Photo Credit: Brianna Hales[/caption]Wednesday, October 8, the OHS varsity women's tennis team competed against the other six schools in the Big Eight Conference in the 2014 conference tournament held at Orange High School. The team took only a few players, including Beth Bryan, Leila Andrews, Laura Hegemann, Brooke Asbury, Ezra Tennant, Michaela Shriner, and Hannah Link. The players competed individually or as a doubles team against the other schools in the conference in randomly decided brackets.
Doubles team Tennant and Asbury and singles player Leila Andrews, all sophomores, lost their first matches against Cedar Ridge and Northern Vance, respectively, knocking them out of conference play and ending their 2014 season for Orange. However, Laura Hegemann won her first round of singles in a very close tie-breaker game with a score of 8-6 over Chapel Hill to advance into the quarter-finals where she lost 5-10 to Jenna Proctor from Cedar Ridge. Doubles team Bryan and Shriner won their first and second matches over Northern Vance and Northwood to advance to the semi-finals in conference and to secure a spot in the regional tournament.
Senior tennis players Michaela Shriner, Hannah Link, and Beth Bryan pose on their senior night. Photo Credit: Brooke Asbury[/caption]By Hannah Link
It was a sad night for the Orange High School women’s tennis team on Wednesday, October 1 as the three seniors played on their home court for the last time during the regular season. The season may have been coming to an end, but the underclassmen on the team weren’t about to let the seniors leave without a bang.
Festivities kicked off Wednesday morning during school as the team joined together in wearing tie-dye T-shirts made in honor of Senior Night by some underclassmen on the team. “We love our seniors,” said sophomore Brooke Asbury. “We couldn’t bear the thought of not doing something special for them.” The seniors are having a hard time coping with the occasion. “It’ll be really hard to leave our team,” said senior Michaela Shriner. “We’re all so close; we’re basically a family.” The love for the seniors this year could be seen all over the court. Posters and signs hung from the fence and every player wore their tie-dyed T-shirts during the match.
The efforts made by the underclassmen weren’t the only thing that was sweet--the victory was too. Orange took a big 7-2 win over Oxford Webb in their last home match of the season, something the players and the coach were proud of. “We worked really hard tonight and, despite all of the food and candy the girls ate, we still worked hard and played really well,” said coach Andy Brown.
The team will go to Cedar Ridge High School on Monday, October 6 to take on the rival Red Wolves in their last regular season match before the Big Eight Conference tournament Wednesday, October 8.
The Orange High School women’s tennis team was expected to have three games during the short school week after Labor Day weekend. The Monday, September 3 match was canceled against Southern Durham because their school failed to have enough players to make a team. The team then played Chapel Hill High School and Eastern Alamance High School and suffered losses to both teams.
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Kiana Bell serving while practicing with Jessica Scott before their doubles match against Eastern Alamance[/caption]The OHS tennis team did not play Eastern Alamance last year so they were unsure what to expect out of the other team. The match was held on Friday, September 6, and Orange lost 3-6. Michaela Shriner, sixth seed, and Brianna Hales, fourth seed, both won their singles matches. Hales lost the first set 2-6 but won the second set 6-2 and then played a tie breaker winning 10-8. Shriner won her match 6-3, 6-4. Mary Katherine Dougherty and Hales won their second seeded doubles tennis match 8-3 in an eight game pro-set. Leila Andrews, usually fourth seed, and Beth Bryan, usually first seed, were both unable to play due to injuries. This caused players on the team to move up seeds and play against players that were ranked above them, which may have led to the close loss.
The Chapel Hill match was played Wednesday, September 4, and the Panthers lost 1-8. Kiana “Keke” Bell and Bryan won their first seeded tennis match against Lauren Su and Ria Das of Chapel Hill by 8-6 in an eight game pro-set. Chapel Hill easily clenched all six singles matches and the other two doubles matches.
Two matches will be held next week if weather permits. For the the first time the team will play Northwood High School away on Monday,
September 9. The Lady Panthers will take on Webb High School at home on Wednesday, September 11.
This year the team holds an overall record of 1-4. Three new schools have entered the 3A conference. They are Northwood, Southern Durham, and Cedar Ridge High School. All matches start at 4:30 pm unless otherwise noted. With an unusual amount of new players this year the team has roughly 20 players. Coach Andy Brown has split the team into Varsity and Junior Varsity.
Orange High School seniors are wrapping up the last seasons of high school sports. Some seniors will continue to pursue their athletic careers by participating on their college athletic teams.
M.J. Bumgarner, a senior at OHS, was accepted to Lees-McRrae College. Bumgarner participated on the OHS women’s tennis team and was first seed her sophomore and senior year. After the season wrapped up, she went to visit her future teammates at Lees-Mcrae.
“Everything just sort of clicked. I just fell in love with the team,” said Bumgarner, “The camaraderie there was really good. They had really good friendships. It was like all of them were best friends.”
Bumgarner was able to not only meet all the players, but she also practiced with them by “hitting some balls” with the team captain.
One concern Bumgarner has the worry she might not be able to balance her school work, which will include her major in biology, and her sports-related work. This only slightly concerns her though because she has been used to balancing advanced placement and honors courses while still participating on the tennis and soccer teams during her high school career.
Written by Aly Cavedo 
Women's Tennis had their final match September 24 against Chapel Hill High School. The Lady Panthers surfed through a tough, win-some, lose-some season. “There were times we didn't give it our all, but it was a great learning experience and I'm certain we will do better next fall!” says junior tennis player Brianna Hales.
On October 24, Men's Soccer worked hard against Northern Vance High School. Unfortunately, the prideful Panthers stepped off the field losing 0-1. As always, Coach Bowmen is optimistic and ready to improve next season.
The Women's Volleyball team made it to the playoffs October 20 and 25. High spirits were in the air after the Lady Vollers won their 1st playoff game against McMichael High School 3-0. Unfortunately, the Panthers lost their 2nd playoff game against Cardinal Gibbons 0-3. However, after a very successful season, the girls have their heads held high and are ready to show who's boss next fall.
November 3, OHS Cross-Country will be on their way to the State Meet in Kernersville, NC. The boys will start running at 3:30pm and
the girls will start an hour later at 4:30. We all have our fingers crossed and are wishing them the best of luck!
Varsity Football has entered the playoffs and Nov. 2 might be their make it or break it game! On our home turf, the guys were amped up and ready for a victory against Eastern Wayne High School. To help them out and bring pep to the field, OHS cheerleaders were there front and center, leading the crowd in spirit. The cheerleaders have been there every step of the way and the footballers couldn't have done it without them. Even though Nov. 2 wasn't the Panthers' night; we'll definitely come back rough and tough, ready for next season.
Written by Matt McLaughlin October 9 at Orange High School’s tennis courts, the OHS’s women’s tennis team celebrated their only senior, MJ Bumgarner, on her last home game in her high school career against Southern Vance.
Before the match, they recognized Bumgarner as she stood to the side with her parents while OHS’s tennis coach Andy Brown called Bumgarner forward and gave her an orange flower. Members from both teams applauded as Bumgarner accepted graciously.
After the match, the team celebrated with food, drinks, and farewells.
“I know that MJ was really sad it was her last game.” said Brianna Hales, a junior at OHS and the sixth seed on OHS’s women’s tennis team.
Bumgarner has been on the team all four years of her high school career. She has worked her way up and now she is the first seed on the team followed by junior Tallie Phillips.
Bumgarner also participates in both swimming and soccer.