Sports

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun Gap athletic director and girls head basketball coach Dale Earnhardt addresses his team during a timeout in Rabun Gap’s 59-27 win over Carolina Day on Jan. 8. Earnhardt is leaving Rabun Gap after 19 years at the school, 13 of which was spent as the athletic director.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun Gap athletic director and girls head basketball coach Dale Earnhardt addresses his team during a timeout in Rabun Gap’s 59-27 win over Carolina Day on Jan. 8. Earnhardt is leaving Rabun Gap after 19 years at the school, 13 of which was spent as the athletic director.

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Rabun Gap AD Earnhardt leaving school

Wesley Branch
Thursday, April 16, 2026
Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School athletic director, head girls basketball coach and defensive backs coach Dale Earnhardt is leaving the school at the end of the school year, he confirmed to The Clayton Tribune on April 11.
Submitted photo. Mark Holloway reacts to completing an Iron Man competition in Louisville, Ky. He will run the New River Marathon in Todd, N.C.,in May to raise up to $10,000 for Women of Worth and its first class of its recovery program.

Submitted photo. Mark Holloway reacts to completing an Iron Man competition in Louisville, Ky. He will run the New River Marathon in Todd, N.C.,in May to raise up to $10,000 for Women of Worth and its first class of its recovery program.

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Holloway to run marathon to raise money for WOW

Wesley Branch
Thursday, April 16, 2026
Rabun County native Mark Holloway is an adrenaline junkie. He gets his fix through rock climbing, hiking, mountain biking and his first love, distance running. But when Holloway chases that adrenaline surge, or “runners high,” he aims to do it for something more than himself.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. RCHS head football coach Ranch Gillespie celebrates with his team following the Wildcats’ 35-0 playoff win over Berrien County on Nov. 21. The Future Wildcat Kids Camp is set for May 18-19 at the stadium.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. RCHS head football coach Ranch Gillespie celebrates with his team following the Wildcats’ 35-0 playoff win over Berrien County on Nov. 21. The Future Wildcat Kids Camp is set for May 18-19 at the stadium.

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RCHS announces sports summer camps’ dates

Wesley Branch
Thursday, April 16, 2026
With school dismissal for the summer just weeks away, Rabun County High School recently announced dates for its summer sports camps for local youth. Several of the high school teams’ camps will be on the RCHS campus, while others will be held at the Rabun County Recreation Department.
Image via FlexWorkSports. Gunner Stockton will hold a football camp on June 20

Image via FlexWorkSports. Gunner Stockton will hold a football camp on June 20

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Stockton to host youth football camp in Gainesville

Wesley Branch
Thursday, April 16, 2026
Former Rabun County High School and current University of Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton will hold a youth football camp once again this summer on June 20 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Lakeview Academy in Gainesville, Ga.
Photo courtesy TFS Athletics. TFS’ Simon Gainzarain Hernando (right) added a goal and three assists against Bethlehem Christian.

Photo courtesy TFS Athletics. TFS’ Simon Gainzarain Hernando (right) added a goal and three assists against Bethlehem Christian.

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Indians remain flawless in region with lopsided home win

News Staff
Thursday, April 16, 2026
Tallulah Falls (10-1) advanced to 7-0 in region play with a 6-1 win Tuesday at home against Bethlehem Christian.Petar Gromiko had a hat trick with three goals (and two assists), and Simon Gainzarain Hernando added a goal and three assists. Avery Chatman and Ryan Kelsick each had a goal as well.
Photo courtesy TFS Athletics. Tallulah Falls boys and girls golf teams excel at region as the girls claimed yet another region championship.

Photo courtesy TFS Athletics. Tallulah Falls boys and girls golf teams excel at region as the girls claimed yet another region championship.

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Lady Indians pull of 3-peat of region championship as Hatcher claims low medalist honors

News Staff
Thursday, April 16, 2026
The Lady Indians pulled off a rare 3-peat as region champions on Monday, taking first with a score of 167 at Monroe Golf Club. Simultaneously, the girls qualified for state for the 10th time in program history.Maeve Hatcher was the individual region champ, earning low medalist honors with an 82.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Adrian Appleby (center) dances on the stage with buddy and Rabun County High School student Bella Hulsey after receiving a medal at the Rabun County Special Olympics on April 2 at Frank Snyder Memorial Stadium. Also on the stage receiving medals as photographed above are athletes Truett Beck (right) and Jonathan Chapman (left) with buddies Katelynn Duncan and Chloe Shirley.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Adrian Appleby (center) dances on the stage with buddy and Rabun County High School student Bella Hulsey after receiving a medal at the Rabun County Special Olympics on April 2 at Frank Snyder Memorial Stadium. Also on the stage receiving medals as photographed above are athletes Truett Beck (right) and Jonathan Chapman (left) with buddies Katelynn Duncan and Chloe Shirley.

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Special Olympics brightens lives, warms hearts

Wesley Branch
Thursday, April 9, 2026
TIGER – It was a very special day at Frank Snyder Memorial Stadium at Rabun County High School on Thursday, April 2, as smiles were in abundance.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun Gap senior CJ Willingham runs during the track events at the Bo James Invitational at Rabun County High School on April 2. Willingham set new Bo James Invitational records for the 100 and 200-meter races with times of 10.81 and 21.94, respectively.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun Gap senior CJ Willingham runs during the track events at the Bo James Invitational at Rabun County High School on April 2. Willingham set new Bo James Invitational records for the 100 and 200-meter races with times of 10.81 and 21.94, respectively.

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RCHS, Rabun Gap track surge at Bo James

Wesley Branch
Thursday, April 9, 2026
TIGER – Rabun County High School track and field hosted the 11th annual Bo James Invitational on Thursday, April 2, as the meet included four teams, including two who excelled from Rabun County.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County senior Ashden Denning smiles as he is recognized for senior night before Rabun County’s match versus Commerce on April 2. Denning has played tennis at RCHS since his sophomore year.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County senior Ashden Denning smiles as he is recognized for senior night before Rabun County’s match versus Commerce on April 2. Denning has played tennis at RCHS since his sophomore year.

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RCHS tennis takes ‘Senior Night’ wins over Commerce

Wesley Branch
Thursday, April 9, 2026
TIGER – The Rabun County boys and girls tennis team both earned wins over region foe Commerce on “Senior Night” in the Wildcats’ final matches of the regular season, 5-0 and 4-1, respectively, on April 2.