comprised of players from Orange High, Cedar Ridge High and Eno River Academy, along with a few players from Wake County. They’re part of the Triangle High School Hockey League, which contests games across two rinks at Invisalign Arena in Morrisville during May and June.

Comprised of 18 teams, the THSL was born out of student interest and engagement. Orange County was unable to play a full league schedule because players had commitments to other spring sports, but once they got together on the ice, it was pure fire.

Orange County won both of its games they played earlier this summer. On June 4, they defeated Chapel Hill 10-2. Will Deis of Orange High notched four goals, while Aidan Raedy of Eno River Academy and Kane Clark each scored twice. Glenn Farmer and Andrew Kutchma also had goals.

On June 12, Orange County won its second and final game over Enloe 6-4. Farmer finished with a hat trick, while Clark, Raedy and Bryce Nelson of Orange High each scored a goal.

Vaughn Clough from Eno River was the goalie in both wins for Orange County.

Nelson had some friends from neighboring schools in other districts that started hockey teams. So he asked friends who skated at the Orange County SportsPlex to gauge their interest.

“Why not have one here?” Nelson said. “We have depth. We got a good team. I reached out to these guys, got the ice time to practice and we’re playing games now.”

Hockey in Hillsborough traces back to the 1950s with the old skating rink at the Daniel Boone Village, where UNC and Duke played home games in a building that wasn’t climate controlled. When the puck dropped, UNC and Duke fans would show up to late-night contests on Fridays and Saturdays bundled up in sweaters and blankets because the building had to be kept near freezing for the sake of the ice. Daniel Boone would only be open 4-6 months a year, then close during the spring and summer.

When the SportsPlex opened in 1995, it was a bold step into the future which had early stumbles financially. But it was open all calendar year. Minor league teams passing through town to play the Raleigh IceCaps or the Greensboro Monarchs of the ECHL would reserve the SportsPlex’s rink for practice time.

Over time, the SportsPlex gained traction and has become an attraction throughout the Triangle. Just as the SportsPlex has been a breeding ground for swimmers like Orange’s Katie Belle Sikes,  who was named the Most Outstanding Swimmer at the 3A State Championships last February, it has also provided an NHL-sized rink for hockey players.

The stereotype of the toothless, blood thirsty hockey player may have faded in the NHL at the dawn of the 21st century, but that doesn’t mean things didn’t get physical between Orange and Chapel Hill. There were several skirmishes between whistles that featured pushing, shoving and a few pie-faced palm thrusts.

“I don’t want anybody getting hurt,” Loch said. “It got a little chipping today. I think we have a good group of guys.”

While Orange County was limited to two games this year, they’re hopeful to add more games for next spring. They’re also looking for funding. The team has established a Go Fund Me on Instagram @OCHS_Hockey with a link in the bio. The money goes to pay for ice time and equipment.

This week’s Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week is soccer midfielder Ianna Pfeifer. In 2023, Pfeifer scored a career-high 23 points as the Cedar Ridge women’s soccer team finished with a 7-13 record. Pfeifer logged a career-high 1,440 minutes of action as one of the senior co-Captains on the team. She notched a hat trick in a 7-0 win over Person on April 17. A four-year member of the Cedar Ridge women’s soccer team, Pfeifer led the team with nine assists this season. She had a goal and two assists in the Red Wolves’ 5-0 win over Northern Durham on February 27. She had a goal and two assists as Cedar Ridge defeated town-rival Eno River in the first-ever matchup between the two teams on April 5 at Red Wolves Stadium. Pfeifer was instrumental in Cedar Ridge getting off to a 4-3 start on the season. After she graduated in June, Pfeifer will attend college at Appalachian State in Boone.

Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week: Ianna Pfeifer

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Later this month, Cedar Ridge graduate Fernando Martinez will start his college wrestling career at Division II UNC Pembroke. It’s something of a surprise for Martinez, who didn’t envision his wrestling career extending beyond Cedar Ridge. For that matter, Martinez didn’t see his wrestling career going beyond 8th grade at Stanback Middle School. Fortunately for him and Cedar Ridge wrestling coach Scott Metcalf, Martinez proved to be a quick learner at Cedar Ridge. He finished his career with 143 wins, the most decorated 3A wrestler in school history. Last February, he advanced to the 113-pound 3A State Championship match, where he faced Jacob Kresicki of First Flight. There are only two wrestlers in school history with more wins than Martinez, which is all the more impressive since he was limited to just 24 matches in his sophomore year due to COVID-19. If he had a full season, there’s a chance he could have broken the school record for wins, held by Chandler Collins with 166 victories. During his senior year, Martinez was a part of a Cedar Ridge team that won the Central Carolina Conference Tournament championship at Orange High School. Martinez is one of only four wrestlers in school history to reach a state final. He was also the third member of HIllsboroughsports.com’s Four-Timers Club, winning Cedar Ridge Athlete of the Week four times in four years, along with Takiya Nichols and Cameron Lloyd.

Cedar RIdge graduate Fernando Martinez prepares for college career at UNC Pembroke

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BURLINGTON–Moments after Josh Mayhew finished the last match of his Cedar Ridge career, he was approached by the mother of one of his opponents.

“I just want to wish you all the best going forward,” the lady said. “My son is happy you’re graduating.”

It was the mother of A.J. Swisher of St. Stephens High School in Hickory. Mayhew has beaten Swisher each of the last two years in the 3A State Singles Tournament semifinals. This year, Mayhew won 6-0, 6-0.

In the process, he became the first player from Hillsborough to ever reach a state championship final three consecutive years.

After finishing the season 20-3, Mayhew was named the Central Carolina Conference men’s tennis player of the year last week. It’s the second straight year that Mayhew has earned the honor. Last season, Mayhew had an undefeated record during the regular season and was the top singles player for a Cedar Ridge squad that won the CCC Championship. It was the first men’s tennis conference title in school history.

“That was my favorite moment of my career,” Josh said. “Getting to see everybody feel so accomplished. It was great.”

If you’ve ever driven by the narrow highway that divides Orange High School from Orange Middle School early on a weekday morning or late in the afternoon and peered out through the trees at the tennis courts, chances are you’ve seen Mayhew. If Cedar Ridge’s courts aren’t available, he’ll simply go to Orange’s courts because it’s more convenient to his tireless schedule.

Even before this year, Mayhew had a relentless workout slate that started at 6AM, if not earlier, and concluded well into the night with pickleball matches with his father Steve, his mother and his sister, Cameron. Sometimes, the pickleball matches start the day.

This year, he added group training in Raleigh under the supervision of instructor Scott Emerson. Mayhew stood alongside football players for agility workouts and plyometrics inside Emerson’s garage.

It’s little wonder that Mayhew was named “Most Dedicated Athlete” at Cedar Ridge’s Senior Awards Night held inside Red Wolves Gymnasium last week. It’s another honor to Mayhew’s voluminous trophy case that includes the 2022 HighSchoolOT.com honor for Best Men’s Tennis Player.

Last December, Mayhew formally signed to play tennis at Belmont Abbey.

In addition to reaching three straight state championship finals, Mayhew also went to the Mideast Regional Final three straight years.

“I just couldn’t be more proud of him,” said Steve Mayhew about his son. “He’s a special talent. I’ve never coached anyone as talented as Josh nor anyone who has the work ethic that he does. As his Dad, I know what he puts in everyday. He averages 15-20 hours a week. That doesn’t include the yoga and the stretching and all that. You multiply that by 52…He’s earned everything he’s ever got because of his work.”

Nirvana’s final listed track on their 1991 classic “Nevermind” was “Something in the Way,” which has been the theme whenever Mayhew has reached the final. Or more to the point, “Someone.” As a sophomore, Chapel HIll’s Dennis Perumov defeated Mayhew in the regional and state championship finals.

The past two years, Terry Sanford’s Drew Hedgecoe denied Mayhew’s attempt to become the first Hillsborough tennis player to win a singles state championship. But it’s not indicative of the legacy that Mayhew will leave behind at Cedar Ridge as the most decorated high school tennis player in Hillsborough history.

“Drew just played crazy good,” Josh Mayhew said. “You just take it for how it is. If someone plays that good, there’s not much you can do about it. I can’t be upset about how I played. He just deserved it.”

As he moves on to Belmont Abbey following graduation next month, Mayhew doesn’t plan on reducing his workload.

“I have a lot to do. I’m not done,” Mayhew said. “I want to start for the team and see where that takes me.”

Dante DeFranco: In their final year in the league, the Charlotte 49ers won the Conference USA Baseball Tournament in Houston over the weekend. The 49ers upset the top-seed, Dallas Baptist, 5-2 to win the championship on Sunday. DeFranco entered the game as a 2nd baseman in the fourth inning. He went 0-for-2. Charlotte won five games over four days to take the championship, including back-to-back wins over Middle Tennessee. In an 9-8 win over the Blue Raiders on Saturday, DeFranco started at 2nd base and went 2-for-3 with tw0 runs scored. He scored off a double play in the 2nd inning and off a throwing error in the fifth to put the 49ers ahead 8-2. On Memorial Day, the 49ers were placed in the Clemson regional for the NCAA Tournament. They will face Tennessee at Doug Kingsmore Stadium on Friday.

Joey Berini: The East Carolina baseball team finished second in the American Athletic Conference baseball tournament at BayCare Park in Clearwater, FL over the weekend. Tulane, the 7th-seed, upset the Pirates 8-6 in the championship game on Sunday. Berini, starting at shortstop, went 2-for-3. The Pirates won back-to-back games over South Florida on Saturday to reach the championship game. In the opening 3-1 win over the Bulls, Berini drove in the final run with a single to center field in the sixth. Berini finished 1-for-4. ECU romped over USF 14-7 to advance to the final. Berini knocked in a run off a sacrifice fly in the eighth. He finished 1-for-4. In a 13-inning marathon on Friday, the Pirates stayed alive with a victory over UCF 7-6. Berini gave the Pirates a 6-5 lead in the eighth inning off a double by Lance Hoover. Berini went 2-for-5 against the Knights. USF defeated ECU 12-11 in eleven innings last Tuesday. In an elimination game on Wednesday, the Pirates defeated Cincinnati 9-6. Berini went 1-for-3. ECU will head to Charlottesville, VA this weekend for the NCAA Tournament. They will face Oklahoma on Friday night.

Bryse Wilson: Wilson earned his second hold of the season for the Milwaukee Brewers in a 4-0 win over the World Champion Houston Astros at Miller Park on May 24. Wilson threw a scoreless seventh inning on 12 pitches. On May 23, Wilson threw the ninth inning in the Brewers 6-0 win over the Astros. He surrendered one hit. The Brewers are 28-25 and lead the National League Central by two games over Pittsburgh as of May 30.

Takia Nichols: The North Carolina Central softball team was eliminated from the NCAA Softball Tournament by Boston University on May 20. The Terriers defeated the Eagles 8-0 in six innings at Jack Turner Stadium in Athens. GA. #14 Georgia defeated the Eagles 12-0 in five innings in the opening round. Nichols was first-team All-MEAC in her freshman season with the Eagles. Central won its first MEAC Championship. In her freshman year, Nichols led the team in home runs (8), total bases (74), walks (28), slugging percentage (.569) and on-base percentage (.459). She hit .338 (2nd on the team) with 31 RBIs.

Tori Dalehite: After winning the Southern Conference championship, the UNC Greensboro Spartans’ season ended in the Clemson Regional of the NCAA Tournament. Cal State Fullerton defeated the Sparans 5-0 at McWhorter Stadium. Dalehite entered the game in right field in the fifth inning. #10 Clemson defeated UNCG 17-2 in five innings. Dalehite played as a pinch-runner. This season, Dalehite played in 31 games for the Spartans, starting seven of them. She hit .150 in 20 at-bats.

Jamar Davis: On the final day of the NCAA East Regional Track and Field Championships in Jacksonville, FL, Davis qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the long jump. Davis, competing for N.C. State, finished twelfth with a leap of 15.79 meters. It will be the first team that Davis has reached the national championship. In 2019, Davis was a second-team all-American in the triple jump at the NCAA Indoor National Championships. Davis, a graduate student with the Wolfpack, ran track, wrestled and played soccer for Orange. He graduated in 2019.

Takia Nichols: The North Carolina Central softball team has won the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship for the first time ever. Last weekend in Norfolk, VA, the Eagles defeated Coppin State 6-2 in the seventh game of the MEAC Tournament at Norfolk State University. Nichols set the tone early with a solo homer in the second inning and the Eagles never conceded the lead. Nichols finished game seven 2-for-3 with a homer, a double and a stolen base. It was Nichols’ eighth home run of the season. Earlier in the day, Coppin State won an elimination game over the Eagles 6-5. Nichols went 1-for-3. For the tournament, Nichols hit 6-of-14 as the Eagles defeated Maryland-Eastern Shore 2-1 on Wednesday. Later in the day, the Eagles knocked off the #2 seed, Norfolk State, 7-4. Nichols went 1-for-3 against the Spartans. In addition, Nichols was named first-team All-MEAC for her freshman season. She is second on the team with a .346 batting average. She is first on the team with eight home runs. She is second on the squad with 31 RBIs,  behind only Maegan Garrison, who has 32. On Sunday night, the Eagles were placed in the Athens Regional for the NCAA Softball Tournament. The Eagles will face the Georgia Bulldogs on Friday afternoon at 4:30. Virginia Tech and Boston University are also in the Athens Regional.

Tori Dalehite: For the second time in her career, Tori Dalehite will be going to the NCAA Softball Tournament as a member of the UNC Greensboro Spartans. UNCG captured the Southern Conference championship last weekend at Frost Stadium in Chattanooga, TN. The Spartans defeated Samford 7-6 in the seventh game of the tournament on Saturday afternoon. Earlier in the day, the Bulldogs forced the extra game with a 2-1 win in nine innings. The Spartans were placed in the Clemson Regional. They will face #16 Clemson on Friday.

Mary Moss Wirt: The Elon softball team has its season end in the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament on Wednesday. Stony Brook edged the Phoenix 2-1 in eight innings at Bill Edwards Stadium in Hampstead, NY. Earlier on Wednesday, Towson defeated Elon 7-5. Wirt ends the season seeing action in 26 games. She started six.

Lauren Jackson: The Lenoir-Rhyne softball team reached the finals of the NCAA Division II Southeast Regionals at Wingate. The Bears lost to #17 Wingate in consecutive games, ending the Bears season. Lenoir-Rhyne opened the  tournament with a 6-4 win over Carson-Newman on Thursday at the Wingate Softball Complex. Jackson, a freshman starting at catcher, went 1-for-1 with a sacrifice fly for an RBI in the third inning to put the Bears ahead 4-0. On Friday, the Bears defeated Wingate 2-1 in eight innings. Jackson went 0-for-2. The following day, Wingate defeated Lenoir-Rhyne 6-2. Jackson went 2-for-3 with two RBIs. She drove in the opening run in the game with an RBI double. She also drove in the final run of the game with a single up the middle. In the seventh game, Wingate won 4-1. Jackson went 0-for-3. Lenoir-Rhyne finishes the year 38-14. Jackson played 44 games, starting 37. She was fifth on the team with a .343 batting average. She had two home runs and 25 RBIs.

Olivia Aitkin: The season ended for the Division III Amherst University softball team on Friday. Bates College defeated the Mammoths 1-0 in the New England Small College Athletic Conference Tournament. Aitkin, who played alongside Nichols and Dalehite at Cedar Ridge, played in ten games her freshman season for the Mammoths. She started six. Aitkin, whose brother Nichols played on the Cedar Ridge baseball team this year, hit .385 with three RBIs. Amherst finished the year 24-13.

Kate Burgess: The UNC rowing team finished eighth in the ACC Championships at Lake Wheeler in Raleigh. Burgess, who is a senior, competed for the Tar Heels. Burgess was a basketball player and ran cross country at Orange.