For Tara Saunooke Alexander and her daughter, Katie Alexander, both members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, sports are a family affair.  Tara, a standout basketball player at AC Reynolds and Clemson University, was recently inducted into the WNC Athletic Hall of Fame.  Katie just finished four stellar years playing volleyball at Asheville Christian and received a national award. 

The Cherokee Middle School (CMS) track team hosted the first meet of the 2023 season on the afternoon of Monday, March 6. 

Decorated Cherokee High School (CHS) runner, Jaylan McCoy-Bark, a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, signed a letter of intent to run collegiately for Haskell Indian Nations University during a ceremony at the Charles George Memorial Arena on the morning of Thursday, March 2.  He will run cross country, indoor track, and outdoor track for the Fighting Indians. 

The Charles George Memorial Arena was rocking and rolling as the #3 seed Cherokee Lady Braves advanced to the regional semifinals of the 1A State Championship tournament. 

The North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) concluded the 87th Annual Individual Wrestling State Tournament at the Greensboro Coliseum on Saturday, Feb. 18.  Avery County won the 1A team title and Kage Williams, of Robbinsville, was named 1A Most Outstanding Wrestler.  Below are the championship (first place matches) in each 1A weight class.

Whitney Rogers, Cherokee sophomore, hit a free throw with 19.4 seconds left on the clock in overtime to seal the deal as the Lady Braves won the Smoky Mountain Conference (SMC) tournament on Friday, Feb. 17.  Cherokee defeated the Robbinsville Lady Black Knights 72-71 in a barn-burner at the Ken Solesbee Athletic Center at Andrews High School. 

The following athletes have been named All-Conference in their respective events in the Smoky Mountain Conference for the 2022-23 Indoor Track season: