Andrews freshman Logan Shuler, senior Rylee McDonald and Murphy sophomore Aiden Smith all qualified for the N.C. High School Athletic Association 1A West Regional Championships with their performances at local track and field meets on March 15.
Andrews competed in the meet at Hayesville with the Yellow Jackets, Cherokee and Hiwassee Dam. Shuler hit the regional standard with a high jump of six feet, which also won the meet. He needed to clear six feet to take first, as he and Hayesville senior Isaac Chandler both cleared 5’10, but Chandler cleared that mark in an earlier jump than Shuler. McDonald qualified in the shot put with a throw of 30 feet, 5.25 inches, and finished second in the event to Hayesville’s Lily Trout.
Joining Shuler in the winners circle at Hayesville were Andrews freshman O’Malley Salinas, who took first in the boys 800-meter (two minutes, 15.91 seconds) and 3200m run (10:36.47), sophomore Kylie Donaldson in the girls long jump (14 feet, 10.5 inches), and freshman Alexis Beasley in the girls 100m dash (14.39). Beasley and Donaldson were also part of the winning girls 4x100m relay team (56.52).
Murphy competed in the meet at Robbinsville with the Black Knights, Swain County, Nantahala and Tri-County Early College. Smith qualified for regionals in the discus, taking first place with a throw of 98’8. That was a new personal best for Smith, who won the Smoky Mountain Conference championship in the event last year.
Also taking first at the meet was Jordan Oliver in the wheelchair shot put (7’6.75), wheelchair discus (16’4) and 100m wheelchair dash (47.62), and the Murphy boys 4x100m relay (46.55). Two new Tri-County school records were set at the meet as well by junior Sebastian Clevez in the 100m (12.31) and 200m dash (25.22).
For complete track results from both meets, visit cherokeescout.com.
MURPHY
Sign up for senior games
Registration for the Cherokee & Clay County Senior Games kicked off on March 13. Early bird registration will be open until Friday, which will be only $10 plus $5 for the closing ceremony.
Normal registration will start March 25 for $15, though it’s recommended to register before April 7 to guarantee a T-shirt. The games will take place at the Clay County Recreation Center on April 22 at 10 a.m., and end with closing ceremonies on May 20 in the Enlo Building at Tri-County Community College in Peachtree at 6 p.m.
You can register online at cherokeecountyseniorgames.org or pick up at any of the Cherokee or Clay County senior centers.
CHARLOTTE
Pullium top 10 in shot put
UNC-Charlotte sophomore and Murphy alumna Sarah Pullium broke into the program’s outdoor track and field top 10 in the shot put with a throw of 13.10 meters (42 feet, 10.25 inches) at the Charlotte 49er Classic last weekend. The throw made her the sixth-best performer in school history, and was a personal best in the event by more than 3 feet.
This is Pullium’s second time cracking the 49ers’ outdoor track and field top 10, as she is the fourth in school history in the discus throw At Murphy, Pullium was a three-time state champion in the discus.
RALEIGH
Trout waters open April 1
The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission will open about 1,000 miles of Hatchery Supported Trout Waters in April, with the season running through Feb. 29, 2024.
Trout-supported waters, which are marked by green and white signs, have been closed since Feb. 28 for stocking. While the waters will be open for public fishing, many of the miles are privately owned.
For that reason, the commission urges anglers to respect the property they’re fishing on. Remember that landowners can take away access if they feel it’s being misused.
HAYESVILLE
Fish tourney set in April
The WNC Shine Club and Tri-County Bass Club will host its second annual fishing tournament at the Ledford’s Chapel Boat Ramp on Lake Chatuge from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 22.
Each boat will be allowed to catch five fish, and the boat that catches the highest total weight of the fish will win $1,000. The top 10 highest weight totals will each get a cash prize of at least $100.
Registration is $100 per boat/team. All proceeds will go to the Shriners Hospital for Children. For details, contact tournament directors Perry Graves at 828-557-0885 or Jeff Southards at 828-736-2868.
BLAIRSVILLE, Ga.
Chamber golf tourney set
The Blairsville & Union County Chamber of Commerce will host its annual Shoot for the Stars golf tournament at 8 a.m. Friday, May 12, at Butternut Creek Golf Course.
Sponsorships are available to help businesses gain additional exposure or build proceeds for the event, which funds local scholarships. For details, email president@blairsvillechamber.com.
HAYESVILLE
Still Place golf tourney
The Still Place for Families & Seriously Ill Children is looking for corporate sponsors for its golf tournament fundraiser, which will take place Saturday, May 13, at Mountain Harbour Golf Club.
Bronze level sponsorships can be bought for $100, silver level for $250 and gold level for $500. Gold level sponsorships give the company sole advertisement on a hole, silver means there are two sponsors on a hole, while bronze is unlimited. Volunteers are needed to help set up games, the silent auction and registration.
For questions, email traci@thestillplace.org or call 404-862-7451.
YOUNG HARRIS
Golf for student aid
The Clay Dotson open to benefit student scholarships at Young Harris College will be held on May 22 at the Brasstown Valley Resort. Nearly 100 percent of students at Young Harris receive financial assistance, and all proceeds of this event will go towards student scholarships. To register or become a sponsor, contact rthompson@yhc.edu.
HAYESVILLE
Rotary golf tourney set
The Rotary Club of Murphy’s Tournament of Champions will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 10, at Chatuge Shores Golf Club.
Registration will begin at 8 a.m., with the first tee at 9 a.m. The first-place team will receive $650, second place will receive $400 and third place will receive $250.
RALEIGH
Hellbenders, mud-puppies
With the opening of hatchery supported trout waters coming on April 1, wildlife biologists for the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission are asking anglers to report any sightings of hellbenders and mud-puppies.
Both are aquatic salamanders found in western North Carolina and are species of concern, so commission biologists want to know more about their population distribution in the state and how they’re faring. Hellbenders can grow to be 2 feet long, but they are on average 16-17 inches long and brown, with flat, broad heads and flattened bodies, and wrinkly skin on their sides.
Mud-puppies can grow to be more than 1 foot long, but are generally 8-10 inches in length, have light brown smooth skin that can be speckled with spots as well as red external feathery gills. Neither is poisonous, but they may bite if someone tries to pick them up.
PREP SCHEDULE
March 22
Baseball: Hiwassee Dam at Polk County, Tenn., 4 p.m.
March 23
Baseball: Hayesville at Andrews, 4:30 p.m.
Girls soccer: Murphy at Hayesville, 4 p.m.
Softball: Hayesville at Andrews, 4:30 p.m.
Copper Basin, Tenn., at Hiwassee Dam, 4:30 p.m.
March 24
Track and field: WNC Kickoff at Western Carolina, 3 p.m.
Baseball: Murphy at Cherokee, 4:30 p.m.
Softball: Murphy at Cherokee, 4:30 p.m.
March 27
Girls soccer: Murphy at Smoky Mountain, 6 p.m.
Swain County at Tri-County, 6 p.m.
Softball: Franklin at Murphy, 4:30 p.m.
March 28
Baseball: Andrews at Hiwassee Dam, 4:30 p.m.
Softball: Andrews at Hiwassee Dam, 4:30 p.m.
PREP RESULTS
March 14
Baseball: Hiwassee Dam 4, Swain County 1
Cherokee 10, Andrews 8
Softball: Hiwassee Dam 5, Swain County 1
Robbinsville 16, Murphy 11
Cherokee 12, Andrews 1
March 16
Baseball: Andrews 11, Cherokee 10
Swain County 14, Hiwassee Dam 6
Watauga 8, Murphy 0
Watauga 13, Murphy 2
Girls soccer: Murphy 9, Tri-County 0
Softball: Hiwassee Dam 16, Copper Basin 4
Cherokee 6, Andrews 1
Robbinsville 12, Murphy 5
March 20
Girls soccer: Murphy 2, Blue Ridge 1
Hayesville-Tri County
Softball: Franklin 7, Hiwassee Dam 2
Compiled by Sports Writer Justin Fitzgerald.