Sports

 Exclusive Subscriber Content

Golf tourney links locals in battle against cancer

Megan Horn
Thursday, August 14, 2025
The Sid Weber Memorial Cancer Fund “Fun Foursome Golf Tournament” tees off next week in Sky Valley. Community members still have the opportunity to play in the tournament at the Sky Valley Golf Course, 568 Sky Valley Way, on Wednesday, Aug. 20, or become a sponsor.
Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. The Rabun Gap boys soccer team captured its fourth consecutive state championship in 2024.

Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. The Rabun Gap boys soccer team captured its fourth consecutive state championship in 2024.

 Exclusive Subscriber Content

RGNS boys soccer team with more depth seeks fifth straight state title

Wesley Branch
Thursday, August 14, 2025
Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School boys soccer has become the gold standard in high school soccer over the last few years. Boasting an almost unheard of four consecutive state championships, the Eagles are gearing up for 2025 with their sights set on a fifth in a row.
Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. The Rabun County cheerleaders continued their tradition of creating special banners for each Wildcat football game so the team can run through them onto the football field. Here the players and first-year head coach Rance Gillespie (left center) make their way toward the home sideline during pregame of the Aug. 8 scrimmage against visiting Franklin, N.C.

Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. The Rabun County cheerleaders continued their tradition of creating special banners for each Wildcat football game so the team can run through them onto the football field. Here the players and first-year head coach Rance Gillespie (left center) make their way toward the home sideline during pregame of the Aug. 8 scrimmage against visiting Franklin, N.C.

 Exclusive Subscriber Content

RCHS alum back home to coach

Wesley Branch
Thursday, August 14, 2025
Rabun County High School football jumpstarted its season on Friday, Aug. 8, with a scrimmage against one of its former rivals, Franklin (N.C.) High School, with RCHS alumnus Rance Gillespie in his first season as head coach of the Wildcats.

 Exclusive Subscriber Content

Bulldogs open at No. 5 in preseason poll

Wesley Branch
Thursday, August 14, 2025
With college football vastly approaching, the preseason AP Top 25 poll was finally released on Monday, Aug. 11. Coming in at No. 5 on that poll was Georgia. Ranked ahead of the Bulldogs is No. 1 Texas – its first No. 1 preseason ranking in program history – No.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. With her husband Steve paddling the boat, Cissy Jackson comes to the boat dock after swimming Lake Rabun in honor of her 60th birthday.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. With her husband Steve paddling the boat, Cissy Jackson comes to the boat dock after swimming Lake Rabun in honor of her 60th birthday.

 Exclusive Subscriber Content

In honor of turning 60, Jackson swims length of Lake Rabun

Wesley Branch
Thursday, August 14, 2025
LAKEMONT – Rabun County native Cissy Jackson enjoys challenging herself. So much so, that she has set out intense challenges for each of her last two milestone birthdays – 50 and 60. Jackson, who turned 60 on July 1, decided in August 2024 she wanted to swim the length of Lake Rabun.
Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County Lady Cats volleyball celebrate after a solid play against visiting Flowery Branch on Aug. 5.

Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County Lady Cats volleyball celebrate after a solid play against visiting Flowery Branch on Aug. 5.

 Exclusive Subscriber Content

RCHS volleyball starts season with victory

Enoch Autry - Publisher
Thursday, August 7, 2025
The Rabun County Lady Cats volleyball team started their season off in strong fashion at home on Ken Byrd Court against Greene County and perennial power Flowery Branch. In the opener, the Lady Cats claimed a decisive straight-set victory over the Tigers of Greene County 25-6 and 25-8.
Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. Benj Trodgon gazes upward on his wakeboard during the 25th annual Mountain Air Classic on Lake Burton near Billy Goat Island. Trodgon, a 31-year-old who has been wakeboarding for 20 years, won the Outlaw Division which is the competition’s best of the best.

Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. Benj Trodgon gazes upward on his wakeboard during the 25th annual Mountain Air Classic on Lake Burton near Billy Goat Island. Trodgon, a 31-year-old who has been wakeboarding for 20 years, won the Outlaw Division which is the competition’s best of the best.

 Exclusive Subscriber Content

Mountain Air Classic celebrates 25 years of wakeboarding competiton on Lake Burton

Enoch Autry - Publisher
Thursday, August 7, 2025
Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the Mountain Air Classic lived up to its name on Aug. 2 as overcast skies produced nature’s air conditioning with the divisions’ wakeboarders put on an aerobatic show on Lake Burton.
Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County coaches Bill Stewart and Rance Gillespie watch Wildcat players run a drill at the annual “Midnight Madness” on July 28.

Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County coaches Bill Stewart and Rance Gillespie watch Wildcat players run a drill at the annual “Midnight Madness” on July 28.

 Exclusive Subscriber Content

Gridiron Midnight Power

Enoch Autry - Publisher
Thursday, July 31, 2025
The Rabun County football team officially got preparations started for the 2025 season as the Wildcats held their first fully padded practice mere minutes into Monday, July 28, during the annual “Midnight Madness” in Frank Snyder Memorial Stadium in front of members of Wildcat Nation.