Rosman High Has Strong Sports Tradition

1933 Rosman High School basketball teams.

Sports have a strong tradition at Rosman High School.  While early records and statistics are difficult to find Rosman High had basketball teams by the mid-1920s.  A January 21, 1926 newspaper article mentions the boys’ team being defeated by Brevard High while the girls’ team won their game against Brevard.

Rosman fielded its first football team in 1959 with Bill Cathey as the head coach.  During Cathey’s 10 seasons the Tigers compiled a record of 52-39-7.  They were named co-champions of the Pisgah Conference in 1964 and co-champions of the Appalachian Conference in 1968.  Coach Jim Fox, who led Rosman during two stints as head coach (1980-1983 and 1997-2006) has the most wins (88) and most games (170) with the Tigers.

For several years in the 1970s and 1980s Rosman High held an annual powderpuff football game.  Two teams of girls would compete in flag football.  In a change of roles the boys served as cheerleaders.  One former participant remembers it as a fun-filled evening with support from the entire community.

 

1954 Rosman High School cheerleaders--Polly Petit, Sylvia Robinson, Joann Hall and Hope Owen.

Rosman High fielded its first baseball team in 1965, track & field started in 1973.  Girls gained two new sports during the 1976-77 school year with the addition of volleyball and softball.  Wrestling began in 1985, cross country in 1989 and a golf team was formed in 1999. 

In 2002 Rosman captured its first state championship in any team sport when the volleyball team defeated Midway High School for the 1-A title.  They finished the season with a record of 33-2.  Their trophy will be on display at the Library throughout the Hometown Teams exhibit.

Information on athletics was gathered from newspaper articles, the Rosman High School football statistics website and high school annuals.  The Local History Room at the Library still needs copies of several Rosman High annuals, including 1949, 1952, 1953, 1960, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1972, 1973, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2002 and 2003.  If you would like to donate any of these to the Library please contact the Local History Room.

Today Rosman High athletes participate in baseball, basketball, cheerleading, cross country, football, golf, softball, track & field, volleyball and wrestling. 

Go out and cheer for the Tigers this coming Friday evening when they take on Hayesville in the 2015 Homecoming game.

Photographs and information for this column are provided by the Rowell Bosse North Carolina Room, Transylvania County Library.  Visit the NC Room during regular library hours (Monday-Friday) to learn more about our history and see additional photographs.  For more information, comments or suggestions contact Marcy at marcy.thompson@transylvaniacounty.org or 828-884-3151 X242.