Sports

File/Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. Willie Goodwyn goes in for a touchdown on Oct. 20, 2023, for Rabun County on the road against Athens Christian in the Wildcats’ win. Goodwyn has announced he is transferring from Cincinnati to Tulsa.

File/Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. Willie Goodwyn goes in for a touchdown on Oct. 20, 2023, for Rabun County on the road against Athens Christian in the Wildcats’ win. Goodwyn has announced he is transferring from Cincinnati to Tulsa.

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Former RCHS Wildcat Goodwyn announces his transfer to Tulsa

Wesley Branch
Thursday, January 22, 2026
Former Rabun County standout and Cincinnati Bearcat Willie Goodwyn announced his decision to enter the NCAA transfer portal on Dec. 16. Just over a month later, on Jan.
Photo courtesy Randy Crump. Valentina Arias Camargo was the top finisher in the 100 Free, 100 Fly, 200 Free, and in the Mixed 200 Free Relay events in The National Long Course Swimming Championship.

Photo courtesy Randy Crump. Valentina Arias Camargo was the top finisher in the 100 Free, 100 Fly, 200 Free, and in the Mixed 200 Free Relay events in The National Long Course Swimming Championship.

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Camargo has major international success while representing Panama

(not verified)
Thursday, January 22, 2026
Tallulah Falls School athletes like Valentina Arias Camargo not only excel locally, but also internationally. Over the holiday break, the senior from Juan Diaz, Panama, had the opportunity to swim and represent her country in The National Long Course Swimming Championship. From Dec.
Photo courtesy Audrey Borchers. Brian Neely pushes the ball up the court in TFS’s 75-33 road win over Riverside Military Academy on Jan. 13. The Indians are ranked third.

Photo courtesy Audrey Borchers. Brian Neely pushes the ball up the court in TFS’s 75-33 road win over Riverside Military Academy on Jan. 13. The Indians are ranked third.

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Tallulah Falls cruises past Riverside for back-to-back wins

(not verified)
Thursday, January 22, 2026
No. 3-ranked Tallulah Falls won a 75-33 game on Jan. 13 at Riverside Military Academy, securing a back-to-back win and moving to 3-1 in region play. The Indians (9-6) raced out to a 21-8 lead after one, and stretched the advantage to 39-21 going into the break.
Photo courtesy Austin Poffenberger. Marta Beltran had 10 points in Tallulah Falls’ Jan. 17 win over ranked Bethlehem Christian 46-35 at home.

Photo courtesy Austin Poffenberger. Marta Beltran had 10 points in Tallulah Falls’ Jan. 17 win over ranked Bethlehem Christian 46-35 at home.

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TFS girls secure first top-10 win this season over No. 9-ranked Bethlehem Christian

(not verified)
Thursday, January 22, 2026
Tallulah Falls reeled off its second straight win in a 46-35 home victory Jan. 17 against No. 9-ranked Bethlehem Christian. It marks the first top-10 win for the Lady Indians this season, and third all-time. TFS jumped out to a 20-4 opening quarter.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. A smiling Rabun Gap senior RJ Lacossade from Turks and Caicos cuts Rabun Gap boys assistant basketball coach Darrick Cureton’s hair in the Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School locker room on Jan. 12. Lacossade has been cutting hair for several years now, cutting his own hair and other students at RGNS.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. A smiling Rabun Gap senior RJ Lacossade from Turks and Caicos cuts Rabun Gap boys assistant basketball coach Darrick Cureton’s hair in the Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School locker room on Jan. 12. Lacossade has been cutting hair for several years now, cutting his own hair and other students at RGNS.

Rabun Gap’s Lacossade’s journey to 1,000 points

Wesley Branch
Thursday, January 15, 2026
RJ Lacossade left his home in Turks and Caicos at the age of 14 to pursue a higher level of basketball. Just over three years and more than 1,000 points later, he is still chasing his dream and striving to make his family, and country proud.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County junior linebacker JK Fruster celebrates with assistant coach Ty Maxwell after the Rabun County defense forces a turnover in the Wildcats’ 49-42 road win over Dalton on Sept. 5, 2025.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County junior linebacker JK Fruster celebrates with assistant coach Ty Maxwell after the Rabun County defense forces a turnover in the Wildcats’ 49-42 road win over Dalton on Sept. 5, 2025.

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Rabun releases 2026 Wildcat football schedule

Wesley Branch
Thursday, January 15, 2026
The Rabun County football team officially released its schedule for the 2026 season on Thursday, Jan. 8, in a post on the team’s official X (formerly known as Twitter) account as RCHS will face both former Coach Shaws with their current teams.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County’s Millie Southards and Athens Academy’s Millie Pugmire fight for a loose ball on the final possession of Rabun County’s 51-48 win over Athens Academy on Jan 13. Southards knocked the ball free on the last possession, sealing the win for the Lady Wildcats.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County’s Millie Southards and Athens Academy’s Millie Pugmire fight for a loose ball on the final possession of Rabun County’s 51-48 win over Athens Academy on Jan 13. Southards knocked the ball free on the last possession, sealing the win for the Lady Wildcats.

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RCHS girls & boys hoops capture close victories over Athens Academy

Wesley Branch
Thursday, January 15, 2026
TIGER – There was no shortage of nail-biting basketball in Tiger on Tuesday night, as both the Rabun County boys and girls basketball teams made a key defensive stop in its respective wins over Athens Academy. The No.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun Gap senior Lydia McNabb fights off a Carolina Day defender in Rabun Gap’s 59-27 win over Carolina Day on Jan. 8. The Lady Eagles had over three weeks in between games due to the holiday break.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun Gap senior Lydia McNabb fights off a Carolina Day defender in Rabun Gap’s 59-27 win over Carolina Day on Jan. 8. The Lady Eagles had over three weeks in between games due to the holiday break.

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RGNS basketball pick up first wins in new year after return from break

Wesley Branch
Thursday, January 15, 2026
RABUN GAP – After a three-week break from the court, Rabun Gap boys and girls basketball made their return to the hardwood on Jan. 8 versus fellow NCISAA opponent Carolina Day. The Lady Eagles, who had not played in 22 days after their loss to Winston Salem Christian on Dec.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County senior Reid Giles looks to the sideline in Rabun County’s 49-42 win over Dalton on Sept. 5. Giles was named Georgia High School Football Daily Player of the Week for his performance versus Dalton and was named All-State this season.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County senior Reid Giles looks to the sideline in Rabun County’s 49-42 win over Dalton on Sept. 5. Giles was named Georgia High School Football Daily Player of the Week for his performance versus Dalton and was named All-State this season.

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Rabun County’s Giles earns All-State football honors

Wesley Branch
Thursday, January 8, 2026
Although the high school football season ended in December, the awards continue to pile up for Rabun County senior Reid Giles. Last week, Giles earned two more impressive honors, as he was named All-State by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Recruit Georgia.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County boys head basketball coach David Adcock presents Hayes Free with a commemorative basketball for scoring his 1,000th point in his career in Rabun County’s 64-59 win over Chesnee (S.C.) in the championship game of the Battle of the States Tournament on Dec. 30. Free was also named MVP of the tournament and received the trophy that he is holding in the photo.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County boys head basketball coach David Adcock presents Hayes Free with a commemorative basketball for scoring his 1,000th point in his career in Rabun County’s 64-59 win over Chesnee (S.C.) in the championship game of the Battle of the States Tournament on Dec. 30. Free was also named MVP of the tournament and received the trophy that he is holding in the photo.

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Rabun County Wildcat Free earns career point 1,000

Wesley Branch
Thursday, January 8, 2026
HIAWASSEE – In the midst of Rabun County’s intense Battle of the States championship game against Chesnee (S.C.) on Dec. 30, senior Hayes Free etched himself into Rabun County basketball history. With 2:29 remaining in the game, Free put in an easy layup that gave the Wildcats a four-point lead.