Cedar Ridge Men’s Soccer

The Cedar Ridge men’s soccer team endured one of the hottest days of the year to win its season-opener on Monday night. Cedar Ridge defeated Eno River Academy 4-2 at Red Wolves Stadium. Senior co-Captain Iliah Babchenko scored the game-winning goal in the first half as Cedar Ridge won its season opener for the first time since 2019. Andy Tarija, Gael Antunez-Nunez and Dominic McNerney also tallied goals for the Red Wolves. Babchenko and Antunez-Nunez also assisted on goals. Sophomore goalkeeper Erik Galunas earned the win. He finished with five saves, including one on a penalty kick. Cedar Ridge went 5-15-2 last season. The Red Wolves haven’t reached the state playoffs since 2017 and are looking to reach the field of 64. Two years ago, during head coach Chauncey Brunmmel’s first season, Cedar Ridge was the last team out of the 2021 state playoffs. Cedar Ridge had to replace leading scorer Chris Mendez from last season, but have a wide array of midfielders that can put the ball in the net. The home game on Monday night was the final game inside Red Wolves Stadium for the next few weeks. Cedar Ridge starts a four-game road trip on Thursday night against Voyager Academy in Durham. The Red Wolves travel to Henderson to face Vance County next Monday.

On one of the hottest day of the year with nary a drop to rain to be found, Cedar Ridge’s co-Captain provided the game-winning goal to beat a crosstown neighbor and win the season opener all in one swoop.

Senior Iliah Babchenko broke a 1-all tie in the first half, while freshman Andy Tarija scored in his first varsity game during the second half as the Red Wolves defeated Eno River 4-2 at Cedar Ridge Stadium on Monday night.  The Red Wolves got insurance goals from junior Dominic McNerney and sophomore Gael Antunez-Nunez to win its first season opener since 2019.

The Red Wolves had to replace Chris Mendez, their leading scorer from a 5-15-1 team from 2022. Mendez had eleven goals in 2022 and 34 in a career that was shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We have some offensive threats on our team,” said Cedar Ridge coach Chauncey Brummell, who started his third season on Monday night. “Chris was a special player on our team last season, but we definitely have some players on this team that can make up for the scoring.”

Sophomore goalkeeper Erick Galunas earned the win in net for Cedar Ridge. He made five saves, including a stop on a Bobcat penalty kick.

In the weeks leading up to Monday night, Brummell installed a new 3-5-2 formation to bolster his team’s midfielders and test the durability of opposing teams.

“We have very strong midfielders,” Brummell said. “The boys are optimistic about the new formation. We want to test opposing teams. In the second half, we were able to find those pockets and those seams and got the ball through for scoring chances.”

Cedar Ridge will travel to Voyager Academy in Durham on Thursday night.

“We moved the ball around very well,” Brummell said. “We’re dangerous on crossing the ball. We’re dangerous on the counter attack. That’s where we found most of our success.”

Women’s Tennis: Orange 6, Eno River 3: Last year, the Orange women’s tennis team had its greatest season in program history because of depth provided by athletes who also excelled in soccer. Isabel Jones, Katelyn Van Mater and Sydney Rogers all were regular starters on the tennis courts and the pitch (though Rogers was injured her senior year) as Orange won the Central Carolina Conference championship, the first league tennis title in school history.

Van Mater, Rogers and Jones have graduated, but Orange still received depth from another soccer player to win its season opener at Orange Tennis Courts on Monday. Sophomore Molly Kruse won two matches, including a victory at #5 singles, to defeat Eno River in the first-ever matchup between the two schools in women’s tennis.

Kruse, who scored two goals last spring, opened with a 6-2, 6-3 victory at #5 singles over Quinn Parker. Kruse teamed with senior Makayla Davis at #2 doubles to defeat Rebecca Kirby and Ximena Ceja-Reyes 8-2.

Orange’s senior tandem of Erin and Shannon Sollars, who qualified for the 3A State Doubles Tournament last year, were in midseason form to open the year. Erin Sollars captured the win at #1 singles 6-0, 6-1, while Shannon won at #2 singles over Kirby 6-2, 6-1. The Sollars Sisters teamed to win at #1 doubles 8-1, which ensured the first Orange win of the season.

Davis also won two matches on the night. In addition to her doubles victory with Kruse, Davis defeated Betts Roney at #3 singles 6-2. 6-1.

Eno River notched victories from senior Elenaor Finkle, who defeated Ellie Wilson at #4 singles 6-4, 6-1. At #6 singles, Lily Kate Phillipps won via default when her opponent retired.

Parker and Phipps defeated Lindsay Woodell and Aubrey Petrosanu at #3 doubles 8-4.

Orange will return to action with a trip to Durham to face Riverside on Thursday. Eno River will host the Triangle School of Math and Science in Hillsborough on Wednesday afternoon.

This week’s Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week is senior soccer striker Chris Mendez. On Tuesday night, Mendez scored the 25th gaol of his career as the Red Wolves upset Eastern Alamance 2-0 at the John Kirby Sports Complex in Mebane. This season, Mendez scored eleven goals for the Red Wolves, including a hat trick against Person on October 6. He notched his first goal of the season against South Garner in a 2-1 victory at WakeMed Soccer Park on August 26. On September 1, Mendez scored a hat trick in the Red Wolves’ 8-0 win over Eastern Guilford. In 2021, Mendez led Cedar Ridge with 13 goals. He ended his junior season with his first career hat trick against Eastern Alamance at Red Wolves Stadium. With his Cedar Ridge career over, Mendez plans to attend UNC-Chapel Hill, as well as play pickup soccer in his spare time. Mendez will graduate from Cedar Ridge in June. 

On October 6, the Cedar Ridge men’s soccer team defeated Person 6-0 at Red Wolves Stadium. It was another strong game for senior Chris Mendez, who notched his second hat trick of the season against the Rockets. Mendez previously had another hat trick in a 8-0 win over Eastern Guilford on September 1 in Hillsborough. During his three years at the varsity level, Mendez has scored 24 goals for the Red Wolves. He finished out his junior season with a hat trick against Eastern Alamance. Sophomore centerback Solomon Hernandez had a career-high two goals for the Red Wolves. Hernandez brings a stellar defensive presence for Cedar Ridge that will be valuable as he continues his high school career. Hernandez scored his first varsity goal against Eastern Guilford. He was a regular performer last season as a freshman. Cedar Ridge will hold its senior night agains the Durham School of the Arts at Red Wolves Stadium on October 26. 

Last month, Trenton Gill became the first former Cedar Ridge football player to be named first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference.

Now, he will try to be the first Cedar Ridge player to reach the National Football League.

Gill formally announced plans to enter the NFL Draft on Twitter last week. He just completed his redshirt junior season with the Wolfpack and had another season of eligibility remaining.

Gill’s career at N.C. State ended in bizarre fashion. The Wolfpack were slated to face UCLA in the Holiday Bowl in San Diego on December 28. Only five hours before kickoff, the game was canceled because of an excessive amount of positive COVID-19 cases within the Bruins program. N.C. State coach Dave Doeren, still looking none too happy, accepted the Holiday Bowl trophy from event officials the next day.

Two days later, Gill announced his intentions for the NFL Draft.

“Throughout my five years of playing football here at N.C. State, I have grown a tremendous amount,” Gill tweeted. “I appreciate all of the love and support from my family, friends, teammates, coaches, and fans throughout my career. With that, I would like to announce that I am declaring for the NFL Draft and will pursue my lifelong dream of playing in the NFL. Thank you Wolfpack Nation!”

This year, Gill led the ACC with a 45-yard per punt average. He entered this season the all-time leader in N.C. State history with a 46.3 yard per punt mark, which was the second-best average among returning punters in the ACC.

It was the second time in his career that Gill led the ACC in yards per punt. As a sophomore in 2019, Gill set a school-record with a 47.6 yards per punt average. The previous mark was set in 1974. He amassed 2,663 punt yards overall, the 11th highest single-season mark in school history. As a sophomore, he was named third-team All-ACC.

This season, Gill had two punts over 60 yards. Against Boston College on October 16, he had a 65-yard punt, a career long. Against Florida State on November 6 in Tallahassee, Gill had a 60-yard punt.

Overall, Gill had 23 punts over fifty yards in 2021. Of his 70 attempts, 31 were downed inside the 20-yard line. In his final game, a wild and memorable win over North Carolina at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh on November 26, Gill had five punts, two of which were downed inside the 20-yard line. His average of 37 yards was actually his second-lowest of the season. His long agains the Tar Heels was 54 yards.

Gill entered N.C. State after being named All-Big 8 Conference in two different sports at Cedar Ridge. He played soccer under head coach Chris Walker. In football, he was a punter and occasional linebacker under Scott Loosemore.

After redshirting in 2017, Gill played only in the season-finale against East Carolina the following year, a 58-3 Wolfpack blowout that occurred just days after the Pirates fired Scottie Montgomery as head coach. Against ECU, he had three kickoffs.

Gill won the starting punting job in 2019 and never surrendered it. His first game as punter also came against East Carolina on August 31, 2019.

While playing alongside another Hillsborough product, former Orange High linebacker Payton Wilson, Gill has maintained close ties to Hillsborough. In addition to his duties with the Wolfpack, Gill started a fundraiser for new playground equipment at New Hope Elementary School. Last week, Gill announced that he had raised enough money to buy a new slide along with hundreds of new balls.

Last Saturday, there was a special ribbon cutting ceremony that included New Hope Elementary Principal Dr. Meredith Miller.

After leading the Cedar Ridge men’s soccer team in scoring, junior striker Chris Mendez has been named to the All-Central Carolina Conference squad.

Mendez was one of four Cedar Ridge players honored. Also voted to the All-Conference team was goalkeeper Benjamin Weaver, senior co-Captain Alex Jackan and wingback Issac Anderson.

Orange placed two players on the All-Conference team: junior midfielder Darius Corbett and Tucker Gaddy. The Panthers were also honored with the league’s Sportsmanship Award.

This season, Mendez led Cedar Ridge with 13 goals and 29 points. On September 15, Mendez scored two goals in a 4-1 victory over Orange in the opening leg of the Hillsborough Derby at Red Wolves Stadium. Mendez scored Cedar Ridge’s second goal off an assist from Jesus Quirez-Rivera and blasted the ball into the net from eight yards away. In the second half, Mendez notched the brace after he stuck in a rebound after a save by Orange goalkeeper Connor McMurtry.

Mendez ended the season with a hat trick in Cedar Ridge’s 6-0 win over Eastern Alamance on October 26, which put the Red Wolves on the verge of making the state playoffs for the first time since 2016. Cedar Ridge likely was the first team out of the field of 64 when the playoff field was unveiled in October.

Weaver was the starting goalkeeper for all 20 of Cedar Ridge’s games this season. After moving to North Carolina form Pennsylvania, Weaver was inserted into the starting lineup by first year Red Wolves’ head coach Chauncey Brummell. He posted his first clean sheet in a 9-0 win over Clover Garden School on August 25. In the opening tilt against Orange, Weaver kept the Red Wolves in the lead midway through the second half when he blocked a shot by Corbett from the penalty spot after the Panthers had narrowed Cedar Ridge’s lead to 2-1. Weaver posted three more shutouts in the regular season.

Jackan was the senior leader who developed a reputation as a strong defensive midfielder. He had two goals in 2021, including a marker in an 8-1 victory over Person on September 23 in Hillsborough.

Anderson had a season-high two goals against Person in Hillsborough. He was chosen as the player of the game in a rugged game against Williams, where the Bulldogs pulled out a 2-0 win. Anderson also had goals against East Chapel Hill and Clover Garden School.

For Orange, Corbett scored eight goals and one assist. He had a hat trick in Orange’s opening win of the season, a 9-0 victory over Henderson Collegiate at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary. Corbett also notched a hat trick in a 4-3 loss at Southern Durham on September 24. Corbett scored the final goal with seconds remaining in regulation as Orange defeated Graham 4-1, a game where the Panthers exploded for four goals in the final 16 minutes.

Gaddy, a junior, was a strong defense presence for the Panthers, who finished 7-12-1 overall under head coach Palmer Bowman. Gaddy had an assist in Orange’s 4-1 victory over Eastern Alamance on September 29 in Hillsborough. The Panthers concluded the season with a 9-2 victory over the Eagles in Mebane on October 25.

Western Alamance’s Ian Bacchus was named the Central Carolina Conference Offensive Player of the Year. Baccus scored 22 goals as the Warriors, despite finishing 2nd in the CCC, won the 3A State Championship.

Walter Williams’ Ty Thompson was named the CCC Defensive Player of the Year. Williams’ Jeremy Krist was the CCC Coach of the Year.

It was the second time in three years that a team from Alamance County won the 3A men’s soccer state championship. Williams captured the 2019 crown.

Kessel Summers: Summers, who won over 100 matches in his Orange wrestling career, started in his second meet at Bluefield University on November 14. In the Averett University Open in Danville, VA, Summers went 2-2, reaching the quarterfinals before losing. On Sunday, the Rams participated in the King University Open in Bristol, TN.

Braden Homsey: The Division III Ferrum Wrestling team went 3-1 during the Star City Duals at the Salem Civic Center in Salem, VA on Saturday. Former Orange wrestler Braden Homsey won all four of his matches. Ferrum defeated #24 Ozarks 28-19, where Homsey pinned Cruz Partain in 3:40, which ensured a Panther victory. Homsey pinned Porter Trapp of Southern Virginia in 1:01 at 197 pounds. Ferrum defeated Southern Virginia 38-15. The Panthers defeated Apprentice 32-21. Homsey scored a technical fall over Robin Edens 26-8. The only loss on the afternoon for Ferrum came against Roanoke 25-16. Homsey did earn a major decision victory over Collin Milko 14-3. Homsey is 10-0 so far this season for the Panthers.

Trenton Gill: The #25 N.C. State football team rolled past Syracuse 41-17 at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh on Saturday night. It was actually a defensive struggle for most of the first half before the Wolfpack scored four touchdowns in the final 6:20 of the second quarter. Gill had three punts for an average of 36 yards. The longest was 42 yards. Two of them were downed inside the 20-yard line. Gill had eight kickoffs, only one of which was a touchback. The Wolfpack will face North Carolina on Friday night in the biggest matchup between the two schools in decades. N.C. State is now ranked #24. If State wins and Wake Forest loses to Boston College, then the Wolfpack will go to the ACC Championship game in Charlotte for the first time ever.

Keshawn Thompson: The Campbell football team’s season came to an end with a 20-17 overtime loss to Robert Morris on Saturday at Joe Walton Stadium in Moon Township, PA. In the final game of his career, Thompson had an interception in the fourth quarter, which set up the Camels for a chance to win the game on a 27-yard field goal. A facemask penalty pushed the attempt back to 42-yards, which came up wide right. Thompson had two tackles on the afternoon. Campbell ends the season 3-8, 2-5 in the Big South Conference. Thompson led Campbell with 78 tackles this season, including 24 unassisted and 54 assisted. He also had two interceptions.

Adam Chnupa: The Elon Phoenix football team ended the season strong with a 43-28 victory over #25 Rhode Island at Rhodes Stadium. The Phoenix ended the year 6-5, its first winning season since 2018. Chnupa didn’t play in the game, but played in each of Elon’s other ten games this season.

Connor Crabtree: Drake defeated the Richmond men’s basketball team 73-70 at the Drake Knapp Center in Des Moines, IA on Saturday. Crabtree came off the bench to play 13 minutes for the Spiders. He finished scoreless after attempting one 3-pointer. On Tuesday, the Spiders defeated Georgia State 94-78 at the Robins Center. Crabtree scored five points, including a 3-pointer. He also grabbed two rebounds. Richmond is 2-2 and will host Hofstra on Monday in Richmond.

Joey McMullin: Last week, the Sandhills Community College junior varsity team defeated the Methodist University junior varsity squad 107-46 in Fayetteville. McMullin scored 13 points and grabbed three rebounds for the Flyers, who improved its record to 5-2. On Saturday, Richard Bland College defeated Sandhills 82-76. McMullin, who started once again for Sandhills, finished with 13 points, two rebounds and two assists. In eight games thus far with the Flyers, McMullin had started ever game. He is averaging 15.5 points per game and shooting 54.5% from the field. In its final game before Thanksgiving, Sandhills will host Spartanburg Methodist on Tuesday in Pinehurst.

Photo by Averett University

Braden Homsey: Braden Homsey captured the 197-pound championship for Division III Ferrum College during the Averett Cougar Open at the Grant Center in Danville, VA on Saturday. Homsey defeated Jackson Shumate 16-1 in the 2nd round. In the quarterfinals, Homsey grabbed a major decision over Austin Suess of Southwest Virginia 11-2. In the semifinals, Homsey pinned William Headley of Liberty in 2:12. Homsey scored another technical fall in the championship match over William Baldwin of Averett 21-4. In a field of 20 teams, the Panthers finished third with 127 points.

Joey McMullin: The Sandhills Community College men’s basketball team defeated Hosanna Bible College 99-76 at The Hangar in Pinehurst last Monday. McMullin, who scored over 1,000 points in his Orange High career, scored a career-high 27 points for the Flyers. He shot 12-of-15 from the field, including two 3-pointers. On Wednesday, the Flyers defeated Guilford Technical Community College 106-99 in Greensboro. McMullin, who started, had 17 points and six rebounds. On Saturday, Wake Technical Community College defeated Sandhills 126-109 in Pinehurst. McMullin, who started and played 16 minutes, scored six points. He also added two rebounds and an assist. The Flyers are 4-2, 0-2 in Region X of the National Junior College Athletic Association. They will play the Methodist University junior varsity squad in Fayetteville on Tuesday.

Connor Crabtree: The Richmond Spiders started its men’s basketball season with a a 70-60 victory over North Carolina Central in the Robins Center on Tuesday. Crabtree came off the bench and scored two points, grabbed one rebound and dished out two assists. On Friday, Utah State defeated Richmond 85-74 in the opening game of the Veterans Classic at Alumni Hall in Annapolis, MD. Crabtree had a stickleback basket to put Richmond in the lead 65-63 with 5:38 remaining, but the Aggies went on a 18-3 run to take control of the game. Crabtree scored six points and four rebounds in 14 minutes. Richmond hosts Georgia State on Tuesday night.

Trenton Gill: Former Cedar Ridge All-Conference punter Trenton Gill was named a co-Captain for #21 N.C. State’s game against #13 Wake Forest at Truist Field in Winston-Salem. In the highest-scoring game in 115 all-time matchups, the Demon Deacons defeated the Wolfpack 45-42. Gill had six punts for an average of 45 yards. Two punts were downed inside the 20-yard line. His longest was 52 yards, one of two punts over 50-yards. Gill also had seven kickoffs, six of which were touchbacks. The Wolfpack, who are now ranked #25 by the Associated Press, will host Syracuse at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh on Saturday.

Keshawn Thompson: For the fifth time this year, Thompson led the Campbell football team in tackles. Thompson had ten tackles in the Camels’ 28-21 loss to Hampton at Barker-Lane Stadium in Buies Creek on Saturday. It was Thompson’s senior day. Campbell has lost five in a row and is now 3-7 overall, 2-4 in the Big South Conference. They will wrap up the season at Robert Morris on Saturday.

Adam Chnupa: The Elon football team defeated Towson 37-14 at Johnny Unitas Stadium in Towson, MD on Saturday. It was the Phoenix’s fourth road win of the season. Chnupa played special teams and defense for the Phoenix, who improved to 5-5, 4-3 in the Colonial Athletic Association. The Phoenix will wrap up the regular season against #25 Rhode Island at Rhodes Stadium in Elon on Saturday.

Emerson Talley: The Lenoir-Rhyne women’s soccer team received an at-large birth for the Division II NCAA Tournament. The Bears, which includes former Cedar Ridge forward Emerson Talley, will face Catawba in the opening round in Salisbury on Saturday at 6PM. Last week, the Bears lost to Queens 1-0 in double overtime in the semifinals of the South Atlantic Conference Tournament in Matthews. The Bears will enter the NCAA Tournament 11-5-2 overall.

Kate Burgess: The UNC rowing team finished its first official race of the season at the Rivanna Romp in Charlottesville, VA on Sunday afternoon. Burgess was aboard the 2V8+ boat, which finished 21st at 15:02.00. In the Varsity Four race, Burgess was aboard the 4V4+, which finished 24th at 17:21.8.

Bailey Lucas: Bailey Lucas’ career with the Meredith volleyball team has come to an end. The Avenging Angels were snubbed from the NCAA Division III volleyball tournament despite a 23-8 record and reaching the championship match of the USA South Athletic Conference tournament. This season, Lucas was 2nd on the team with 506 assists. She had 24 aces.

Kayla Hodges: Hodges was named to the first team All-Colonial Athletic Association for the Elon women’s soccer team last week. Hodges, a junior, played in all 17 games and compiled 1,561 minutes for the Phoenix, who finished the season 9-6-2 overall, 4-3-2 in the CAA. Hodges, playing along the backline, helped Elon to six shutouts, second in the CAA. She was tied for the team lead with three goals. One of them came against rival UNC Wilmington to tie the game in the 84th minute.

Emerson Talley: Talley returned to action for Division II Lenoir-Rhyne women’s soccer team against Carson-Newman on Wednesday. The Bears took the win over the Eagles 3-2. Talley checked in late in the game at Mortez Complex in Hickory.

Taylin Jean: Jean earned the victory as goalkeeper for the final win of the season for the Limestone women’s soccer team last Wednesday. Jean posted a clean sheet against Lincoln Memorial in a 2-0 Saints win. She made three saves as Limestone held the Railsplitters to four shots. On Saturday, Limestone played the aforementioned Lenoir-Rhyne Bears in the quarterfinals of the South Atlantic Conference tournament at Mortez Sports Complex in Hickory. Jean started as goalkeeper. On paper, at least, it pitted two former Cedar Ridge teammates against each other, though Talley didn’t play for the Bears. Lenoir-Rhyne won 2-0. Jean played all 90 minutes and made four saves. Limestone ends the year 10-5-1 with a sixth-place finish in the SAC.

Trenton Gill: Gill was named a co-Captain for the Wolfpack in its 28-14 win over Florida State on Saturday night at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, FL. Gill had eight punts and averaged 45.2 yards per boot. His longest was 60 yards. He had another punt that went 53 yards. There were five punts downed inside the 20-yard line. The Wolfpack, ranked #21 in the Associated Press, will face Wake Forest in a huge matchup on Saturday at Truist Field in Winston-Salem.

“Field position is a great friend to a defense,” said N.C. State coach Dave Doeren. “Ninety-yard fields, when you’re a defensive coordinator, are nice to call the game in. Trent’s a weapon. He’s really, really kicking the football well on kickoffs, too. This isn’t a one-time thing. This has been multiple games this year. He’s flipping the field, too. He had a bomb on one of those punts. We’re very fortunate to have the specialist crew that we do right now.”

Keshawn Thompson: James Madison throttled Campbell 51-14 at Bridgeforth Stadium in Harrisonburg, VA on Saturday. Thompson had nine tackles for the Camels, who have lost four straight. Campbell will host Hampton for Senior Day on Saturday.

Adam Chnupa: #10 Villanova routed Elon 35-0 at Rhodes Stadium on Saturday. Chnupa entered the game as a defensive reserve for the Phoenix. Elon falls to 4-5, 3-3 in the CAA. They will travel to Towson on Saturday.

Bailey Lucas: The Meredith College volleyball team reached the championship game of the USA South Conference Tournament. On Saturday, Southern Virginia defeated the Avenging Angels 3-1 for the championship at Knight Arena in Buena Vista, VA. Lucas, in what may have been her final game, led Meredith with 21 assists. She also had ten digs and two aces. In the semifinals on Friday, Meredith defeated Maryville 3-2. Lucas started and again led the Avenging Angels with 24 assists. She also had seven digs and one block. In the quarterfinals, Meredith swept William Peace. Lucas had 18 assists (a team-high) with four digs and two aces. Lucas, a setter for the Meredith College volleyball team, was named to the USA South Athletic Conference All-Sportsmanship team. Meredith will now wait and see if they receive an at-large bid for the NCAA Division III Volleyball Tournament. The field will be announced later today.

Joey McMullin: The Sandhills Community College men’s basketball team opened its regular season with a 95-84 victory over Lenoir Community College in Kinston last Wednesday. McMullin started his first official game with the Flyers and scored ten points off 5-of-12 shooting from the field. He also had five rebounds. On Friday, Anne Arundel Community College defeated Sandhills 82-75 in the Flyers’ home opener. McMullin led the Flyers with 20 points off 10-of-19 shooting.

On Saturday, Sandhills defeated Shooting For Greatness Academy 96-72 in Pinehurst. McMullin had 18 points, seven rebounds and two steals.

Braden Homsey: The Division III Ferrum wrestling team started its dual season with a loss to Washington & Lee 35-7 last week. Homsey won the first match of his senior season with a 10-3 decision over Matt Majoy at 197 pounds. On Sunday, Homsey competed in the Southeast Open at Roanoke College in Salem, VA. Homsey dropped both of his matches.

Brittany Daley: As her women’s soccer career winds down at Division III Greensboro College, former Cedar Ridge centerback Brittany Daley was honored by the USA South Conference. Daley was named to the All-Sportsmanship team. In her final game at Greensboro College’s Pride Field, Greensboro defeated North Carolina Wesleyan 1-0 on Sunday. Daley had a chance to score her first career goal for the Pride as she lined up for a penalty, but the kick was knocked away by Battling Bishops’ goalkeeper Alicia Jacobs in the 80th minute. Daley had a career-high three shots in the match. On Tuesday, Mary Baldwin University defeated Greensboro 2-0 in the opening round of the USA South Conference Tournament in Staunton, VA. In her final game, Daley played all 90 minutes. The Pride ends the year 5-10-3 overall, 3-4-2 in the USA South. Daley concludes her Greensboro College career with 55 career games and 52 starts. She was a starter for the Pride when they won the USA South East Division championship last spring.

Kayla Hodges: The former Orange High midfielder was honored on Senior Day by the Elon women’s soccer team last Sunday before its game against Towson at Rudd Field. The Tigers defeated the Phoenix 1-0. Hodges had a shot on goal and finished with two shots. Elon is 6-5-1 overall, 1-2-1 in the Colonial Athletic Association. Elon will conclude the regular season with a trip to Drexel on Sunday.

Taylin Jean: On Saturday, the Carson-Newman women’s soccer team defeated Limestone 1-0 at McCown Field in Jefferson City, TN. Jean replaced starting Limestone goalkeeper Katie Maher in the the 40th minute. Jean played the final 50 minutes and made one save. Limestone falls to 9-4-1 overall, 5-4-1 in the South Athletic Conference.

Jordan Rogers: Like Daley, Rogers was named to the All-USA South Sportsmanship team for William Peace University. The Pacers ended its season last weekend after a double overtime loss to Salem College. Peace concluded the season 4-7-3 overall, 2-5-2 in the USA South.

Trenton Gill: The N.C. State football team became bowl eligible after beating Louisville 28-13 at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh on Saturday night. Gill, the Wolfpack’s punter, was busy on a night where the defenses largely dominated. He had six punts for an average of 45.4 yards. His longest was 53 yards, one of two punts over 50 yards. Five of his six punts were downed inside the 20-yard line. Gill also had five kickoffs with three touchbacks. The Cardinals were coached by former Orange High quarterback Scott Satterfield.

Keshawn Thompson: Charleston Southern defeated Campbell University 27-14 at Buccaneer Field in Charleston, S.C. on Saturday afternoon. Thompson, coming off 12-tackle game against Kennesaw State, finished with six tackles for the Camels. Campbell is now 3-5 overall, 2-3 in the Big South Conference.

Adam Chnupa: The Elon football team suffered a disappointing 45-21 loss to #5 James Madison at Bridgeforth Stadium in Harrisonburg, VA on Saturday. Adam Chnupa played special teams and defeated for the Phoenix. Elon drops to 4-4 overall, 3-2 in the Colonial Athletic Association. They will host Villanova next Saturday at Rhodes Stadium

Bailey Lucas: The Meredith volleyball team build a ten-game winning streak before it was snapped during a quad-match on Saturday afternoon. To start the day, the Avenging Angels defeated North Carolina Wesleyan 3-1 at the Grant Center in Danville, VA. Lucas started and finished with 16 assists, one kill and four digs. The winning streak ended when Averett defeated Meredith on scores of 25-14, 25-15, 19-25 and 25-20. Lucas had 16 assists and 12 digs. Meredith concluded the regular season 21-7 overall, 15-3 in the USA South Conference. On Tuesday, Meredith defeated crosstown rival William Peace 3-1 at the Hermann Athletic Center in Raleigh. Lucas led Meredith with 29 assists and six digs. Meredith will start play in the USA South Tournament on Tuesday with another match against Peace.