ANDREWS
Lady Dogs taking titles
Two Murphy Middle School athletes took first place in the Smoky Mountain Conference Middle School Championships on April 24.
Eighth-grader Halie Hill won the girls 400-meter dash (one minute, 4.42 seconds), while eighth-grader Kennedy White won the girls 1,600-meter run (5:46.65). Hill’s 400-meter personal best of 1:03.22 is the fastest time in the event for both middle school and high school girls in the conference, even faster than the current qualifying time in the event for the N.C. High School Athletic Association 1A regional championships.
White’s 1,600-meter time is also faster than the regional standard, as is her time in her third-place finish in the girls 800-meter run (2:45.05). Both the Murphy boys and girls teams finished in fourth place, with Hayesville winning the girls title and Swain the boys title.
CANDLER
Tri-County’s track records
Tri-County Early College freshmen Fern Crayton and Jaden Crocker both broke school records at the Swain County High School Invitational at Enka High School on April 25.
Crayton set new marks in both the 1,600-meter (five minutes, 41.45 seconds) and 3,200-meter runs (12:34.28), breaking the old records set by Sydney Bolyard in 2019. Crocker broke her own record in the discus throw (88 feet, 9 inches).
Hiwassee Dam was another one of the 20 teams at the meet, with sophomore Ethan Russell setting new personal bests with a fifth-place finish in the 1,600-meter run (4:46.74) and seventh-place finish in the 800-meter run (2:10.36). For complete results from the meet, visit cherokeescout.com.
ASHEVILLE
Locals and WNC awards
Several local athletes are up for awards at the 61st WNC Sports Award Banquet, which is sponsored by the Mountain Amateur Athletic Club at the Grove Park Inn on Sunday.
Andrews football was nominated for the Fields Auto Group Division II Male Team of the Year in a major sport, while Andrews senior Isaac Weaver was nominated for both the Nicole and Kyte Ferrell Division II Athlete of the Year in a Major Sport as well as the Young Transportation Division II Male Athlete of the Year.
The Wildcats went 13-1 last fall, winning their first Smoky Mountain Conference championship since 1983 and advancing to the Elite Eight of the state playoffs for the first time since 2011. Weaver was a major part of that team, racking up over 1,800 yards of offense, 11 interceptions on defense and 34 total touchdowns. He has signed to play football at Mars Hill University.
Andrews senior Rylie McDonald and Murphy senior Will Johnson will be given scholarships at the event.
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.
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.
PREP SCHEDULE
May 3
Track & field: Smoky Mountain Conference Championship at Cherokee, 1 p.m.
May 4
Baseball: Hiwassee Dam at Cherokee, 4:30 p.m.
Murphy at Swain, 6:30 p.m.
Girls soccer: Tri-County at Swain, 6 p.m.
Softball: Murphy at Swain, 4:30 p.m.
Hiwassee Dam at Cherokee, 4:30 p.m.
Rosman at Andrews, 4:30 p.m.
May 5
Baseball: Andrews at Swain, 4:30 p.m.
Softball: Hayesville at Murphy, 4:30 p.m.
May 8
Boys golf: N.C. High School Athletic Association 1A West Regional in Lincolnton
Girls soccer: Murphy at Swain, 6 p.m.
Highlands at Tri-County, 6 p.m.
May 9
Baseball/softball: NCHSAA state playoffs first round, time TBA
PREP RESULTS
April 25
Baseball: Murphy 5, Hayesville 4
Hiwassee Dam 9, Robbinsville 3
Robbinsville 5, Hiwassee Dam 3
Swain 13, Andrews 2
Softball: Murphy 10, Hayesville 4
Hiwassee Dam 8, Robbinsville 7
Swain 19, Andrews 5
Swain 13, Andrews 2
April 28
Baseball: Hayesville 7, Murphy 2
May 1
Baseball: Swain at Murphy
Girls soccer: Hayesville at Murphy
Softball: Hiwassee Dam 2, Swain 0
Compiled by Sports Writer Justin Fitzgerald.