Sports

Submitted photo. The Swain Lady Devils snagged the NCHSAA 1A-4A Western Regional Champion title. Five of the Lady Devil wrestlers punched their ticket for the state tournament; qualifiers for state are Jany Echeverria, Chloe Kent, Claire Ball, Madison Mashburn, and Makayla Hunt.

Submitted photo. The Swain Lady Devils snagged the NCHSAA 1A-4A Western Regional Champion title. Five of the Lady Devil wrestlers punched their ticket for the state tournament; qualifiers for state are Jany Echeverria, Chloe Kent, Claire Ball, Madison Mashburn, and Makayla Hunt.

Seven Swain wrestlers advance to state championships

News Staff
Wednesday, February 18, 2026
Ian P. Roper Coach   The Swain County High School girls and boys wrestling teams competed in their respective NCHSAA Regional Championships this past week, with several athletes earning berths in the upcoming State Championships in Greensboro.
Photo/Ian Roper. Dixie Ball wins girls state championship in the 147-pound weight class during the NCUSA Middle School State Championship in Bermuda Run Feb. 7. Fellow sixth-grader Sawyer Norton finished state runner-up in the 92-pound division.

Photo/Ian Roper. Dixie Ball wins girls state championship in the 147-pound weight class during the NCUSA Middle School State Championship in Bermuda Run Feb. 7. Fellow sixth-grader Sawyer Norton finished state runner-up in the 92-pound division.

Lady Devils roll past Franklin on Senior Night

News Staff
Wednesday, February 11, 2026
Ian P. Roper, Coach   Swain County varsity wrestling teams hosted Franklin High School on Friday night for Senior Night, honoring seniors from both the boys’ and girls’ programs. The Maroon Devils boys team earned a 39-30 victory to secure its ninth win of the season.
Photo/Joanna McMahan. Claire Ball wrestles from the “top” position versus a Robbinsville Lady Black Knight in the girls 120-lb weight class. Ball was named co–Smoky Mountain Conference Wrestler of the Year, sharing the honor with Cherokee’s Pippa Welch.

Photo/Joanna McMahan. Claire Ball wrestles from the “top” position versus a Robbinsville Lady Black Knight in the girls 120-lb weight class. Ball was named co–Smoky Mountain Conference Wrestler of the Year, sharing the honor with Cherokee’s Pippa Welch.

Lady Devils place second at SMC wrestling Championships

(not verified)
Wednesday, January 28, 2026
Ian Roper SHS Coach   The Swain County High School wrestling teams competed in the Smoky Mountain Conference Individual Championships on Thursday at Cherokee High School. The Lady Devils finished second overall behind Cherokee and recorded several standout performances.
Submitted photo. Claire Ball pins opponent at East Henderson High School Jan. 13.

Submitted photo. Claire Ball pins opponent at East Henderson High School Jan. 13.

Swain girls finish state runner-up

News Staff
Wednesday, January 21, 2026
Ian Roper SHS Coach   The Swain County High School wrestling program completed a busy week of competition highlighted by strong performances from both the boys and girls teams and another deep postseason run by the Lady Devils. On Tuesday, Jan.
Submitted photo. Rickie Antes (left to right), Oliver Millsaps, Seaborn Bradley, Hunter Williamson, Deagon Ledford, Mijo Salinas-Wike, Bruce Robertson, Sullivan Cunningham, Conner Walls, Loudon Crisp, Sawyer Cochran and Kobe Mashburn celebrate at Murphy High School in the Boys Smoky Mountain Conference Dual Team Championships Saturday. The Devils finished 3-3 for the day, earning wins over Rosman and Andrews, along with a 36-35 victory over Cherokee.

Submitted photo. Rickie Antes (left to right), Oliver Millsaps, Seaborn Bradley, Hunter Williamson, Deagon Ledford, Mijo Salinas-Wike, Bruce Robertson, Sullivan Cunningham, Conner Walls, Loudon Crisp, Sawyer Cochran and Kobe Mashburn celebrate at Murphy High School in the Boys Smoky Mountain Conference Dual Team Championships Saturday. The Devils finished 3-3 for the day, earning wins over Rosman and Andrews, along with a 36-35 victory over Cherokee.

Swain girls win third straight SMC dual team title

News Staff
Wednesday, January 14, 2026
Ian Roper SHS Coach   The Swain County Lady Devils wrestling team traveled to Robbinsville on Wednesday night for the Girls Smoky Mountain Conference Dual Team Championships and delivered a dominant performance, finishing 5-0 to win their third consecutive SMC dual team title.
Photo submitted. Varsity competitors Izabella Ponton (left to right), Alexis Tranter, Melyssa Wildcat, Madison Mashburn, Asiah Ball, Mattie Brown, Chloe Kent (Back) Claire Ball, Elaynah Cogdill, Makayla Hunt, Lindsey Faulkenberry and Elliana Norton at Hendersonville Jan. 3.

Photo submitted. Varsity competitors Izabella Ponton (left to right), Alexis Tranter, Melyssa Wildcat, Madison Mashburn, Asiah Ball, Mattie Brown, Chloe Kent (Back) Claire Ball, Elaynah Cogdill, Makayla Hunt, Lindsey Faulkenberry and Elliana Norton at Hendersonville Jan. 3.

Swain girls wrestling teams win titles in Hendersonville

News Staff
Wednesday, January 7, 2026
Ian Roper SHS Coach   The Swain County Middle and High School girls wrestling programs traveled to Hendersonville on Saturday and returned home as team champions, capping a banner day for Lady Devils wrestling.
Photo/Joanna McMahan. Molleigh Woodard (left to right), Carley Teesateskie, Kloey Parker, Madison Blankenship, Hadley Shuler, Miley Teav, Cara Aldridge, Gary Ayers, Jayden Smiley, Maddie Izquierdo, Rio Helpman and Addison Blankenship play at Catamounts Clash Dec. 23.

Photo/Joanna McMahan. Molleigh Woodard (left to right), Carley Teesateskie, Kloey Parker, Madison Blankenship, Hadley Shuler, Miley Teav, Cara Aldridge, Gary Ayers, Jayden Smiley, Maddie Izquierdo, Rio Helpman and Addison Blankenship play at Catamounts Clash Dec. 23.

Lady Devils return from Christmas break

News Staff
Tuesday, December 30, 2025
Nadia Marshall SHS Coach   Coming off a well-needed Christmas break spent with family and friends, the Lady Devils returned to the gym focused, refreshed, and ready to continue building.
Submitted photos Great Smoky Mountain Grapple Champions Isabella Ponton (front, left to right), Faith West, Chloe Kent, Jany Echeverria, Mattie Brown; (back, left to right) Nevaeh Hughes, Elli Norton, Claire Ball, Makayla Hunt, Asiah Ball, Elaynah Cogdill, Lindsey Faulkenberry, Madison Mashburn, Melyssa Wildcat and Alexis Tranter pose for a photo at Harrah’s Cherokee Center Dec.19.

Submitted photos Great Smoky Mountain Grapple Champions Isabella Ponton (front, left to right), Faith West, Chloe Kent, Jany Echeverria, Mattie Brown; (back, left to right) Nevaeh Hughes, Elli Norton, Claire Ball, Makayla Hunt, Asiah Ball, Elaynah Cogdill, Lindsey Faulkenberry, Madison Mashburn, Melyssa Wildcat and Alexis Tranter pose for a photo at Harrah’s Cherokee Center Dec.19.

Action-packed week of Swain wrestling

News Staff
Tuesday, December 23, 2025
Ian Roper SCS Coach   It was an action-packed week on the mats for the Swain County wrestling programs, as the middle school teams competed in their conference championships and the high school teams traveled to one of the toughest tournaments in the region.
Photo submitted. Lady Devils Keilani Teesateskie (front, left to right), Mattie Brown, Jedi Roper; (middle, left to right) Maddie Crisp, Melyssa Wildcat, Chloe Kent, Faith West, Claire Ball, Ellie Norton, Madison Mashburn; (back, left to right) Alexis Tranter, Nevaeh Hughes, Isabella Ponton, Elaynah Cogdill, Asiah Ball, Makayla Hunt and Lindsey Faulkenberry host Devil Girl Duals, posting a perfect 5–0 record and claiming the tournament title to secure their fifth tournament championship of the year Dec. 12

Photo submitted. Lady Devils Keilani Teesateskie (front, left to right), Mattie Brown, Jedi Roper; (middle, left to right) Maddie Crisp, Melyssa Wildcat, Chloe Kent, Faith West, Claire Ball, Ellie Norton, Madison Mashburn; (back, left to right) Alexis Tranter, Nevaeh Hughes, Isabella Ponton, Elaynah Cogdill, Asiah Ball, Makayla Hunt and Lindsey Faulkenberry host Devil Girl Duals, posting a perfect 5–0 record and claiming the tournament title to secure their fifth tournament championship of the year Dec. 12

Devils reign

News Staff
Wednesday, December 17, 2025
Ian Roper Coach   It was another busy week on the mat for the Swain County wrestlers. The middle school team closed out its regular season with wins over Cherokee and Rosman, finishing with a perfect 17–0 record.
Submitted photo. War Eagle tournament champions Alexis Tranter (front, left to right), Autumn Tramper, Lindsey Faulkenberry, Elaynah Cogdill;(mid, left to right) Jany Echeverria, Isabella Ponton, Faith West, Makayla Hunt, Chloe Kent, Mattie Brown; (top, left to right) Melyssa Wildcat, Madison Mashburn, Claire Ball, Asiah Ball, Ellie Norton, Nevaeh Hughes on Dec. 6.

Submitted photo. War Eagle tournament champions Alexis Tranter (front, left to right), Autumn Tramper, Lindsey Faulkenberry, Elaynah Cogdill;(mid, left to right) Jany Echeverria, Isabella Ponton, Faith West, Makayla Hunt, Chloe Kent, Mattie Brown; (top, left to right) Melyssa Wildcat, Madison Mashburn, Claire Ball, Asiah Ball, Ellie Norton, Nevaeh Hughes on Dec. 6.

Grapplers on the tear

News Staff
Wednesday, December 10, 2025
Ian P. Roper Head Girls Wrestling Coach   The Swain grapplers have been on a tear this week, staying busy and stacking wins on the mat in both middle school and high school action.