Sports

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Huey Blalock (center) poses with his family for a photo after being administered his oath of service at VFW Post 4570 in Clayton on June 24. Blalock, who is a midshipman candidate, will head to NAPS, the Naval Academy’s 10-month preparatory school. Blalock was an All-State basketball player for Rabun County.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Huey Blalock (center) poses with his family for a photo after being administered his oath of service at VFW Post 4570 in Clayton on June 24. Blalock, who is a midshipman candidate, will head to NAPS, the Naval Academy’s 10-month preparatory school. Blalock was an All-State basketball player for Rabun County.

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Blalock takes oath of service for Naval Academy

Wesley Branch
Thursday, July 2, 2026
CLAYTON – Recent Rabun County graduate and basketball standout Huey Blalock was administered his oath of service to the United States Naval Academy at the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 4570 in Clayton on Wednesday, June 24.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County campers perform their routine in front of a large crowd inside the Rabun County Elementary School lunchroom on June 25 at the RCHS lil’ Wildcats cheer camp. The Wildcat campers aged 3-13 participated in cheer classes, dance classes, arts & crafts and more during camp.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County campers perform their routine in front of a large crowd inside the Rabun County Elementary School lunchroom on June 25 at the RCHS lil’ Wildcats cheer camp. The Wildcat campers aged 3-13 participated in cheer classes, dance classes, arts & crafts and more during camp.

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Wildcat Cheer hosts summer camp, camp showcase for community

Wesley Branch
Thursday, July 2, 2026
TIGER – The Rabun County cheer program hosted its “Lil’ Wildcats Cheer Camp” last week at Rabun County Elementary School from June 22-25, as a record 88 campers attended.The total was the largest turnout the camp has ever had, Rabun County High School head coach Cristina Weber said.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun Gap linebackers Kaylan Brown (left) and Praise Chane (right) close in on a Christ School ball carrier in the Eagles’ 42-0 regular season win over the Greenies on Oct. 17, 2025. Brown announced his commitment to East Tennessee State last week and Chane announced his commitment to Navy.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun Gap linebackers Kaylan Brown (left) and Praise Chane (right) close in on a Christ School ball carrier in the Eagles’ 42-0 regular season win over the Greenies on Oct. 17, 2025. Brown announced his commitment to East Tennessee State last week and Chane announced his commitment to Navy.

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Four Rabun Gap football seniors announce college commitments

Wesley Branch
Thursday, July 2, 2026
Four more Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School rising seniors announced their college football intentions last week as the peak of recruiting season continues. The Eagles’ football program now has seven rising seniors who have committed to Division I programs, with more collegiate decisions still expected.
File Photo

File Photo

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Independence road races at lakes Saturday

News Staff
Thursday, July 2, 2026
Saturday, July 4, Rabun Ramble Road Race, 5K and 10K races begin at 7:30 a.m. at the Lake Rabun Pavilion. Registration opened on April 1 at Active.com. It is now $45 from until July 3; and $50 on July 4, which is race day. Details: rabunramble.com.Saturday, July 4, Lake Burton Fun Run & Fireworks.
Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. Former Rabun County standout and current University of Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton takes a selfie with youth participants of the Gunner Stockton Football Camp sitting on the field at Lakeview Academy on June 20 in the background. This is the camp’s second year.

Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. Former Rabun County standout and current University of Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton takes a selfie with youth participants of the Gunner Stockton Football Camp sitting on the field at Lakeview Academy on June 20 in the background. This is the camp’s second year.

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Gunner amps up youth football camp

Enoch Autry - Publisher
Thursday, June 25, 2026
GAINESVILLE, GA – Fresh off a Southeastern Conference-winning season, former Rabun County record-setter and current Georgia Bulldog quarterback Gunner Stockton for a second consecutive year got to meet his younger fanbase first-hand at his youth football camp.
File/Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. At last year’s Rabun Ramble, 5-year-old Carver Harris, runs toward the awaiting arms of her mother Courtney Harris following their 5K runs at the event in Lakemont. This year’s Rabun Ramble will be Saturday, July 4.

File/Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. At last year’s Rabun Ramble, 5-year-old Carver Harris, runs toward the awaiting arms of her mother Courtney Harris following their 5K runs at the event in Lakemont. This year’s Rabun Ramble will be Saturday, July 4.

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Rabun Ramble running strong at two decades

Enoch Autry - Publisher
Thursday, June 25, 2026
What started two decades ago as an idea among friends now has become one of the annual highlights of the Independence Day celebration at the lake in the Northeast Georgia mountains.The 20th race of the Rabun Ramble will be on Saturday, July 4, starting at 7:30 a.m.
Submitted. Rabun Gap has named JC Gonzalez Interim Athletic Director and Mark Green has been named Interim Assistant Athletic Director. They will fill holes left by exiting A.D. Dale Earnhardt and Assistant A.D. Bart Sasnett.

Submitted. Rabun Gap has named JC Gonzalez Interim Athletic Director and Mark Green has been named Interim Assistant Athletic Director. They will fill holes left by exiting A.D. Dale Earnhardt and Assistant A.D. Bart Sasnett.

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Rabun Gap Eagles announce new athletic leadership

News Staff
Thursday, June 25, 2026
Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School is pleased to announce that JC Gonzalez has been named Interim Athletic Director and Mark Green has been named Interim Assistant Athletic Director.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County head football coach Rance Gillepsie (left) talks with Colter Cannon (middle right) during the Wildcats’ 7-on–7 versus Lumpkin County and Union County on June 11 at Union County High School. Gillespie is entering his second season as the head coach of RCHS.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County head football coach Rance Gillepsie (left) talks with Colter Cannon (middle right) during the Wildcats’ 7-on–7 versus Lumpkin County and Union County on June 11 at Union County High School. Gillespie is entering his second season as the head coach of RCHS.

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Gridiron Wildcats build toward 2026 with offseason program

Wesley Branch
Thursday, June 18, 2026
BLAIRSVILLE – The Rabun County High School football team continued its offseason program in preparation for the 2026 season last week with seven-on-seven competition at Union County High School versus AAA opponents Lumpkin County and Union County.
Image via Marcellus_yc on Instagram. Rabun Gap defensive lineman Marcellus Young Casario poses with a national championship trophy during his official visit to Georgia. Casario announced his commitment to the Bulldogs on June 15.

Image via Marcellus_yc on Instagram. Rabun Gap defensive lineman Marcellus Young Casario poses with a national championship trophy during his official visit to Georgia. Casario announced his commitment to the Bulldogs on June 15.

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Three RGNS seniors make college football commitments

Wesley Branch
Thursday, June 18, 2026
With recruiting season in full swing at the collegiate level, three rising seniors at Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School have announced their intentions to play college football since June 9. Each announcement came just days after their official visits at the respective programs.