Orange Golf

This week’s Orange Panther of the Week is junior golfer and men’s basketball forward Thomas Loch. This spring, Loch qualified for the 3A Mideast Golf Regionals at the Valley Golf Course in Burlington. It was the second straight year that Loch qualified for regionals. Loch finished with the highest score among Orange players. Last winter, Loch was also a key contributor to the Orange men’s basketball team. On December 16, Loch scored a career-high 12 points and six rebounds against East Chapel Hill. As the winter turned to spring, Loch’s teammate on the men’s basketball team, J.J. Thompson, joined him on the men’s golf team. Loch and Thompson were the two top players for the Panthers goal squad this spring. Thomas loves to play at Occoneechee Golf Course in Hillsborough. In fact, when this interview was filmed, he had just finished a round on a Sunday afternoon. Loch will enter his senior year in August and get set to play two sports once again. He will enter his third year on the varsity men’s basketball team and be one of the senior leaders alongside returning guards Freddy Sneed and Xandrell Pinnnix along with center Isaiah Seymour.

Men’s Tennis: The Cedar Ridge men’s tennis team will play in its first-ever 3A State Dual Team Tennis playoff match today. The Red Wolves will face Carrboro, the champions of the Northern Lakes Conference, at Jaguars Tennis Courts.

This will be the second matchup between the Red Wolves and the Jaguars in 2022. Carrboro defeated Cedar Ridge 6-3 on March 21. The Jaguars are in the midst of its first season as a 3A team after spending its first 14 years as a 2A school. Carrboro has won three 2A State Championships, the last in 2018 when they defeated Brevard 5-2. The Jaguars also won five 2A Eastern Regional titles.

The 3A Dual Team State Championship is a 32-team tournament. Cedar Ridge, the champions of the Central Carolina Conference, received a 10-seed in the pairings released Monday. The winner of this match will face either 2nd-seeded Croatan or 15th-seeded Northwood in the round of 16 next Tuesday.

It will be a busy week for Cedar Ridge On Friday, the 3A Mideast Regionals for singles and doubles will be held at the Burlington Tennis Center. Cedar Ridge’s Josh Mayhew will be the top-seeded singles player after being named the CCC Player of the Year. Mayhew is 12-0 this season.

Also competing in the regionals for the Red Wolves will be sophomore Lev Bearman, who was the 3rd-seed at the CCC Tournament last week.

Cedar Ridge’s doubles team of Eli and Holden Rachlin will be in the regional doubles tournament. Orange’s doubles team of senior Justin Conover and freshman Porter Phelphrey, the #2 seed from the CCC, also will compete in the regionals starting Friday.

The Mideast Regionals will conclude Saturday. Semifinalists in the singles and doubles tournament will qualify for the 3A State Championships.

Golf: There will be two returning local players and a newcomer for next week’s 3A Central Golf Regionals.

On Monday at the Central Carolina Conference Golf Championships at Valley Golf Course in Burlington, Western Alamance completed its run to the team title. Northwood’s Jake Conklin won the individual championship with a season-total of 279 strokes.

Orange senior J.J. Thompson, in his first year on the golf team, was the highest finisher from Hillsborough. Thompson finished the season with 351 strokes, finishing 8th in the conference. Thompson’s lowest nine-hole round total of the year was a 43, which happened in Burlington last month.

Joining Thompson in the regionals will be Orange’s Thomas Loch, who also qualified last season. Loch, a junior, completed the season 12th overall in the CCC. He shot the lowest 9-hole score for any Orange player this season with a 40 at Occoneechee Golf Course in Hillsborough in a dual match against Cedar Ridge. In the interest of full disclosure, Loch is a forward on the Orange men’s basketball team and also a play-by-play man for broadcasts on Hillsboroughsports.com.

Cedar Ridge’s Bradley Monschien is headed back to the Central Golf Regionals, also for the second straight year. Monschien finished 11th in the individual standings this year with 361 total strokes across eight rounds. Monschien, coached by Chris Casey, reached regionals in 2021. He also played junior varsity baseball.

Orange’s Josh Roberts, Cooper Zinn, Ryder Lee and Brad Marochak also played in the CCC Championships. Cedar Ridge’s Dylan Froehling, Ward Mann, Drew Langevin, Ryan Capps and Rowan Parker also competed in the tournament.

The 3A Central Regionals will also take place at Valley Golf Course in Burlington.

Women’s Soccer: Orange 5, Walter Williams 0: Two weeks after losing to Williams in Burlington, the Orange women’s soccer team made a 180-degree shift on Monday night in a dominant win over the Bulldogs.

Goalkeeper Abby Montieth earned the shutout in the win at Orange Soccer Park. Bella Brown, freshman Elliana Sullivan Gaddy, Ella Wimsatt, Isabel Jones and Caroline Cathey all scored goals for Orange. The Lady Panthers are 6-6-1, 5-3 in the Central Carolina Conference.

Northwood 5, Cedar Ridge 1: The Chargers pulled away from the Red Wolves at Red Wolves Stadium on Monday night. Fleury Nicholson scored Cedar Ridge’s only goal.

Cedar Ridge 5, Durham School of the Arts 0: On April 14, Cedar Ridge defeated the Bulldogs in Durham. Fleury Nicholson and Breana Sienra each scored twice for Cedar Ridge. Ianna Pfeifer added a goal and assisted on another. Freshman Anna Peterson assisted on two goals. Sophomore Addie Reid earned the shutout going all 80 minutes.

Cedar Ridge travels to Orange tonight. The opening kick will be at 6.

For the first time in six years, there will be a representative from Hillsborough in the 3A State Women’s Golf Tournament.

On Tuesday, Orange senior Samantha Durham qualified for the state championships after a solid finish in the Central Regional at Greensboro National Golf Course. It was the second time in five months that Samantha played in the regionals.

Samantha Durham will become the first competitor in the 3A State Women’s Golf Tournament for Orange since Amanda Hill, who reached the state tournament in 2015. To say the competition that year was stiff would be an understatement. The winner of the tournament was Chapel Hill’s Gina Kim, who has gone on to win a national championship with the Duke women’s golf team and currently is in the process of qualifying for a LPGA Tour card.

The 3A State Championship is a two-day event that starts on Monday at Foxtrot Resort and Golf in Pinehurst. It will continue on Tuesday.

Golf runs deep in the Durham family. Samatha’s younger sister, Sarah, also qualified for the Central Regionals for the third year in a row. They both competed in the regionals last May. On most Sunday mornings, Sarah Durham can be found on the driving range at Occoneechee Golf Course in Hillsborough, the official golf course of the Orange and Cedar Ridge men’s and women’s golf teams.

It’s one of the favorite courses of the Durham sisters.

“It’s a good course,” Samantha said. “It’s nice and open. There’s not a lot of water. So I personally like it and it’s close.”

Reaching the state tournament is a fitting final accomplishment for Samantha Durham. When she started at Orange, golf it became more than just something she did every now and then.

“We started playing when we were younger,” said Samantha. “Our father played and our brother played so it was just a family activity. We started taking lesson and last year we started taking it a little more seriously. That’s when we started playing more in school and playing in more tournaments.”

Things would get competitive among members of the Durham family.

“We always want the best for each other,” Samantha said. “I definitely want Sarah to win tournaments. She’s always rooting for me and I’m always rooting for her.”

Samantha and Sarah aren’t the only members of the Durham family to represent Hillsborough in high school golf. Their brother, Matthew, qualified for the regional and state tournaments as a student at Cedar Ridge. Last spring, Matthew Durham graduated from Campbell University and has served internships with the Professional Golfers’ Association in Oakmont, PA and Ootwah, TN in the hopes of becoming a golf pro. He also served as a tournament director for several events at Campbell.

As any golfer will tell you, golf is all about routine. Samantha, who was recently honored during senior day at Occoneechee, says it’s not easy to maintain focus.

“You need good course practice,” Samantha said. “Then when you’re on the golf course, you’re thinking the same things. It’s just ‘stroke, keep your head down, good contact with the ball.’ Every time you swing your club, you just want to make good contact and get it to the hole.”

High Point Central’s Emma Niebauer won the Central Regional championship shooting an even-par, 72. Emily Matthew of Eastern Alamance, the Central Carolina Conference champion, came in second with a 74, 2-over for the afternoon.

Cedar Ridge’s Olivia Aitkin also qualified for the Central Regionals. Aitkin, who recently committed to play softball at Amherst College in Massachusetts, is a three-sport athlete at Cedar Ridge. She seems in the winter, along with playing centerfield for Allan Byrd’s softball team.

Women’s Golf: Last year, one of the Durham sisters qualified for the 3A Central Regionals in women’s golf. This year, they both did.

In the final Central Carolina Conference meet of the season, Sarah and Samantha Durham both reached the regional round at Mill Creek Golf Club in Mebane. In an 18-hole event, Sarah finished with a 108 and wound up in sixth place overall in the conference. Samantha Durham finished 11th for the season.

In addition, Cedar Ridge’s Olivia Aitkin also qualified for the Central Regionals. Aitkin is a three-sport athlete at Cedar Ridge. She has also won a conference championship for the Cedar Ridge softball team, and has also advanced to regionals in swimming.

During a regular match at Mill Creek on October 11, Samantha Durham was Orange’s leading competitor, shooting a 56 over nine holes. Sarah Durham shot a 59. Shannon Dorsi, Kayla Pope and Lucia Goodinez also competed for Orange.

The regionals will take place on Tuesday at Greensboro National Golf Club and will be hosted by Western Alamance.

Men’s Soccer: Orange 1, Cedar Ridge 1

The final leg of the Hillsborough Derby wound up going the distance on Monday night. Orange and Cedar Ridge finished in a 1-1 tie after two, 10-minute overtime periods.

After a scoreless first half, the Red Wolves got the opening goal when junior midfielder Evan Sredzienski won a dual at midfield and sent a crossing pass across the box that was headed in by co-Captain Jorge Salazar with 29:19 remaining.

Only two minutes later, Orange’s Darius Corbett notched the equalizer on a penalty kick. The Panthers drew the penalty when junior Tyler Mann was tripped in the box.

Both teams had changes to get the advantage over the final 25 minutes. Cedar Ridge goalkeeper Benjamin Weaver made several big saves in the overtime periods. Salazar nearly scored another goal off a header in the initial overtime session, which was saved by Orange junior goalkeeper Connor McMurtry.

On Wednesday night, Orange defeated Person 4-2 in Roxboro. The Panthers are 6-11-1 overall, 3-6-1 in the CCC.

The Red Wolves had a game against Eastern Alamance delayed on Wednesday night. It will be rescheduled. Cedar Ridge is 6-10-1 overall, 5-3-1 in the CCC. The Red Wolves will journey to Western Alamance on Monday.

Women’s Tennis: Cedar Ridge 5, Western Alamance 1:

In its final Central Carolina Conference of the season, Cedar Ridge defeated Western Alamance 5-1 in Elon. Sophomore Cameron Mayhew earned a victory at #1 singles, winning 6-4, 7-5. In her last regular season match, senior co-Captain Hannah Shinnick won at #3 singles 7-5, 6-2. Another senior co-Captain, Olivia Kelly, captured a victory at #5 singles 6-3, 6-3.

Freshman Ella Caltabianco won at #4 singles 7-5, 6-1.

Cedar Ridge freshman Adeline Cummings wrapped up the day with a 6-2, 6-4 victory at #6 singles.

With the Central Carolina Conference Tournament slated to start at noon on Friday at Burlington Tennis Courts, the coaches opted not to play doubles since Cedar Ridge clinched the match.

The Red Wolves conclude the regular season with a 6-7 overall record, 5-5 in the CCC.

Orange 9, J.F. Webb 0

On Tuesday, the Orange women’s tennis team journeyed to Oxford, where they defeated the Warriors in its final non conference dual match of the season.

Senior Tea Jones, sophomore Erin Sollars, sophomore Isabelle Lynn, junior Madelyn Horn, and sophomore Zoe Vantubbrgh all claimed wins for Orange in single-set, eight-game matches.

In doubles, Lynn teamed with Isabel Jones for a victory at #1 doubles. Katelyn Van Mater, who is now a three-sport athlete at Orange, teamed with Sydney Rogers for a victory at #2 doubles.

The following day, Orange defeated Person 8-0. The Lady Panthers ended the regular season with a 15-4 overall record. It’s widely believed among some longtime Orange High observers that the 15 wins are a school record. Orange finished 7-3 in the CCC and is in contention for a wildcard birth in the 3A State Dual Playoffs.

Women’s Tennis:

Orange 7, Cedar Ridge 2: For the third year in a row, the Orange women’s tennis team will have a winning season.

Not only that, but with one more win, the Lady Panthers will have its most wins since they returned to the 3A ranks in 2012.

On Wednesday, Orange completed a season sweep of Cedar Ridge with a 7-2 win at Orange Tennis Courts. It concluded a long 48-hour stretch fo the Lady Panthers that started on Tuesday when they completed a suspended match against Walter Williams, then played an entire dual match against the Bulldogs.

Against the Red Wolves, Orange (11-4 overall, 5-3 in the Central Carolina Conference), senior Tea Jones had two wins on the day. At #4 singles, Jones won 6-4, 6-2. Jones teamed with senior Jinkie Andrews to win at #3 doubles 8-4. So far in 2021, Jones has an overall record of 16-8.

Cedar Ridge sophomore Cameron Mayhew also earned two wins on the afternoon. Mayhew captured her match at #1 singles 6-3, 7-5. After dark, Mayhew teamed with senior Chloe Patz at #1 doubles to win over Finley White and Grace Pell 8-1.

Pell, a sophomore, improved to 11-4 in singles action this year. At #2 singles, Pell prevailed in a three-set match over Patz 6-3, 2-6, 10-7 (10-point tiebreaker). It was the fifth time this year that Pell has played in a three-set match, and the second time it happened against Patz.

Senior Jinkie Andrews won 7-6 (7-5), 6-3 at #3 singles for Orange. Sophomore Erin Sollars and freshman Shannon Sollars earned singles victories for Orange.

Jera Hargrove & Erin Sollars won at #2 doubles 8-3.

Cedar Ridge 5, Northwood 4: On Monday, Cedar Ridge became the first women’s tennis team two hand Northwood a loss in CCC action.

After nearly three hours of action, the entire dual match came down to the final doubles match. Cedar Ridge’s freshmen duo of Ella Caltabiano and Adeline Cummings defeated Northwood’s Kaylee Fisher & Kendall Leberge 8-3 to earn the Red Wolves biggest win of the season.

Cedar Ridge captured three of the five singles matches. Sophomore Cameron Mayhew pulled out a tight match over Evelyn Lippers 7-6 (7-5), 7-5. Mayhew is 6-2 in singles action this year.

The Red Wolves won both singles matches that went to three sets. At #2, Patz defeated Julia Earnshaw 1-6, 6-2, 10-8. At #5 singles, senior Olivia Kelly defeated Fisher 6-2, 2-6, 10-8. Cummings won at #6 singles 6-1, 6-2.

Walter Williams 5, Orange 4: In the completion of a suspended match from earlier this month, Williams held off to take sole possession of 2nd place in the CCC.

The completion of the suspended match wasn’t decided until the final doubles match. Williams’ Kaori Naruse & Lauren Taylor defeated Andrews & Jones 9-7 to take the match. Pell and Andrews won singles matches for Orange.

Orange evened the overall dual match with wins at #1 and #2 doubles. Finley White and Grace Pell teamed to win at #1 doubles 8-6. At #2 doubles, Erin Sollars and Jera Hargrove won 8-2.

Williams 5, Orange 4: Another match that wasn’t decided until #3 doubles. White & Pell won at #1 doubles 8-5, while Hargrove & Sollars captured the #2 doubles match 8-1.

Pell won at #2 singles 8-3. Shannan Sollars won the only other Orange player to win a singles match, defeating Lauren Turner 8-5.

Orange is 11-4 overall, 5-3 in the CCC with two dual matches remaining in conference play. Orange will hold its senior night match next Thursday against Roxboro Community School.

Women’s Golf:

In the fourth Central Carolina Conference meet of the season, Cedar Ridge senior Olivia Aitkins had her best finish of the season at Caswell Pines Golf Course in Blanch. Aitkins finished with a 49 and wound up tied for fifth in a eight-team meet.

Aitkins, who committed to play softball at Amherst College last week, was the highest placer among any of the Hillsborough participants.

Orange’s Samantha Durham had her best round of the season with a 50, which was best among the Lady Panthers. Orange senior Sarah Durham had a 57. Shannon Dorsi, Kayla Pope and Lucia Godinez also participated.

Eastern Alamance’s Emily Matthews finished first with a 33. Western Alamance’s Makayla Martinez finished 2nd with a 39, and the Warriors won the overall team standings with 137. Northwood was second with 144.

Men’s Soccer: Cedar Ridge 2, Eastern Alamance 0

Days after scoring two goals against Orange in the Hillsborough Derby, Cedar Ridge’s Chris Mendez added to his team-lead in goals.

On Monday night, Mendez scored the game-winning goal as Cedar Ridge defeated Eastern Alamance 2-0 at Fred Brady Stadium in Mebane. Senior Jorge Salazar added insurance for the Red Wolves, who improved to 3-7 overall, 2-1 in the Central Carolina Conference. It was the second straight conference win for the Red Wolves.

Mendez now has seven goals on the season. Salazar is second on the team with seven points.

Goalkeeper Benjamin Weaver earned his second clean sheet of the season. It was his second straight win in net.

The Red Wolves were supposed to face Western Alamance on Wednesday night at Red Wolves Stadium, but the game was rained out. Cedar Ridge will host Person on Thursday night in Hillsborough.

Orange 4, Person 1

Orange co-Captain Jasper Tell scored the game-winning goal as the Panthers earned its first win in the Central Carolina Conference over Person on Monday night at Orange Soccer Park.

Junior Dylan Silverman assisted on the opening goal, then added Orange’s second goal later in the first half. In the second half, junior Cooper Zinn notched his third goal of the season. In the final ten minutes, junior Jack Pendergast added the first goal of his varsity career.

Orange’s trip to Northwood on Wednesday night was rained out. The Panthers will travel to Southern Durham on Friday.

Women’s tennis: Williams 5, Cedar Ridge 1:

Last Wednesday, the Red Wolves had just enough time to squeeze in six singles matches against Williams. Three of them went to 10-point tiebreakers in the third set, all of them claimed by Williams.

Red Wolves senior Chloe Patz won the Red Wolves only match at #2 singles over Haven Amick of Williams 7-6, 6-4. Cedar Ridge is 3-3 overall, 2-3 in the CCC. Their match scheduled for Wednesday against Person was rained out. The Red Wolves host Durham School of the Arts on Thursday.

Cross Country:

Two months after finishing 2nd in the state in the 3,200 meters, Orange senior Spencer Hampton made a major impression by finishing 2nd in the Friday Night Lights Festival, one of the biggest cross country events of the regular season at Ivey Redmon Sports Complex at Mount Tabor on September 10.

Hampton finished 2nd out of 238 runners with a time of 16:07.30. The only runner in the entire field to finish ahead of Hampton was North Lincoln’s Stephen Fernetti, who came in six seconds ahead of Hampton.

The strong showing by Hampton helped Orange finish fifth among 30 teams. In addition to Hampton, Orange’s Gabriel Schmid finished 10th. Sophomore Alden Cathey came in 23rd. Senior Ethan Horton came in 83rd and junior James Wheelis came in 93rd.

Providence captured the men’s team competition.

In the women’s race, Orange freshman Carolina Cathey was the top finisher, coming in 123rd. Kassi Scarantino, Sophia Schultz, Maggie Saunders and Margaret Hales also competed for Orange.

Women’s golf:

The latest Central Carolina Conference women’s golf meet was held at the Valley in Burlington on Monday. Orange senior Sarah Durham, this week’s Orange Panther of the Week, finished fifth overall out of 23 competitors with a 51. It was her third top five finish in three matches this year.

Sarah’s younger sister, Samantha, finished only one stroke behind her sister with a 52. Shannon Dorsi, Kayla Pope and Lucia Godinez also competed for Orange.

Cedar Ridge’s Olivia Aitkin tied for 9th with a 59.

Northwood won the team meet with a 151, two strokes better than Eastern Alamance’s 153. Orange came in fourth out of five teams with 168 strokes.

This week’s Orange Panther of the Week is senior golfer Sarah Durham. Last week during Orange’s second meet of the year at the Preserves at Jordan Lake, Durham finished tied for 2nd place with a 47 in nine holes. Only Eastern Alamance’s Emily Matthews finished ahead of Durham. On Sunday mornings, you can probably find Durham on the practice range at Occoneechee Golf Course in Hillsborough. She constantly works on her short game, as well as teeing off. Her younger sister, Samantha, also plays on the Orange golf team. Her brother, Chris, played at Cedar Ridge and attends Campbell University. Sarah opened the year on September 6 with a 4th place finish at the opening Central Carolina Conference meet of the year at Occoneechee. Last spring, Sarah qualified for the 3A Central Regionals in Greensboro. She aims to do that again this year, as well. First of all, there are several more regular season meets, in which Sarah hopes to improve both her short game and her overall score. On Monday, Orange and Cedar Ridge will take part in the Valley Golf Course in Burlington, hosted by Western Alamance.

Women’s tennis: Cedar Ridge 6, Western Alamance 3: Cedar Ridge sophomore Cameron Mayhew won her third straight match in singles play as the Red Wolves defeated Western Alamance at Cedar Ridge tennis courts on Monday afternoon.

Mayhew, who has competed at #1 singles in all of the Red Wolves’ dual matches so far this season, opened with a 6-2, 6-1 victory.

Cedar Ridge senior Hannah Shinnick won two matches against the Warriors. She opened with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Madison Randleman at #3 singles. At day turned into night, Shinnick teamed with classmate Olivia Kelly at #2 doubles to defeat Madison Randleman & Sophie Touchette 8-5. That win sewed up the match for the Red Wolves, who improved to 3-3 overall, 2-2 in the Central Carolina Conference.

Kelly wonder #5 singles match over Sarah McLaughlin 6-3, 7-5. At #6 singles, Cedar Ridge freshman Adeline Cummings defeated Touchette 6-2, 6-0.

At #3 doubles, Red Wolves freshman Ella Caltabiano teamed with Cummings to win 8-3.

Cedar Ridge will travel to Burlington to face Williams on Wednesday afternoon.

Orange 8, Riverside 1: Orange swept all six singles matches to defeat Riverside at Orange Tennis Courts on Wednesday afternoon. Grace Pell captured her match in three sets. Riverside’s only victory came at #3 doubles. Orange improved to 8-2.

Northwood 6, Orange 3: The Chargers ended Orange’s four-match winning streak on Monday in Pittsboro. Erin Sollars won at #5 singles. Shannon Sollars won in a third-set tiebreak at #6 singles. Once again, Pell was extended to three sets but fell just short. 10-8. The Lady Panthers are 3-1 in the CCC.

Men’s soccer: Williams 6, Orange 1:

Wiliams, who captured the 2019 3A State Championship, defeated Orange 6-1 at Orange Soccer Park on Monday night. The Panthers’ only tally came from junior Cooper Zinn on an assist from Dylan Silverman. It was Zinn’s first goal of the year. Kenan King had four goals for the Bulldogs, who improved to 4-2-2 overall, 2-0 in the CCC.

Orange falls to 3-6, 0-2 in the CCC. The Panthers will play in the opening leg of the Hillsborough Derby on Wednesday night against Cedar Ridge at Red Wolves Stadium. Cedar Ridge has won the last three matches against Orange and four of the last five. Kickoff will be at 6:30 at Cedar Ridge.

Northwood 2, Cedar Ridge 1: The Red Wolves were tied with the Chargers at the half in their conference game at Chargers Stadium on Monday night. Northwood got the game-winning goal in the second half. The Red Wolves are 1-7 overall, 0-1 in the CCC

Women’s Golf: The second Central Carolina Conference meet of the year was held on Monday at the Preserves at Jordan Lake in Chapel Hill. In a field of 24 participants, Orange’s Sarah Durham finished tied for 2nd overall with a 47. Durham tied with Northwood’s Lily Jordan for second place.

Eastern Alamance’s Emily Mathews won the meet with a 35 through nine holes. Western Alamance won the team competition with 149 strokes, seven strokes ahead of Northwood, who finished at 155. Eastern Alamance finished third at 159. Orange was fourth with 168, while Person finished at 185.

Orange’s Samantha Durham, Sarah’s sister, finished tied for seventh with a 51.

Cedar Ridge’s Olivia Aitkin, who is the Red Wolves only golf participant, also finished in the top ten. Aitkin tied with Eastern Alamance’s Sarah Vannavong by shooting a 57.

Orange’s Lucia Godinez, Kayla Pope, Shannon Dorsi also participated in the meet.

We journey to women’s golf for this week’s Retro Orange Panther of the Week. Samantha Durham and her sister Sarah both qualified for the 3A Central Regionals at Greensboro National Golf Club last month. In a standard year, Sarah would have competed in the regionals, but after a lengthy rain delay on May 4, the field was reduced from 62 players to 48 and Sarah didn’t make the cut. Over the past year, Samatha and Sarah have grown more serious about golf, but it’s something that runs in the family. Their brother played at Cedar Ridge and attended Campbell University. This season, Samatha Durham had the lowest score on the Panther team. They frequently play at Occoneechee Golf Course in Hillsborough, the home of the Orange and Cedar Ridge men’s and women’s golf teams which has hosted the Big 8 Conference Championships. The Durham sisters look forward to a more traditional schedule when women’s golf season resumes in August.

After becoming just the second tennis player in the history of Hillsborough high school athletics to reach a state championship match, Cedar Ridge sophomore Josh Mayhew has been named All-Big 8 Conference.

In addition, Cedar Ridge’s Eli Rachlin and Will Ballenger also were named to the All-Big 8 Conference team. Orange’s Justin Conover and Brandon Gwinn were also named first-team All-Big 8.

On May 15, Mayhew defeated Soham Pradhan of Marvin Ridge 6-2, 6-4 to reach the 3A State Tennis final at the Burlington Tennis Center. He became the first Cedar Ridge singles player to become a state finalist. The only other player from the Orange County School District to ever reach a state final was Britton Webb of Orange, who played for the 2A championship in 2005.

This was Mayhew’s first full varsity season. He went 14-4 in singles play. All four of his losses were to 3A State Champion Dennis Perumov of Chapel Hill, who naturally was also the Big 8 Conference Player of the Year. Mayhew finished second in the Mideast Regional, where he defeated Chapel Hill’s Eddy Ferreira 6-2, 6-2 in the semifinals. Mayhew qualified for the state championships on May 8 with wins over Western Alamance’s Will Geiger and East Chapel Hill’s Rama Varanasi in the opening rounds of the Mideast Regionals. He became the first singles player from Cedar Ridge to qualify for the state tournament since 2014.

Rachlin was the junior co-Captain of the team. He started all matches at #2 singles. Rachlin helped the Red Wolves sweep the season series from crosstown rival Orange. On March 22, Rachlin defeated Orange’s Colin O’Hagerty 6-2, 7-5. Throughout the season, Rachlin teamed with Lev Bearman on #2 doubles. Together, they defeated Northwood’s #2 doubles team 8-7, winning the tiebreaker 7-5 on March 15. It preserved a 5-4 Cedar Ridge victory.

Ballenger had 14 wins this season. He teamed with Mayhew to go 8-2 as the Red Wolves’ top doubles team. Ballenger also played #3 singles for much of the year, including a three-set victory over Carrboro’s Joseph Lee that ended 2-6, 7-5, 7-6 (12-10). It helped the Red Wolves defeat the Jaguars 9-0 at Carrboro Tennis Courts.

Orange’s Brandon Gwinn teamed with O’Hagerty to reach the 3A State Doubles Tournament. It was the first time since 2013 that Orange High was represented in a state tennis tournament. On May 8, Gwinn and O’Hagerty defeated Northern Guilford’s Duncan Moore and James Harrington 6-3, 6-4 to reach the 3A Mideast Regional semifinals. Earlier in the day, Gwinn and O’Hagerty knocked off Isai Gutierrez & Francisco Urieta of Harnett Central.

Gwinn, a sophomore, had 12 wins overall in 2021. Despite facing players from perennial powerhouses Chapel Hill and East Chapel Hill, Gwinn finished 7-4 in singles play. Gwinn defeated Ballenger 6-1, 7-6 (8-6) on April 14 at Red Wolves Tennis Courts.

In his third year as a varsity player, Conover was usually Orange’s #1 singles player. He helped the Panthers to a winning season on the strength of two wins over Northwood. Conover defeated the Chargers’ Jio Sumogod 6-4, 6-4 on March 24. A month later, Conover defeated Sumogod 7-5, 6-4 as Orange defeated Northwood 5-4 in Hillsborough.

Bearman was named Honorable Mention All-Big 8 for Cedar Ridge. O’Hagerty was named honorable mention for Orange.

In addition to tennis, the Big 8 Conference has named its All-Conference teams for men’s golf. Orange’s Josh Frank and Cedar Ridge’s Bradley Monschein made All-Big 8.

Frank, a senior, had a nine-hold average for the year below 42. He qualified for the 3A Mideast Regionals at Keith Hills Golf Club on the campus of Campbell University. On April 13, Frank shot a 79 at Occoneechee Golf Course in Hillsborough, the home of Orange and Cedar Ridge golf.

Monschein was the Red Wolves’ top player throughout the season. In mid-March at Occoneechee Golf Course, Monschein led Cedar Ridge with an 87 over 18 holes, which was tied for fourth among competitors from five different schools. Somewhat remarkably, Monschein didn’t start getting serious about golf until about a year ago. This was his first season on the Cedar Ridge golf team. He’s currently playing for Cedar Ridge’s junior varsity baseball team.