MURPHY
Youth hoops signups set
Signups for Murphy youth basketball will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday; 6-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5; and 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8, for kids in first through sixth grades.
Teams with more than 15 players may be subject to tryouts. The cost is $50 per child, and additional siblings are $25 each. Please bring a copy of your child’s birth certificate as well as a current sports physical.
RALEIGH
High school sports down
High school sports participation has declined since 2019 both nationwide and in North Carolina, the N.C. High School Athletic Association announced in a release on Sept. 16.
A survey conducted for the National Federation of State High School Associations found that participation dropped four percent from 2018-19, with participation in North Carolina declining 9.1 percent. Women’s sports participation declined 12.5 percent.
The survey was not released during the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“As we look at the participation numbers from last year, it is obvious to us that we are still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic,” NCHSAA Commissioner Que Tucker said in the release.
“We believe that
last year’s data indicates we may be encountering some lingering effects of the COVID-19 shortened season. Perhaps shorter seasons coupled with overlapping seasons may have contributed to a sharper decline in participation for North Carolina than we have seen in other states.”
However, participation increased from the 2020-21 school year, which had condensed sports seasons, to the 2021-22 school year. Fall sports participation increased 14.12 percent, winter sports participation increased 26.57 percent and spring sports participation increased 23.31 percent.
“We remain encouraged that student-athletes and their communities are returning to normal and continue to expect rebounds in participation at our member schools,” Tucker said.
RALEIGH
Delayed trout waters open
The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission will implement delayed harvest trout regulation on 36 trout waters starting Saturday. From that date until one half-hour after sunset on June 2, no trout can be harvested from those waters, according to a release.
Trout fishers can’t use natural bait, and you can fish with artificial lures on one single hook. An artificial lure is one that hasn’t been treated with any substance that attracts fish by the sense of taste or smell.
HAYESVILLE
Charity golf event Oct. 8
Registration for the United Way of Clay and Cherokee Counties Charity Golf Tournament is underway.
The event will take place Saturday, Oct. 8, at the Mountain Harbor Golf Club. Funds from the event will go to numerous local agencies that help those who need it.
The event costs $400 for a team of four players, with $600 going to the first-place winner, $400 to second place and $300 to third place. Check in time will at 8 a.m., with tee time at 9 a.m.
HIGH SCHOOL SCHEDULE
Today
Cross country: Hiwassee Dam home meet, 3:30 p.m.
Soccer: Swain County at Tri-County, 6 p.m.
Andrews at Swain County, 6 p.m.
Thursday
Volleyball: Nantahala at Summit Charter, 5 p.m.
Hayesville at Murphy,
6 p.m.
Football: Robbinsville at Swain County, 7:30 p.m.
Friday
Football: Hayesville at Andrews (homecoming),
7:30 p.m.
Cherokee at Murphy (homecoming), 7:30 p.m.
Monday
Soccer: Andrews at Murphy, 6 p.m.
Tri-County at Swain County, 6 p.m.
Volleyball: Nantahala at Victory Christian, 5 p.m.
Union County, Ga., at Hiwassee Dam, 6 p.m. Tuesday
Volleyball: Hiwassee Dam at Nantahala, 5 p.m.
Cherokee at Andrews, 6 p.m.
Robbinsville at Murphy, 6 p.m.
HIGH SCHOOL RESULTS
Sept. 20
Volleyball: Murphy 3, Cherokee 1 (23-25, 25-22, 25-22, 25-20)
Robbinsville 3, Hiwassee Dam 0 (25-12, 25-9, 25-15)
Swain County 3, Nantahala 0 (25-10, 25-6, 25-2)
Sept. 21
Soccer: Murphy 2, Hayesville 2
Blue Ridge 5, Andrews 0
Sept. 22
Volleyball: Hayesville 3, Nantahala 0 (25-7, 25-6, 25-8)
Cherokee 3, Hiwassee Dam 0 (25-14, 25-9, 25-13)
Murphy 3, Blue Ridge 1 (25-21, 25-12, 19-25, 25-13)
Sept. 23
Football: Murphy 42, New Faith Christian Academy, Ga., 0
Robbinsville 40, Alleghany 7
Sept. 26
Soccer: Murphy 9, Tri-County 0
Hayesville 5, Andrews 0
Volleyball: Murphy 3, Hiwassee Dam 0 (25-8, 25-13, 25-15
Blue Ridge 3, Nantahala 0 (25-10, 25-18, 25-18)
Compiled by Sports Writer Justin Fitzgerald.