Cherokee County athletics had another busy year in 2025. The year ranged from basketball players reaching the 1,000-point milestone to high school teams making playoff runs.
Multiple local athletes were also crowned state champions in their respective sports.
Below are some of the standout moments from Cherokee County athletics in 2025, in chronological order.
‘1st and 10, Bulldogs’
On Jan. 9, Murphy and Cherokee County lost an icon: JR Carroll, the announcer at Murphy High School football games for over 40 years. The Bulldog family, as he called it, greatly misses him as an integral part of the football program.
1,000 for McCoy
Cole McCoy of Nantahala was the first local athlete of the year to reach the 1,000-point milestone in his high school career. On Jan. 17 against Hayesville, the then-junior basketball player hit the 1,000-point mark.
1,000 for Clark
Ty Clark of Andrews reached his 1,000-point milestone in the Wildcats’ first-round game against Swain County in the Smoky Mountain Conference tournament on Feb. 15.
3 champs in a week
Three basketball conference champions were crowned in the span of a few days late in the winter 2024-25 season. The Hiwassee Dam boys varsity won the Little Smoky Mountain Conference, the Andrews boys varsity won the Big Smoky Mountain Conference and the Murphy girls junior varsity won the JV Smoky Mountain Conference tournaments.
The Eagles won their conference tournament on Feb. 20. The Wildcats won the SMC and the Lady Bulldogs won the JV SMC on Feb. 22.
Tatham signs with Wooster
Everett Tatham of Andrews was the first signing of 2025. He signed his letter of commitment to continue his football and academic career at the College of Wooster in Wooster, O.H., on Feb. 28. Update: Tatham announced on Dec. 12 that he is medically retiring from football after much consideration and advice from doctors.
Nichols signs with college
Kenyon Nichols of Murphy signed a letter of commitment to continue his football and academic career at Methodist University in Fayetteville on March 12.
Tri-County hosts first race
Tri-County Racetrack in Brasstown hosted its first race in more than a year on March 22. Fans packed the stands, and it was standing room only as drivers took to the dirt track for a historic night of racing.
Clark signs with Union
Ty Clark of Andrews signed his letter of commitment to continue his basketball and academic career at Union University in Jackson, Tenn., on April 3. Update: Clark made his collegiate debut on Dec. 11 against Blue Mountain, Miss., and scored two points.
Wood signs with Montreat
William Wood of Andrews signed a letter of commitment to continue his track & field and academic career at Montreat College in nearby Black Mountain on April 25.
Senior Games 2025
The 2025 Cherokee/Clay Senior Games kicked off in Hayesville on April 26 with local seniors competing in various games and events to get the fun underway.
The closing ceremony to wrap up another great year of Senior Games/Silver Arts was held on May 31.
Golden golfs at state
Connor Golden of Murphy competed in the state 1A golf championship at Longleaf Golf & Family Club in Southern Pines on May 13. He shot a 76 to finish tied for fifth place.
Shuler wins state title
Logan Shuler of Andrews claimed his second straight state championship in the high jump on May 16. He had a jump of 6-foot-4 to claim the state 1A title.
Cotton signs with Wingate
Corrine Cotton of Murphy signed a letter of commitment to continue her track & field and academic career at Wingate University on May 19.
1,000 for McNabb
At the Hiwassee Dam athletics banquet on May 19, Olivia McNabb was surprised by her coaches and teammates when they told her she had reached the milestone of 1,000 rebounds in her high school career.
Coach Phillips retires
Former Andrews High School varsity football coach James Phillips announced his retirement on May 19. Phillips took over in 2016 and in 2020 led the team to its first winning season since 2011. In 2022, he led the Wildcats to winning the Smoky Mountain Conference.
McNabb signs with college
Olivia McNabb of Hiwassee Dam signed a letter of commitment to continue her softball and academic career at Tennessee Wesleyan University in Athens, Tenn., on May 21.
Frank Maennle retires
On May 22, Frank Maennle announced his retirement from Andrews High School after more than 40 years as an athletic director and coach. Maennle also spent time as athletic director at Swain County High School.
Johnson to coach Wildcats
In the days following James Phillips’ retirement, it was announced that Jason Johnson would take over at the helm for the Andrews varsity football team. Johnson moved from assistant coach to head coach of the Wildcats. Update: The Wildcats got their first win under Johnson by beating Rosman on Oct. 10, then won a state 1A playoff game.
New AD at Andrews
Early in the summer, Andrews High School announced that its new athletic director would be Josh Schwarting. He took over following the retirement of Frank Maennle.
20 years of Panther Top
Panther Top shooting range celebrated its 20th anniversary on Aug. 20. The range off of N.C. 294 opened in 2005 as the only public facility in the county.
1974 Bulldogs honored
The 1974 state championship-winning Murphy Bulldogs were honored before a football game on Oct. 3. Multiple players from Murphy’s first state championship team were in attendance to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the title.
Bulldogs shutout 11
The Murphy boys varsity soccer team earned their 11th consecutive shutout when they beat Andrews on Oct. 8. The shutout streak ended at 11 after falling to Highlands the next week. They came up one shutout short of the state record.
Lady Eagles claim title
The Hiwassee Dam varsity volleyball team defeated Highlands on Oct. 15 to win the Little Smoky Mountain Conference.
Wildcats win SMC
The Andrews boys varsity cross-country team won the Smoky Mountain Conference meet on Oct. 18 to claim the conference title.
Page wins individual title
Oscar Page of Hiwassee Dam claimed the individual boys Smoky Mountain Conference championship by winning the conference meet in Swain County on Oct. 18.
Wildcats win 1A Regional
Fresh off of a conference title, the Andrews boys varsity cross-country team added another trophy to its collection. On Oct. 25, the Wildcats won the 1A West Regional meet to claim the title and advance to state.
Page win regional title
Oscar Page of Hiwassee Dam continued his outstanding sophomore season by winning the 1A West Regional cross-country meet on Oct. 25. Page’s Regional championship race win was his eighth consecutive win of the season, winning every regular season meet and the conference championship.
Bulldogs soccer wins SMC
The Murphy boys varsity soccer team claimed their second Smoky Mountain Conference championship on Oct. 28. They continued their outstanding season by clinching the SMC title and their first since 2012.
Crayton wins 1A title
Fern Crayton of Tri-County Early College in Peachtree dominated the girls state championship race to win the 1A girls cross-country state championship on Oct. 31.
1A XC state championship
It was a successful state championship meet for local cross-country runners. Oscar Page of Hiwassee Dam came in third place to finish on the podium, while Andrews’ Levi Clark came in fifth place in the boys race. Both the Andrews boys and Tri-County Early College girls teams came in second place during the state 1A meet on Oct. 31.
Back-to-back Bulldogs
The Murphy varsity football team took down Swain County in the regular season finale on Oct. 31 to win its second consecutive Smoky Mountain Conference championship.
Dogs advance in playoffs
For the first time in the team’s history, the Murphy boys varsity soccer team advanced to the third round of the state playoffs. In the second round of the state 2A playoffs on Nov. 6, the Bulldogs defeated Queen’s Grant to advance to the third round. In the third round on Nov. 10, they lost 3-0 to Gray Stone Day, the eventual 2A runner-up.
School record for Clem
Murphy Bulldogs running back Cameron Clem cemented his name in the school’s and state’s record book after scoring eight touchdowns in the Dogs’ third-round state 2A playoff game against the Community School of Davidson on Nov. 21. He broke Willie Brown’s record of seven touchdowns in one game. Clem tied the state record for most rushing touchdowns in a single game and came one touchdown short of tying the state record for most in a single game.
Dogs win West Regional
The Bulldogs proved they were the best in the West on Dec. 5 when they won the 2A West Regional championship by defeating Starmount. The Dogs added a number to the scoreboard and were heading to the state 2A championship game.
1,000 points for Payne
Brinkley Payne of Hiwassee Dam scored her 1,000th point in her high school career on Dec. 5 against Swain County. She was honored for her accomplishment at the Lady Eagles’ next home game on Dec. 8.
Dogs fall at state
The Murphy varsity football team fell in the 2A state championship game against Tarboro on Dec. 13 at Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory. Before the game, Brody Orton was honored with the Sportsmanship award. After the game, Camden Breazeale won the West Defensive MVP and Cameron Clem won the West Offensive MVP.