Cedar Ridge’s senior co-captains Tess Johnson and Leah Thompson, sophomore Kate Millner and freshman Olivia Ward were named to the Big 8 All Conference team on Wednesday.
Orange Coach Andy Brown was honored as Big 8 Coach of the Year. Brown, who hinted at retirement during October’s Big 8 Tournament, led the Panthers to a 6-6 record after the Panthers went 1-12 in 2015.
Johnson, who attended Governor’s School in Raleigh during the summer, was the top singles player for a Cedar Ridge team that captured its first conference championship in school history. She also qualified for regionals for the second consecutive year.
The Red Wolves went 19-2, 12-0 in the Big 8. Johnson and Ward were also the top doubles team, which went 7-4 during the season.
Thompson finished 14-2 as a singles player. She also qualified for the 3A Mideast Regional in doubles with Alana Lutz.
Millner teamed with Senera Sauers to win the Big 8 Doubles Championship at Orange High Tennis Courts. The duo defeated teammates Thompson and Lutz 8-2.
Ward, the daughter of Person High tennis coach Lynn Ward, also qualified for regionals after going 14-4. She played #2 singles as a freshman.
The Orange doubles team of Ashley Tilley and Natalie Darveaux were also named to the All-Big 8 team. Tilley and Darveaux finished fourth in the Big 8 Doubles Tournament and qualified for regionals.
Chapel Hill’s Gabby Kmiec was named the Big 8 Player of the Year. Southern Durham earned the Sportsmanship Award.