NU football, FHS soccer, local wrestlers top area stories of 2025
Sports
January 3, 2026
From left, North Union’s Griffin Osborne and Alek Orders and Mollie Thrush of Fairbanks are pictured in action during 2025 contests. The trio helped their respective teams to the best post-season finishes in school history. (Osborne photo submitted; Journal-Tribune photos of Orders and Thrush by Aleksei Pavloff)

NU football, FHS soccer, local wrestlers top area stories of 2025

By Tim Miller 

The calendar year of 2025 had some very good things happen for local high school sports programs.

The Journal-Tribune sports department has selected its top local stories for the past 12 months.

The top local sports story centers around the North Union High School football squad.

The Wildcats struggled...

North Union boys, girls track/field athletes respectively place first, second during triangular meets at RV
Sports
North Union’s Glory Blevins approaches the bar in the girls high jump during a meet at River Valley. Blevins was the top competitor in the event. (Journal-Tribune photo by Bob Putman)
North Union boys, girls track/field athletes respectively place first, second during triangular meets at RV
By Bob Putman 
April 2, 2026
The past few seasons North Union track coach Cole Krawczyk likes to ease his athletes into the start of the Wildcats’ schedule. After staging an intersquad meet last week, North Union’s second meet wa...
Marysville, Fairbanks softball teams notch wins
Sports
Marysville, Fairbanks softball teams notch wins
By Tim Miller 
April 2, 2026
Marysville’s varsity softball team upped its record to 4-2 with a 9-6 victory over Willowbrook High School. The spring break game was played in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. The Lady Monarchs plated five runs i...
Panthers outlast North Union on varsity baseball diamond
Sports
Fairbanks’ Carson Reames (27) steals third base as North Union’s Peyton Davis awaits the throw. The Panthers edged North Union, 6-5, on Tuesday. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
Panthers outlast North Union on varsity baseball diamond
By Tim Miller 
April 2, 2026
There are times when a baseball game reveals the gritty nature of a team. Tuesday evening’s Fairbanks-North Union contest actually showed just how tough both squads played. The Panthers (1-0) won the ...
Other news
Long time coming
Local News, News
Long time coming
By Kyle Meddles 
April 3, 2026
The Marysville Chick-fil-A held its grand opening Thursday, drawing crowds both inside the restaurant and around the drive-thru lanes. Some residents even dressed for the occasion, as seen above as a ...
North Union boys, girls track/field athletes respectively place first, second during triangular meets at RV
Sports
North Union’s Glory Blevins approaches the bar in the girls high jump during a meet at River Valley. Blevins was the top competitor in the event. (Journal-Tribune photo by Bob Putman)
North Union boys, girls track/field athletes respectively place first, second during triangular meets at RV
By Bob Putman 
April 2, 2026
The past few seasons North Union track coach Cole Krawczyk likes to ease his athletes into the start of the Wildcats’ schedule. After staging an intersquad meet last week, North Union’s second meet wa...
Marysville, Fairbanks softball teams notch wins
Sports
Marysville, Fairbanks softball teams notch wins
By Tim Miller 
April 2, 2026
Marysville’s varsity softball team upped its record to 4-2 with a 9-6 victory over Willowbrook High School. The spring break game was played in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. The Lady Monarchs plated five runs i...
Panthers outlast North Union on varsity baseball diamond
Sports
Fairbanks’ Carson Reames (27) steals third base as North Union’s Peyton Davis awaits the throw. The Panthers edged North Union, 6-5, on Tuesday. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
Panthers outlast North Union on varsity baseball diamond
By Tim Miller 
April 2, 2026
There are times when a baseball game reveals the gritty nature of a team. Tuesday evening’s Fairbanks-North Union contest actually showed just how tough both squads played. The Panthers (1-0) won the ...
Auditor candidates address top issues
Local News, News
Auditor candidates address top issues
By Michael Williamson 
April 2, 2026
The Union County Auditor’s Office race will come down to two candidates in the primary election. Incumbent Andrea Weaver is looking to hold onto her seat as challenger Tanalee Stoll looks to challenge...
Commissioner hopefuls deliver details on platforms
Local News, News
Commissioner hopefuls deliver details on platforms
By Michael Williamson 
April 2, 2026
Three people are vying for the position of Union County Commissioner this May. The seat, currently held by Commissioner Dave Lawrence, will open up next year and residents Shaun Bailey, Letitia Rayl a...