Photo from Boise State Athletics
Alvis Whitted: In the nomadic world of college football coaching, former Orange High wide receiver Alvis Whitted is on the move again. After spending a year as an offensive analyst at N.C. State, Whitted has been named the new pass game coordinator and wide receivers coach at Boise State. Whitted returns out west, where he served as wide receivers coach at Colorado State from 2012-2018. In 2019, Whitted spent a season with the Green Bay Packers. He spent two season as a wide receivers coach at Utah under longtime Utes coach Kyle Whittingham. Whitted is still the only Orange High player to ever play in a Super Bowl, when he suited up for the Oakland Raiders against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2003 for Super Bowl XXXVII in San Diego. After his playing career ended, Whitted returned home to Hillsborough to star his coaching career. From there, he served as a wide receivers coach at Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi. After graduating from Orange, Whitted played at N.C. State under head coach Mike O’Cain, where he recorded 29 receptions for 461 yards. His biggest impact came on special teams, where he returned 84 kickoffs for 1,929 yards and two touchdowns.
Payton Wilson: The Pittsburgh Steelers season came to an end in the AFC Wildcard Playoffs on Monday night. The Houston Texans defeated the Steelers 30-6 at Acrisure Stadium. Wilson, playing linebacker for Pittsburgh, finished with four tackles and a pass break-up. This season, Wilson led the Steelers with 126 tackles as the Steelers finished 10-7, winning the AFC North Division championship. In his second NFL season, Wilson paced Pittsburgh with 74 solo tackles and had two sacks. On Monday, Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin stepped down after 19 years, ending the longest stint by any current NFL coach.
Katie Belle Sikes: The #18 Georgia women’s swimming team started 2026 with dual match wins over Florida State and Arkansas at Gabrielsen Natatorium in Athens, GA on Saturday. Sikes, the most decorated swimmer in Orange High history, swam the opening leg for the Georgia 200 yard medley relay team, which finished second behind Florida State. Sikes, who opened with a time of 24.80 seconds, teamed with Charlotte Headland, Olivia Dellatorre and Emma Norton to finish with a time of 1:38.21. Individually, Sikes finished fourth in the 100 yard freestyle at 49.50 seconds. Sikes also competed in the 50 yard freestyle. Georgia will return to action against Tennessee on June 24.
Evelyn George: The Division III Guilford College women’s basketball team suffered its first losses of the season to start in 2026. On January 7, Randolph-Macon edged the Quakers 64-63 at Ragan-Brown Field House in Greensboro. Makenzie Matheny of Randolph-Macon scored on a three-point play, hitting the game-winning free throw with one second remaining. George played 14 minutes and grabbed seven rebounds. The Yellow Jackets ended Guilford’s eleven game winning streak to open the year. On January 10, Bridgewater defeated Guilford 85-72 at Nininger Hall in Bridgewater, VA. George played ten minutes and grabbed four rebounds. Guilford is 11-2, 2-2 in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. They will host Virginia Wesleyan on Wednesday night.
Amiyah Ware: The Division II North Greenville women’s basketball team returned to action on January 7 with a loss to King University at the Student Center Complex in Bristol, TN. The Tornado defeated the Timberwolves 74-53. Ware came off the bench for North Greenville and played 18 minutes, scoring four points and grabbing two rebounds. Last Saturday, Chowan defeated North Greenville 69-57 at Hawks Athletic Center in Murfreesboro. Ware played eleven minutes and scored five points with two rebounds. North Greenville is 6-8 overall, 3-5 in Conference Carolinas. They will return to action in Charlotte against Johnson & Wales University on Wednesday.
Braden Crawford: Midway through his freshman season, Crawford is ranked 16th at 141 pounds by the National Collegiate Wrestling Association. Crawford competes for Division III Ferrum College. On Saturday, Ferrum defeated Garrett College 28-16 in McHenry, MD. Crawford pinned Keon Gavin in 5:50. The Panthers are 5-6.
