This week’s Orange Panther of the Week is men’s tennis player Justin Conover. Last month, Conover and freshman Porter Pelphrey qualified for the 3A State Doubles Championship at the Piedmont Indoor Tennis Center in Greensboro. In the opening round, Conover and Pelphrey defeated Snyder Pearson and Hatten Gore of Wilson Fike 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (7-2). It was the first time that a men’s doubles team from Orange advanced to the second round of the state tournament since they jumped to 3A in 2013. This season, Conover played ten matches as Orange’s top singles player. Among his best victories this year was a win over Jio Sumogod of Northwood 7-5, 7-6 (12-10) on April 4 in Pittsboro. Conover and Pelphrey shared time together in Orange’s #1 singles slot in the spring. Conover went 9-3 in doubles matches this season. Conover and Pelphrey finished 4th in the Mideast Region at the Burlington Tennis Center. Two weeks ago, Conover graduated from Orange at the Smith Center in Chapel Hill, which is a building he will get to know very well over the next four years. Conover will start classes at UNC-Chapel Hill in August.