Our first Orange Panther of the Week of the 2026-27 academic year is junior tennis player Kalynn Mason. The Orange women’s tennis team won its opening four dual matches. Mason is Orange’s top singles player. She started playing at the age of ten. When she isn’t playing with the Panthers, she currently plays in Mebane, along with the Orange Tennis Club at Fairview in Hillsborough as well as a club league in Durham. Last year, Mason was the top singles player for an Orange squad that reached the round of 16 in the 5A Dual Team State Playoffs for the first time ever. Last week, Mason won her opening singles match over Maggie Moody of Chatham Central 6-0, 6-1 in Siler City. Mason teamed with Davia Coyle to win the opening doubles match of the season. On Tuesday, Mason won two matches in Orange’s 9-0 victory over Northwood. In 2025, Mason teamed with Molly Kruse to win a crucial doubles match in a 5-4 victory over Seaforth to end the regular season. Against Southern Nash in the state playoffs, Mason defeated Taryn Reams 6-4, 6-0 in the top singles match. Orange is 4-1. On Monday, they will face South Granville for two Big 7 Conference matches in Hillsborough. The Lady Panthers will travel to Durham to face the Durham School of the Arts on Tuesday.
