Orange High School

For the first time since 2005, the Orange volleyball team has won a conference championship. And the Lady Panthers have been dominant doing it. The Lady Panthers defeated Southern Alamance 3-1 to clinch the crown in Orange Gymnasium on Thursday night. It was another big night for Orange’s outside hitters Ella Wimsatt and Aubrey Jordan. Once again, Jordan led Orange with 18 kills. Wimsatt came away with her sixth consecutive match with a double-double, finishing with 13 kills and 17 digs. Wimsatt now leads the team with 317 kills on the season and has 436 for her career. Wimsatt has 14 double-doubles this season. Senior libero Sadye Porter led Orange with 22 digs, while sophomore setter Katie Silcott had 46 assists and 17 digs. Sophomore middle blocker Ava Wilkerson had eight kills. Orange has won a school record 17 consecutive matches going into the final week of the regular season. They will host Senior night on Wednesday against Walter Williams. Wimsatt, Porter, Josie Crawford and Blessiny Dernonette will be honored in a pregame ceremony. Orange will finish the regular season at Eastern Alamance on Thursday night in Mebane, then prepare for the Central Carolina Conference Tournament next week. By clinching the top-seed, Orange has received a bye into the semifinals, where they will play next Tuesday.

Orange volleyball’s Ella Wimsatt and Aubrey Jordan discuss winning the CCC Regular Season title

For the first time since 2005, the Orange volleyball team has won a conference championship. And the Lady Panthers have been dominant doing it. The Lady Panthers defeated Southern Alamance 3-1 to clinch the crown in Orange Gymnasium on Thursday night. It was another big night for Orange’s outside hitters Ella Wimsatt and Aubrey Jordan.

Since high school sports slowly climbed itself out of the mires of the pandemic, Orange County teams have ruled local volleyball.

For the past three years, Cedar Ridge was at the top. With Cameron Lloyd, Cameron Lanier, Julie Altieri, Grace Young, Melissa Benkowitz and Anaya Carter formed the nucleus of a team that took volleyball to new heights in Hillsborough, winning the 2021 3A State Championship, three conference regular season and two tournament championships.

Now, Orange has earned its way to a conference championship, its first since 2005. Almost all of the Orange seniors who clinched the conference title last Thursday in a 3-1 win 0ver Southern Alamance weren’t even alive when the last Orange conference champions were crowned. Back then, Orange was a 2-A team playing in the Mid-State Conference.

Overall, the fall sports scene has been strong for Orange and Cedar Ridge. The Orange volleyball team is ranked #1 in the 3A East RPI rankings. Barring a slip-up during the conference tournament, the road to the state championship match in Raleigh will run through Hillsborough. Again.

With two weeks remaining in the regular season, the Cedar Ridge men’s soccer team is in first place in the Central Carolina Conference. There has never been a conference champion in men’s soccer at Orange or Cedar Ridge High Schools. Orange High first fielded a men’s soccer team in 1988, inconveniently across the county from Chapel Hill, who had won three state championships before Orange even started a program. While the current Orange team is on the bubble, they are still on track to make the state playoffs, as well.

The Cedar Ridge women’s tennis team will play for a share of a conference championship today. Even if they don’t defeat Walter Williams, they will qualify for a spot in the 3A State Dual Team playoffs for the first time since 2016, when they won the Big 8 Conference Championship. For the first time, the North Carolina High School Athletic Association will have 32 teams in the dual team state tournament, as opposed to the traditional 16 teams. Thus, Orange will likely make the field for the third straight year.

And we haven’t even brought up the Orange men’s cross country team, the two-time defending conference champions who just happen to have the defending 3A State Champion, Gabriel Schmid, set to run for another conference, regional and state championship.

All in all, there’s a lot to look forward to as we venture into October. And more conference champions waiting to be crowned locally.

With that in mind, here’s this week Magnificent 7 from the week of September 24-30. The seven best performances, in no particular order:

1. Tyler Narold, Orange, Sr. The ultimate Swiss army knife for the Orange football team. Narold had three interceptions for Orange in its 43-0 win over Cedar Ridge on September 29 at Red Wolves Stadium. Narold returned one interception for a touchdown and also kicked three extra points. He started at quarterback, safety, placekicker and punter.
2. Cameron Mayhew, Cedar Ridge, Sr. Won two matches in a 6-3 victory over Orange on September 27 at Panthers Tennis Courts. Mayhew and Adeline Cummings teamed to defeat Erinn and Shannon Sollars 8-4. Mayhew also defeated Erinn Sollars 6-2, 6-1 in the #1 singles match. The following day, Mayhew won two more matches in the Red Wolves victory over Southern Alamance in Hillsborough. Cedar Ridge women’s tennis is 13-4.
3. Sadye Porter, Orange, Sr: Porter, Orange’s libero, had 14 digs for Orange in its 3-0 sweep of Cedar Ridge on September 28. Two days earlier, Porter led Orange with 16 digs in a sweep of Walter Williams in Burlington. Porter also had a team-high six aces against the Bulldogs. After she missed the 2022 season, Porter’s return is a big reason why Orange volleyball returned to the top of the conference this season.
4. Iliah Babchenko, Cedar Ridge, Sr.: The Cedar Ridge men’s soccer team grabbed its first win over Walter Williams since they became conference rivals 2-1 on September 25 in Burlington. Babchenko, Cedar Ridge’s leading scorer, scored the opening goal and assisted on the game-winner from Dominic McNerney. Babchenko is a co-Captain for the Red Wolves who was the first Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week this academic year.
5. Gabriel Schmid, Orange, Sr.: Yet another impressive performance from possibly the greatest runner in Hillsborough history. Schmid finished first in the Greensboro Cross Country Invitational on September 30. He paced a field of 146 runners. Schmid has five first-place finished this season with an Orange team that appears to be deeper than ever.
6. Claire Hargett, Cedar Ridge, Soph: Hargett led the Cedar Ridge volleyball team with 12 kills in a 3-0 win over Southern Alamance on September 26 at Red Wolves Gymnasium. Hargett also had 12 digs. It was her ninth double-double of the season. She had seven kills and eleven digs against Orange. Late in her sophomore season, Hargett already has 293 career kills.
7. Adeline Cummings, Cedar Ridge, Jr.: The Cedar Ridge women’s tennis team won three matches in three days, beating Person, Orange and Southern Alamance. Cummings won the top singles match over Person, defeated Orange’s Makayla Davis in three sets, ending with an 11-9 tiebreaker, then won a singles match against the Patriots.

Photo courtesy of Jonathan Cohen 

Lottie Scully: On Friday night, the Binghamton Bearcats claimed a win over New Hampshire 3-1 on scores of 25-19, 18-25, 25-22 and 32-30 at West Gym in New York. Scully finished with a double-double, claiming 46 assists and 19 digs. Scully, the starting setter for the Bearcats, also finished with three kills. On Saturday, the Bearcats completed a weekend sweep with a victory over Bryant University (25-23, 25-20, 25-11). Scully had 29 assists, nine digs and four aces. Last Saturday, Binghamton defeated the New Jersey Institute of Technology 3-0 (25-20, 25-22, 26-24). Scully had 28 assists, eight digs and four kills. So far this season, Scully has had four double-doubles. The Bearcats are 9-8 overall, 3-0 in the America East Conference.

Cameron Lloyd: On Saturday, Bucknell defeated Holy Cross 3-0 (25-22, 25-16, 25-17) at Davis Gymnasium in Lewisburg, PA. Lloyd had nine kills, four digs and three aces. On Friday night, American defeated Bucknell 3-1 (26-24, 25-11, 22-25, 25-23) at Davis Gymnasium in Lewisburg, PA, the home of the Bison. Lloyd finished with nine kills, ten digs, three aces, three aces and one assist. Bucknell dropped a match to Navy in five sets at the Wesley Brown Field House in Annapolis, MD last Friday (25-20, 21-25, 24-26, 25-18, 15-8). Lloyd had seven kills and 14 digs for the Bison. She also finished with two assists and one ace. The following day in Baltimore, Bucknell defeated Loyola (MD) 3-0 (27-25, 25-23, 25-23) in Reitz Arena. Lloyd had two kills, nine digs, one ace, one assist and one block. Bucknell is 8-9 overall, 4-4 in the Patriot League.

Cameron Lanier: Over the weekend, William & Mary took two matches from Elon, where Lanier plays as an outside hitter. On Saturday, the Tribe defeated the Phoenix 3-1 (15-25, 25-15, 25-17, 25-22). Lanier was tied for the team lead with eleven kills. She also had six digs, one ace and one assist. On Saturday, William & Mary swept Elon (25-14, 25-22, 25-20) Lanier had seven kills and two digs. Northeastern defeated Elon in a two-match series at the Schar Center last weekend. On Friday, the Huskies defeated the Phoenix 3-2 (25-23, 15-25, 21-25, 25-19, 15-11). Lanier finished with 12 kills, seven digs, one ace and one block. On Saturday, Northeastern defeated Elon 3-1 (20-25, 25-18, 25-22, 27-25). Lanier had eight kills and four digs. Elon is 3-14, 0-8 in the Coastal Athletic Association.

Grace Young: On Friday, Radford swept UNC Asheville 3-0 (25-20, 25-21, 25-19) at the Dedmon Center in Radford, VA. Young played two sets and had one dig. On Saturday, High Point swept UNCA (25-19, 25-20, 25-14) at the Millis Athletic and Convocation Center in High Point. Young played in two sets and finished with five digs. UNCA is 6-12 overall, 0-5 in the Big South Conference.

Anaya Carter: The Division II UNC Pembroke Braves defeated Mount Olive 3-1 (25-19, 23-25, 25-23, 27-25) at Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court in Pembroke, NC last Wednesday. Carter, who was one of eight Braves to play, finished with seven digs and two aces. On Friday, Erskine defeated Pembroke 3-0 (25-18, 25-22, 25-23). Carter played in all three sets and finished with two digs. Pembroke is 11-8 overall, 6-3 in Conference Carolinas.

Julie Altieri: On Saturday at Washington & Lee University, the Division III Salisbury Seagulls competed in two matches in Virginia Beach, VA. The Seagulls defeated Washington & Lee 3-1 (25-9, 25-19, 23-25, 26-24). Altieri had 39 assists and 13 digs. She also had five kills and one ace. Later that day, Virginia Wesleyan defeated the Seagulls 3-1 (25-20, 21-25, 25-17, 25-21). Altieri finished with her seventh double-double of the season with 34 assists and ten digs. She also had three kills with two aces. Salisbury is 11-6.

Allie Wilkerson: On Wednesday, Averett University defeated Ferrum 3-2 (22-25, 23-25, 25-23, 25-9, 15-9) at the Stuart James Grant Center in Danville, VA. Wilkerson finished with nine kills, one ace and one dig. Averett is 11-7, 6-2 in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. They will travel to Bridgewater College on Friday. On September 29, Randolph-Macon defeated the Cougars 3-1 (25-17, 24-26, 25-19, 25-19). Wilkerson finished with five kills, one ace and one dig. On September 30, Averett had two matches. Virginia Wesleyan swept the Cougars (25-21, 25-18, 25-16). Wilkerson finished with five kills, one ace and one dig. Later that day, Newport University defeated Averett 3-1 (25-15, 25-27, 25-20, 25-15). Wilkerson had five kills and one ace.

There were two streaks that ended for Orange volleyball against Southern Alamance on Thursday night.

Their 29-set winning streak against Central Carolina Conference opponents was snapped by the Patriots. Southern, with strong attacks from Rylee Humble , Roslyn Taylor and Autumn James, were able to battle Orange and pulled out a 26-24 win in the third.

The bigger story was Orange’s 18-year wait to win a conference championship in volleyball is over. The Lady Panthers defeated Southern Alamance 3-1 on scores of 25-16, 25-22, 24-26, 25-16 to improve its league record to 10-0.

The Lady Panthers have won a school-record 16 consecutive matches. They’re now 18-3 and will receive a bye into the semifinals of the Central Carolina Conference tournament, which starts October 16. Orange will host a semifinal game and, if they’re victorious, the title contest.

While a conference championship isn’t the only goal for Orange this season, it is a significant box they’ve checked off their to-do list. During its stint as a 2A team in the mid-2000s, Orange had teams strong enough to win a conference title, but finished runner-up four consecutive years behind Cardinal Gibbons. The past three years, Cedar Ridge, Orange’s crosstown rival, rode atop the Big 8 and CCC with few serious challenges during a 42-match conference winning streak.

This year, Orange removed all barriers to its path to a championship. The power of outside hitters Ella Wimsatt and Aubrey Jordan, the imposing presence of 6-3 sophomore Ava Wilkerson, consistent and pinpoint lobs provided by setter Katie Silcott and the defense of Sadye Porter and Abby Silinksi, among others, have led to its most successful season as a 3A team.

Wimsatt, who leads the team with 304 kills, says it’s merely their first goal.

“It means a lot,” Wimsatt said. “Especially since the last time was 18 years ago. It’s crazy that it’s the time that I’m here and I’m a senior. As a team, we worked really hard for this goal. I hope it will lead to us going really far in the state playoffs.”

Orange coach Hope Heverly, in her first year, was in high school the last time Orange won a conference title.

“That makes it a little bittersweet for me,” Heverly said. “I think everything is a learning experience. We’re ending the conference season and going into the postseason. Losing a set wasn’t bad tonight. I think it’s good for the girls to see the adversity. They came out on fire in set four. I think this was a great learning experience for the girls as we continue this season.”

Orange, playing in pink jerseys during breast cancer awareness night at Panther Gymnasium, charged out to a 10-4 lead in the opening set with a kill by Wimsatt forcing a Southern Alamance time out. Wilkerson had consecutive blocks to increase the lead to 15-9, followed by a kill from Jordan. Senior Josie Crawford nailed down the set with an ace.

The Patriots led for much of the second set with strong play from Autumn James and Laci Gregory. A kill by Poppie Shanklin vaulted Southern ahead 15-13. They didn’t trail in the frame until Jordan had three consecutive kills, and another by sophomore Mariah Poole. Nonetheless, the Patriots fought back to even the set at 18-18 follow a spike by Rylee Humble. Orange reeled off three straight points to go ahead 21-18 and claimed set point when an attack by the Patriots went wide.

For just the second time this conference season, Orange was extended to overtime in the third set. The Patriots got four kills from Humble and three from senior Lacy Gregory to take a 19-15 lead. Jordan had back-to-back kills to even the set 19-19, but the Patriots fought back to force two set points. Orange staved off the first one off an attack from Wilkerson, but kills by Taylor and James gave the Patriots a 26-24 victory.

The fourth set was tied 6-6 before Orange went on a 7-1 run to take control, including a block and a kill by Jordan. Kills by Wilkerson and Jordan pushed the Orange lead to 17-8. On match point, a return by Southern went over the sideline, clinching an elusive conference crown for Orange.

It’s no longer news when the Orange volleyball team sweeps an opponent.

It’s become the norm.

Something that hasn’t been routine for Orange volleyball is winning championships, but a long drought could end tonight against Southern Alamance.

On Tuesday night, the Lady Panthers completed its ninth sweep of a conference opponent in nine league matches by beating Person in Roxboro on scores of 25-20, 25-21 and 25-19. It was the Lady Panthers 16th consecutive win, which is a school record.

Orange (18-3, overall, 9-0 in the Central Carolina Conference) clinched at least a tie for the CCC title. They can win it outright with a win over Southern Alamance tonight (Thursday) inside Panther Gymnasium. Game time between the Lady Panthers and the Patriots will be at approximately 6:30 following the junior varsity contest.

The victory guaranteed Orange will be the top seed from the CCC for the 3A State Playoffs. If the season ended now, Orange would be the #1 overall seed in the east region.

Sophomore Ava Wilkerson finished with 18 kills against the Rockets, a season-high. Senior Ella Wimsatt had a double-double with 17 kills and 26 digs. Another sophomore, Aubrey Jordan, finished with 13 kills and five digs as the Lady Panthers defeated Person for the fourth straight time.

Person (8-8, 5-4) remains in third place in the CCC.

The opening set had nine ties and three lead changes. Wilkerson broke open a nip-and-tuck first frame with three consecutive kills to put Orange ahead 16-12. Sophomore Katie Silcott, who finished with 41 assists, set up Wilkerson on all of her attacks.

Person fought back with a 5-1 run to even the set at 18-18 after a spike by Kaylie Parker, who finished with a team-leading five kills. Orange took the lead for good after a Person serve went into the nylon, followed by a finish from Jordan. The Lady Panthers ended the set with five of the last six points, including two kills by Jordan.

Orange built a 6-2 lead to open the second set following finishes by Wimsatt and Wilkerson. A kill by Wilkerson widened the Lady Panthers lead to 18-14. Orange had three straight points off attacks by Wimsatt and Jordan that led to set point. A return by Person that went wide was enough for Orange to take a two-set lead.

Wilkerson had eight kills in the third set while Wimsatt added seven kills and eight digs. Junior Abby Silinski had seven of her 15 digs in the final frame.

Orange charged out to an 12-3 lead to open the third. Wilkerson had back-to-back kills with Silinski added an ace. A kill by Wimsatt put Orange ahead 16-8, leading to a Person timeout. Wimsatt got a kill on match point off an assist from Silcott.

It was a solid night all the way around for Orange. In Greenville, D.H. Conley defeated J.H. Rose to complete a season sweep. The loss knocked Rose out of the #1 spot in the 3A East RPI rankings–and moved the Lady Panthers into the top spot.

It was no ordinary senior night for the Orange women’s tennis team on Wednesday night. It was a chance to honor a group that accomplished something that no tennis team in school history, men’s or women’s, ever did before. Last year, the Lady Panthers won the Central Carolina Conference championship, the first tennis conference title in school history. Seniors Erinn Sollars and Makayla Davis were starters on that title squad. This year, the Lady Panthers appeared poised to make the 3A State Dual Team Tournament for the third straight season. The past two years, Orange has reached the state quarterfinals. Erinn Sollars has qualified for the 3A State Doubles Tournament twice with her sister, Shannon. This season, Erinn and Shannon Sollars have combined to go 10-2 this season, including a victory in their Senior Night win over Southern Alamance on Wednesday night. Erinn Sollars also won her singles match at #1 over Faith Moore 6-0, 6-0. Senior Makayla Davis defeated Madalyn Corbett at #3 singles 6-0, 6-2. Davis then teamed with Molly Kruse, a sophomore, to defeat Morgan Isley and Morgan Edmunds 8-0. Another senior, Violet Shaw, is in her first season on the team. On Senior Night, Shaw and freshman Ellie Wilson won at #3 doubles over Madalyn Corbett & Dayves Waggle 8-1. Senior Isabella Panek also was honored. Panek returned to the tennis team this season after playing in her sophomore year. Orange defeated Southern Alamance 7-2. The Lady Panthers are now 12-5 overall, 7-4 in the Central Carolina Conference. Orange will conclude the regular season with a home match against Eastern Alamance on Monday. The Central Carolina Conference tournament is set for next Wednesday at the Burlington Tennis Center.

Orange tennis Erinn Sollars, Makayla Davis, Violet Shaw & Isabella Panek talk win on Senior Night

It was no ordinary senior night for the Orange women’s tennis team on Wednesday night. It was a chance to honor a group that accomplished something that no tennis team in school history, men’s or women’s, ever did before. Last year, the Lady Panthers won the Central Carolina Conference championship, the first tennis conference title in school history.

As usual, it was the Orange defense that carried the weight for its football team. The defense scored two touchdowns and a safety in the Panthers’ 43-0 win over Cedar Ridge at Red Wolves Stadium on Friday night. Garrett Sawyer started with a 15-yard interception return for a touchdown with 1:58remaining in the first half. That triggered a sequence where the Panthers scored 20 points in a span of one minute and 29 seconds. Wide receiver Kingston Purefoy-Farrington scored the first touchdown of his career with a 32-yard catch with :16 remaining in the first half. Tyler Narold had three interceptions on the night for Orange, including a pick-6 of his own with 7:37 remaining in the third quarter. Narold also kicked the subsequent extra point. Narold was also the starting quarterback, the starting safety, the punter and placekicker. Orange is battling to make the 3A State Playoffs for the first time since 2017. If the season ended today, the Panthers would be in the field of 64. On Friday night, Orange will face Person in the Highway 57 rivalry for Homecoming at Auman Stadium. Orange has defeated Cedar Ridge 12 straight times. 

Orange’s Kingston Purefoy-Farmington. Garrett Sawyer & Tyler Narold talk football win vs Cedar Ridge

As usual, it was the Orange defense that carried the weight for its football team. The defense scored two touchdowns and a safety in the Panthers’ 43-0 win over Cedar Ridge at Red Wolves Stadium on Friday night. Garrett Sawyer started with a 15-yard interception return for a touchdown with 1:58 remaining in the first half.