Sports

Maroon Devil James Stroman tries to outrun opponents at the Sept. 1 game played at home.

Maroon Devil James Stroman tries to outrun opponents at the Sept. 1 game played at home.

Maroon Devils continue winning streak with 40-13

News Staff
Wednesday, September 6, 2023
The Swain County Maroon Devils football team continued a winning streak as they trounced the Franklin Panthers 40-13 at a home game Friday, Sept. 1. Both sides traded punts on their opening possessions, with Swain missing a deep pass attempt on third-and-7 from their own 23.
the Maroon Devils cross country team placed 9th in the championship 5K at the WNC Cross Country Carnival.

the Maroon Devils cross country team placed 9th in the championship 5K at the WNC Cross Country Carnival.

Maroon Devils face adversity at Hendersonville cross country event

News Staff
Wednesday, August 30, 2023
Larry Griffin lgriffin@thesmokymountaintimes.com   At the WNC Cross Country Carnival, held Saturday, Aug. 26 in Hendersonville, Swain County got ninth place in the boys’ championship 5K.
Maroon Devils Leland LeQuire (from left), Andrew Cody and Josh Collins make plays and try to keep the ball in the team’s hands during the Aug. 25 game against Smoky Mountain. The Devils won the game 14-10.

Maroon Devils Leland LeQuire (from left), Andrew Cody and Josh Collins make plays and try to keep the ball in the team’s hands during the Aug. 25 game against Smoky Mountain. The Devils won the game 14-10.

Devils beat Mustangs in close football game

News Staff
Wednesday, August 30, 2023
Larry Griffin lgriffin@thesmokymountaintimes.com   The Smoky Mountain High School Maroon Devils varsity football team came back from behind and won a 14-10 game over the Smoky Mountain Mustangs on Friday, Aug. 25 in an away game. No one scored in the first quarter for either team.
Owen Craig fends off an opponent from North Buncombe at Monday’s game.

Owen Craig fends off an opponent from North Buncombe at Monday’s game.

Soccer starts with nonconference loss

News Staff
Wednesday, August 16, 2023
Larry Griffin lgriffin@thesmokymountaintimes.com   The Swain County Maroon Devils soccer team lost 9-0 to North Buncombe in a nonconference game on Monday night, Aug. 14, in what coach Kyndall Cochran said was a “hard game.” “North Buncombe plays in a 3A/4A conference over in Asheville.
Maddie Lay (from left), Kyndall Cochran and Abigail Durisseau vie for the ball at the alumni women’s soccer game on Friday, Aug. 4.

Maddie Lay (from left), Kyndall Cochran and Abigail Durisseau vie for the ball at the alumni women’s soccer game on Friday, Aug. 4.

Alumni gather for weekend of friendly competition

News Staff
Wednesday, August 9, 2023
Larry Griffin lgriffin@thesmokymountaintimes.com   This past weekend, high school athletic alumni descended on Swain County with the purpose of playing their old sports to help raise money for the sports programs – and have fun.
The Lady Devils volleyball team has been practicing hard as the upcoming season grows closer, according to coach Lydia Sale. They meet daily in the high school gym, where they spread out in pairs and practice lobbing the ball back and forth.

The Lady Devils volleyball team has been practicing hard as the upcoming season grows closer, according to coach Lydia Sale. They meet daily in the high school gym, where they spread out in pairs and practice lobbing the ball back and forth.

Volleyball team is ready to go, coach says

News Staff
Wednesday, August 9, 2023
Larry Griffin lgriffin@thesmokymountaintimes.com   The Swain County High School Lady Devils volleyball team is feeling good about its chances this coming season, said coach Lydia Sale. Sale said the girls are “working really hard and getting along really well.” Some of the goals this year?
Coach Sherman Holt directs Maroon Devil athletes during a football drill at practice recently.

Coach Sherman Holt directs Maroon Devil athletes during a football drill at practice recently.

Maroon Devils football readies for a season of challenges

News Staff
Wednesday, August 9, 2023
Larry Griffin lgriffin@thesmokymountaintimes.com   Maroon Devils football coach Sherman Holt can sense the excitement in the air now that the sport’s return is imminent. The team has been doing “a lot of work in the off-season” in preparation.
A football player gets some air catching the all

A football player gets some air catching the all

Swain Maroon Devils football teams start practices in the heat

News Staff
Wednesday, August 2, 2023
The Swain County High Maroon Devils JV and varsity football teams both practiced under a sweltering sun on Tuesday, Aug. 1, preparing hard for their first games later in the month. They practiced passing the ball and several drills. (Photo by Larry Griffin/SMT)
The Maroon Devils and Lady Devils cross country meet at 8 a.m. at Deep Creek on weekdays to train.

The Maroon Devils and Lady Devils cross country meet at 8 a.m. at Deep Creek on weekdays to train.

Cross country expands beyond SMC competition this year

News Staff
Wednesday, August 2, 2023
Larry Griffin lgriffin@thesmokymountaintimes.com   The Maroon Devils and Lady Devils cross country teams won’t be going to the Smoky Mountain Conference this year. Instead, with both teams coming off wins in recent seasons, they’re aiming bigger, said head coach Keith Payne.