This week’s Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week is senior running back/linebacker/wrestling James Este Wittinger. Last season, Este Wittinger scored the game-winning safety as the Red Wolves football team defeated East Chapel Hill at Red Wolves Stadium. Este Wittinger scored all eight points for Cedar Ridge in the game. In the second half, he scored the Red Wolves’ only touchdown of the game. He notched the safety when he tackled an East Chapel Hill running back in the end zone. Last February, Este Wittinger qualified for the 3A State Wrestling Championships for the first time. He had the prestigious honor of ending his season wrestling at the Greensboro Coliseum. Competing at 195 pounds at Cedar Ridge High School, Este Wittinger finished fourth in the 3A Mideast Regional. Este Wittinger opened with a win over Triton’s Alex Parrilla in 3:53. In the consolation round, Este Wittinger edged Western Alamance’s Cameron Pettigrew 3-2. In the next round, he went to overtime to defeat Adaris McBride of West Johnston. He defeated Victor Rodriguez of Person via pinfall in 4:44 to earn a trip to the state championships. This week, Este-Wittinger will start his final football season when Cedar Ridge journeys to Chapel Hill to face the Tigers at Culton-Peerman Stadium.

Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week: James Este Wittinger

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There are numbers in sports that are synonymous with excellence.

23–Michael Jordan’s jersey number.

715-Career home runs hit by Hank Aaron to break Babe Ruth’s all-time record.

511–Career wins by Cy Young, the most in Major League history.

Locally, the numbers that the Class of 2023 Cedar Ridge volleyball team left behind when they graduated in June are eye-popping and will only grow more impressive over time.

Together, Cameron Lloyd, Julie Altieri, Cameron Lanier, Grace Young, Melissa Benkowitz, Anaya Carter, Isabelle Sheppard and Lauren Cecil teamed to win 84 games with only ten losses. They won 40 consecutive matches against Central Carolina/Big 8 Conference opponents. Fiona Cunningham, who coached the Red Wolves from 2020-2022, never lost a conference game.

Lloyd ended her career with 1,062 kills, the most in school history. Lanier finished with 671 kills, second-most in team history.

Last year, Cedar Ridge won 62 consecutive sets en route to its third consecutive conference championship. They will carry a 28-game home court winning streak into the new season that begins Monday with its first-ever matchup against Eno River Academy.

That will be far from the only thing new for Cedar Ridge. The seniors that amassed the most wins in school history have scattered across the region to launch their college careers. Some are nearby. Lanier had her first practice at Elon University on Tuesday. Young participated in media day at UNC Asheville on Monday. Carter is at UNC Pembroke. Others have ventured beyond the state.

Lloyd left for Bucknell University in Pennsylvania earlier this week. Altieri, the all-time assists leader in school history, is at Salisbury University in Maryland. Benkowitz now resides in Lancaster, PA with Franklin and Marshall University.

When the reign of the Red Wolves seniors ended in the 3A Eastern Regional Championship game against J.H. Rose in Greenville last October, the underclassmen knew there would be new starters for 2023. What they didn’t know is there would also be a new coach.

Last month, Cunningham stepped down after three seasons to become an assistant coach at North Carolina Central University. Cunningham led the Red Wolves to the 2022 3A State Championship, an Eastern Regional championship, three regular season conference titles and two conference tournament championships.

In Cunningham’s place, Latacha De Oliveira was named as her replacement on July 10. De Oliveira previously was the head coach at Durham Academy. She took 2022 off from coaching high school, but grew familiar with several Cedar Ridge players while serving with the Chapel Hill Area Volleyball Club (CHAVC). De Oliveira coached Graylinn Serge, one of the Red Wolves’ eight seniors on this year’s team, when she was a member of CHAVC at age 13.

“It’s been awesome getting to know these girls,’ De Oliveira said after the Red Wolves swept a three-set scrimmage against Wake Christian Academy on Tuesday night at Red Wolves Gymnasium. “These girls play with a lot of heart. They’re very athletic.”

De Oliveira also coached Lanier and Benkowitz at CHAVC. Her hiring as the new head coach of the Red Wolves came a month before the season started.

“It was all very last minute,” De Oliveira said “I heard there was an opening and was asked to apply for it. I interviewed with Coach (Andy) Simmons. I knew the history of the school and how successful they have been. It’s a very good program. I had a chance to talk with Fiona before I was hired and I know this school has a great program. I love the support of the crowd.”

While eight seniors have graduated, Cedar Ridge won’t be lacking in experience. Senior middle blocker Addie Reid, a three-sport athlete, returns with 174 kills and 87 total blocks. Reid has been a regular rotation player for the past two years. In 2022, Reid had eight kills and four blocks in the state championship game against North Iredell.

Serge was the backup libero to Young last season and also played regularly during the state championship season. Last year, she had 23 aces with 215 digs.

Senior Rachel Alverson begins her third year on the varsity. She had a career-high 244 assists as a setter last season, along with 49 digs.

As a freshman in 2022, Mia Marty started in several postseason games while Altieri battled ankle issues. Marty, called up from the junior varsity just in time for the CCC Tournament, finished with 16 assists against Walter Williams in the semifinals, then added 19 assists in the title victory against Orange.

Another sophomore, Claire Hargett, will attempt to fill the outside hitter slot that Lloyd left behind. Hargett played regularly as a freshman, mainly in garbage time, registering 99 kills over 49 sets.

Natasha Buchler-Fosado, Cecilia Kenan, Ellie Woolson, Caroline Park and Alexandra Hood comprise the remainder of the senior class.

After hosting Eno River on Monday, Cedar Ridge will travel to Raleigh to face Millbrook on Tuesday night.

This week’s Orange Panther of the Week is sophomore point guard Kai Wade of the men’s basketball team. Last year, Wade was one of three freshmen to regularly start for the Panthers. He was named All-Central Carolina Conference following a successful season which saw Orange reach the state playoffs for the first time since 2016-2017. The Panthers finished third in the CCC and Wade was the starting point guard for 25 games. He was second on the team with 11.5 points per game. He also led the team with 2.8 assists per game and 1.8 steals per game. For much of the spring and summer, Kai has traveled throughout the country playing summer basketball. His presence in Orange’s backcourt led Orange to its first winning season in six years. Wade will be among the young faces in the lineup next year as Orange aims to reach the top of the new CCC, where Northwood is out of the league and Southern Alamance is in. It was announced earlier this summer that Orange will play in the John Wall Invitational at Broughton High School in Raleigh this summer, one of the most prestigious holiday tournaments in the state.

Orange Panther of the Week: Kai Wade

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Once May rolls around, the high school sports scene traditionally dies down. This year, the Orange County Hockey Club was just getting off the ground in June. Though their schedule was limited to two games, Orange County won both of its games convincingly. In June, Orange County defeated Chapel Hill 10-2 on June 4 at Invisalign Arena in Morrisville. Will Deis of Orange High School scored four goals. Aidan Raedy of Eno River Academy notched two goals. Glenn Farmer and Andrew Kutchma also scored. The following week, Orange County defeated Enloe 6-4 in its final game of its brief first campaign. Farmer finished with a hat trick, while Kane Clark, Bryce Nelson and Raedy also scored. Vaughn Clough of Eno River Academy was the winning goalie in each of Orange County’s two wins. Orange County was coached by Thomas Loch, an all-Central Carolina Conference golfer who played on the varsity basketball team for four years. Loch graduated in June. The Orange County Hockey Club aims to play a full schedule for next year in the Triangle High School Hockey League. They’re accepting donations at their Intagram page. Go to @ochs_hockey and click on the bio to learn more about how to donate.

Members of the Orange County Hockey Club discuss win over Chapel Hill

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Thomas Loch, dapper in a black suit, stepped away from the bench holding a sheer of paper and his blond hair slicked back.

Officially, he’s the coach of the Orange County Hockey Club, but really it’s a figurative job title. He isn’t Rod Brind’Amour, laboring over line decisions, defensive pairings and who to put on the ice on the power play. But someone has to stand behind the bench and organize things, especially for a fledgling team in a new league.

The Orange County Hockey Club is comprised of players from Orange High, Cedar Ridge High and Eno River Academy, along with a few players from Wake County. They’re part of the Triangle High School Hockey League, which contests games across two rinks at Invisalign Arena in Morrisville during May and June.

Comprised of 18 teams, the THSL was born out of student interest and engagement. Orange County was unable to play a full league schedule because players had commitments to other spring sports, but once they got together on the ice, it was pure fire.

Orange County won both of its games they played earlier this summer. On June 4, they defeated Chapel Hill 10-2. Will Deis of Orange High notched four goals, while Aidan Raedy of Eno River Academy and Kane Clark each scored twice. Glenn Farmer and Andrew Kutchma also had goals.

On June 12, Orange County won its second and final game over Enloe 6-4. Farmer finished with a hat trick, while Clark, Raedy and Bryce Nelson of Orange High each scored a goal.

Vaughn Clough from Eno River was the goalie in both wins for Orange County.

Nelson had some friends from neighboring schools in other districts that started hockey teams. So he asked friends who skated at the Orange County SportsPlex to gauge their interest.

“Why not have one here?” Nelson said. “We have depth. We got a good team. I reached out to these guys, got the ice time to practice and we’re playing games now.”

Hockey in Hillsborough traces back to the 1950s with the old skating rink at the Daniel Boone Village, where UNC and Duke played home games in a building that wasn’t climate controlled. When the puck dropped, UNC and Duke fans would show up to late-night contests on Fridays and Saturdays bundled up in sweaters and blankets because the building had to be kept near freezing for the sake of the ice. Daniel Boone would only be open 4-6 months a year, then close during the spring and summer.

When the SportsPlex opened in 1995, it was a bold step into the future which had early stumbles financially. But it was open all calendar year. Minor league teams passing through town to play the Raleigh IceCaps or the Greensboro Monarchs of the ECHL would reserve the SportsPlex’s rink for practice time.

Over time, the SportsPlex gained traction and has become an attraction throughout the Triangle. Just as the SportsPlex has been a breeding ground for swimmers like Orange’s Katie Belle Sikes,  who was named the Most Outstanding Swimmer at the 3A State Championships last February, it has also provided an NHL-sized rink for hockey players.

The stereotype of the toothless, blood thirsty hockey player may have faded in the NHL at the dawn of the 21st century, but that doesn’t mean things didn’t get physical between Orange and Chapel Hill. There were several skirmishes between whistles that featured pushing, shoving and a few pie-faced palm thrusts.

“I don’t want anybody getting hurt,” Loch said. “It got a little chipping today. I think we have a good group of guys.”

While Orange County was limited to two games this year, they’re hopeful to add more games for next spring. They’re also looking for funding. The team has established a Go Fund Me on Instagram @OCHS_Hockey with a link in the bio. The money goes to pay for ice time and equipment.

This week’s Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week is soccer midfielder Ianna Pfeifer. In 2023, Pfeifer scored a career-high 23 points as the Cedar Ridge women’s soccer team finished with a 7-13 record. Pfeifer logged a career-high 1,440 minutes of action as one of the senior co-Captains on the team. She notched a hat trick in a 7-0 win over Person on April 17. A four-year member of the Cedar Ridge women’s soccer team, Pfeifer led the team with nine assists this season. She had a goal and two assists in the Red Wolves’ 5-0 win over Northern Durham on February 27. She had a goal and two assists as Cedar Ridge defeated town-rival Eno River in the first-ever matchup between the two teams on April 5 at Red Wolves Stadium. Pfeifer was instrumental in Cedar Ridge getting off to a 4-3 start on the season. After she graduated in June, Pfeifer will attend college at Appalachian State in Boone.

Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week: Ianna Pfeifer

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Later this month, Cedar Ridge graduate Fernando Martinez will start his college wrestling career at Division II UNC Pembroke. It’s something of a surprise for Martinez, who didn’t envision his wrestling career extending beyond Cedar Ridge. For that matter, Martinez didn’t see his wrestling career going beyond 8th grade at Stanback Middle School. Fortunately for him and Cedar Ridge wrestling coach Scott Metcalf, Martinez proved to be a quick learner at Cedar Ridge. He finished his career with 143 wins, the most decorated 3A wrestler in school history. Last February, he advanced to the 113-pound 3A State Championship match, where he faced Jacob Kresicki of First Flight. There are only two wrestlers in school history with more wins than Martinez, which is all the more impressive since he was limited to just 24 matches in his sophomore year due to COVID-19. If he had a full season, there’s a chance he could have broken the school record for wins, held by Chandler Collins with 166 victories. During his senior year, Martinez was a part of a Cedar Ridge team that won the Central Carolina Conference Tournament championship at Orange High School. Martinez is one of only four wrestlers in school history to reach a state final. He was also the third member of HIllsboroughsports.com’s Four-Timers Club, winning Cedar Ridge Athlete of the Week four times in four years, along with Takiya Nichols and Cameron Lloyd.

Cedar RIdge graduate Fernando Martinez prepares for college career at UNC Pembroke

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Jamar Davis: Davis ended a successful track & field career at N.C. State in June in the NCAA Championships in Austin, TX on June 9th. He had a leap of 15.65 meters in the men’s triple jump to finish as a second-team All-American. He finished in 14th place nationally. Davis was a second-team All-American in his freshman year of the NCAA Indoor Track and Field championships. Davis will go down as one of the greatest all-around athletes in Orange High history. In his senior year, Davis won an individual state championship and was named Most Outstanding Performer at the 3A State Outdoor Track & Field Championships. He also was the leading scorer for the men’s soccer team, which reached the 2nd round of the 3A State Playoffs. Earlier in his career, he was a wrestler on three Orange teams that won Big 8 Conference championships.

Mia Davidson: It’s been a summer full of softball for Davidson. She started with Athletes Unlimited AUX, then journeyed to Dublin, Ireland to play for the United States in the qualifying rounds of the Women’s Softball World Cup. The United States won all four of its games in order to qualify for the World Cup Finals, which will be held in Italy next June. In Ireland, Davidson served mostly as a reserve. She served as a pinch-hitter in America’s 1-0 win over Australia on July 13. On July 12, the Americans won 15-0 over Botswana. Davidson backed up catcher Sahvanna Jaquish, entered the game as a pinch-hitter, drew a walk and scored a run off a single by Hannah Flippen. Davidson also played in the American’s 5-0 win over Chinese Taipei. The U.S. won all four games and didn’t surrender a run in the entire tournament. Over the weekend, Davidson started her second season with Athletes Unlimited. In the opening week, Davidson was drafted by Team McCleney. In the opening game that started on Friday, Davidson hit a grand slam. The game was suspended by rain but resumed on Monday at the Parkway Bank Sports Complex in Rosemont, IL. Team McCleney won 8-3. Davidson was selected as the 3rd MVP which earned her 20 additional points. On Saturday, Team Mulipola defeated Team McCleney 3-1. Davidson went 0-for-3 with a walk. On Sunday, Team McCleney edged Team Rhodes 4-3 in a thrilling game. Davidson went 1-for-3 with a walk. At the end of the first week, Davidson is 10th in the Athletes Unlimited points standings with 314. On Monday night, Davidson was selected to play on Team Sierra Romero for this weekend’s three-game series.

Bryse Wilson: On Monday night, Wilson closed out the Milwaukee Brewers 5-3 loss to the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Wilson threw a scoreless ninth inning, striking out one and walking one. As of Monday night, the Brewers are one-and-a-half games behind the Cincinnati Reds for first place in the National League Central. Wilson has pitched 35 games this season. He is 3-0 with three saves and a 3.38 earned run average. Last month, Wilson had four straight appearances without giving up a run, starting with a 6-5 win over the Chicago Cubs on July 6 at Miller Park. On July 21, Wilson faced his former team, the Atlanta Braves. He threw three scoreless innings, striking out five, but the Braves went on to win 6-4.

Joey McMullin: On Sunday, McMullin announced he would play the remaining two years of his college basketball eligibility at Division III Methodist University in Fayetteville. For the past two years, McMullin has played at Sandhills Community College in Pinehurst, which were among the most successful in the 15-year history of the program. Last year, the Flyers finished 30-4, which included an 18-game winning streak, and won the Region 10 regular season and tournament championships. Sandhills was ranked #1 in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division III polls nine times during the season. McMullin was the second-leading scorer on the team with 14 points per game. He also averaged 3.8 rebounds per game.

Aidan McAllister: Following the conclusion of baseball season in June, McAllister announced he was entering his name in the transfer portal after one season at Hofstra University. A former All-Central Carolina Conference performer at Cedar Ridge, McAllister didn’t play in a game for the Pride during his only season in Nassau County, New York.

As we look back to the 2023 spring sports season, our Orange Panther of the Week is recently graduated Orange shortstop Jackson Berini. For the second straight year, Berini was named All-Central Carolina Conference. A mainstay as Orange’s leadoff batter, Berini ended his career with an 11-game hitting streak. Orange won its third consecutive conference championship this year, ending the season with a trip to the state quarterfinals of the 3A State Playoffs. Berini was Orange’s leading hitter with a .398 batting average. He also had the top on-base percentage at .522. He scored a whopping 40 runs for the Panthers. Jackson started his career sharing the middle infield with his older brother, Joey, in 2020. The season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but Jackson was just starting his excellence in a Panther uniform. The final three years he played, Orange won a conference championship. Berini was tied for the team lead with 35 hits in 2023. Along the way, he was an instrumental player for an Orange team that went 25-3, its best overall win total since the 2013 team. Berini will move on to play at Gaston College next spring, but his impact across Orange High can be found on the championship banners aligned outside the press box for years to come.

Orange Panther of the Week: Jackson BERINI

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For some, it may have been a surprise to see the Orange men’s basketball team win ten games before Christmas last season. Especially since they won just ten games for the entire 2018-2019 and 2017-2018 seasons.

But for anyone who saw the Orange Summer Heat Tournament last June, it wasn’t surprising in the least. Cole Cloer and Kai Wade had just graduated from middle school less than a week beforehand, but suited up for Orange in the Black Session of the Tournament. The Panthers advanced to the championship game against Chapel Hill, where they rallied from a late six-point deficit with just over 1:00 to play to win the championship.

It was the foundation of where the expectations of the 2022-2023 season were built. From that point forward, Orange coach Derryl Britt craved opening night against East Chapel Hill, where three freshmen (Cloer, Wade and Mason Robinson) started.

On Tuesday, the second Orange Summer Heat Tournament will take place inside Panther Gymnasium. This year, the event will take place on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. On Tuesday, games will start at 3PM and last until 9:00.

On Wednesday and Thursday, the action starts at 2:00 PM and continues until 9:00 PM.

Admission is $10. Children ten years old and younger will get in free. The event is a fundraiser for the Orange Basketball program.

The other teams in the event will include Southern Lee, Chapel Hill, East Chapel Hill, Providence Grove and Lee County.

The event will be noteworthy for several reasons. In addition to Orange’s participation, the event will mark the unofficial debut of new East Chapel Hill coach Kennard Winchester, only the second head coach in the 27-year history of the school. Ray Hartsfield stepped down in March. Hartsfield took the Wildcats to the 1997 3A State Championship.

Cloer and Wade will both suit up for Orange in the event. The two have played travel basketball throughout the spring. Cloer has gone viral with an array of dunks, blocks and other highlights. Two weeks ago, he earned his first Division I college offer from High Point University.

Since the season ended in February, Wade has played throughout the country on weekends and during holidays, including in Atlanta and Dallas. Last season, Wade averaged 2.8 assists per game. He was second on the team with 11.5 points per game.

Cloer was the leading scorer for the Panthers with 20.1 points per game. He also led the team with 3.1 assists per game.

Next season, Orange will compete in a Central Carolina Conference that will be dramatically different solely from the departure of Northwood, who won 34 consecutive CCC games and reached the 3A State Championship in February. The Chargers are moving down to 2A and will be replaced in the CCC by Southern Alamance, who is moving down from 4A.

Southern Alamance competed in the DAC-VII Conference the past two years.

Northwood won three of the last four conference championships and claimed the 3A Eastern Regional Championship in 2021 and 2023.

The tournament will be a breeding ground for younger players who will attempt to provide depth next season. The Panthers are losing five seniors. Darius Corbett, Kaleb Barnhardt, Thomas Loch, Isaiah Seymour and Caleb Barreto all graduated on Friday night at the Smith Center in Chapel Hill.

Last year was the first time since 2017 that Orange reached the 3A State Playoffs, where they took West Carteret to the wire in Morehead City in the opening round.

Orange finished the season 17-10, but it could have easily been a 20-win season. The Panthers had last-second losses to South Granville and Sanderson in the South Granville Holiday Tournament on consecutive days. Against West Carteret, senior Worth Stack tapped in a missed shot with 22 seconds remaining to give the Patriots a 65-64 lead. They went on to win 66-64 when Malachi Poole’s desperation heave from midcoast rimmed out.