Sports

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun Gap head football coach Derek White walks to the field ahead of his team's game versus Grayson in 2025.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun Gap head football coach Derek White walks to the field ahead of his team's game versus Grayson in 2025.

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Return of the BAD men: RGNS bigger, stronger ahead of season

Wesley Branch
Thursday, August 13, 2026
As a program that does everything with a focus on getting to a state championship game each season, the players and coaches of Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School’s football program would likely be the first to say that 2025 was a disappointment.
Submitted photo. In her last year as the head coach, Cristina Weber will have the RCHS varsity cheerleaders inspiring Wildcat Nation during football in the fall and basketball in the winter. Front Row: (From left) Kinley Burtch, Natalee Woodruff, Ella Weber and Mattie Dixon. Middle Row: Cayden Spivey, Kate Church, Kyleigh Kapherr-Coffey, Makayla Burrell and Bailey Weber. Back Row: Coach Katie Speed, Sophie Provance, Gracie Dunn, Peyton Jones and Emma Krivsky and Head Coach Christina Weber.

Submitted photo. In her last year as the head coach, Cristina Weber will have the RCHS varsity cheerleaders inspiring Wildcat Nation during football in the fall and basketball in the winter. Front Row: (From left) Kinley Burtch, Natalee Woodruff, Ella Weber and Mattie Dixon. Middle Row: Cayden Spivey, Kate Church, Kyleigh Kapherr-Coffey, Makayla Burrell and Bailey Weber. Back Row: Coach Katie Speed, Sophie Provance, Gracie Dunn, Peyton Jones and Emma Krivsky and Head Coach Christina Weber.

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Rabun County cheer back energizing Wildcat faithful with new school year

Wesley Branch
Thursday, August 13, 2026
With the beginning of the new school year and the return of the Rabun County fall sports teams, also comes the return of the Lady Cats cheer team, amping up the crowd and cheering on RCHS athletes in the fall and winter.
Submitted Photos. The Lady Cats cross country team is projected to again be led by Kinley Jones, who now is a sophomore. Front Row: (From left) Jayden Griggs, Esmerelda Antonio Hernandez and Saray Rodriguez. Middle Row: Teresa Ruiz and Kimberly Martinez-Lachino. Back Row: Kinley Jones, Elizabeth Hilson and Savannah Crouch.

Submitted Photos. The Lady Cats cross country team is projected to again be led by Kinley Jones, who now is a sophomore. Front Row: (From left) Jayden Griggs, Esmerelda Antonio Hernandez and Saray Rodriguez. Middle Row: Teresa Ruiz and Kimberly Martinez-Lachino. Back Row: Kinley Jones, Elizabeth Hilson and Savannah Crouch.

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Young runners set to lead Wildcat X-country team

Enoch Autry - Publisher
Thursday, August 13, 2026
A youth movement on the Rabun County Wildcat cross country team bodes well for the present and the future of the program.
Submitted Photo. Jessica Evans has begun her third season as the Lady Cat softball head coach. Front Row: (From left) Addison Patton, Kynzlie McCall and Mattie Scott. Middle Row: Jalynn Gragg, Charley Weaver, Kenlee Hedge and Capi Welch. Back Row: Coach Makenna Talcott, Kyla Shook, Cecelia Fields, Aubrey Colbert and Head Coach Jessica Evans. NOT PICTURED: River Evans.

Submitted Photo. Jessica Evans has begun her third season as the Lady Cat softball head coach. Front Row: (From left) Addison Patton, Kynzlie McCall and Mattie Scott. Middle Row: Jalynn Gragg, Charley Weaver, Kenlee Hedge and Capi Welch. Back Row: Coach Makenna Talcott, Kyla Shook, Cecelia Fields, Aubrey Colbert and Head Coach Jessica Evans. NOT PICTURED: River Evans.

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Lady Cat softball off to strong start in 2026 campaign

Wesley Branch
Thursday, August 13, 2026
The Rabun County softball team began its new season on Aug. 3, the first day of the new school year at RCHS.
Submitted Photo. The varsity Rabun County volleyball team will be under the direction of veteran head coach April Jones. Front Row: (From left) Georgie Herb, Maria Ramos, Barbara Vargas and Ava Hickel. Middle Row: Mia Potts, Rylie Coleman and Emme Cain. Back Row: Head Coach April Jones, Lydia Gergeni, Sayler Watson, Elexa English and Coach Abbye Carver.

Submitted Photo. The varsity Rabun County volleyball team will be under the direction of veteran head coach April Jones. Front Row: (From left) Georgie Herb, Maria Ramos, Barbara Vargas and Ava Hickel. Middle Row: Mia Potts, Rylie Coleman and Emme Cain. Back Row: Head Coach April Jones, Lydia Gergeni, Sayler Watson, Elexa English and Coach Abbye Carver.

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RCHS volleyball battling through tough early schedule in new season

Wesley Branch
Thursday, August 13, 2026
The Rabun County Lady Cats volleyball team opened its season on Aug. 4, just one day after the new school year began at RCHS and systemwide. Four games into the season – as of The Clayton Tribune’s Monday, Aug.
Photo by Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun Gap’s Jose Luis Carrillo (center) celebrates after a goal on a penalty shot in Rabun Gap’s first game versus Christ School last season, which was canceled early and finished on Sept. 30, 2025.

Photo by Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun Gap’s Jose Luis Carrillo (center) celebrates after a goal on a penalty shot in Rabun Gap’s first game versus Christ School last season, which was canceled early and finished on Sept. 30, 2025.

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Don’t dwell, but don’t forget: Rabun Gap boys soccer seeking return to program’s championship level

Wesley Branch
Thursday, August 13, 2026
Following four consecutive North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association (NCISAA) state championships, Rabun Gap was in the hunt for a half-decade of dominance a season ago.But that hunt for No. 5 ended as a fruitless chase.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. The Rabun Gap girls volleyball team celebrates its first-round playoff win versus Cannon School on Oct. 14, 2025.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. The Rabun Gap girls volleyball team celebrates its first-round playoff win versus Cannon School on Oct. 14, 2025.

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Eagles volleyball hungry for more postseason success

Wesley Branch
Thursday, August 13, 2026
In 2025, Rabun Gap’s volleyball program took a leap forward in the fourth year of head coach Zoe Kennedy’s tenure. In October, the Eagles won their first playoff game under Kennedy and first since 2020.