Sports

Highlands School Athletic Director Brett Lamb and Ryan Bryson award senior Isaiah Vilardo with the Student-Athlete of the Month award.

Highlands School Athletic Director Brett Lamb and Ryan Bryson award senior Isaiah Vilardo with the Student-Athlete of the Month award.

Student-Athlete of the Month

News Staff
Wednesday, November 19, 2025
Highlands School senior varsity soccer player Isaiah Vilardo was awarded the second-ever Athlete of the Month award on Nov. 12. The award was created in September to honor outstanding student athletes.
Summit Charter wrapped up the 2025 men’s soccer season with a senior day match against Highlands on Oct. 31. Pictured here are Josh Doerter (#12) and Alex Rodriguez (#13) from Summit, along with Rowan Carnes (#11) from Highlands. The Bears won the regular-season finale 4-2. | Todd Sumner

Summit Charter wrapped up the 2025 men’s soccer season with a senior day match against Highlands on Oct. 31. Pictured here are Josh Doerter (#12) and Alex Rodriguez (#13) from Summit, along with Rowan Carnes (#11) from Highlands. The Bears won the regular-season finale 4-2. | Todd Sumner

Three Plateau schools qualify for soccer state tournament

News Staff
Wednesday, November 5, 2025
Summit, Highlands, and Blue Ridge Early College each qualified for the 2025 NCHSAA Men’s Soccer Championship and received a first-round bye. Summit finished the regular season with a record of 9-5, earning the Bears the #5 seed in the west region.
Claire Worley of Highlands runs to a 13th place finish at the NCHSAA 1A Championship.

Claire Worley of Highlands runs to a 13th place finish at the NCHSAA 1A Championship.

Local runners excel at NC Cross Country Championships

News Staff
Wednesday, November 5, 2025
The North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) held its annual 1A Cross Country Championships on Oct. 31. High school athletes from across the state showcased their talent on the challenging course located at the Ivey Redmon Sports Complex in Kernersville.
Highlands Hurricanes hosts Hallowswim Invitational

Highlands Hurricanes hosts Hallowswim Invitational

Highlands Hurricanes hosts Hallowswim Invitational

News Staff
Wednesday, November 5, 2025
On Saturday, Oct. 25, the Highlands Hurricanes Swim Team hosted the Cherokee County Aquatics Club (CCAC) and the Jackson County Swim Team (JCST) at the annual Hallowswim Invitational. The boys won, and the girls finished 2nd. Leading the way for the Hurricanes was Jr.
Cross Country runners Claire Worley and Nicole Taylor

Cross Country runners Claire Worley and Nicole Taylor

Highlanders & Bears Run to Run at State Cross Country Championships

News Staff
Wednesday, October 29, 2025
Highlands senior Claire Worley competed at the 1A West Regional women’s cross country championship on Saturday at the Tryon International Equestrian Center. Worley finished in 11th place with a time of 23:10. With this finish, Worley qualifies for the NCHSAA State Championship on Friday, Oct.31.
Highlands Volleyball Postgame Team gather for an end of season photo.

Highlands Volleyball Postgame Team gather for an end of season photo.

Lady Highlanders conclude season at NCHSAA Tournament

News Staff
Wednesday, October 29, 2025
The Highlands Lady Highlanders varsity volleyball team finished their 2025 season on Saturday after advancing to the fourth round of the NCHSAA state tournament. Their postseason concluded with a highly contested 3–1 loss to Clover Garden School in Burlington.
Highlands School students, Claire Worley, Cayden Pierson, and Jaylin Raby attended the tournament where they worked as spotters on the Par 3 where a 2025 Ford Bronco was the prize for a hole-in one, courtesy of Franklin Ford and Mitzie and Hammond Raurers.

Highlands School students, Claire Worley, Cayden Pierson, and Jaylin Raby attended the tournament where they worked as spotters on the Par 3 where a 2025 Ford Bronco was the prize for a hole-in one, courtesy of Franklin Ford and Mitzie and Hammond Raurers.

Golf tournament nets $72,000 for Scholarship Fund

News Staff
Thursday, September 18, 2025
The Town of Highlands Scholarship Golf Tournament generated a total of $72,000 for the scholarship fund for students at Highlands School.  The event is sponsored by the Bryson Family.  2025 marked the 50th anniversary of the scholarship fund, initially started in 1975.
Photo courtesy of Todd Sumner

Photo courtesy of Todd Sumner

KICKIN’ IT DOWN THE FIELD

News Staff
Wednesday, September 3, 2025
The Highlanders squared off against the Franklin High Panthers on Thursday, Aug. 28, in Highlands. Senior Aniah McKim played offense as Eduardo Rios tried to block the kick. The Highlanders’ record is currently 0-5. Their next game is at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept.
Photo courtesy of Todd Sumner | Stephen Pierson (right) moves the ball past a Smoky Mountain High opponent in Monday’s game.

Photo courtesy of Todd Sumner | Stephen Pierson (right) moves the ball past a Smoky Mountain High opponent in Monday’s game.

Highlanders kick off season

News Staff
Wednesday, August 27, 2025
The Highlanders came up short on the soccer field against the Pisgah Bears on Wednesday, Aug. 20, falling 3-1. Highlands’ loss dropped their record  to 0-2. As for Pisgah, the win made it two in a row for them and bumps their season record up to 3-0-1. On Monday, Aug.
Highlands Hurricanes Swim Team

Highlands Hurricanes Swim Team

Hurricanes score at Swimming Nationals in Houston

News Staff
Thursday, August 21, 2025
From Monday, July 21 through Sunday, July 27, eight members of the Highlands Hurricanes were in Houston, Texas, competing at the Amateur Athletic Union Swimming Nationals (also known as the Junior Olympics).