Month: February 2019

For the fifth time this season, Orange senior Levi Anderson has won an individual wrestling championship. On Saturday at Southeast Guilford High School in Greensboro, Anderson pinned Northern Durham’s Reuben Dunbar in 1:19. Anderson won all four of his matches at the Regionals by pinball or injury default. He clinched a spot in the 3A State Championship at 145 pounds by defeating Eastern Alamance’s Andrew Dawson by injury in 3:29. Last season, Anderson finished 4th in the regionals. He is the fourth Orange wrestler in the last two years to win a regional championship. Anderson will enter the 145 pound championship as the #1 seed from the Mideast with a 46-3 record this season. The state championships start Friday at the Greensboro Coliseum. 

Cedar Ridge senior Darius McLeod qualified for the 3A State Wrestling championships. On Saturday, McLeod defeated Lydell Canada of Westover 8-6 in the semifinals. However, it could have easily turned into a loss. In the third period, McLeod suffered an inadvertent head. Tut to his bottom lip. The final 90 seconds of the match had plenty of stoppages so McLeod and Coach Scott Metcalf could contain the bleeding. McLeod ultimately would finish the match for his 97th career win, then rose to Moses Cone Hospital for treatment. He forfeited the championship match as the cut required ten stitches. McLeod will go to the 3A State Championships next Friday at the Greensboro Coliseum with 97 career wins. 

On Friday night, Orange freshman Jerec Thompson came up huge in the Panthers’ double overtime victory over Chapel Hill. Thompson hit seven 3-pointers to score a career-high 21 points. He also hit the game-winning shot with :14 left in the second overtime as Orange won at Chapel Hill for the first time in three years. It was a gritty win for an Orange team that dressed out only nine players, three of whom started the season on the junior varsity team. Thompson was called up to the varsity during the Eastern Guilford Holiday Christmas Tournament on December 27. Orange travels to Southern Durham on Tuesday. 

For a freshman, Mary Moss Wirt sure has a flair for the dramatic. On Friday night, Chapel Hill led Orange 41-39 with :12 remaining. The Tigers missed the front end of an one-and-one free throw, which was rebounded by Orange senior Icez Barnett. With time running out, Barnett flipped to freshman Aaliyah Harris. Instead of cutting to the basket, Harris flipped the ball behind her to Moss Wirt, who was standing by herself with her feet planted behind the three point line and ready to fire. Moss Wirt calmly sank a 3-pointer with 3.6 seconds remaining as Orange held to beat the Tigers 42-41. Moss Wirt tied with Lauren Cates for team-high honors with 11 points. Orange is now 17-5 and has sole possession of 2nd place in the Big 8 Conference going into Tuesday’s road trip to Southern Durham.

After a grueling week where they played three games in four days, the odds appeared steep for the Orange men’s basketball team on Friday night. They suited up only nine players against Chapel Hill and were missing starters Mekai Collins and Zyon Pettiford. But the Panthers overcame illness, fatigue and a powerful Chapel Hill front line to beat the Tigers 66-65 in double overtime at Tiger Gymnasium. Joey Mcmullin had to contend with 6-10 Chapel Hill center David Eileen for much of the game, but still had 18 points. Orange won at Chapel Hill for the first time since 2016. Even Orange’s 2017 Big 8 Championship team, led by Connor Crabtree and Logan Vosburg, lost to the Tigers in Chapel Hill. It was particularly sweet for Mcmullin since it was his birthday in a game that, to him, is still very much a rivalry.

This week’s Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week is senior Cameron Koehler. Last week, Koehler joined Devin Bunner, Gabriel Castaneda and John Garcia is competing in the 3A Central Regional Swimming Championships at the Greensboro Aquatic Center. The group finished tenth in the 200 meter freestyle with a time of 1:37.89. Remarkably, this was the first season where Koehler competed in swimming. It was the fourth different sport that Koehler has participated in during his Cedar Ridge career. Last fall, he was named All-Big 8 Conference in men’s soccer, where he played goalkeeper and striker. This spring, as he awaits graduation, Koehler will play tennis.

Despite only playing softball for five years, Kara Wagoner has learned quickly. Last week, she officially signed with Montreat College. Wagoner, a 1st baseman for Cedar Ridge, hit .391 with 18 hits and 11 RBI last season. She led the team with six doubles. Wagoner learned softball after getting cut from the Stanback Middle School volleyball team. She owes much of her development to her uncle Brian Rhew, who worked with her for hours in the summer and fall to make her the player she is today. In addition to softball, Wagoner is the President of the Cedar Ridge FFA and has a 4.0 GPA.

Cedar Ridge 1st baseman Kara Wagoner discusses commitment to Montreat

Despite only playing softball for five years, Kara Wagoner has learned quickly. Last week, she officially signed with Montreat College. Wagoner, a 1st baseman for Cedar Ridge, hit .391 with 18 hits and 11 RBI last season. She led the team with six doubles.