SPORTS

By Adam Powell
Correspondent

Get the latest in high school sports coverage from around Chapel Hill in TLR’s latest edition of our High School Notebook. There was plenty of sporting action across multiple sports this week, with numerous area teams facing off against each other.

CHAPEL HILL HIGH TIGERS

FOOTBALL – CHHS drops first game of 2025 season

Chapel Hill brought a perfect 3-0 record into last week’s home game against Apex, but the Tigers struggled offensively and suffered their first loss of the season, 17-10, at the hands of the Cougars. Apex improved to 1-3 on the season through four games, while CHHS slipped to 3-1.

Chapel Hill senior quarterback Samuel Zimmerman completed 18 of 34 passes for 234 yards in the loss, including a 61-yard touchdown pass to fellow senior Wilkins Corcoran for CHHS’s only touchdown of the night. Senior Teagan Coynesmith added a 38-yard field goal for Chapel Hill’s additional three points. Corcoran led Chapel Hill with 94 receiving yards on five catches, while senior David Campos added four catches for 60 yards.

CHHS managed only 25 rushing yards against Apex, while Apex senior Kaiden Dupree rushed for 114 yards and a touchdown for the Cougars, adding a touchdown. Apex quarterback Kyle Hulse added a touchdown pass to Dylan Piver, while Alex Mulauski added a field goal. Defensively, the Tigers were led by senior Silas Munday and junior Izayeha Brown, who each had 10 tackles.

The Tigers (3-1) look to get back in the win column Friday night on the road in Raleigh against Sanderson (3-1).

VOLLEYBALL – Tigers outlast Wildcats in five set thriller

On the evening of Thursday, September 11, Chapel Hill and East Chapel Hill met and played a volleyball match to remember. The Tigers and Wildcats engaged in an intense five set thriller that included a remarkable 60-point fourth set, and a tiebreaker that came right down to the wire.

The Tigers were on the ropes early, as East won the opening set 25-20 and the second set 25-16 to take a commanding 2-0 lead. But the Tigers roared back, winning the third set comfortably 25-18 to force a fourth set. The teams played to a 25-25 stalemate in the fourth set, and then went back and forth for nine heartstopping points before at 31-30, Chapel Hill finally prevailed and got the set point for a 31-29 win to force the tiebreaker.

In the fifth set, Chapel Hill squeaked out a 15-12 win to claim the match. Senior Eva Smith led the Tigers with 21 kills and seven blocked shots, while fellow twelfth grader Paige Thomas contributed 11 kills. Sophomore Sarah Williams and junior Maryn McIntyre each had four service aces, while McIntyre had 10 digs. Freshman Leila Tooloee produced 29 assists.

Over the weekend, CHHS challenged itself further with a series of non-conference matchups against the likes of Pinecrest and Hoggard. The Tigers swept two sets from Coastal Christian, won a three set thriller against Pinecrest, and lost two sets to Hoggard. From there, the Tigers came home and swept Durham Hillside in three sets to improve to 2-0 in conference play, while falling in three sets on Wednesday to Cleveland. Through 15 matches, the Tigers stood at 9-6 overall.

Senior Haara Umenwaliri led the Tigers with 11 kills in the win against Hillside, while Tooloee added 12 assists.

MEN’S SOCCER – Tigers increase win streak to three matches

Chapel Hill’s men’s soccer team has been on a roll of late, as the Tigers earned a road victory at Apex on September 15 to go along with recent triumphs in late August over Carrboro and Williams.

In a 5-2 victory at Apex on September 15, the Tigers broke open a 2-1 halftime score with three second half goals. The win improved CHHS to 5-1 through six matches. The Tigers host Jordan on the evening of Tuesday, September 23 prior to opening Tobacco Road Conference play the evening of September 25 on the road at East Chapel Hill.

WOMEN’S TENNIS – Tigers split matches with Northern Durham, Carrboro

After putting together a complete effort in sweeping Northern Durham 9-0 on September 10, Chapel Hill’s women’s tennis team challenged Carrboro on September 11. It was a tough match for the Tigers, as they fell 6-3 to their inter-county rivals.

The Tigers picked up individual victories in the Carrboro match from senior Zoe Zhang, who won the No. 2 singles match 6-3, 7-6, including a 7-4 victory in a second set tiebreaker. Junior Margot Vaughan-Wilson added a victory in the No. 3 singles match for the Tigers with a 6-4, 6-2 victory. In addition, CHHS’s No. 1 doubles team of Zhang and junior Erica Cui earned an 8-4 victory for the Tigers in their match. Zhang improved to 5-2 in singles matches with the win, while Vaughan-Wilson improved to 5-3 in singles matches.

After taking on Carrboro Thursday in a rematch, the Tigers host East Chapel Hill on Tuesday, September 22 and travel to Durham to face Hillside on Thursday, September 24.

CARRBORO JAGUARS

FOOTBALL – Jaguars still in search of first win of 2025 season

Carrboro is still seeking its first varsity football win of the season, as the Jaguars were beaten 38-7 at home Friday night by East Chapel Hill. Sophomore Jake Stevenson completed 13 of 21 passes for 105 yards and one touchdown with three interceptions.

Senior Isaiah McFalling led the Jaguars with 75 rushing yards on 13 carries, while senior Matthew Bien-aise led CHS with 58 receiving yards and a 42-yard touchdown reception. Carrboro was led defensively by junior Ajax Hopler, who had eight tackles and a tackle for loss.

The Jaguars have a bye week this Friday night – September 19 – and will go after their first victory of 2025 on the evening of Friday, September 26 at home against Louisburg (3-0).

VOLLEYBALL – CHS sweeps conference rival for second win in three matches

Although Carrboro came up short on September 9 when they traveled to Big Seven Conference frontrunner Cedar Ridge – falling in three sets to the first place Red Wolves – the Jaguars got back on track the evening of September 16, as they swept conference rival Oxford Webb to improve to 3-3 in league play through six matches.

In rolling to victory by scores of 25-9, 25-8, and 25-10, the Jaguars got six kills each from junior Sydney Frakes and sophomore Penelope Downing, while fellow tenth grader Sarah Vandersea added five kills. In addition, freshman Avery Sadiq and senior Carson McGuire each had five service aces for the Jaguars.

The Jaguars – 6-7 through 13 matches and 3-3 in conference play – traveled to Seaforth on Thursday night. Next week the Jags host South Granville on September 23 before traveling to Hillsborough to face Orange on September 25.

MEN’S SOCCER – Carrboro earns back-to-back shutouts

Although it has been a disappointing start to the 2025 season on the soccer field for Carrboro, the Jaguars had a couple of shining moments earlier this week. After earning a hard-fought 2-0 shutout at home over Seaforth on the evening of September 15, the Jags hosted another conference rival, South Granville, on September 17 and came away with an 8-0 shutout win to improve to 2-0 in Big Seven Conference play.

Against Seaforth, the Jags scored in both halves to take command and snap a three-match losing streak. Carrboro then rolled to an easy victory over South Granville by scoring three first half goals and then adding five unanswered goals in the second half.

The Jaguars (3-6-1 overall, 2-0 Big Seven Conference) travels to Northwood prior to hosting Orange on the evening of Monday, September 24.

WOMEN’S TENNIS – Jaguars roll to 11th straight victory

Carrboro’s women’s tennis team is on fire of late, as the Jaguars improved to 14-1 overall with an 8-0 sweep at home against Big Seven Conference rival South Granville on September 17. The win was Carrboro’s 11th straight going back to a heartbreaking 5-4 loss to East Chapel Hill back on August 21 – the only loss the Jaguars have suffered so far this season.

Opening the week at Seaforth on September 15, the Jaguars cruised to a 7-2 victory. The following day, the Jags hosted South Granville and came away with a 6-0 victory leading up to their 8-0 sweep on Wednesday. Along the way, senior standout Morgan Stowe improved to 10-0 overall in singles matches, while junior Bailey Birrenkott improved to 7-0. As a team, the Jaguars are 12-1 in doubles matches so far this fall.

After challenging Chapel Hill on Thursday, the Jaguars host Orange on September 22 and Fayetteville’s Terry Sanford High on September 23.

EAST CHAPEL HILL WILDCATS

FOOTBALL – Wildcats crush Jaguars for 3-1 start

East Chapel Hill put forth a dominant effort on both sides of the ball Friday night, as the Wildcats traveled to Carrboro and came away with a 38-7 victory. Sophomore quarterback Leo George was once again on point, completing 11 of 13 passes for 210 yards and two touchdowns.

George’s touchdown tosses went to seniors Jake Canady and Mason Maclejewski. Canady led the Wildcats with 66 receiving yards, while senior Noah Muhammad added 46 receiving yards. Canady also added a 65-yard interception return for a touchdown for the ECHHS defense, while sophomore Mo Sylla also had an interception for the Wildcats, returning it 25 yards. Canady added a fumble recovery and 25-yard return.

Senior A’maree Evans led East Chapel Hill’s rushing attack, pounding out 97 rushing yards – including a long of 41 yards – with two rushing touchdowns. Evans also had a solid game on defense for the Wildcats, leading the team with six tackles and three tackles for loss. Junior Jaden Nichols added a sack for East Chapel Hill in the lopsided win.

The Wildcats go after their fourth win on Friday night as they travel to Durham to face Mount Zion Christian Academy (2-1).

VOLLEYBALL – Wildcats drop heartbreaker to Tigers in conference opener

East Chapel Hill fell to 4-5 through nine volleyball matches on September 11, as the Wildcats dropped a five set heartbreaker to local rival Chapel Hill. It was the first match for both teams in the newly-formed Tobacco Road 6A/7A Conference.

Despite jumping out to an early 2-0 lead, the Wildcats fell in the third set 25-18, before the two schools engaged in an epic fourth set. Chapel Hill’s 31-29 win in the fourth set led to a fifth set tiebreaker, in which the Jaguars fell, 15-12. Sophomore Cameron Bublitz had a monster game for the Wildcats in the setback to the Tigers, picking up 18 kills, while adding an impressive 10 service aces.

East gained a measure of redemption on Tuesday night, as they traveled to Northern Durham and swept the Knights in three sets by scores of 25-18, 25-9, and 25-18. Sophomore Maggie Jewell led the way with 10 kills and nine service aces for the Wildcats, while Bublitz had nine kills, sophomore Avery Ellis 19 assists, and junior Lucy Tisch 17 digs.

On Thursday night, the Wildcats traveled to Durham to take on Riverside. Next week, East hosts Southern Durham on Tuesday, travels to Southern Durham on Wednesday, and travels again to Durham to face Hillside on Thursday.

MEN’S SOCCER – East wins fifth straight match, improves to 8-1

East Chapel Hill’s men’s soccer team earned a pair of road shutouts in recent days – a 2-0 win at Seaforth on September 10 and a 4-0 win at Northwood on September 16 – to improve to 8-1 overall through nine matches.

East scored both its goals against Seaforth in the first half, as Riles Porter found the net on a header for a 1-0 lead, and team captain Eli Woods followed it up by curling a shot around the Seaforth goalkeeper, finding the top corner of the net. On the road at Northwood, the Wildcats rolled behind senior Peter Manns, who scored two goals, as well as fellow senior Jake Mann and junior Graham Berklich, who also scored goals. Scoring twice in both halves, the Wildcats cruised, 4-0.

The Wildcats return to action for their Tobacco Road Conference opener on the evening of Thursday, September 25 at home against Chapel Hill.

WOMEN’S TENNIS – Wildcats sweep Pirates for 8-3 start

East Chapel Hill’s women’s tennis team got a week off from match action from September 11, when they swept Durham Riverside on the road 6-0, and the afternoon of Thursday, September 18, when they were scheduled to host St. Mary’s out of Raleigh.

The matches with Durham Riverside were close, but ECHHS found a way to prevail across the board. In the No. 1 singles match, junior Irus Mu won 6-1 over Riverside’s Isabella Balin in the first set, only to lose 5-7 in the second set. Mu, however, rallied to win the third set tiebreaker in an 11-9 thriller to give East Chapel Hill the team point.

East’s No. 2 singles player, junior M.J. Esther, and No. 3 singles player, sophomore Nora Lucas, also dropped a set to the Pirates, but came through for third set tiebreaker victories. Junior April Zhang, meanwhile defeated Tinsley Johnson 6-0, 6-4 in the No. 4 singles match. Senior Anna Zhu and sophomore Paisley Wild also needed a third set to win their matches, but both emerged victorious for the Wildcats.

Adam Powell has been a correspondent for The Local Reporter since 2023. A 2001 graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, Powell has served as managing editor of multiple local publications, including the News of Orange County, the Mebane Enterprise, the Caswell Messenger, and the ACC Sports Journal. Powell has won more than 20 North Carolina Press Association Awards throughout his journalism career for Excellence in Education Reporting, Excellence in Sports Columns and Features, and Excellence in Video Production. He has also been recognized by the North Carolina School Public Relations Association (NCSPRA) for Excellence in Education Writing and for his newsletters representing Rockingham County Schools and the North Carolina Cyber Academy. The author of four books. Adam currently resides in Mebane with his wife Julie and children Colt and Jenna. This reporter can be reached at:Information@TheLocal Reporter.press