The WNC Lady Royals 7th Grade team won the AYBA Division I National Championship on July 4 in Concord. The Lady Royals defeated teams from North Carolina, Maryland, and Washington, DC. Team members include players from Carolina Day, Cherokee, Swain, Cane River, Erwin, and Reynolds Middle Schools including three EBCI tribal members: Timiyah Brown, Tori Teesateskie, and Lynsey Hicks. Players are shown (left-right) front row – Kendal Marlow, Ciera Chandler, Lynsey Hicks, Emily Crawford, Lettie Hughes, and Tori Teesateskie; back row – Hali King, Kaitlin Turner, Timiyah Brown, Kaitlin Srey, and Kyleigh Morman. Chandler was named AYBA National MVP of the tournament. King and Brown were named All-Tournament. Chandler and King attend Cane River Middle School in Yancey County and Brown attends Cherokee Middle School. (Photo by Yellowhill Rep. B. Ensley)