Sports

Bart Harrison competes in bowling singles at the 2026 Cherokee/Clay Senior Games on May 28.

Bart Harrison competes in bowling singles at the 2026 Cherokee/Clay Senior Games on May 28.

A year of fun Senior Games wraps up

Body After the Cherokee/Clay Senior Games hosted its final event on May 28, the 2026 games have officially come to a close.
Kimber Vaught of Andrews was named Smoky Mountain Conference All-Conference. Pictured is Vaught kicking the ball downfield against Blue Ridge Early College on March 10.

Kimber Vaught of Andrews was named Smoky Mountain Conference All-Conference. Pictured is Vaught kicking the ball downfield against Blue Ridge Early College on March 10.

Athletes earn All-Conference honors

Body With the end of the season comes conference honors. In the Smoky Mountain Conference, 34 local athletes were named All-Conference or All-Conference honorable mention.
Murphy High School soccer will be hosting a youth soccer camp on June 23-25. Pictured is Lady Bulldog Leah Beebe taking a shot against Hayesville on April 27.

Murphy High School soccer will be hosting a youth soccer camp on June 23-25. Pictured is Lady Bulldog Leah Beebe taking a shot against Hayesville on April 27.

Sports Shorts for June 10, 2026

Body OUTDOORSBoat class in Hayesville
The Andrews High School golf team competed in the 1A state championship at Gates Four in Fayetteville. From left are Brady McLelland, Braylen Maennle, Tucker Stalcup and Brady Queen.

The Andrews High School golf team competed in the 1A state championship at Gates Four in Fayetteville. From left are Brady McLelland, Braylen Maennle, Tucker Stalcup and Brady Queen.

Andrews golf finishes in 6th at state championship

Body FAYETTEVILLE The Andrews High School men’s golf team competed in the 1A state championship on May 11-12 at Gates Four Golf & Country Club.
Kaiya Ellis (right) of Andrews leads the 1A girls 100-meter hurdles during the preliminary qualifying run on Thursday at N.C. A&T in Greensboro.

Kaiya Ellis (right) of Andrews leads the 1A girls 100-meter hurdles during the preliminary qualifying run on Thursday at N.C. A&T in Greensboro.

3 locals win state championships

Body GREENSBORO — Logan Shuler and Kaiya Ellis of Andrews, as well as Fern Crayton of Tri-County Early College, won 1A state championships Thursday.
Juliet Holloway (left) of Andrews competes in the 4x200-meter relay at Hayesville on April 1.

Juliet Holloway (left) of Andrews competes in the 4x200-meter relay at Hayesville on April 1.

5 claim regional track & field titles

Body BLACK MOUNTAIN – Regional qualifiers from 1A and 2A competed at Montreat College on Friday with the hopes of qualifying for the state championship.
Former Hiwassee Dam girls varsity basketball coach David Payne intensely watches the close game between the Lady Eagles and Copper Basin, Tenn., on Nov. 18, 2025.

Former Hiwassee Dam girls varsity basketball coach David Payne intensely watches the close game between the Lady Eagles and Copper Basin, Tenn., on Nov. 18, 2025.

Payne to coach at Copper Basin

Body HIWASSEE DAM – Murphy native David Payne is stepping down as athletic director and girls varsity basketball head coach at Hiwassee Dam.
Brady Queen of Andrews hits his approach shot at Mountain Harbour Golf Club in Hayesville on March 19.

Brady Queen of Andrews hits his approach shot at Mountain Harbour Golf Club in Hayesville on March 19.

Wildcats golf heading to state

Body RUTHERFORTON – Andrews and Nantahala boys varsity golfers took on the par-73 Meadowbrook Golf Club in the 1A West Regional round.
Grayson Summeral of Andrews slides safely into second base, avoiding a tag by South Davidson on May 5. Photo by Cannon Crompton/sports@cherokeescout.com

Grayson Summeral of Andrews slides safely into second base, avoiding a tag by South Davidson on May 5. Photo by Cannon Crompton/sports@cherokeescout.com

Cats beat Knights to advance to round 3

Body ANDREWS – The Andrews varsity baseball team continued its winning ways through the first two rounds of the 1A state playoffs.