Sports

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County’s Jaylynn Gragg receives a high five after completing an inning in the Lady Cats’ 20-3 win over Tallulah Falls on Aug. 16, 2025. Gragg will be one of four potential starting pitchers for RCHS this upcoming season.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County’s Jaylynn Gragg receives a high five after completing an inning in the Lady Cats’ 20-3 win over Tallulah Falls on Aug. 16, 2025. Gragg will be one of four potential starting pitchers for RCHS this upcoming season.

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New team, Same game: Lady Cat softball eyes 2026 season, playoff return

News Staff
Thursday, July 30, 2026
The Rabun County softball team wants to build champions on and off the field, regardless of if those championships come this season, or down the road. That mission is summarized in one of the Lady Cats’ themes for the upcoming season, “New team, same game.
Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County Head Coach April Jones, left, connects with her volleyball players in 2025 during a home game early in the season.

Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County Head Coach April Jones, left, connects with her volleyball players in 2025 during a home game early in the season.

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Getting back on their serve

Wesley Branch
Thursday, July 30, 2026
Coming off an 8-24 campaign a season ago, the Rabun County volleyball team is looking to get back to the state playoffs, led by a heavy base of returning talent. Following last season, the Lady Cats lost just two seniors.
Submitted. Dozens of pickleball players from Rabun County and surrounding communities braved the showers to compete in a Team Challenge tournament on Saturday, July 25. The players and spectators contributed $1,000 to the Sid Weber Cancer Fund from the pickleball fundraiser. The pickleball courts on the Rabun County Recreation Department property in Tiger have been used extensively since their opening.

Submitted. Dozens of pickleball players from Rabun County and surrounding communities braved the showers to compete in a Team Challenge tournament on Saturday, July 25. The players and spectators contributed $1,000 to the Sid Weber Cancer Fund from the pickleball fundraiser. The pickleball courts on the Rabun County Recreation Department property in Tiger have been used extensively since their opening.

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Pickleball fundraiser generates $1,000 for Sid Weber Fund

News Staff
Thursday, July 30, 2026
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun Gap junior defensive back Elias Willingham goes through drills during Rabun Gap’s college coaches social in January. Willingham is one of nine Division I commits in Rabun Gap’s 2027 class.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun Gap junior defensive back Elias Willingham goes through drills during Rabun Gap’s college coaches social in January. Willingham is one of nine Division I commits in Rabun Gap’s 2027 class.

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Rabun Gap’s Willingham commits to East Tennessee State University

Wesley Branch
Thursday, July 30, 2026
Rabun Gap Class of 2027 defensive back Elias Willingham has committed to East Tennessee State University (ETSU).
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Former Rabun County and current UGA quarterback Gunner Stockton celebrates with teammate Nate Frazier after scoring a rushing touchdown during Georgia’s 43-35 win over Ole Miss at Sanford Stadium on Oct. 18, 2025. Stockton said at SEC Media Days on July 21 that his goal for his final season of college football is to “make memories.” Stockton and the Bulldogs will open the new season on Sept. 5 at home versus Tennessee State.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Former Rabun County and current UGA quarterback Gunner Stockton celebrates with teammate Nate Frazier after scoring a rushing touchdown during Georgia’s 43-35 win over Ole Miss at Sanford Stadium on Oct. 18, 2025. Stockton said at SEC Media Days on July 21 that his goal for his final season of college football is to “make memories.” Stockton and the Bulldogs will open the new season on Sept. 5 at home versus Tennessee State.

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Gunner seeks to ‘make memories’ in final season as UGA quarterback

Wesley Branch
Thursday, July 23, 2026
The Georgia football team has several goals for itself as the 2026 season nears, although the Bulldogs will claim the “one day at a time” mentality.
Wesley Branch/ The Clayton Tribune. Current UGA and former Rabun County quarterback Gunner Stockton evades defenders during Georgia’s 35-3 win over Charlotte on Nov. 22, 2025. Stockton is entering year two as Georgia’s starting quarterback.

Wesley Branch/ The Clayton Tribune. Current UGA and former Rabun County quarterback Gunner Stockton evades defenders during Georgia’s 35-3 win over Charlotte on Nov. 22, 2025. Stockton is entering year two as Georgia’s starting quarterback.

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Smart: Stockton ‘embodies everything our program is about’

Wesley Branch
Thursday, July 23, 2026
As the back-to-back defending Southeastern Conference (SEC) champion Georgia Bulldogs made its scheduled appearance at SEC Media Days in Tampa, Fla., on July 21, Georgia head football coach Kirby Smart had high praise for starting quarterback Gunner Stockton, a Rabun County standout.
Via @JaxonTotherow65 on X. Rabun Gap rising senior Jaxon Totherow announced his commitment to Austin Peay on July 18 via social media, choosing the Governors over several Division I programs like Georgia State, East Tennessee State, Troy and others. Totherow is expected to be the starting center for Rabun Gap this upcoming season.

Via @JaxonTotherow65 on X. Rabun Gap rising senior Jaxon Totherow announced his commitment to Austin Peay on July 18 via social media, choosing the Governors over several Division I programs like Georgia State, East Tennessee State, Troy and others. Totherow is expected to be the starting center for Rabun Gap this upcoming season.

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Rabun Gap’s Totherow commits to Austin Peay

Wesley Branch
Thursday, July 23, 2026
Rabun Gap Class of 2027 offensive lineman Jaxon Totherow announced on social media on July 18 his commitment to Austin Peay State University. Totherow is the Eagles’ eighth member of its rising senior class to announce his commitment, all eight of which are to Division I programs.
Landen Todd/CNI News Service. Junior Club is open to children ages 7 and up who have had at least one season of Summer League or can swim 25 yards unassisted.

Landen Todd/CNI News Service. Junior Club is open to children ages 7 and up who have had at least one season of Summer League or can swim 25 yards unassisted.

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Youngsters learn how to swim at TFS

News Staff
Thursday, July 23, 2026
Tallulah Falls Schools has been holding its Junior Swim Club at the TFS  Natatorium. It began its late summer season on July 7 and will run through July 23.
Photo courtesy Tallulah Falls School. Baseballs with Ashton Roache’s career statistics are positioned on the TFS grass.

Photo courtesy Tallulah Falls School. Baseballs with Ashton Roache’s career statistics are positioned on the TFS grass.

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The Record Smasher: TFS’s Ashton Roache

News Staff
Thursday, July 23, 2026
There’s something bittersweet about going from pencil to permanent ink. When the final out of the 2026 season came for the Tallulah Falls School Indians, Ashton Roache’s high school baseball career came to a close.