For the first time since 2015, the Cedar Ridge wrestling team is competing in the Tiger Holiday Classic at Chapel Hill High School this weekend. On Friday, Red Wolves senior Darius McLeod he advanced to the quarterfinals for the first time in the 132-pound tournament. McLeod pinned Orange’s Henry Joubert-Stanzel in 1:52 in the opening round. In the second round, McLeod defeated Aaron Faison of Union Pines 8-4. He is now 16-4 on the season and will face Bretli Reyna of South Dade (FL) in the quarterfinals on Saturday. McLeod has competed in the Tiger since he was a 9th grader. In 2014, McLeod finished 6th at 106 pounds, scoring four pins in the consolation round. Earlier this year, McLeod finished 2nd at 132-pound tournament at the Red Wolves Invitational.

Cedar Ridge’s Darius McLeod talks advancing to the Tiger Holiday Classic quarterfinals

For the first time since 2015, the Cedar Ridge wrestling team is competing in the Tiger Holiday Classic at Chapel Hill High School this weekend. On Friday, Red Wolves senior Darius McLeod he advanced to the quarterfinals for the first time in the 132-pound tournament.

There were hundreds of matches on the first day of the Tiger Holiday Classic. Possibly the most exciting of the day came in the 2nd round of the 195-pound championship block. Orange’s Donald Hicks, trailing 4-2 with 30 seconds remaining in the match, defeated Person’s Keith Thompson 5-4 after a takedown with six seconds remaining. Hicks, a senior participating in his first Tiger, had a bye through to the 2nd round. He is now 22-2 on the season going into Saturday’s quarterfinal match. On Wednesday, Hicks pinned Jonas Urban of Cedar Ridge in Orange’s dual match victory over their crosstown rivals. On Saturday, Hicks will face Cameron Blizzard of Ragsdale in the quarterfinals.

Orange senior Donald Hicks discusses thrilling win at Tiger Holiday Classic

There were hundreds of matches on the first day of the Tiger Holiday Classic. Possibly the most exciting of the day came in the 2nd round of the 195-pound championship block. Orange’s Donald Hicks, trailing 4-2 with 30 seconds remaining in the match, defeated Person’s Keith Thompson 5-4 after a takedown with six seconds remaining.

Levi Anderson is looking for his third individual championship this month. He’s halfway home. On the opening day of the Tiger Holiday Classic at Chapel Hill High School, Anderson advanced to the quarterfinals of the 152-pound tournament by defeating Caleb Jolley of Middle Creek 15-5 in the second round. Anderson opened the tournament by pinning Isiah Mercado of Jack Britt in 19 seconds. Anderson is now 23-1 on the season. On Saturday morning, he will face Darian Estevez of Somerset Academy (FL). Earlier this month, Anderson won the Jim King Invitational at 152-pounds. Last weekend, he captured the 152-pound championship at the 31st Eagle Invitational at Eastern Alamance High School in Mebane.

Orange’s Levi Anderson discusses advancing to Tiger Holiday Classic quarterfinals

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This week’s Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week is basketball forward Jacori Walton. The Red Wolves defeated East Chapel Hill 32-29 on December 11 to capture its Big 8 Conference opener. Walton scored both of Cedar Ridge’s field goals in the fourth quarter, including a critical 15-foot jumper with 28 seconds remaining off a gorgeous inbounds pass from junior Tori Dalehite. Walton scored all seven of her points in the second half. In addition to basketball, Walton enjoys math classes at CRHS. After falling to Chapel Hill on Tuesday, the Cedar Ridge women’s team will return to action on January 4 against Northwood at Red Wolves Gymnasium.

Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week: Jacori Walton

This week’s Cedar RIdge Red Wolf of the Week is basketball forward Jacori Walton. The Red Wolves defeated East Chapel Hill 32-29 on December 11 to capture its Big 8 Conference opener. Walton scored both of Cedar Ridge’s field goals in the fourth quarter, including a critical 15-foot jumper with 28 seconds remaining off a gorgeous inbounds pass from junior Tori Dalehite.

It’s been a busy December for Orange center Zyon Pettiford. Earlier this month, he was named All-Big 8 Conference for football as a wide receiver. Pettiford led Orange with 31 receptions for 555 yards and three touchdowns. After football season ended in November, Pettiford transitioned to basketball. He’s the starting center for Derryl Britt’s Orange Panthers. On December 14, Pettiford had a season-high 13 rebounds in a 65-54 win over Lee County in Hillsborough. On December 27, Pettiford and the rest of the Orange Panthers will start play in the Eastern Guilford Holiday Tournament in Gibsonville. On Thursday morning at 11AM, Orange will face Northeast Guilford, coached by former UNC star Curtis Hunter. Orange will carry a 4-3 record into the event.

Orange center Zyon Pettiford talks win over Lee County, how football helps him in basketball.

It’s been a busy December for Orange center Zyon Pettiford. Earlier this month, he was named All-Big 8 Conference for football as a wide receiver. Pettiford led Orange with 31 receptions for 555 yards and three touchdowns. After football season ended in November, Pettiford transitioned to basketball.

Last season, the Orange wrestling team won the Tiger Holiday Classic for the first time in school history. The 26th Tiger Holiday Classic starts Friday at Chapel Hill High School at 4 PM. It will continue Saturday morning at 9 AM. Despite having only two returning starters from last year, Orange is 13-0 after defeating Cedar Ridge 67-7 on Wednesday night at Panther Gymnasium. Among the first-year Orange starters is Tayton Alvis, who competes at 138 pounds. Alvis got off to a strong start to the season at the Orange Duals, which started the season on November 17. Alvis won all four of his matches that day, including a pinfall victory over an opponent from North Davidson. Later in the day, he earned a 7-5 overtime victory against Chatham Central’s Cole Armstrong. Alvis will carry a 13-6 record with nine pins into his first Tiger Invitational on Friday.

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Uploaded by Hillsborough Sports on 2018-12-21.

Icez Barnett is headed to Chowan to play college basketball. Barnett made the announcement last week. So far this season, Barnett has scored 24 points in a game twice. The first came in Orange’s season opener against Union Pines on November 27, a 48-39 victory for the Lady Panthers. She also had 24 points when Orange defeated Lee County 56-41 in Sanford on December 7. Barnett has been a varsity player for the past three seasons. In 2017, she was a member of the Orange squad that won the Big 8 Conference regular season and postseason championships. That team won 21 consecutive games to begin the campaign. Barnett will become the fifth member of that team to play a sport at the next level, joining Kaylen Campbell, Bethlyn Early, Janea Myers and Mia Davidson (softball player at Mississippi State).

Orange’s Icez Barnett announces commitment to Chowan

Icez Barnett is headed to Chowan to play college basketball. Barnett made the announcement last week. So far this season, Barnett has scored 24 points in a game twice. The first came in Orange’s season opener against Union Pines on November 27, a 48-39 victory for the Lady Panthers.

This week’s Orange Panther of the Week is women’s basketball guard Lauren Cates. The Lady Panthers started the season 5-1. Four of the wins came on the road. On December 14, Cates scored 18 points as the Lady Panthers defeated Lee County 59-45 in Hillsborough. On December 6, Cates led Orange with 13 points in a 42-29 victory over Williams in Burlington, a game where Orange never trailed. She also had game-high honors on Tuesday night with 21 points as the Lady Panthers lost to Hillside 65-54. Orange will return to action on December 27 in the Granville Central Holiday Tournament. They will face Vance County in the opening round.

Orange Panther of the Week: Lauren Cates

This week’s Orange Panther of the Week is women’s basketball guard Lauren Cates. The Lady Panthers started the season 5-1. Four of the wins came on the road. On December 14, Cates scored 18 points as the Lady Panthers defeated Lee County 59-45 in Hillsborough.

On Monday afternoon inside Orange High gymnasium, Orange men’s lacrosse long-stick midfielder C.T. Lopeman officially signed with Union College of Kentucky. 2018 has been a year of adversity for Lopeman. In January, he tore his ACL while wrestling for the Panthers against Northwood in Pittsboro. After a hard summer of training and rehabilitation, Lopeman was cleared by doctors last month. Lopeman is headed to a program that is trying to find its way in the lacrosse world. Union is a NAIA school that will field its second lacrosse team this spring. After missing last lacrosse season for Orange, Lopeman is set to take the field this spring for head coach Chandler Zirkle, who Lopeman plays for on the Carolina Hilltoppers travel league team.

Orange long-stick midfielder C.T. Lopeman announces commitment to Union College (KY)

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