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Photo by Shannon Murphy

Women’s golf: Orange senior Shannon Murphy is going to the 3A State Golf Championships next week. Lady Panthers sophomore Gianni Burnette will join her.

On Monday at the Central Regional championships, Murphy finished 15h overall with a 92, including shooting a 44 on the front nine at the Valley Golf Course in Burlington. It will be the first time that Murphy has reached the state championships.

Brunette finished in 21st place with a 98.

Cedar Ridge’s Laci Sykes also qualified for regionals. She finished in 42nd place. Orange senior Kayla Pope was the third Lady Panther to earn a spot in regionals, coming in 49th.

Southern Alamance’s Riley Bush tied with Carrboro’s Cristina Murphy and Lee County’s Sydney Pomeranz for first place, each carding a 77.

Terry Sanford 8, Orange 1: Another solid season for the Orange women’s tennis team came to an end in the 2nd round of the 3A State Dual Team Playoffs in Fayetteville on Wednesday.

Terry Sanford, which has won four state championships, defeated Orange to advance to the round of 16. The Bulldogs won all six singles matches to sew up the team victory before doubles play even started.

Orange’s double team of Adelyn Alvis and Kyla Mehl was the lone Lady Panther victory of the day. Alvis and Mehl teamed to defeat Autry Canady and Grace Farmer 8-4. Alvis ends the season with an overall record of 27-2, including an 11-0 record in doubles play.

It was the final match in the Orange career of senior Shannon Sollars, who reached the 3A State Tournament twice in doubles play. Sollars was Orange’s top singles player and won 22 overall matches in 2024. Sollars older sister, Erin, was an assistant coach for head coach Justin Webb. In 2022, the Sollars sisters teamed to reach the 3A State Tournament. Erin and Shanon Sollars defeated Ellie Holtzman and Berkeley Geyer of Hickory 6-0, 6-2 to reach the state quarterfinals.

Overall, Sollars won 103 matches in her career.

It was also the final match for Orange senior Aubrey Petrosanu, who won all four of the matches she started this year.

Orange ends the year 14-5.

South Johnston 6, Cedar Ridge 3: The Cedar Ridge women’s team had its season end against South Johnston in the opening round of the 3A State Playoffs in Four Oaks on Monday night.

Cedar Ridge senior Ella Caltabiano won the final singles match of her career. Playing at #1, Caltabiano defeated Alyssa Newton in one of four singles matches that required a third set, 10-point tiebreaker. Caltabiano won 2-6, 7-5, 11-9.

Caltabiano and senior Adeline Cummings won their final doubles match together. Cummings and Caltabiano defeated Newton and Olivia Meyers 8-3.

Cedar Ridge dropped two of the matches that wound up going to tiebreakers. Myers defeated Cumming 5-7, 6-4, 11-9.

Cedar Ridge junior Caroline Hall defeated Kira Kelly 2-6, 6-2, 11-9.

Caltabiano ends her senior year with 18 wins, including a 9-4 victory in doubles play. Cummings and Caltabiano were the top-seeded doubles team from the Central Conference going into regionals.

Caltabiano, who played at Cedar Ridge four varsity seasons, won 58 overall matches in her career.

Cummings ends her career with 59 overall victories. She also played four varsity seasons.

Lila Rhoades ended her Cedar Ridge career with a start at #5 singles. It was also the final match for seniors Sydney Lund, Anna Grove and Lily Golden.

Cedar Ridge finishes the year 9-7.

Men’s soccer: Orange 6, Southern Alamance 0: The Orange men’s soccer team is one win away from tying the school record for most wins in a season. On Tuesday night, the Panthers played its second game in as many night, beating Southern Alamance in Hillsborough.

Orange improves to 14-4. The all-time school record is 15 wins, set by the 2010 team.

Daniel Romero Toledo, who scored the game-winning goal in a 1-nil win at Cedar Ridge last week, earned two goals against the Patriots. Senior Joseph Lopez and Issac Gallegos each scored one goal.

Junior Yurem Tapia Mendez, who leads the squad with 14 goals this season, added another to his total. Demetrius Holmes and Carson Condon each had an assist.

Sophomore goalkeeper Hector Garrido made two saves to earn his sixth clean sheet of the season.

Ellamarie Perel isn’t necessarily a server for the Cedar Ridge volleyball team, but the postseason can bring out something new even with experienced players.

In the third set against Franklinton on Tuesday night, Perel served up eleven straight winners to turn a tight set into a runaway as the Red Wolves defeated the Red Rams 3-0 on scores of 25-19, 25-15 and 25-14 in the opening round of the 3A State Playoffs at Red Wolves Gymnasium.

Cedar Ridge, which received the #13 seed after tying Orange for the Central Conference regular season championship, advance to the second round to face Southern Nash on Thursday night. The Firebirds swept Southern Lee in the opening round.

It’s Cedar Ridge’s 14th state playoff win since the 2021 season and the fifth straight year where the Red Wolves have won a postseason match.

Cedar Ridge’s latest state playoff win hardly resembled its previous one, which was also against Franklinton at Lester Wilder Court. Last year, the Red Wolves won a thrilling five-set match where they trailed 7-4 in the fifth set, only to finish the match on a 9-1 run to advance to the third round.

Cedar Ridge led two-sets-to-nothing, but trailed in the third 8-6 before a return by Franklinton’s Tierrah Simmons sent an attack over the end line. Perel stepped up to serve and started a run of 12 straight Red Wolves points. Perel delivered five aces in that span, which vaulted the Red Wolves ahead 18-8. Senior Ellie Miller, in likely her final match on her home court, served consecutive aces in the match’s final two points.

Cedar Ridge junior Claire Hargett had 14 kills and nine digs. She has 392 kills this season and 810 for her career. Junior setter Mia Marty finished with 26 assists. Middle blocker Kayla Stoll finished with 12 kills.

The Red Wolves improve to 17-6. Franklinton ends the season 13-12 after finishing 2nd in the Big East Conference.

Orange 3, Triton 0: In the opening night of the 3A State Tournament, three of the 16 host. teams in the Eastern Regional lost. Orange quickly dashed any hopes by Triton of playing Cinderella.

Sophomore Sawyer White finished with eleven kills, eleven digs and eight assists as Orange defeated Triton 25-7, 25-12 and 25-10. The Lady Panthers won a state playoff match for the fourth straight year. Orange, seeded fifth overall, will host South Central in the second round on Thursday night in Hillsborough. The Falcons swept West Johnston on Thursday.

Orange rolled out to a 10-1 lead in the opening set. Mariah Poole had three blocks and a kill in the 1st set. White finished with four kills, seven digs and four assists. Ava Wilkerson, who leads Orange with 322 kills, finished with ten kills. It was her 17th match with double-digit kills this year. Poole had consecutive blocks that started a string of nine straight Orange points to finish the opening set. Aubrey Jordan spiked down set point off an assist from White.

Orange never trailed at any point in the match, nor were there any ties. The Lady Panthers started the second set with seven straight points, which included consecutive aces from Katie Silcott. White had two kills during the opening run. Orange finished the second set with an 8-2 run, keyed by an ace by Sawyer White and two more kills by Wilkerson. Silcott had two aces in the second set while Wilkerson added two blocks.

In the third set, Wilkerson had a block that sparked an 8-2 Orange run. Silcott and Aubry Hodges had consecutive blocks. Senior Peyton Sigmon got into the match late and scored an ace. Wilkerson scored match point.

Orange, the defending 3A Eastern Regional champions, has now won a season-best six straight matches. They won three matches over three days to take the Central Conference Tournament last week, beating Western Alamance and Cedar Ridge in five sets on Wednesday and Thursday, respectfully.

Cedar Ridge and Orange’s wins were the theme for a great opening night by Central Conference teams. Five of the league’s six teams won 1st round matches, including 27th-seeded Southern Alamance stunning Quad County Champion South Johnston in five sets. 22nd-seeded Northern Nash, who lost to Orange in the opening round last year, will actually host a 2nd round match against the Patriots after beating South Brunswick on Tuesday. Person, seeded 14th, won at Croatan in five sets.

Photo by Braeden Wilbourn 

Midway through the season and the Orange Middle School football team is midway towards another appearance in the Orange Person Athletic Conference championship game.

Last Wednesday, quarterback Brayden Robbins scored two touchdowns as the Chargers defeated crosstown rival Stanback 42-6 at A.L. Stanback Stadium. Cam Royster, Wilbert Torain, Kyleed Royster, Jakia Rawles and Ayden Devore all scored touchdowns for the Chargers, who remained undefeated on the year.

Orange Middle’s first string defense didn’t allow a point in the opening three quarters.

The Chargers will venture to Roxboro on Wednesday afternoon for a huge game against Northern Middle School that could very well determine the OPAC Northern Division champion.

Football: Stanback 22, Gravelly Hill 0: On October 9, Stanback defeated Gravelly Hill for its second shutout of the season. Jayden Battle scored two touchdowns for the Bulldogs. Bodhi McDaniel scored a touchdown for Stanback.

Once again, we’re looking to cover Orange Middle, Gravelly Hill and Stanback sports. Regardless of whether its football, men’s soccer, volleyball, cross country or the winter and spring sports. Please send names of athletes who stood out, any statistics to hamlin37@hotmail.com. Or go to our Instagram page and DM us.

This week’s Orange Panther of the Week is junior setter Katie Silcott. Last week, Silcott had a triple-double as the Lady Panthers won the Central Conference Tournament. In the semifinals against Western Alamance, Silcott finished with 12 kills, eleven digs and 32 assists. The following night in the championship match against Cedar Ridge, Silcott missed a triple-double by one dig. She finished with ten kills, 22 assists and nine digs. Orange won two five-set matches on back-to-back nights in order to secure its first conference tournament championship since 2005. Orange also won its third straight match at Cedar Ridge. Silcott has been Orange’s setter since her freshman year. She has a total of 1,769 assists. In her sophomore season, Silcott put up a school-record 1,037 assists as Orange won the Eastern Regional championship, facing Kings Mountain for the state championship at Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh. Silcott had a double-double with 22 assists and eleven digs in the state championship match. Silcott has been a regular starter for an Orange team that has won back-to-back regular season conference championship for the first time since 2004-2005. With the addition of Sawyer White to the lineup, Silcott has become a lethal attacker and a blocker at the net. Orange will face Triton in the opening round of the state playoffs tonight in Hillsborough.

Orange Panther of the Week: Katie Silcott

This week’s Orange Panther of the Week is junior setter Katie Silcott. Last week, Silcott had a triple-double as the Lady Panthers won the Central Conference Tournament. In the semifinals against Western Alamance, Silcott finished with 12 kills, eleven digs and 32 assists.

Photo by Kim Petrides 

Orange 6, Cedar Ridge 1: A victory in the Hillsborough Derby has become, pardon the pun, old hat for Orange men’s soccer. Last Thursday, Orange rolled past Cedar Ridge to win the competition between the two schools for the third straight year.

With every win, Orange is taking steps towards two milestones. They’re now 12-4 overall. The school record for most wins in a season is held by the 2009 team, which finished 15-5. The Panthers entered Monday night’s game against Southern Alamance with three more matches on its slate. They will face Southern Alamance again on Tuesday, followed by its Central Conference finale against Eastern Alamance on October 28. With the fall sports season expanded, the Panthers have added a nonconference game against Southeast Alamance in Haw River on November 6.

Orange is also on track to host a state playoff game for the first time since the program started in 1987. Going into Monday night, Orange’s RPI was #9. While Western Alamance has clinched the Central Conference championship for the second year in a row, the Panthers have officially clinched the league’s 2nd automatic postseason spot.

While Orange struggled to score against Cedar Ridge last Monday, the Panthers rolled in the rematch on Thursday night. Demetrius Holmes scored his first career brace, and added an assist. Junior Yurim Tapia Mendez added his team-high 13th goal of the season. Mendez scored the game-winning goal in Orange’s senior opener against Carrboro in August.

Senior Joseph Lopez added a goal for Orange in the final second of regulation. Lopez scored the game-winning goal in Orange’s 1-0 win over Walter Williams on October 9 to complete a two-game sweep of the Bulldogs. It’s the first time that Orange has swept Williams since the two teams became conference rivals in 2021.

Senior Isaac Gallegos and junior Logan Edwards also scored for Orange.

Salomon Hernandez scored the only goal for Cedar Ridge, who fell to 6-8-2 overall, 5-5 in the Central Conference.

Orange sophomore goalkeeper Hector Garrido earned the win.

Cedar Ridge 4, Eastern Alamance 0: On October 16, Cedar Ridge senior goalkeeper Erik Galunas earned the clean sheet as Cedar Ridge completed a season sweep of the Eagles at the John Kirby Sports Complex in Mebane.

Fresman Alex Rosales scored his seventh goal of the season. Rosales scored in the opening win over Eastern Alamance on September 23.

Senior Salomon Hernandez added another marker, his sixth of the season. Hernandez, who was one of the premier players for Cedar Ridge’s team that finished second in the Central Conference last year, also has three assists this year. Junior Edber Lopez and sophomore Niko James added goals for Cedar Ridge. James has ten goals this season.

Cedar Ridge will host Williams on Wednesday night. They have added a nonconference game against Vance County, which will be the Red Wolves final home game of the season, on October 28. The Vipers defeated the Red Wolves 3-1 on August 19 in Henderson.

Orange 5, Person 1: Orange completed a season sweep of the Rockets with a 5-1 victory on October 16 in Hillsborough. Just days after he scored the game-winning goal against Cedar Ridge at Red Wolves Stadium, Daniel Toledo had his first career brace. Toledo now has five goals this season.

Toledo also had an assist on a goal by Dallas Johnson. Several members of Orange’s prominent backline wound up on the score sheet. Johnson, a junior centerback, scored a goal. Senior Eben Petrides also scored a goal, his first of the season.

Sophomore Brendan McDonald added his first career goal. Kace McAuley, Lopez and Jesse Petrides added assists for the Panthers. Garrido played goalkeeper for the first half. He was replaced in the second half by Durvin Lopez Abarca, a junior. Abarca made one save.

The Panthers have won eight consecutive contests over Person since the two teams became conference rivals again in 2021.

Decades in the making, the Orange women’s tennis team made its own bit of history on Monday night. The Lady Panthers defeated Northern Nash 5-2 to win the first-ever state playoff dual match at Orange High Tennis Courts. Orange, which received the #13 seed, advanced to the round of 32 to face Terry Sanford in Fayetteville on Wednesday. Junior Adelyn Alvis now has an overall record of 26-1 this season after winning two matches against the Knights. Alvis won her match at #5 singles overall Joy Aycock 6-4, 6-0. Alvis and junior Casey Robinson teamed to sew up the playoff win at #3 doubles, beating Aycock and Ella Mallory 8-2. Robinson won her match at #6 singles over Mallory 6-2, 6-0. Orange won two tiebreaker matches in singles play, including freshman Kalynn Mason winning over Nash’s Taylor McIntyre 7-5, 4-6, 14-12. In terms of points, it was the longest match this year for Orange. Before 2021, the Orange women’s tennis team had never won a state playoff match. They’ve now won three over the past four years. Coach Justin Webb has led Orange to 62 dual matches since 2021. It was likely the final home match for Orange’s top singles player, Shannon Sollars, who has been a four-year starter that has played in the 3A State Tournament twice. Sollars won her final match at Orange by beating Esther Edgerton 6-3, 6-4.

Orange women’s tennis Adelyn Alvis & Casey Robinson discuss 1st ever home state playoff win

Decades in the making, the Orange women’s tennis team made its own bit of history on Monday night. The Lady Panthers defeated Northern Nash 5-2 to win the first-ever state playoff dual match at Orange High Tennis Courts. Orange, which received the #13 seed, advanced to the round of 32 to face Terry Sanford in Fayetteville on Wednesday.

In fall sports, if a team wins when it starts getting cold, they’re doing something right.

The Orange women’s tennis team did something unprecedented on Monday night. They won the first-ever state dual playoff match at Orange Tennis Courts.

Adelyn Alvis and Casey Robinson each won singles and d0ubles matches as the Lady Panthers defeated Northern Nash 5-2 in Hillsborough. In the history of the facility, which dates back over five decades, there has never been a state dual team playoff match in men’s or women’s tennis.

Orange, which received a #13 seed after finishing second in the Central Conference, will travel to Terry Sanford for the 2nd round on Wednesday.

It is the fourth win in the past three years for Orange in the state dual playoffs, all under head coach Justin Webb. Prior to 2021, Orange had never won a state playoff match in team history.

“It’s a good feeling,” Webb said. “I think it speaks to the where the program is and where it was when I started coaching girl’s tennis.”

Orange started coaching the women’s tennis team in 2017 the Lady Panthers were in the Big 8 Conference and finished 6-15. Since then, Webb has done plenty of recruiting within the school, focusing on athletes from other sports that have some spare time in the fall.

Alvis, who runs track and field during the spring, has been a constant starter in singles and doubles. Sophomore Molly Kruse, who plays soccer, teams with senior Shannon Sollars on the top doubles team.

“Our numbers have gone up astronomically since then,” said Webb, who is also a history teacher at Orange. “When you have lots of numbers, you have lots of good athletes. It helps improve your program, for sure.”

Webb’s most successful team in 2022 is still the only tennis team, regardless of gender, to win the Central Conference Tournament championship. They included Sydney Rogers, who eventually signed to play soccer at Catawba College; Isabel Jones, Makayla Jones and Katelyn Van Mater, all of whom also played soccer.

“I think the girls help spread the word,” Webb said. “The girls come out here every day and they’re really good friends. They have a positive attitude and they all like playing sports. And they all start to love to play tennis. These girls are all just amazing people and they bond really well.”

Orange reached the state playoffs, where they had an interminable trip to Kill Devil Hills to face First Flight. Total drive: 9 hours round trip, but the ride home felt good after Orange prevailed 5-2.

On Monday night, Orange won four of the six singles matches. In her final match at Orange, senior Esther Edgerton 6-3, 6-4. Sollars and Kruse were leading their doubles match when it was called after Alvis and Robinson clinched the team victory with a 8-2 victory over Joy Aycock and Ella Mallory at #3 doubles.

Orange freshman Kalynn Mason won the longest individual match of the season at #2 singles. Mason defeated Taylor McIntyre 7-5, 4-6, 14-12 in a ten-point tiebreaker. Mason has now won nine singles matches this year.

Orange junior Oakley Gaddy won another match that went to a 10-point, third set tiebreaker. Gaddy defeated Carisma Deans 6-2, 2-6, 10-5. Alvis won against Joy Aycock 6-4, 6-0. At #6 singles, Robinson rolled past Ella Mallory 6-2, 6-0.

The Lady Panthers improved to 14-4.

Since 2021, Orange has now won 62 dual team matches.

Orange began the year without a home court to play on. Its regular court was being renovated, which was eventually completed in mid-september. Until then, Orange had to play home matches against Mebane and practice at various facilities, including Fairview.

On Monday night, they likely finished the season on its homecourt doing something that no Orange tennis team had done before.

The Orange volleyball team has won the Central Conference Tournament championship after winning two five-set matches over the course of two days. The Lady Panthers defeated Cedar Ridge 3-2 in the championship match on Thursday night. Junior Ava Wilkerson had a career-high 27 kills while junior Aubrey Jordan added 19 kills. In its run to its first conference tournament championship since 2005, Orange had incredible statistical games from its top two setters, Katie Silcott and Sawyer White. In the semifinals against Western Alamance, Silcott recorded her first career triple-double with 12 kills, eleven digs and 32 assists. White, a sophomore, also had her first career triple-double with 28 assists, 13 digs and eleven kills against the Warriors. Wilkerson set her career-high for kills on back-to-back nights. Against Western Alamance, she finished with 23 kills. Orange ended Cedar Ridge’s run of three consecutive conference tournament championships. Jordan had 19 kills against Western Alamance, two shy of her season-high. It was the second time this year that Orange won a five-set match inside Cedar Ridge Gymnasium. The Lady Panthers received the #5 seed in the Eastern Region for the 3A State Playoffs and will face Triton in the opening round on Tuesday night at 6 o’clock in Hillsborough. If Orange wins, they will host either South Central or South Johnston on Thursday night.

Orange volleyball’s Katie Silcott & Sawyer White discuss winning the Central Conference Tournament

The Orange volleyball team has won the Central Conference Tournament championship after winning two five-set matches over the course of two days. The Lady Panthers defeated Cedar Ridge 3-2 in the championship match on Thursday night. Junior Ava Wilkerson had a career-high 27 kills while junior Aubrey Jordan added 19 kills.

The early season grind for Orange volleyball was worth it.

Panthers head coach Hope Heverly scheduled eight noncoference matches this season. Of those, seven were against teams that wound up winning their respective conference championships this year (a trip to Chapel Hill was canceled because of Hurricane Helene).

Orange lost six of those matches and went into Central Conference play 2-4. Yet Coach Hope Heverly wasn’t discouraged because the plan was it would make them tougher for October, when championships are decided.

On Thursday night, Orange ended Cedar Ridge’s stranglehold on the Central Conference Tournament championship by beating the Red Wolves 3-2 at Red Wolf Gymnasium. In the second straight five-set match between the two crosstown rivals, the Lady Panthers captured the crown on scores of 25-15, 23-25, 20-25, 25-19, 15-10.

Orange junior Ava Wilkerson had a career-high 27 kills, while outside hitter Aubrey Jordan finished with 12 kills. Cedar Ridge junior Claire Hargett led the Red Wolves in kills.

It was a match with more than just a tournament championship and bragging rights on the line. The victory provided Orange with the top-seed from the Central Conference for the 3A State Tournament, which starts Tuesday. Orange and Cedar Ridge tied for the Central regular season championship with identical 10-2 league records.

Orange and Cedar Ridge have met in the Central Conference Tournament championship three straight years. The Red Wolves, who won at Orange last year 3-1 to hand the Lady Panthers its only loss to a league opponent, was going for its fourth consecutive tournament title.

“I know the drive that our girls long and all season long they’ve shown that they’re a really good comeback team,” Heverly said. “We don’t give up until that last point. I’d say our biggest strength is in game changeups. I can switch defense and I can switch where they’re hitting without me calling a timeout. We knew we had to make a couple of adjustments and the girls went out there and made the adjustments. They have the energy.”

It was the second straight night where Orange battled back from a two-sets-to-one deficit to win. In the semifinals on Wednesday night, the Lady Panthers defeated Western Alamance by winning the fourth set 25-22, then taking the fifth 15-8.

In the final set, Cedar Ridge (16-6) led the final set 6-3 following an ace from Emory Willians and kills by Hargett and Ellamarie Perel. Orange’s bigger bodies began to control at the net, propelling Orange to five consecutive points. Wilkerson, who leads the team with 322 kills, spiked down three straight kills to even the set at 6-6. Junior Katie Silcott laid down a soft attack that almost balanced on the net before it rolled over and fell to the floor so softly, it wouldn’t have dented a pillow. Another kill by Wilkerson broadened Orange’s lead to 8-6 before Hargett ended the run with a spike.

An ace from Sydnee Tappere tied the set at 8-8, but Wilkerson slammed home a free ball that hung over the net, which put Orange ahead for good. Silcott delivered an ace and later scored a huge block to put Orange ahead 14-10. Jordan spiked home match point off a feed from Abby Silinski.

Orange controlled the first set, overcoming an early 6-3 deficit and went on a 22-9 run to win the frame 25-15. Sophomore Sawyer White, who finished with four kills, five aces, three blocks, 16 digs and 20 assists. Orange registered nine blocks, including one from Mariah Poole that put the Lady Panthers ahead 12-8. An ace from Wilkerson led to nine set points, which Orange clinched when a return by Hargett went long.

The second set was tied six times, but Cedar Ridge fought back from an 8-5 deficit to even the match. An ace by Williams put the Red Wolves ahead 23-22, but the subsequent serve went long. Hargett slammed down a kill, and Sydnee Tapper’s delivered an ace on set point.

Hargett delivered another kill in the third set to put the Red Wolves ahead 11-10, which triggered a 7-1 run. Cedar Ridge built a 20-13 lead and wrapped up the set following a kill from Mia Marty off an assist from Ellioe Miller.

In the fourth set, Orange went on a 7-1 run to take a 13-8 lead behind consecutive aces from Silinski. Poole and Jordan each had unassisted kills as Orange forced a fifth set by winning 25-19.

Orange now ventures into the state playoffs as the defending 3A Eastern Regional champions. Last year, they were the top-seed from the Eastern Regional going into the state tournament, but didn’t expect to be playing at Reynolds Coliseum for all the marbles. Yet that’s where they wound up.

Heverly’s expectations for this year are loftier.

“I have high expectations,” Heverly said. “The girls have already seen the top teams from the state in the regular season. So they know what it takes to hang and stay with those types of teams. They’ve shown the drive and desire they have. So I’m excited to see where we can go the next two weeks.”