Sports

Photo courtesy Austin Poffenberger. Mitchell McGahee finished 22nd nationally as an individual as the Tallulah Falls School Precision Rifle team was fourth.

Photo courtesy Austin Poffenberger. Mitchell McGahee finished 22nd nationally as an individual as the Tallulah Falls School Precision Rifle team was fourth.

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TFS rifle team places 4th at national championships

News Staff
Thursday, July 23, 2026
The Tallulah Falls School Precision Rifle team finished fourth at the CMP National Championship this past weekend at Camp Perry, Ohio. Tallulah Falls used great efforts from veteran Mitchell McGahee and young athletes alike.
Submitted photo. Veteran members of the Ski Patriots display their talents on the water of Lake Burton on July 5.

Submitted photo. Veteran members of the Ski Patriots display their talents on the water of Lake Burton on July 5.

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Ski Patriots celebrate America for our nation’s 250th birthday

Enoch Autry - Publisher
Thursday, July 16, 2026
The rush of nationalism can be felt every year when the Ski Patriots make their journey around Lake Burton with their “Salute to America.”But this year there was extra umph as the United States celebrated its 250th birthday.
Aliza Chambers/Troy University. Rabun Gap alumnus Dylan Alonso holds the trophy after he and the Trojans won an NCAA Super Regional this postseason for the first time in program history. Following his best collegiate season, Alonso was selected in the 16th round of the MLB Draft by the Kansas City Royals.

Aliza Chambers/Troy University. Rabun Gap alumnus Dylan Alonso holds the trophy after he and the Trojans won an NCAA Super Regional this postseason for the first time in program history. Following his best collegiate season, Alonso was selected in the 16th round of the MLB Draft by the Kansas City Royals.

Rabun Gap’s Alonso drafted by Kansas City Royals

Wesley Branch
Thursday, July 16, 2026
History was made once again for Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School on Sunday, July 12, when RGNS alumnus Dylan Alonso was drafted in the 16th round of the Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft to the Kansas City Royals.
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

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.