Sports

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun Gap class of 2027 defensive lineman Marcellus Young Casario talks with Georgia defensive line coach Tray Scott during the Rabun Gap spring college coaches social on Rabun Gap’s campus May 7. Casario has scholarship offers from Georgia, Georgia Tech, Michigan State and others.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun Gap class of 2027 defensive lineman Marcellus Young Casario talks with Georgia defensive line coach Tray Scott during the Rabun Gap spring college coaches social on Rabun Gap’s campus May 7. Casario has scholarship offers from Georgia, Georgia Tech, Michigan State and others.

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RGNS football hosts spring ‘College Coaches Social’

Wesley Branch
Thursday, May 14, 2026
RABUN GAP – Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School and head football coach Derek White hosted its spring college coaches social with over 70 high school prospects and a plethora of college football coaches in attendance on May 7.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun Gap Class of 2028 linebacker Jay Schell warms up for Rabun Gap’s May 7 college coaches social. Schell has 36 Division I offers, with LSU most recently offering him a scholarship.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun Gap Class of 2028 linebacker Jay Schell warms up for Rabun Gap’s May 7 college coaches social. Schell has 36 Division I offers, with LSU most recently offering him a scholarship.

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Rabun Gap’s Schell, Alexander talk recruitment, 4-star rating

Wesley Branch
Thursday, May 14, 2026
The majority of the Class of 2026 has signed letters of intent in the college football recruiting world.The Class of 2027 is nearing the summer period where those student-athletes will make decisions on their next chapter.And the 2028 class is heating up.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. The Rabun County Lady Cat players, coaches and campers wrap up day one of Lady Cats basketball camp on May 11 at the Rabun County Recreation Department. Over 100 campers were in attendance during the week.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. The Rabun County Lady Cat players, coaches and campers wrap up day one of Lady Cats basketball camp on May 11 at the Rabun County Recreation Department. Over 100 campers were in attendance during the week.

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Rabun County girls basketball hosts Lady Cats basketball camp

Wesley Branch
Thursday, May 14, 2026
The Rabun County girls basketball program hosted its annual Lady Cats basketball camp this week at the Rabun County Recreation Department for girls aged pre-K through seventh grade. Over 100 potential future LadyCats were in attendance during the three-day camp.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County senior Brady Darnell celebrates after a point during he and Landan Bedingfield’s doubles match versus Model on May 8 at Rabun County High School. Darnell and Bedingfield secured the match-clinching point.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County senior Brady Darnell celebrates after a point during he and Landan Bedingfield’s doubles match versus Model on May 8 at Rabun County High School. Darnell and Bedingfield secured the match-clinching point.

RCHS Boys tennis defeats Model to advance to state title match

Wesley Branch
Friday, May 8, 2026
TIGER – The Rabun County boys tennis team is headed to the state championship for the first time in program history, following its 3-1 win over Model on May 8. The No. 6 seeded Wildcats will take on No. 1 seed Brantley County on Wednesday, May 13 at 12:30 p.m., in Rome at the Rome Tennis Center.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. The Rabun County boys tennis team poses for a photo after its 4-0 win over Swainsboro in the Elite Eight at Rabun County High School on May 4. The win for the Wildcats secured their first Final Four appearance in program history for the boys. RCHS will host Model Friday afternoon in the semifinals.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. The Rabun County boys tennis team poses for a photo after its 4-0 win over Swainsboro in the Elite Eight at Rabun County High School on May 4. The win for the Wildcats secured their first Final Four appearance in program history for the boys. RCHS will host Model Friday afternoon in the semifinals.

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Rabun County boys tennis defeats Swainsboro as Wildcats advance to first-ever state semifinal

Wesley Branch
Thursday, May 7, 2026
TIGER – The Rabun County High School boys tennis team defeated Swainsboro 4-0 on May 4 in the Elite Eight of the Class A Division I state playoffs. The victory for the Wildcats clinched the first-ever Final Four appearance in program history, where they will take on No.
Photo by Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun senior JP Lopez competes in the discus at the Bo James invitational at Rabun County High School on April 2. Lopez qualified for the state championship meet for the discus and shot put following his performance at the sectional meet at Bremen High School on May 4.

Photo by Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun senior JP Lopez competes in the discus at the Bo James invitational at Rabun County High School on April 2. Lopez qualified for the state championship meet for the discus and shot put following his performance at the sectional meet at Bremen High School on May 4.

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RCHS track qualifies 8 for championship state meet

Wesley Branch
Thursday, May 7, 2026
Eight Rabun County track and field student-athletes have qualified for the GHSA state championship meet following the sectional meet on May 4 at Bremen High School.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County High School head football coach Rance Gillespie smiles while chatting with rising senior linebacker JK Fruster during the Wildcats’ spring football practice on May 5. Gillespie is entering his second season as the head coach of RCHS, where he played in the 1980s.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County High School head football coach Rance Gillespie smiles while chatting with rising senior linebacker JK Fruster during the Wildcats’ spring football practice on May 5. Gillespie is entering his second season as the head coach of RCHS, where he played in the 1980s.

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Rabun football kicks off spring practice

Wesley Branch
Thursday, May 7, 2026
TIGER – While football season is still a few months away and the anticipation may make it feel even longer, Rabun County High School already is beginning its preparation to return the gridiron for the 2026 season. This week, the Wildcats kicked off their two-week spring practice period.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County senior Huey Blalock (center, right) poses with his family and the RCHS boys basketball team after signing his letter of intent to Navy on April 30 at the Rabun County High School Fine Arts Building. Blalock led the Wildcats to their first ever state title this season.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County senior Huey Blalock (center, right) poses with his family and the RCHS boys basketball team after signing his letter of intent to Navy on April 30 at the Rabun County High School Fine Arts Building. Blalock led the Wildcats to their first ever state title this season.

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Three senior Cats sign to extend athletic careers

Wesley Branch
Thursday, May 7, 2026
TIGER – Rabun County seniors Huey Blalock, Reid Giles and TJ Hibler officially signed their letters of intent on April 30 to continue their athletic and academic careers at the collegiate level during a ceremony at the Rabun County High School Fine Arts Building.
Rabun County FCA and Rabun Gap CSI are hosting the annual 'Fields of Faith' event May 13

Rabun County FCA and Rabun Gap CSI are hosting the annual 'Fields of Faith' event May 13

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Fellowship of Christian Athletes Rabun to host ‘Fields of Faith’ next week at Gap

Wesley Branch
Thursday, May 7, 2026
Fellowship of Christian Athletes Rabun County and Rabun Gap Christian Student Initiative (CSI) are hosting its annual “Fields of Faith event” on Wednesday, May 13, at the football stadium at Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School. Fields of Faith is a free community event which will begin at 5:30 p.m.