Sports

Wade Cheek/The Clayton Tribune. RCHS Grappler Justin Cody.

Wade Cheek/The Clayton Tribune. RCHS Grappler Justin Cody.

 Exclusive Subscriber Content

Wildcat grapplers kick off 2024 with eight champions

Wade Cheek
Thursday, January 11, 2024
The Rabun County High School wrestling team made its 2024 return to the mat Saturday, Jan. 6, at Cherokee High School where eight Wildcats placed first in their respective weight classes. RCHS placed second overall in the mountain tournament behind Smoky Mountain High School.
Wade Cheek/The Clayton Tribune. Tallulah Falls Sam Ketch prepares to launch the discus during his senior season for the Indians. Ketch, who also excels in the shot put, has signed with Davidson College to join its track and field team.

Wade Cheek/The Clayton Tribune. Tallulah Falls Sam Ketch prepares to launch the discus during his senior season for the Indians. Ketch, who also excels in the shot put, has signed with Davidson College to join its track and field team.

 Exclusive Subscriber Content

TFS track-and-field star Ketch signs LOI with Davidson College

News Staff
Thursday, January 11, 2024
Standout track and field athlete Sam Ketch has penned his Letter of Intent to compete for Davidson College as the senior is set to continue his athletic and academic career at the next level.
Wade Cheek/The Clayton Tribune. RCHS’s Huey Blalock drives to the hoop against Stephens County.

Wade Cheek/The Clayton Tribune. RCHS’s Huey Blalock drives to the hoop against Stephens County.

 Exclusive Subscriber Content

RCHS boys hoops split with Indians, look ahead to region play

Wade Cheek
Thursday, January 11, 2024
The Rabun County boys basketball team split last week’s games versus Stephens County High School – defeating the Indians 81-66 on Jan. 2 but falling 65-55 on Jan. 6.  Following the two-game split, the Wildcats are now 5-11 but are trending upward after winning five of their last seven games.
Wade Cheek/The Clayton Tribune. RGNS senior wrestler and football player Kaleb McKenzie pins his opponent to advance to the quarterfinal-round of the 285-pound weight class during Rabun Gap’s tournament at West Oak High School.

Wade Cheek/The Clayton Tribune. RGNS senior wrestler and football player Kaleb McKenzie pins his opponent to advance to the quarterfinal-round of the 285-pound weight class during Rabun Gap’s tournament at West Oak High School.

 Exclusive Subscriber Content

Unruh, McKenzie place on wrestling mats for Rabun Gap

Wade Cheek
Thursday, January 11, 2024
The Christmas season not only brings joy, togetherness and the arrival of Santa Claus, but it also unfortunately brings illness as many travel across the country.  In the case of the Rabun Gap-Nacoochee wrestling team, student-athletes journeyed across the nation and globe.
Wade Cheek/The Clayton Tribune. With head coach DeeDee Dillard watching on the left, senior Lady Cat Ellie Southards plays defense against Towns County in December.

Wade Cheek/The Clayton Tribune. With head coach DeeDee Dillard watching on the left, senior Lady Cat Ellie Southards plays defense against Towns County in December.

 Exclusive Subscriber Content

Lady Cats complete series sweep of Stephens County

Wade Cheek
Thursday, January 11, 2024
The Rabun County High School girls basketball team has been hitting its stride as of late, winning six-straight games and eight of its last 10 dating back to Dec. 8, 2023.  The Lady Cats continued their winning ways last week, defeating Stephens County twice on Jan. 2 and Jan. 6.
Wade Cheek/The Clayton Tribune. RCHS basketball players surround and celebrate their head coach DeeDee Dillard at mid-court following her 400th career victory as head coach of the Lady Cats.

Wade Cheek/The Clayton Tribune. RCHS basketball players surround and celebrate their head coach DeeDee Dillard at mid-court following her 400th career victory as head coach of the Lady Cats.

 Exclusive Subscriber Content

Dillard earns 400th victory as head coach of the Lady Cats

Wade Cheek
Wednesday, January 10, 2024
Rabun County High schools girls basketball head coach DeeDee Dillard earned her 400th victory has head coach for the Lady Cats on Tuesday night, Jan. 10.
Dawg Post. Current Bulldog and former Rabun County star quarterback, Gunner Stockton, weaves his way through Hard Rock Stadium in Miami during the Orange Bowl. The redshirt freshman threw for 96 yards and two TDs.

Dawg Post. Current Bulldog and former Rabun County star quarterback, Gunner Stockton, weaves his way through Hard Rock Stadium in Miami during the Orange Bowl. The redshirt freshman threw for 96 yards and two TDs.

 Exclusive Subscriber Content

Plenty of juice for Dawgs, Stockton

Wade Cheek
Thursday, January 4, 2024
The University of Georgia football team won the 90th edition of the Capital One Orange Bowl in blowout fashion over Florida State thanks, in part, to the play of a former Rabun County standout on Saturday, Dec. 30.
Wade Cheek/The Clayton Tribune. After taking runner-up in the Battle of the States tournament, RCHS head coach David Adcock’s Wildcats begin region play next week.

Wade Cheek/The Clayton Tribune. After taking runner-up in the Battle of the States tournament, RCHS head coach David Adcock’s Wildcats begin region play next week.

 Exclusive Subscriber Content

Wildcats runner-up in holiday basketball tourney

Wade Cheek
Thursday, January 4, 2024
The Rabun County High School boys basketball team went 2-1 during last weekend’s Battle of the States tournament at Towns County High School to claim the runner-up trophy.  The Wildcats won the first two games of the tournament by defeating Polk County (Tenn.
Wade Cheek/The Clayton Tribune. Senior guards (from left) Ellie Southards, Mili Watts and Lucy Hood pose with their well-deserved hardware after winning the 29th-annual Battle of the States tournament in Towns County on Dec. 30.

Wade Cheek/The Clayton Tribune. Senior guards (from left) Ellie Southards, Mili Watts and Lucy Hood pose with their well-deserved hardware after winning the 29th-annual Battle of the States tournament in Towns County on Dec. 30.

 Exclusive Subscriber Content

Rabun ‘States’ case as a top girls program

Wade Cheek
Thursday, January 4, 2024
Using a tough defense, the Rabun County High School girls basketball team won the 29th annual Battle of the States tournament at host Towns County High School Dec. 28, 29 and 30.
Wade Cheek/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun Gap goalkeeper Agustin Canales smiles as he looks down at the 2023 NCISAA championship trophy after RGNS won the NCISAA state title. The championship was the Eagles’ third straight.

Wade Cheek/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun Gap goalkeeper Agustin Canales smiles as he looks down at the 2023 NCISAA championship trophy after RGNS won the NCISAA state title. The championship was the Eagles’ third straight.

 Exclusive Subscriber Content

2023 filled with state-champion performances, super individual efforts

Wade Cheek
Thursday, January 4, 2024
The earth has completed yet another rotation around the sun, giving many a reason to be excited … excited for a new year, new opportunities and new experiences.  The saying has always been to live in the present and not in the past.