Sports

Neal Wachob • Clay County Progress Jackson Sellers, No. 33, and Brendan Lynch, No. 10, apply a Hayesville denial sandwich to Nantahala's center while Daemien Soto, No. 4, eyeballs the ball.

Neal Wachob • Clay County Progress Jackson Sellers, No. 33, and Brendan Lynch, No. 10, apply a Hayesville denial sandwich to Nantahala's center while Daemien Soto, No. 4, eyeballs the ball.

Jackets remained undefeated with routs

News Staff
Thursday, December 18, 2025
By Gary Corsair Sports Writer   Hayesville’s varsity boys hope to extend the honeymoon after a blissful start to the season in which the Yellow Jackets outscored four foes by an average of 30 points a game.
Neal Wachob • Clay County Progress Lucy Trout is helped up by Hayesville teammate Micalynn McClure, No. 10, after Trout collided with a Nantahala Eagle as Ava Moore and Jasmine Brooks, No. 33, come to help.

Neal Wachob • Clay County Progress Lucy Trout is helped up by Hayesville teammate Micalynn McClure, No. 10, after Trout collided with a Nantahala Eagle as Ava Moore and Jasmine Brooks, No. 33, come to help.

Lady Jackets roll over Hawks, 73-25

News Staff
Thursday, December 18, 2025
By Gary Corsair Sports Writer   Seven Lady Jackets scored 7 or more points as the Hayesville Lady Yellow Jackets knocked out Nantahala, 73-25, on Friday. Ava Shook led the scoring brigade with 16.

Southards is the winner

News Staff
Thursday, December 18, 2025
Jeff Southards was winner of the Hiawassee River Bass Club December tournament in Lake Hiawassee and also of the biggest fish designation with a 4.39 pound spot. First - Jeff Southards -  five fish - 17.50 pound. Second - Freddy Cook -  five fish - 14.53 pound.
Todd Sumner • Photo Landon Trout, No. 15, stakes his claim on a defensive rebound for Hayesville.

Todd Sumner • Photo Landon Trout, No. 15, stakes his claim on a defensive rebound for Hayesville.

Balanced Jackets break Highlanders, 65-46

News Staff
Thursday, December 11, 2025
By Gary Corsair Sports Writer   Five Hayesville players scored at least nine points as the Yellow Jackets improved to 2-0 by bettering Highlands, 65-46, on the road Friday. The Black-and-Gold scoring brigade was led by Brandon Lynch, 13 points.

Lady Jackets hot, then not

News Staff
Thursday, December 11, 2025
By Gary Corsair Sports Writer   Hayesville’s varsity girls zoomed to a 12-0 lead before Highlands woke up and ran away from the visitors from Clay County, 47-38, Friday night on the Highlanders’ court.

Special Olympics SONC Fall Tournament

News Staff
Thursday, December 11, 2025
By Becky Grindstaff Guest Writer   Special Olympics of N.C. in Clay County concluded their fall sports season with competitions at the SONC Fall Tournament in Charlotte, N.C. Lana Foster competed in individual skills, earning a first place Gold Medal in her division.
Gary Corsair • Clay County Progress Hayesville defenders Jasmine Brooks, No. 33, Olivia Free, No. 12, and Micalynn Moore, No. 10, make life difficult for a Bobcat.

Gary Corsair • Clay County Progress Hayesville defenders Jasmine Brooks, No. 33, Olivia Free, No. 12, and Micalynn Moore, No. 10, make life difficult for a Bobcat.

Balanced attack propels Lady Jackets

News Staff
Thursday, December 4, 2025
By Gary Corsair Sports Writer   Hayesville broke the hosts with 12 unanswered points midway through the first quarter and kept bringing the thunder in a 61-29 pounding of Blue Ridge Early College Tuesday.
Gary Corsair • Clay County Progress Yellow Jackets guard Eli Cheeks, No. 22, soars through the air as teammate Daemien Soto, No. 4, snares a rebound.

Gary Corsair • Clay County Progress Yellow Jackets guard Eli Cheeks, No. 22, soars through the air as teammate Daemien Soto, No. 4, snares a rebound.

Jackets run Bobcats out of gym

News Staff
Thursday, December 4, 2025
By Gary Corsair Sports Writer   Daemien Soto proved himself ready for the big time in leading Hayesville to an easy win with team highs in points (18) and rebounds (8) in his first varsity start as the Yellow Jackets smoked Blue Ridge Early College, 69-20, Tuesday in Cashiers.
Gary Corsair • Clay County Progress Hayesville's Ben Bethel, No. 4, heads for a first down on one of six receptions he made against East Wilkes.

Gary Corsair • Clay County Progress Hayesville's Ben Bethel, No. 4, heads for a first down on one of six receptions he made against East Wilkes.

Miscues end playoff run

News Staff
Thursday, November 20, 2025
By Gary Corsair Sports Writer   Hayesville’s 15 seniors deserved to finish their careers on a high note, but they’ll have to be content with a seven-win season after the Yellow Jackets were bumped from the second round of the 2A football playoffs by host East Wilkes, 44-7, Friday.

Volleyball teams win 47 matches

News Staff
Thursday, November 20, 2025
By Gary Corsair Sports Writer   This year’s volleyball season was one of the greatest in Hayesville High history — and that’s saying something considering that the Yellow Jackets won 86 matches in a four-year period (2015-’18).