Congratulations to Isabella Xu (‘25) for making the 2021 girls’ U17 U.S. national table tennis team! USA Table Tennis, the sport’s governing body named Xu to the eight-member team following the 2021 US National Team Youth Trials, held in Milpitas, California and Pleasantville, New York.
Written by Dan Smith, Digital Content Producer and Social Media Manager
Congratulations to Sydney Ross (’23) for being named to the 2021 USA Volleyball AAU Academic All-American team! The award recognizes high school student-athletes for their excellence in the classroom as well as the volleyball court. Ross is the only Triangle-area student-athlete named to the team for 2021.
In addition, Ross received the Junior Volleyball Association AthLeader award. For 2021, Ross is one of 22 players from across the country to receive this prestigious award, which recognizes the top JVA member club players in the nation for outstanding achievement outside of the volleyball court.
Ross’s mother, Donna, credits her time at CA with enabling her to reach such national heights, “Sydney’s experience with CA’s Leadership During Crisis Program, along with her facilitator role set her apart from other scholar athletes.”
Go Chargers!
Written by Dan Smith, Digital Content Producer and Social Media Manager
During last night’s 2021 NBA Draft, Cary Academy alum Trey Murphy III (’ 18) was drafted as the number 17 overall pick, landing a spot with the New Orleans Pelicans. With Murphy widely considered one of the most versatile players in this year’s draft class, the Pelicans’ pick has is being lauded by NBA analysts across the country. Earlier in the day, Murphy visited Cary Academy’s campus for a shoot-around in his old stomping grounds, the Fitness Center Gym.
The 6-foot-9-inch, 200-pound guard is the only player in University of Virginia history to post a 50-40-90 shooting season in 2020-21. Before transferring to UVA as a junior, Murphy led Rice University in scoring during his sophomore year. Because of the pandemic, the NCAA granted Murphy immediate eligibility, allowing him to play for the Cavaliers rather than requiring him to take a redshirt during the 2020-21 season.
Murphy, from Durham, played varsity basketball at CA. His father, Kenneth, played at East Carolina University from 1986-88.
Murphy averaged 22 points during his CA career while shooting 53% from the floor, 45% from three, and 93% from the free-throw line. He is Cary Academy’s all-time leader in field goals made, three-pointers made, and free throws made. During his senior year at CA, Murphy the Chargers to a 14-8 record, averaged 24.7 points and 7.4 rebounds while shooting on 49.4% from the floor, 43.6% from 3-point range, and 85.8% from the free-throw line. He was named All-Metro by the News & Observer. As a junior, he averaged 22.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.8 assists while shooting on 54% from the floor, 47% from three, and 93% from the free-throw line. He earned Triangle Independent School Athletic Conference (TISAC) All-Conference honors.
Written by Dan Smith, Digital Content Producer and Social Media Manager
Congratulations to rising-9th grader Rachel Wang ’25 for reaching the semifinal round of the 2021 U.S. National Table Tennis Championships in the girls’ singles U15 division! Playing in Las Vegas last week, Rachel finished in the top 8 of all players in her age group, nationally. #GoChargers!
Written by Dan Smith, Digital Content Producer and Social Media Manager
In a typical year, Cary Academy’s Athletic Department hosts three banquets — one for each athletic season — to celebrate and recognize the efforts and achievements of our student-athletes. This year, Athletic Director Kevin Jones chose to celebrate our Chargers with a massive celebration on the CA Quad, before their classmates, during the final day of Upper School classes.
And we had a lot to celebrate:
Watch the slideshow to view all of our outstanding Chargers:
https://youtu.be/KsMp1pEA2r8
Written by Dan Smith, Digital Content Producer and Social Media Manager
Athletics
May 3, 2021
Congratulations to the undefeated varsity baseball Chargers for finishing the 2021 TISAC regular season with a record of 17-0! Team captains Christian Larsen ’21, Miles Lubas ’22, and Lawson Wheeler ’22 led the team to a thrilling 11-4 victory over Durham Academy to close out the season, securing the program’s sixth TISAC Championship and a truckload of momentum to start the NCISAA playoffs later this week. This marks the second undefeated season for Cary Academy’s varsity baseball program under Head Coach Ray Pope.
Chargers baseball kicks off its postseason pursuit of an NCISAA State Championship in a game against Greensboro Day School on Tuesday, May 4 at 6:00pm, on the Cary Academy baseball field.
Written by Dan Smith, Digital Content Producer and Social Media Manager
Athletics
February 15, 2021
CA’s varsity girls swim team captured their fifth-consecutive NCISAA State title last week at the Greensboro Aquatic Center. The team earned more than double the points of second-place Charlotte Country Day. Seniors Anna Newman and Nisma Said were individual state champions, winning their individual events.
Newman and Said were joined by Sydney Martin ’24 and Elena Zayas ’21 in receiving All-State honors with a convincing win in the 200 Medley Relay. The 200m Free (Sarah Chen ’26, Jordan Smith ’21, Louisa Wendt ’24, and Zayas) and 400m Free (Chen, Martin, Newman, and Said) relay teams followed suit with wins.
The varsity boys swam to State Runners-Up. In six of the eight individual events, CA’s boys scored 3 or 4 swimmers. Both Alex Lim ’22 and Oliver Wang ’22 turned in school record-setting performances. Quinn Vaughan ’21 was the boys’ other individual medalist placing third in the 50m Free while the 200 Free Relay (Oliver Moore ’22, Cy Reading ’22, Vaughan, and Wang) and 400 Free Relay (Adam Farris ’22, William Hook ’24, Vaughan, and Wang) claimed the bronze.
Athletic director Kevin Jones exclaimed, “The coaches are extremely proud of both teams! It was simply a joy to watch.” Way to go, Chargers!
Written by Dan Smith, Digital Content Producer and Social Media Manager
Yesterday, Cary Academy’s varsity girls swim team won their seventh-consecutive Triangle Independent Schools Athletic Conference Championship. Two members of CA’s class of 2021 — Anna Newman ’21 and Nisma Said ’21 — were named Co-Conference Swimmers of the Year. Newman won the Individual Medley and 100 Breaststroke; Nisma swam to first place in the 100 Butterfly and 100 Backstroke. Additionally, all three of the girls’ relay teams won, placing them on the TISAC’s All-Conference roster.
Not to be outdone, the varsity boys swim team captured their twelfth-consecutive conference championship. (To put that in perspective, the Class of 2021 were kindergarteners the last time another boys team won the TISAC end-of-season meet.) William Hook ’24 broke a conference meet record in the 500 Free. Evan Alexander ’23 placed first in the 100 Butterfly, and Quinn Vaughan ’23 placed first in the 50 Free, securing All-Conference honors for the trio. The boys’ 400 Relay team (Hook, Vaughan, Alex Lim ’22, and Oliver Wang ’22) also earned All-Conference.
The teams will next compete at the 2021 NCISAA State Championships, held February 8-10 in Greensboro.
Go Chargers!
Written by Dan Smith, Digital Content Producer and Social Media Manager
Cary Academy’s Chargers made great strides despite the pandemic-related challenges of the Fall 2020 season, earning all-state and all-conference honors.
In addition, six members of the Class of 2021 recently signed letters of intent to participate in collegiate athletics. Thuc Dzu will run cross country and track and field for the University of Chicago. Kenny Eheman will compete on Davidson College’s soccer team. Koa Kaliebe will play soccer for Franklin & Marshall College. Aaron Messer joins the University of Pennsylvania’s soccer team. Anna Newman will swim for Davidson, where Abby Pompeo will play field hockey.
Go Chargers!
Kenny Eheman and Sebastian Polge (‘22) received All-State accolades. Eheman (named TISAC Runner of Year) and Polge were joined by Matthew Crow (‘21), Kyle Murphy (‘21), and Arran Swift (‘23) as members of the TISAC All-Conference team.
Thuc Dzu was named to the All-State team, with Elise Boyse (‘23) and Jenna Pullen (‘23) joining her on the TISAC All-Conference roster.
TISAC Co-Player of the Year Abby Pompeo and Gabriella Cicuto (‘22) received All-State honors. They were joined on the TISAC All-Conference team by Alex Butulis (‘23), Sarah Haddix (‘22), and Jaya Winemiller (‘22). Alessia Cicuto (‘23) and Gabby Matejowski (‘22) received Honorable Mentions.
Koa Kaliebe, Jackson Newnam (‘21), and Henry Lee (‘21) were honored as members of the TISAC All-Conference team, with Ryan Newnam (‘23) earning an Honorable Mention.
Co-TISAC Player of Year Nousha Tehrani (‘23), a member of the All-State team, joined Sydney Tai (‘22) in receiving All-Conference honors. Ava Karrenbauer (‘25) received an Honorable Mention.
Nikki Tehrani (‘21) earned a place on the TISAC All-Conference squad; Alex Davila (‘23) received Honorable Mention.
Written by Dan Smith, Digital Content Producer and Social Media Manager
