Katie Belle Sikes: In a dual meet moved to Friday due to winter weather, Sikes won the 50 yard freestyle forthe #16 Georgia Bulldogs women’s swimming team meet against Tennessee during Swimapalooza 2 at Gabrielsen Natatorium in Athens, GA. Sikes swam a season-best time of 22.29 seconds to pace a field of seven other competitors. Sikes also finished fourth in the 100 yard freestyle at 48.97 seconds, just .11 seconds behind teammate Ieva Maluka, who finished third. Tennessee, ranked #8 in the country, defeated Georgia 187-110. Georgia will return to action against Division III Emory University next Saturday.
Sophia Stinnett: During senior day for the La Moyne women’s swimming team, Stinnett earned first place in the 500-yard freestyle in a dual meet against Canisius at the Reverend Vincent Ryan Pool in Syracuse, NY on Saturday. La Moyne defeated Canisius 166-134. It was the first time ever that La Moyne defeated a Division I opponent. Stinnett won her event with a time of 5:25.74. Stinnett, one of the most decorated swimmers in Cedar Ridge history who graduated last spring, also placed third in the 1000 yard freestyle with a time of 11:14.49. La Moyne will return to action against Cornell on February 7 in Ithaca, NY.
Evelyn George: The Division III Guilford College women’s basketball team played three games over a span of seven days. On January 17, the Quakers defeated Randolph College 85-52 at Frances and Don Giles Gymnasium in Lynchburg, VA. George played 14 minutes and finished with three points, draining a 3-pointer. She also finished with two rebounds and three assists as Guilford ended a two-game losing streak. On Wednesday, Guilford defeated Averett University 76-57 at the Grant Center in Danville, VA. George came off the bench to score 14 points in 16 minutes off 6-of-9 shooting from the field. She shot 2-of-3 from 3-point range. George also had four rebounds, two assists and two steals. On Friday, #6 Washington & Lee University defeated Guilford 81-78 at Ragan-Brown Field House in Greensboro. George, a freshman who graduated from Orange last June, finished with two points over 13 minutes. She added three rebounds and one steal. Washington & Lee’s Mary Schleusner scored on a three-point play with one second remaining for the game-winning points. Guilford is 14-3 overall, 5-3 in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. The Quakers are scheduled to return to action at Hollins University in Roanoke, VA on Wednesday.
The 2026 college softball season will start next week. There are plenty of Hillsborough products will who continue, and in some cases, conclude their careers this year.
Takia Nichols: Last month, Nichols actually graduated from North Carolina Central. In just three years, Nichols graduated Summa Cum Laude. She made the Dean’s List and Honor Roll each semester with a degree in criminal justice. Nichols is the all-time home run hitter in Cedar Ridge history who helped the Eagles reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history in 2023. She was named first-team All-MEAC after playing 49 games in her rookie year. She was named the MEAC Rookie of the Week twice and produced two hits and a run in the MEAC Championship game win over Coppin State. NCCU will start the season against Pittsburgh in the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Clearwater, FL on February 6.
Mary Moss Wirt: Another senior, Wirt is going into her final season at Elon. Last year, Wirt started 34 games, mostly at catcher. She hit .250 with 19 runs scored. Elon will open against Radford on February 5 in the Elon Softball Classic at Hunt Softball Park.
Sadie Cecil: A shortstop for Orange, Cecil will start her freshman year at Division II Mars Hill University next Saturday in the Valkyrie Classic in Spartanburg, SC.
Allie Carden: Carden will join Cecil on Mars Hill for the season. Carden, who was Orange’s catcher in 2024 and 2025, will be in uniform when Mars Hill starts the season against Clark Atlanta and Lynn College next Saturday.
Charlotte Lowry: The top pitcher for Cedar Ridge last season, Lowry is now a freshman at Lees-McRae in Banner Elk. The Bobcats start the season against Milligan in Johnson City, TN on February 5.
Carson Bradsher: Going into her second year at Averett University, Bradsher will start her junior season against Methodist University in a doubleheader on February 15 at Cougar Field in Danville, VA. Last year, after transferring from Division I South Carolina Upstate, Bradsher started all 43 games for the Cougars and led the team with a .453 batting average with 73 hits. She led the team with 40 runs scored.
Olivia Aitkin: Heading into her fourth season at Division III Amherst, Aitkin started 36 games for the Mammoths last year. Amherst won’t start until March 15 against Macalester College.
Kelsey Tackett: North Carolina Wesleyan will start its season against Pitt Community College on February 17. Tackett is in her third season with the Battling Bishops.
