Cedar Ridge High School

It was a promising start for the Cedar Ridge and Orange football teams in the first week of the season. The two sides won by a combined score of 95-3. Stiffer tests await this week as both teams hit the road once again. The Red Wolves are in Siler City to face Jordan-Matthews, while Orange is at Northern Durham, which lost to Fayetteville 71st on Friday.

This week marks the first Orange vs. Cedar Ridge matchup of the new academic year. The Panthers and the Red Wolves meet Wednesday in girls tennis.

It’s also a busy week ahead for the Cedar Ridge boys soccer team, which is off to a 2-1 start. Orange, which opened its season with a 5-2 win at Northern, also has a busy week ahead. Here’s how the slate looks:

Monday: 

Boys Soccer:  Eastern Alamance at Cedar Ridge 6:45 (V) 5:00 (JV); Graham vs. Orange 6:00 (V)

Girls Tennis: Cedar Ridge at Eastern Alamance 4:30; Orange at Graham 4:30.

Tuesday: 

Volleyball: East Chapel Hill at Cedar Ridge 6:30 (V) 5:00 (JV); Orange at Graham 6:30 (V) 5:00 (JV).

Wednesday: 

Boys Soccer: Cedar Ridge at Durham School of the Arts 6:15 (V) 4:45 (JV); Bartlett Yancey at Orange 6:30 (V) 4:45 (JV)

Volleyball: Orange at Riverside 6:30 (V) 4:45 (JV)

Girls Tennis: Orange at Cedar Ridge 4:30

Thursday: 

Volleyball: Bartlett Yancey at Cedar Ridge 6:30 (V) 5:00 (JV)

Girls Tennis: Cedar Ridge at Person 4:30

Friday:

Football: Cedar Ridge at Jordan-Matthews 7:00; Orange at Northern Durham 7:00 (6:45 airtime on Hillsboroughsports.com)

Saturday: 

Boys Soccer: Cedar Ridge vs. West Johnson in Coaches Classic at Wake Med Soccer Park in Cary 3:00

On the surface, you wouldn’t think there’s a boot camp mentality in tennis. Certainly coach Lennie Corbett doesn’t employ that mindset with his Cedar Ridge girls tennis team.

But the preparation for today’s season opener against Eastern Alamance has been two very grueling weeks. Since gathering on August 1st, the Red Wolves have gathered five times a week for four hour practice sessions with temperatures climbing above 95 degrees during three practices last week.

Corbett watched Thursday’s session with two towels trapped under a baseball cap.

“We’ve been out for long hours,” said Corbett.

The early schedule won’t be any easier. Three matches are set for this week, including Eastern Alamance today and the North Carolina School for the Arts on Wednesday. On Thursday, they face Riverside.

“We’re much, much stronger this year than last year,” said Corbett. “With the newcomers like Alana Soures and Olivia Ward, I’m not sure who is going to be playing where, aside from the top two singles.”

This year, all-Big 8 performer Tess Johnson returns after a busy summer. She spent five-and-a-half week in Governor’s School at Meredith College, where she focused on match. Upon returning July 27th, she quickly worked to get back into tennis shape. She’s expected to be the top singles player after making the 2nd round of regionals in 2015.

“I think we’re going to be really good,” said Johnson. “We have a lot of really good players. We have some freshmen and sophomores who have practiced well. I’m excited to see what we’ll do this year.”

“She’s a fighter,” said Corbett. “She’s steady. She’s not going to make a lot of mistakes and she never quits. I wish I could get everyone like her.”

Another all Big 8 performer, Kate Milner, returns for the Red Wolves.  So does Leah Thompson (who qualified for regionals as a doubles player with Maddie Allen, who graduated) and Senera Soures.

Among the arrivals for CRHS is a rare commodity: a freshman starter who played in middle school. Since Stanford and Stanback don’t field tennis teams, usually Orange and Cedar Ridge don’t start underclassmen. However, Corbett says Ward will likely start at #2 singles after playing at Gravelly Hill in Efland.

“She’s a good player,” said Corbett. “She’s played a lot of tournament over the last few years. None of our middle schools have teams, so this is rare. Most of the kids play at the clubs.”

The Red Wolves made the 3A state dual playoffs last season, but Corbett thinks this squad could be better, even when faced against the challenge of perennial power Chapel Hill in the Big 8 Conference.

“I welcome the challenge,” said Corbett. “I’m looking for big things from these girls this year.”

After a busy summer, Cedar Ridge senior Tess Johnson will start her senior year today when the Red Wolves face Eastern Alamance in the first sporting event of the new academic year.

Cedar Ridge Senior Tess Johnson Talks About Her Summer and What’s Ahead

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Summer is over.

Well, not technically, but it is the first week of high school sports season. It starts today with Cedar Ridge girls tennis and boys soccer, and ends with Orange football at Person on Friday, while the Cedar Ridge football squad travels to Carrboro.

You can listen to the Orange-Person game here on Hillsboroughsports.com starting at 6:40.

The Orange Boys Soccer team also starts play tonight at Northern Durham.

Cedar Ridge volleyball, the defending Big 8 Champions, also starts its campaign this weekend with the annual East Chapel Hill tournament.

Here’s a look at the week ahead…

Monday

Boys Soccer:  Carrboro at Cedar Ridge 6:45 (V) 5:00 (JV) Orange at Northern Durham 6:00 (V) 4:45 (JV)

Girls Tennis: Eastern Alamance at Cedar Ridge 4:45

Tuesday

Boys Soccer: Cedar Ridge at Cardinal Gibbons 7 (V) 5:30 (JV)

Volleyball: Person at Orange 6:30 (V) 5:00 (JV)

Wednesday 

Girls Tennis: Durham School of the Arts at Cedar Ridge 4:30

Thursday

Boys Soccer: Cedar Ridge at South Granville 7:00 Varsity only.

Volleyball: High Point Weslyn at Orange 6:30 (V) 5:00 (JV)

Girls Tennis: Riverside at Cedar Ridge 4:30

Friday

Football: Orange at Person 7:00 (6:40 airtime on HillsboroughSports.com); Cedar Ridge at Carrboro 7:00

Volleyball: Cedar Ridge at East Chapel Hill Tournament

Girls Tennis: Voyager Academy at Orange 4:30

Saturday

Volleyball: Cedar Ridge at East Chapel Hill Tournament

As you might have noticed, Hillsborough Sports.com is a website that tries to tackle a lot of areas of Orange High and Cedar Ridge High sports on a daily basis. With the fall sports season starting Monday, we aim to have complete coverage of all sports at both high schools–via the written word or through radio broadcasts.

As with last year, we’re going to broadcast all of Orange High’s football games on the website. We’re also adding Cedar Ridge games, as well. The exact number of Red Wolves games depends on staffing, but we’re planning at least 7, starting with the East Chapel Hill game.

However, one question that frequently came up last season from various people was “How do I listen?”

There are several ways. First, there’s my (Jeff Hamlin) Spreaker channel. Simply go here. While you’re at my Spreaker page, please give it a Like. That way, not only will you support the website, but you will also be emailed whenever a broadcast starts. Thus, the process is made  much easier.

Secondly, go to the Hillsborough Sports Facebook page. That’s here. A link is placed every game 20 minutes before airtime. Also, there’s my own Facebook page which can be found here.

Then there’s something new for this year. The Hillsborough Sports You Tube page. Simply type in Jeff Hamlin or Hillsborough Sports on the YouTube search option. All games will be broadcast live on YouTube this year.

Also, all broadcasts can be heard on demand. That means if you went to the game, didn’t hear the broadcast, and heard your son or daughter make a great play, you can go back and listen to it through all of the means listed above.

Of course, life moves fast and so does technology. Other websites and channels have started televising games, something that was once forbidden by the North Carolina High School Athletic Association. That hasn’t escaped my attention. I plan to take the website into a direction that will make televising various sports (not just football) live a reality.

It’s going to be a fun year. Stay tuned.

September 20th (TUES)  vs. Chapel Hill & Webb      HOME      4:30

September 27th (TUES)  at Northwood & Webb     @ Northwood 4:30

October 1st (SAT)            Wendy’s Invitational      @McAlpine Greenway Park, Charlotte  9AM

October 4th (TUES)         at Northwood & Southern Durham @ Northwood 4:30

October 11th (TUES)      vs. Orange, Webb & Southern Durham HOME  4:30

October 19th (WED)       Big 8 Conference Championship meet @Chapel Hill High School  4:00

October 29th (SAT)        3A Regionals        TBA     10AM

November 5th (SAT)    3A State Championships

August 11th (THUR)     at Jordan (scrimmage)      4:00 (V)   No JV

August 13th (SAT)        at East Chapel Hill (scrimmage) AWAY TBA   TBA

August 19-20th (FRI-SAT) at East Chapel Hill Tournament  AWAY

August 23rd (TUE)        vs. East Chapel Hill               HOME   5:00 (JV)  6:30 (V)

August 25th (THU)       vs. Bartlett Yancey                HOME   5:00 (JV)  6:30 (V)

August 29th (TUE)        vs. Carrboro                           HOME   5:00 (JV)  6:30 (V)

September 1st (THU)   vs. Orange                              HOME   5:00 (JV)   6:30 (V)

September 6th (TUE)  at Northern Vance                AWAY   5:00 (JV)   6:30  (V)

September 8th (THU) vs. Southern Durham            HOME  5:00 (JV)   6:30  (V)

September 12th (MON) at Eastern Alamance          AWAY   5:00 (JV)  6:30  (V)

September 13th (TUE) at Chapel Hill                        AWAY   5:00 (JV)  6:30  (V)

September 15th (THU) at Northwood                      AWAY    5:00 (JV) 6:30   (V)

September 20th (TUE) vs. Webb                              HOME   5:00 (JV)  6:30   (V)

September 27th (TUE) at Orange                             AWAY   5:00 (JV)  6:30   (V)

October 4th (TUE)       at Southern Durham            AWAY  5:00 (JV)  6:30    (V)

October 5th (WED)      at Carrboro                             AWAY 5:00 (JV)  6:30    (V)

October 6th (THU)      vs. Chapel Hill                        HOME 5:00 (JV)  6:30   (V)

October 11th (TUE)     vs. Northwood                      HOME 5:00 (JV)   6:30   (V)

October 13th (THU)    at Webb                                 AWAY  5:00 (JV)    6:30  (V)

August 15th vs. Carrboro HOME 5:00 (JV) 6:45 (V)

August 16th at Cardinal Gibbons AWAY 5:30 (JV) 7:00 (V)

August 18th at South Granville AWAY 7:00 (Varsity only)

August 22nd vs. Eastern Alamance HOME 5:00 (JV) 6:45 (V)

August 24th at DSA AWAY 4:45 (JV) 6:15 (V)

August 27th vs. West Johnston in Coaches Classic at Wake Med Soccer Park 3:00

September 7th vs. Orange HOME 5:00 (JV) 6:45 (V)

September 12th at Northern Vance AWAY 5:00 (Varsity only)

September 14th vs. Southern Durham HOME 4:45 (JV) 6:30 (V)

September 19th at Chapel Hill AWAY 4:45 (JV) 6:30 (V)

September 21st at Northwood AWAY 5:00 (JV) 6:45 (V)

September 26th vs. Webb HOME 6:00 (Varsity only)

October 3rd at Orange AWAY 4:45 (JV) 6:30 (V)

October 5th vs. Northern Vance HOME 6:00 (Varsity only)

October 6th vs. NCSSM AWAY 6:00 (Varsity only)

October 10th at Southern Durham AWAY 4:45 (JV) 6:30 (V)

October 12th vs. Chapel Hill HOME 5:00 (JV) 6:45 (V)

October 17th vs. Northwood HOME 5:00 (JV) 6:45 (V)

October 19th at Webb AWAY 6:00 (Varsity only)

August 10 (WED) Scrimmage vs. Northern Vance, Graham & Granville Central  HOME  6:00

August 12  Scrimmage  at Granville Central                     AWAY   TBA

August 19  at Carrboro                                                         AWAY   7:30

August 26  at Jordan Matthews                                           AWAY   7:30

September 2nd vs. East Chapel Hill                                    HOME   7:30

September 9th vs. Riverside                                                HOME   7:30

September 16th at Cardinal Gibbons                                  AWAY   7:00

September 23rd vs. Chapel Hill                                           HOME  7:00

September 30th OPEN

October 7th  at Northwood                                                   AWAY  7:00

October 14th vs. Orange                                                       HOME 7:00

October 21st at Webb                                                            AWAY 7:00

October 28th vs. Southern Durham                                    HOME 7:00

November 4th at Northern Vance                                      AWAY 7:00