Some of the best moments in the history of Orange men’s tennis have come against Walter Williams the past two years.
Last season, Orange recorded the 1st state playoff win over the Bulldogs in team history. Just before spring break, Orange got another win over Williams in Hillsborough.
Senior Zachary Cole earned wins in singles and doubles play as the Panthers defeated the Bulldogs 5-4 at Panther Tennis Courts. The nonconferene win improved the Panthers overall record to 6-4-1.
Cole defeated Williams freshman Ian Scott 6-4, 6-4 as the two teams spit the six singles matches. Cole teamed with freshman Luke McCrary to win the top doubles point over Ezekiel Wells and Zander Lewis 8-0.
Another Orange senior, Bryson Waters, also came away with two wins. Waters teamed with Jonathan Cole to earn the point that decided the match, beating Scott and Sam Turner 8-2 at #2 doubles.
In singles action, Waters defeated Turner 7-5, 6-2 at #3 singles. At #4 singles, senior Jackson Coleman defeated Lewis 6-3, 6-0.
Wells won the top singles match for the Bulldogs. Henry Conner and Charlie Vaught also captured singles matches for the Bulldogs in singles action.
It was Orange’s third straight win.
Orange 8, Southern Alamance 0: On March 25, Orange secured a 9-0 win over the Patriots in Graham. McCrary, a freshman, defeated Matteo Fontana 8-0. All matches were one set with the first player reaching eight games winning.
Cole, Waters, Coleman, Thomas Foster, and Cole also captured singles wins for Orange. In the two doubles matches, McCrary and Cole defeated Fontana and Hugo Rodriguez 8-1.
In the second doubles match, Cole and Foster defeated Davis Pipken and Harper Long 8-1.
Women’s Outdoor Track & Field: Clara Fowlkes, who finished 2nd in the 3A State Outdoor Track and Field State Championships in the pole vault last year, went back to a familiar place during spring break.
Fowlkes competed in the App State High School Meet in Boone on Saturday. Fowlkes finished 1st in the meet clearing 10-feet, nine-inches. Fowlkes tied with Evelyn Parrott of Forsyth Country Day School, but Fowlkes finished in first place.
Fowlkes’s sister, Caroline, currently competes at Appalachian State. Caroline Fowlkes was the 2021 3A State Champion in the pole vault competing for Cedar Ridge.
Clara Fowlkes has qualified for the Central Regionals in Outdoor Track and Field, leading her one step closer to the 5A State Championships.
The 5A Central Regionals will be held at Southeast Alamance High School on May 9.
