Sports

Submitted. Shown are pictures of some of the participants, and two special guests. Dottie was very friendly and was great around the crowd. She would be a great addition to some Rabun County family.

Submitted. Shown are pictures of some of the participants, and two special guests. Dottie was very friendly and was great around the crowd. She would be a great addition to some Rabun County family.

Rabun Pickleball makes donation to Paws 4 Life

(not verified)
Thursday, July 16, 2026
The Rabun Pickleball Club hosted players from communities in northeastern Georgia, western North Carolina and northwestern South Carolina recently for a fun and competitive tournament.Participants were given the opportunity to donate to Rabun Paws 4 Life, and they gave generously.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Summer padded camps allow for GHSA teams to simulate a level of physicality closer to regular season football as fall kickoff nears. All GHSA schools are allowed to participate in two padded camps each summer.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Summer padded camps allow for GHSA teams to simulate a level of physicality closer to regular season football as fall kickoff nears. All GHSA schools are allowed to participate in two padded camps each summer.

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Rabun football hosts padded camp as kickoff nears

Wesley Branch
Thursday, July 16, 2026
TIGER – The Rabun County High School football team hosted a padded camp July 14-16, lining up against other Georgia High School Association (GHSA) schools in full pads for just the second – and final – time this summer.
Submitted photo. The Rabun County High School rising senior cheerleaders pose for a photo during the Clemson University UCA Cheer Camp. From left to right the seniors are: Bailey Weber, Gracie Dunn, Mattie Dixon, Ella Weber, Kate Church and Emma Krivsky.

Submitted photo. The Rabun County High School rising senior cheerleaders pose for a photo during the Clemson University UCA Cheer Camp. From left to right the seniors are: Bailey Weber, Gracie Dunn, Mattie Dixon, Ella Weber, Kate Church and Emma Krivsky.

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Wildcat cheer excels at Clemson UCA Camp

Wesley Branch
Thursday, July 16, 2026
The Rabun County high school and middle school cheer teams took home multiple awards amongst the seven teams in attendance in the annual UCA Cheer camp at Clemson University this past week, July 9-12. Of those seven teams, Rabun County was the only school from Georgia to compete.
Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. Andrew Wall, 15, wins the Rabun Ramble 5K on Independence Day in Lakemont. Wall is a rising sophomore at Rabun County High School.

Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. Andrew Wall, 15, wins the Rabun Ramble 5K on Independence Day in Lakemont. Wall is a rising sophomore at Rabun County High School.

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Ramble rumbles to record number of runners

Enoch Autry - Publisher
Thursday, July 9, 2026
reached multiple milestones with its annual 5k and 10K races as not only did the 2026 Independence Day event have its 20th running on America’s 250th birthday, but nearly 1,000 participated to make it a record total.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Several participants of the Lake Burton Fun Run showed their patriotism by wearing red, white and blue, or by dressing up in costumes like the trio celebrating here as they cross the finish line. Despite the warm temperatures, thousands were in attendance on July 4 for the 42nd annual Lake Burton Fun Run from Moccasin Creek State Park to LaPrade’s Marina.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Several participants of the Lake Burton Fun Run showed their patriotism by wearing red, white and blue, or by dressing up in costumes like the trio celebrating here as they cross the finish line. Despite the warm temperatures, thousands were in attendance on July 4 for the 42nd annual Lake Burton Fun Run from Moccasin Creek State Park to LaPrade’s Marina.

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1,700 have really fun run

Wesley Branch
Thursday, July 9, 2026
The Lake Burton Fun Run, one of several Fourth of July festive events in Rabun County this past weekend, boasted a record-setting 1,700 runners on Saturday, July 4, for its 42nd annual run as the nation commemorated its 250th birthday.
Submitted photo. Recent Rabun Gap graduate RJ Lacossade (center) high fives teammates during a practice with the Turks & Caicos national team in preparation for the 2029 FIBA AmeriCup Caribbean Pre-Qualifiers. Lacossade, who is signed with Southern Wesleyan University, was born in Turks & Caicos and left his home country at the age 14 to chase his basketball dreams.

Submitted photo. Recent Rabun Gap graduate RJ Lacossade (center) high fives teammates during a practice with the Turks & Caicos national team in preparation for the 2029 FIBA AmeriCup Caribbean Pre-Qualifiers. Lacossade, who is signed with Southern Wesleyan University, was born in Turks & Caicos and left his home country at the age 14 to chase his basketball dreams.

Rabun Gap graduate to represent Turks & Caicos in international games

Wesley Branch
Thursday, July 9, 2026
Nacoochee School graduate and Southern Wesleyan signee RJ Lacossade is taking his basketball talents on to the international stage. This week, July 8-12, Lacossade will suit up for the national team of his home country, Turks & Caicos, for the FIBA AmeriCup 2029 Caribbean Pre-Qualifiers.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun Gap players run onto the field ahead of kickoff before the Eagles’ game with Christian Brothers College on Oct. 3, 2025. Rabun Gap will face CBC once again this season, as well as four other nationally ranked teams. The Eagles are the preseason No. 115 team in the nation.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun Gap players run onto the field ahead of kickoff before the Eagles’ game with Christian Brothers College on Oct. 3, 2025. Rabun Gap will face CBC once again this season, as well as four other nationally ranked teams. The Eagles are the preseason No. 115 team in the nation.

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RGNS football earns No. 115 preseason national ranking

Wesley Branch
Thursday, July 9, 2026
As the countdown to football season rolls on, High School Football America released its preseason top-300 rankings on June 27, featuring the top high school football programs in America. For the third consecutive season, Rabun Gap was featured amongst those top programs. The Eagles slotted in at No.
Submitted Photo. Former Rabun County High School teacher and coach Janice Wayne (center) poses with the Rabun County softball team after throwing the first pitch at a game during the 2025 season. Wayne, the first-ever softball coach at RCHS who also assisted athletics in a plethora of ways, passed away on June 24 at the age of 72.

Submitted Photo. Former Rabun County High School teacher and coach Janice Wayne (center) poses with the Rabun County softball team after throwing the first pitch at a game during the 2025 season. Wayne, the first-ever softball coach at RCHS who also assisted athletics in a plethora of ways, passed away on June 24 at the age of 72.

Long-time Rabun coach, teacher Wayne passes

Wesley Branch
Thursday, July 2, 2026
A fixture in Rabun County for decades and beloved by the community, Janice Wayne passed away on Wednesday, June 24, at the age of 72. Wayne – who many will remember as “Coach Wayne” – moved to Rabun County in 1976 and spent 38 years as a teacher and coach in the Rabun County School District.
Submitted. Simeon Conjagic works at the AC Milan camp as a coordinator and safeguarding officer.

Submitted. Simeon Conjagic works at the AC Milan camp as a coordinator and safeguarding officer.

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As world watches soccer, TFS grad builds his career in global game

News Staff
Thursday, July 2, 2026
When Simeon Conjagic left his hometown of Sabac, Serbia, to attend Tallulah Falls School, he brought with him a passion for soccer, learning, and life itself. That journey has since carried him to Belgium, Italy, and the world of professional soccer.