Hayesville Sports

The most successful boys soccer season in Hayesville history ended Thursday night in Charlotte, as the Yellow Jackets fell 6-1 to No. 8 Bradford Prep in the second round of the NCHSAA 2A West playoffs. Bradford Prep (13-10-1) struck four times in the first half to take a 4-0 lead into the break, then added two more goals in the second half. Hayesville got on the board after halftime for its lone goal of the night. The loss closes the book on a milestone fall for the Yellow Ja

(Photo by Travis Dockery) Freshman Brady Mendoza tracks down a pass just in time to keep it from a Bulldog defender. Hayesville scored early and late Monday, beating Albemarle 4-2 in the first round of the NCHSAA 2A West boys soccer playoffs at Frank R. Long Memorial Stadium — a record-setting win in the final event held at the stadium before the installation of new turf. The victory was the Yellow Jackets' 13th of the season, breaking the program's single-season wins record

Photo by Jessica Hughes The HHS Yellow Jackets earn the smiles as they clinch a chance at a state championship. From left, Ian Herrada, Jackson Dye, Gage Brown, Parker Hughes, Garrison Boyer, Porter Hood, Evan Burks, Brandon Rivera-Prieto and Eli Cheek. The Hayesville boys cross country team is headed to the state championship, and freshman Makenna Moss is going with them. Hayesville's boys finished fourth in the team standings Saturday, Oct. 31, at the NCHSAA 2A West Regiona

Hayesville's regular season ended in heartbreak Friday, Oct.30, but the Yellow Jackets' season isn't over. Andrews scored in overtime to beat Hayesville 28-21 and close out the regular season, but when the NCHSAA released its playoff brackets Saturday, the Jackets (1-8) landed the No. 22 seed in the 2A West field — and a first-round trip to No. 11 Cherokee on Friday, Nov. 6. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at Ray Kinsland Stadium. Friday night's finale at Andrews had plenty of f

Hayesville football closes its season Friday, Oct. 30, at Andrews at 7:30 p.m., with both teams hunting their first Smoky Mountain Conference win of the year. The Yellow Jackets (1-7, 0-5 Smoky Mountain Conference) ride a five-game losing streak into the finale after last Friday's 42-12 loss to Murphy. Hayesville has scored 80 points this season while allowing 344. Andrews (0-8, 0-5) sits one spot below Hayesville in the conference standings and is still looking for its first

(Photo by Travis Dockery) Josue Salas has played a key role in Hayesville's successful season. Salas netted four goals in the Jackets' victory over Murphy. By Travis Dockery Sportswriter Josue Salas scored four goals and added an assist Wednesday as Hayesville closed the regular season with an 8-1 rout of Murphy on Senior Night at Frank R. Long Memorial Stadium. Senior Jackson Dye added two goals for the Yellow Jackets (12-5, 11-5 Smoky Mountain Conference), while Adiel Herna

The Hayesville boys soccer team kept rolling Monday, shutting out Tri-County Early College 5-0 in a Smoky Mountain Conference match at Frank R. Long Memorial Stadium. The Yellow Jackets (11-5) won their fourth straight match and completed a season sweep of the Jaguars, having also won the first meeting 3-0 on Sept. 23. Tri-County (1-15) was held scoreless in the loss. Hayesville is back home Wednesday, Oct. 28, hosting Murphy at 4 p.m. for the final regular-season match. SMC

By Travis Dockery Sportswriter HAYESVILLE, N.C. — Murphy scored 42 unanswered points after an early Hayesville touchdown and rolled past the Yellow Jackets 42-12 on Senior Night, Friday, Oct. 23, at Frank R. Long Memorial Stadium. The Yellow Jackets struck first when Kabe Shaheen scored on a 1-yard run, though the extra-point try was blocked, leaving Hayesville up 6-0. It was all Bulldogs from there. Cameron Clem scored on touchdown runs of 1, 27 and 4 yards to lead Murphy. A

(Photo by Travis Dockery) Francisco Rios eyes the ball as the Jackets advance against Swain's defenders. Rios bookended Hayesville's scoring with a pair of goals. By Travis Dockery Sportswriter HAYESVILLE, N.C. — Francisco Rios scored two goals, including the game-winner with 17 minutes left, as Hayesville held off a Swain County comeback for a 3-2 victory Wednesday, Oct. 21, in a Smoky Mountain Conference match at Frank R. Long Memorial Stadium. Rios opened the scoring at th

By Travis Dockery Sportswriter Hayesville, N.C. — The Hayesville Lady Yellow Jackets saw their season come to an end Tuesday night, Oct. 20, falling 3-0 to Cornerstone Charter Academy in Greensboro in the second round of the NCHSAA 2A West state championship tournament. No. 4 seed Cornerstone Charter (24-6), which had a first-round bye, swept No. 13 seed Hayesville to advance to Thursday's regional quarterfinal. Hayesville reached the second round with a 3-0 sweep of East Wil

(Photo by Travis Dockery) Colin Walker fights for possession against a Bobcat. Walker would go on to score what would ultimately be the deciding goal. By Travis Dockery Sportswriter Hayesville, N.C. —Josue Salas and Colin Walker scored first-half goals, and Hayesville made them stand up Monday night, beating Blue Ridge Early College 2-1 in a Smoky Mountain Conference boys soccer match. Salas opened the scoring at the 11:39 mark of the first half, putting the Yellow Jackets (

By Travis Dockery Sportswriter Hayesville Schools have named Donovan Byers as the new head wrestling coach for both the boys' and girls' programs at Hayesville Middle School and Hayesville High School. Byers is a familiar face in Hayesville wrestling. He competed for the program as a student and later returned to lead it when no one else was available to run it. "I wanted the kids to have the opportunity to wrestle," he said of that first stint. He eventually stepped away whe

(Photo by Travis Dockery) Jacket Nation fills the stands for Hayesville's game against Rosman. The Yellow Jackets will need support from the community on Friday as they face the Bulldogs of Murphy. By Travis Dockery Sportswriter Hayesville, N.C. — Hayesville's final home game of the season on Friday, Oct. 23, is also its toughest assignment of the year, as the Yellow Jackets host a Murphy team that has not lost a conference game this fall. Murphy (6-2) comes in riding a four-

(Photo by Travis Dockery) Coach Tammy Dills uses an East Wilkes timeout to encourage her team to maintain the high level of play in the post-season opener. By Travis Dockery Sportswriter Hayesville, N.C. — The Hayesville Lady Yellow Jackets wasted no time in their postseason opener, sweeping East Wilkes 3-0 Saturday, Oct.17, at The Hive in the first round of the NCHSAA 2A West state playoffs. Jasmine Brooks fires a serve against the Cardinals. Hayesville (16-10) took the sets

(Photo by Melissa Godfrey) The Lady Jackets take a moment to celebrate their runner-up finish at the SMC cross country meet. By Travis Dockery Sportswriter On Wednesday, October 14, the Smoky Mountain Conference Cross Country Championship-Invitational took place at Kituwah Mound Trail in Bryson City, NC, hosted by Swain County High School. Hayesville High School’s girls team finished a strong second with 48 points and an average time of 25:58, while the boys team placed fifth

(Photo by Hilary Goodrich) The HMS boys cross country team celebrates the SMC championship. From left, Townes Lamouro, Nash Carter, Jackson Badger, Eli Danico, Gage Jones, Colton Crawford Caiden Curtis and Deacon Dye. By Travis Dockery Sportswriter The Hayesville Middle School boys cross country team capped an undefeated season with a dominant performance at the Smoky Mountain Conference Championship on Wednesday at Swain, finishing with a team score of 30 points—38 points ah

By Travis Dockery Sportswriter HAYESVILLE, N.C. — The Hayesville Lady Yellow Jackets closed their regular season with a hard-fought 3-2 road win over the Murphy Lady Bulldogs on Thursday, Oct. 8, in a Smoky Mountain Conference matchup. Hayesville won the five-set battle by scores of 17-25, 29-27, 26-24, 18-25, 16-14. The victory improved the Lady Yellow Jackets to 15-10 overall and 7-5 in conference play, securing fourth place in the Smoky Mountain Conference. Murphy dropped

By Travis Dockery Sportswriter Hayesville, N.C. — Friday night offered little relief for the Hayesville Yellow Jackets. Traveling to Swain County High School for a Smoky Mountain Conference game, the Jackets were held scoreless in a 35-0 loss that extended their skid to four straight defeats. The offense never found a consistent rhythm. Hayesville finished with just five first downs and 44 total plays. Penalties added to the frustration, with the Jackets flagged nine times fo

(Photo by Travis Dockery) Josue Salas weaves his way around Highlander defenders. Salas had Hayesville's lone goal on Wednesday. By Travis Dockery Sportswriter HAYESVILLE, N.C. — Highlands came to Hayesville High School on Wednesday night, took the lead, gave it back, and then took it again. When the whistle blew, the Highlanders had a 2-1 win and the Yellow Jackets had another one that got away. The visitors scored with 29:55 left in the opening period and sat on a 1-0 lead

(Photo by Travis Dockery) The varsity Lady Jackets celebrate a point against Andrews in their final home game of the regular season. By Travis Dockery Sportswriter Hayesville closed its regular-season home schedule the way it hoped to, with both Lady Yellow Jacket volleyball teams sweeping Andrews on Tuesday night. Madalynn Farmer avoids a block attempt from Andrews for the point. Following Senior Night festivities, the varsity Lady Jackets took the main event, 3-0, winning 2