This week’s Orange Panther of the Week is junior swimmer Katie Belle Sikes. Last week, Sikes turned in one of the greatest athletic performances in Orange High history. She won three Gold Medals at the 3A State Swimming Championships. Overall for her career, she has four state titles and is the only female swimmer in Orange High history to win an individual state championship. Sikes was named the Most Outstanding Female Swimmer of the 3A State Championships at the Triangle Aquatic Center in Cary. She took 1st place in the 50 yard freestyle setting a new state record, regardless of classification, at 22.17 seconds. The time was the 10th fastest ever recorded during a high school meet in American history. It also earned Sikes automatic All-American status. For the first time, Sikes won the state championship in the 100 yard freestyle at 49.45 seconds, setting a 3A State Championship record. Sikes later teamed with Riley White , Piper White and Ainsley Rasinske to win the 200 yard freestyle relay state championship. Sikes swam the anchor leg at 22.65 seconds. Sikes has also won five regional championships in her Orange career. This year, she qualified for regionals in all eight individual events. Last October, Sikes announced her commitment to swim at the University of Georgia. Her name will go down as the greatest swimmer in the history of Orange High School.