Girls’ tennis

The dual team state championships were a huge success for local teams over the weekend.

Research Triangle defeated East Wilkes 5-0 to defend its 2025 2A title. Victoria Zhou was named the championship MVP despite not completing her No. 1 singles match. Alexis Zhao, Savannah Shih, Eliza Basch, Avery Zhao and Katherine Southern won the remaining singles matches. All of the matches were won in straight sets.

NCSSM-Durham avenged last year’s state championship defeat with a 5-2 win over Pine Lake Prep for the 3A title. The Unicorns won singles matches 3-6 and all three doubles matches. Reagan Vandiver, who won both a singles and doubles match, was named the championship MVP. Hridya Ajith, Isabella Balin, Radha Suresh were the other singles winners. Ajith and Balin clinched the win with an 8-0 doubles victory.

Carrboro took down Lake Norman Charter 5-2 to win the 4A title. After taking a 4-2 lead following the singles, the Jaguars secured the win with an 8-1 victory for Carson Frederick and Mac Birrenkott in a doubles match. Claire O’Brien, the championship MVP, won a tough singles battle against Samantha Blisteink by a score of 7-6 [7-4], 6-1. Frederick, Birrenkott and Bailey Birrenkott were the other singles winners.

Seaforth won its first state title by defeating West Henderson 5-1 for the 5A crown. The Hawks avoided doubles matches by winning five singles. Mackenzie Wray, the MVP, Ella Kreinar, Tatum Dell, Ellie Kristiansen and Charlotte Bowman won their singles bouts.

After finishing as state runner-ups in 2025, East Chapel Hill became the 6A state champions by defeating Watauga 5-4. Iris Mu, April Zhang and Brooke Louis won their singles matches to tie the game at 3-3 going into doubles. Nora Lucas and Issy Lattanzio won their doubles match, and Louis and MJ Ester (Ester won MVP) won their doubles bout to clinch the championship win.

In the 1A state championship match, Chatham Charter fell to NCSSM-Morganton 5-0.


Girls’ golf

NCSSM-Durham’s Audrey Lee finished as the 3A state runner-up with a score of 152, which was two strokes behind the state champion. She posted scores of 76 in both rounds. The Unicorns finished third as a team with a score of 548.

Orange’s Gianni Burnette finished 10th in the 5A state championship competition.


Cross Country

Boys’ regional champions

Torris Price (Chatham Charter, won 1A central regional with a time of 15 minutes, 46.67 seconds.)
Jarett Price (NCSSM-Durham, won 3A central regional with a time of 16:54.45)
Samuel Neil (Seaforth, won 5A central regional with at time of 15:53.59)
East Chapel Hill (won 6A central regional team title with a score of 54)


Girls’ regional champions

Reilly Jermyn (Orange, won 5A central regional with a time of 18:06.20)
East Chapel Hill (won 6A central regional team title with a score of 40)
Sadie Mersereau (Chapel Hill, won 7A central regional with a time of 18:08.60)
Chapel Hill (won 7A central regional team title with a score of 40)


Girls’ flag football

Here are the scores from the first two rounds of the NCHSAA playoffs this past weekend.

1A-6A East: Middle Creek 38, Seaforth 12 (first round); Rocky Mount 43, Jordan-Matthews 11 (first round); Northwood 27, Union Pines 18 (second round)

7A East: Southeast Raleigh 18, Hillside 6 (first round); Riverside 34, Cary 6 (second round); Southern Durham 12, New Hanover 6

Third round matchups (Saturday)

1A-6A East: No. 23 Felton Grove at No. 2 Northwood
7A East: No. 5 South Garner at No. 4 Southern Durham; No. 6 Riverside at No. 3 Cardinal Gibbons


Boys’ soccer

NCHSAA first round matchups

1A East: No. 2 Woods Charter (BYE), will play River Mill in second round Thursday; No. 13 Discovery Charter (BYE), will play at No. 4 Ascend Leadership Thursday

2A East: No. 24 Gates County at No. 9 Voyager Academy; No. 18 Roxboro Community at No. 15 Eno River Academy; No. 6 Research Triangle (BYE), will play winner of No. 22 Rosewood at No. 11 Lakewood

3A East: No. 3 NCSSM-Durham (BYE), will play winner of No. 19 Beddingfield at No. 14 Goldsboro; No. 8 Northwood (BYE), will play the winner of No. 24 Ayden-Grifton at No. 9 Midway

4A East: No. 3 Carrboro (BYE), will play winner of No. 19 Bunn at No. 14 North Lenoir; No. 4 Jordan-Matthews (BYE), will play winner of No. 20 Red Springs at No. 13 East Duplin

5A East: No. 5 Seaforth (BYE), will play winner of No. 21 West Carteret at No. 12 Rockingham County; No. 20 Durham School of the Arts at No. 13 Southern Nash; No. 19 Orange at No. 14 Cedar Ridge

6A East: No. 16 Northern Durham at No. 17 Felton Grove; No. 22 Scotland at No. 11 East Chapel Hill

7A East: No. 4 Chapel Hill (BYE), will play winner of No. 20 South Brunswick at No. 13 Smithfield-Selma; No. 17 Riverside at No. 16 Jack Britt; No. 18 D.H. Conley at No. 15 Southern Durham

8A West: No. 10 Jordan at No. 7 Garinger