There was hardly a dull moment in Chatham County’s 2023-24 high school sports year.
There were many intriguing storylines and developments that illustrated just how successful of an athletic year the county had. With multiple state championships, deep playoffs runs and memorable individual performances, here are the top 10 local storylines that best defined a rich sports season in Chatham County.
Honorable mention: Jordan-Matthews football wins thriller over Chatham Central
Jordan-Matthews and Chatham Central, longtime rivals, met on the football field in early September with each team looking for its first win. After a back-and-forth affair ending with Nick Glover knocking down Chatham Central’s last shot at the endzone, the Jets avenged the previous year’s loss to the Bears and “restored order” in the county in the 30-26 victory.
10. Jordan-Matthews boys’ soccer dominates conference play
After taking its first and only loss in Mid-Carolina 1A/2A conference play to Seaforth, Jordan-Matthews’ boys’ soccer team ripped off eight conference wins in a row, including seven straight shutouts and a 4-0 revenge win over the Hawks. The Jets finished 12-1-1 in conference play and made it to the 2A East regional semifinal game.
9. Jordan-Matthews softball playoff run
Jordan-Matthews’ softball team, like it did during the regular season, had to rally to keep its playoff run alive. Down 3-1 in the sixth inning against North Johnston in the second round of the 2A playoffs, Lilli Hicks’ walk-off hit in the bottom of the seventh completed the 4-3 comeback. Against Roanoke Rapids in the third round, the Jets entered the final inning down 2-1, but they scored seven runs and got the necessary outs to win, 8-2.
8. Reid Albright leads Chatham Central boys' basketball to impressive year
Finishing the season averaging 22.6 points and 9.3 rebounds per game, Reid Albright was the focal point of Chatham Central boys' basketball’s 24-5 record. The Bears opened the season with 12 straight wins, a stretch in which Albright scored at least 30 points three times.
7. Drake Powell balls out in John Wall Invitational
In a tight battle with Richmond and NC State signee Paul McNeil at the John Wall Invitational, Drake Powell led Northwood to a 56-53 victory, putting up a season-high 30 points, 12 rebounds and two steals. Powell came close to another double-double in the championship game against the highly touted Kendre Harrison and Reidsville as he recorded 16 points and 9 rebounds in the close loss. In the John Wall Invitational opener against Orange, Powell poured in 15 points.
6. Northwood, Seaforth girls’ basketball rivalry
Playing in the same conference for the first time, Northwood and Seaforth’s girls’ basketball teams met in four highly anticipated matchups. Seaforth won the regular season series, 2-0, but the Chargers got revenge in the Mid-Carolina 1A/2A conference tournament title game. The two teams met again in the third round of the 2A state playoffs, and Seaforth got the last laugh.
5. Maddie Kaczmarczyk, Aidan Allred fill stat sheets
Chatham Central softball pitcher Maddie Kaczmarczyk and Chatham Charter shortstop Aidan Allred did some serious damage from the mound and at the plate, respectively. Kaczmarczyk recorded a 2.32 earned run average (sixth in 1A East according to MaxPreps), 169 strikeouts (third in 1A East) and 14 wins (first in 1A East). Allred achieved a .612 batting average (second in NCHSAA), 46 RBIs (third in NCHSAA), 52 runs (fifth in NCHSAA) and seven home runs (tied for fourth in NCHSAA).
4. Jack Anstrom wins multiple state titles
Seaforth runner Jack Anstrom added four state championship wins to his resume this year, winning the 2A boys’ cross-country title, the 1A/2A boys’ indoor 3,200 meter run title and the boys’ outdoor 1,600 meter and 3,200 meter run titles. The rising senior now has five state championship wins.
3. Woods Charter boys' basketball makes first playoff appearance
Woods Charter’s boys’ basketball team had a historic 2023-24 season in which it broke its single-season wins record with 12 wins and made its first state playoff appearance. The turnaround took a great deal of mental toughness, belief and hard work from the players and second-year varsity head coach Leonard McNair.
2. Seaforth wrestling triumphs at wrestling state championships
After coming close to its first individual titles in previous years and falling just short of the 2024 2A dual team title, Seaforth finally broke through for an individual team title, and Josh Miller (120 pounds) and Layne Armstrong (126 pounds) won their first individual state championships.
1. Seaforth’s girls’ soccer’s dominant season
From April 11 through its state title victory on June 1, Seaforth did not allow a goal in regulation, staying defensively solid in first-half routs and close games. Going 14-0 in conference play and shutting out every playoff opponent in regulation, the Hawks left no doubt on who was the best girls’ soccer team in the 2A classification.