Oak Ridge Today

USA Cycling Time Trial National Championships on Thursday

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Oak Ridge Traffic Impacts

Oak Ridge will host its fifth annual USA Cycling Individual Time Trial National Championships on Thursday, June 22. Elite cyclists nationwide will converge on the city, showcasing their skill and determination as they compete for the championship title, a press release said.

“Partnering with Visit Knoxville, the City of Oak Ridge and Explore Oak Ridge are proud to welcome back this prestigious championship,” the press release said. “The closed-loop course along Melton Lake Drive promises heart-pounding action and an unforgettable experience for spectators and media alike.”

“The nation’s top cyclists (will) go head-to-head, pushing their limits to claim victory,” the press release said.

The races, which are scheduled between 9:30 a.m. and about 5 p.m., will affect traffic in parts of east Oak Ridge near the Clinch River starting at 7 a.m. Thursday.

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City to repave Melton Lake parking lot beginning June 12

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Beginning the week of June 12, Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department crews will begin repaving the Melton Lake Greenway parking lot located on Melton Lake Drive, just north of the intersection with Edgemoor Road.

These renovations will result in increased Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility and a better-defined parking area, a press release said. However, this means that from June 12 until the project’s completion, public access to this parking area will be closed and inaccessible.

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Outdoor Pool closed Sunday due to weather

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The Oak Ridge Outdoor Pool is pictured above on Tuesday, May 16, 2023. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

The Oak Ridge Outdoor Pool on Providence Road will be closed Sunday, May 28, due to the colder temperatures and forecasted weather, a press release said.

The pool is expected to re-open on Monday, May 29, from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Beginning Tuesday, May 30, summer hours will be in effect. Public swim is Monday through Friday from noon to 7 p.m., Wednesday from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The pool will also be open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to noon for 100-meter lap swims.

As a reminder, the pool schedule is subject to change due to weather, special events, and/or staffing, the press release said.

For more information, visit OakRidgeTN.gov or call the Recreation and Parks Department at (865) 425-3450.

Outdoor pool to re-open Friday

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The Oak Ridge Outdoor Pool is pictured above on Tuesday, May 16, 2023. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

The Oak Ridge Outdoor Pool will open for the season this weekend, Memorial Day weekend.

The pool will be open from 12 to 6 p.m. Friday, May 26, through Monday, May 30.

Then, beginning May 31, the pool will be open summer hours. Public swims will be Monday through Friday from noon to 7 p.m., Wednesday nights from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The pool will also be open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to noon for 100-meter lap swims.

As a reminder, areas of the pool may be closed at times depending on activities, attendance, and staffing. The pool schedule is subject to change due to weather, special events, and/or staffing, a press release said.

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Oak Ridge hosting three regattas this month

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A mural by artist Megan Lingerfelt is pictured above on the Oak Ridge Rowing Association boathouse at Melton Lake Park. (Photo courtesy Jim Dodson)

Oak Ridge is in the middle of hosting three championship regattas this month.

The regattas began May 12-14 with the American Athletic Conference (AAC) Championship. SMU (Southern Methodist University) of Dallas won all four races at the AAC Women’s Rowing Championship and captured the team title for the third consecutive season, according to Rowing News. The Mustangs finished with 168 points to finish first, while Tulsa placed second with 140. UCF (University of Central Florida) was third with 112 points.

Those three teams were in the top three last year also, with SMU, the champion, powering away from UCF and Tulsa in an intense matchup, a press release said.

This weekend’s regatta is the American Collegiate Rowing Association (ACRA) Championship.

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Guided paddle trip on Melton Hill Lake on Sunday

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A guided scenic paddle trip on Melton Hill Lake from Clark Center Park is scheduled for Sunday, April 30.

It will begin at the Clark Center Park boat ramp, a press release said. After paddling across the lake, there will be a stop at Knox County’s Melton Lake Park, where Knox County is sponsoring a weekend camporee. Along the way, participants can pick up and haul back manageable trash, a press release said. [Read more…]

Guided wildflower hike at Haw Ridge on Saturday

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Wildflower fans will enjoy a guided, curated hike on Haw Ridge this Saturday, April 29, at 10 am. There will likely be sightings of inconspicuous orchid, Wister’s coralroot, and other spring wildflowers, a press release said.

“Some of these flowers are growing on a small cedar barren,” said botanist and hike leader Larry Pounds. “We’ll walk a loop of less than two miles. The trail is rough in places.” [Read more…]

Two championship regattas in Oak Ridge this month

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Two championship regattas have been at the Oak Ridge Marina this month.

The first was the Southern Intercollegiate Rowing Association (SIRA) Championship Regatta on April 15-16.

The second is the Dogwood Junior Championship Regatta this weekend, April 22-23.

The regattas are hosted by the Oak Ridge Rowing Association.

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Basketball: Wildcats beat West in rematch

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After a close district loss at West earlier this month, the Oak Ridge Wildcats beat the Rebels by 17 points, 55-38, in a rematch at home on Friday.

The loss at West earlier this month, on January 10, was the only district loss of the season for the Oak Ridge boys.

The Wildcats were led in the win over the Rebels on Friday by Grayson Strader, Ray’Quan Watson, and Kaden Brightharp, who each had 11 points, according to Prepradio.com broadcaster David Clary.

Oak Ridge is tied with Karns for best record in District 3-4A, where both teams are 7-1. However, the Wildcats have a win over the Beavers, a narrow 67-64 victory at Karns on January 13.

The two teams will meet again next week, this time at Wildcat Arena. That game will begin at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.

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Basketball: Lady Wildcats undefeated in district

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The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats are undefeated at 8-0 in their district, District 3-4A, and the girls have only two district games remaining in the regular season.

Oak Ridge defeated West at home on Friday, 59-12. The Lady Rebels are 0-8 in the district.

The Lady Wildcats were led Friday by Ze’Yana Stewart with 16 points and Lindsay Cleveland with 10, according to Prepradio.com broadcaster David Clary.

The Lady Wildcats’ next game is at home on Tuesday against Karns, which is second in the district with a 6-1 record. The game will start at 6 p.m. at Wildcat Arena.

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Wildcats name new football coach

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Image by Oak Ridge Schools

Oak Ridge football has a new coach, Derek Rang.

Rang has an overall head coaching record of 86-29 at Powell, Dresden, Gatlinburg-Pittman, and Lewis County High Schools, and he coached the Dresden Lions when they won the 2016 state championship, according to Oak Ridge Schools.

5Star Preps reported that Rang, 28, resigned after one season at Lewis in west Tennessee, where he had an 11-2 record in 2022.

Oak Ridge Schools said each school coached by Rang has advanced to the TSSAA playoff quarterfinals or beyond, and Rang has won 18 postseason games as a head coach.

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ORHS swim team undefeated in regular season

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Andrew Chou (Photo by Tara Kneiser, used with permission)

By Oak Ridge High School Swim Coach Chad Hodge

From Oak Ridge Wildcats Athletics

The Oak Ridge High School swim team finished the regular season undefeated by beating Lenoir City 199-120, Halls 165-90, Catholic 193-129, Webb 198-88, and Maryville 171-142.

Amazingly, the team did this without ever having their full team at a single swim meet.

The Wildcats will be back in action at the KISL City Championships on Saturday, January 28, at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.

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