The state playoffs for football begin Friday, Nov. 13.

In 2-A, Carrboro (4-7) will play at East Bladen (11-0).

In 3-A, Chapel Hill (5-6) will play at West Brunswick (7-3).

By Beth Mechum

Many local high schools are getting a shakeup in conference play this year. Carrboro is now part of the Carolina 9 and Chapel Hill is in the Carolina 6.

Though conference rivalries are important in Orange County, cross-town rivalries often hold just the same importance, and women’s volleyball is one such example.

The coaches in the area said they are excited to play new competition, but look forward to seeing the familiar faces in gyms across town as well.

It remains to be seen whether these new conferences make teams stronger or weaker when those matches circled in red on coaches’ and players’ calendars come to fruition.

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Preps Preview: Football

By Beth Mechum
Staff Writer

While a lot of high students spend their summers taking vacations or sleeping in, football players don’t have that luxury.

Drills and weights in the early morning are followed by play-book sessions and scrimmages in the late evening. While that does leave a lot of time in between for student-athletes to do what they want, generally what they want to do is rest in an air-conditioned room.

It’s a grind, but all that hard work will soon start showing results, as local high school teams prepare to begin the 2009 football season.

Chapel Hill High School will strive to build on a successful 2008 season, while Carrboro and East Chapel Hill hope to bounce back from losing campaigns. More »

Thirty Chapel Hill-Carrboro students were selected as 2009 National Merit Scholarship Finalists and two students were selected as National Achievement Finalists.

Carrboro High School National Merit Finalists include Erin Harrington, Schyuler Klystra and Julianne Ragland. Carrboro High student Colby Isabel was selected as a National Achievement Finalist.

Chapel Hill High School National Merit Finalists are Sarah Anderson, Mary Ann Anstine, Julie Crimmins, Robert Gollmar, Mariana Hernandez, Andrew Hertzberg, Erin Humphries, Sara Outing, Ranjit Poonnen, Ellen Porter, Maria Van Aalst and Megan Westman. More »

CHS golf
Northwood High School hosted Chapel Hill and Carrboro high schools at the Preserve Golf Club Thursday for the first men’s match of the season. Carrboro’s only senior, Rich Leeper, led the team to a narrow victory with a one over par 37. He was assisted by sophomore Neel Patel, who fired a 40; freshman Alex Wilhem, who shot 42; and freshman Jeremy Shaheen, who rounded out the team score with a 46, for a team total of 165. Mike Thomas of CHHS was low for the Tigers with a 38.  Northwood shot 169 and CHHS finished with a 170.

CHS Men’s Lacrosse
The Carrboro High School varsity men’s lacrosse team started its second season of play by notching back-to-back victories on Friday evening and Saturday morning against Triton (13-8) and Wilmington-Ashley (15-7). Across the two games, the scoring leaders were Rich Leeper (9 goals) and MacKenzie Price (5 goals); John Pamplin, Brooks Covington and Julian VanName scored three goals each. Price also led the team with six assists. The battle for possession was led by Robert Kenny with nine ground balls and Sam Stargel, David Hare and VanName with eight each. The opponents’ scoring was kept in check by strong inside defensive play, anchored by goalie Nick Swartzwelder (23 saves, 14 ground balls).

By Mary Lide Parker
Staff Writer

Only a year and a half after opening its doors, Carrboro High School is well on its way to forming its own identity.

In conversation, teachers at Carrboro High often reference the “growing pains” associated with a new school. Alphonso Donaldson, co-chair of the English department, said that while there have been those pains, the faculty as a whole is starting to feel more confident. More »

Carrboro High School is holding its Jaguar Baseball Camp for youths aged 10-12 on Monday, August 11 through Friday, August 15, from 9 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. The cost is $95, and includes camp t-shirt, water bottle and Friday cook-out.
This year’s camp will focus on teaching the basic fundamentals of baseball and teaching the player to play with confidence. For more information or to receive a registration form, please contact Nat Tyndall at natunc@aol.com or 632-4062.

By Sean Umstead
Courtesy of the Carrboro Commons

When the Charlotte Bobcats began their inaugural season in 2004, they won a modest 22 percent of their games. Setting up one team clearly has challenges; setting up 20 new teams could be overwhelming.

That is what April Ross, Carrboro High School’s athletic director, has on her plate after taking over for Steve Reinhart, who resigned in December.
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(via Scott Swartzwelder)

March 17

The Carrboro High School men’s lacrosse team defeated Durham School of the Arts by a score of 7-6 in sudden death overtime on Monday night. The Jaguar’s scoring was paced by Rich Leeper (3 goals, 1 assist), MacKenzie Price (2 goals) and David Hare (2 goals), while Brooks Covington, Ty Fenton and Ken Ryan each provided one assist. Hare and Leeper also helped out in the battle for possession by snagging six ground balls each. Goalies Gus Brighton (6 saves) and Nick Swartzwelder (4 saves) led the defense during the Jaguar’s late comeback and overtime score. More »

Carrboro High
Women’s Soccer

March 10
(via Tony Blanford)

Carrboro defeated Raleigh Charter, 2-1, after two periods of extra time.
Raleigh goal by C. Morgan, assist H. Deters.
Carrboro goals V. Aldana , M. Cranfill.
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(via Linda Thomason)

Carrboro High School’s men’s golf team played in their first-ever Mid-State conference golf match Monday 3/10 at Hillandale Golf Course. The Jaguars finished second out of 8 teams competing. Cardinal Gibbons finished first with a score of 147, followed by Carrboro HS (162) and Graham HS (164). The next Mid-State match is Monday 3/17 at Occoneechee Golf Club.

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Demarcus Powell (30) of the Carrboro Jaguar junior varsity comes charging in to the basket in the Friday, Feb. 15, game against the Northwood Chargers.

Jamika Belk (21) of the junior varsity Carrboro Lady Jaguars keeps the ball away from a Northwood defender while still keeping her concentration on the basket during the matchup in Carrboro on Friday, Feb. 15.