Sports

Press photo/Will Woolever - Panther women’s cross country leaves the starting line at the Cherokee Mother Town near Bryson City Sept. 13. From left are Amy Mendoza Lopez, Morgan Cress, Mindi Holbrooks, Breanna Pendergrass and Abigail Pope.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Panther women’s cross country leaves the starting line at the Cherokee Mother Town near Bryson City Sept. 13. From left are Amy Mendoza Lopez, Morgan Cress, Mindi Holbrooks, Breanna Pendergrass and Abigail Pope.

Cross country girls win at Kituwah

Will Woolever
Tuesday, September 16, 2025
Panther women’s cross country are winners of their second straight meet. After claiming a team title at the WNC Carnival in Hendersonville Aug. 23, on Sept. 13 the team traveled to the Cherokee Mother Town for the Keith Payne Memorial Invitational.
Junior Shelby Adams makes a difficult save versus Smoky Mountain Sept. 9. (Press photo/Will Woolever)

Junior Shelby Adams makes a difficult save versus Smoky Mountain Sept. 9. (Press photo/Will Woolever)

Volleyball Claims the Crown at Crest

News Staff
Tuesday, September 16, 2025
Panther volleyball is halfway through their regular season. Starting Saturday, Sept. 6, Franklin faced a jam-packed week, playing six matches in five days including two in the Mountain Eight Conference.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Senior Payton King eyes the end zone on an 18-yard touchdown reception in Franklin’s 59-0 rout of East Henderson Sept. 11.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Senior Payton King eyes the end zone on an 18-yard touchdown reception in Franklin’s 59-0 rout of East Henderson Sept. 11.

Football routs East Henderson

Will Woolever
Tuesday, September 16, 2025
Sports Editor’s note: Due to ongoing renovations to the Panther Pit at Franklin High School, Panther football is playing their “home” games this season in E.J. Whitmire Stadium at Western Carolina University. Panther football’s first conference win is in hand.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Senior Marlee Barnes (left) serves while Clara Stork guards the net in Franklin’s #1 doubles match versus Rabun Gap Sept. 3.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Senior Marlee Barnes (left) serves while Clara Stork guards the net in Franklin’s #1 doubles match versus Rabun Gap Sept. 3.

Women’s tennis earns first wins

Will Woolever
Tuesday, September 9, 2025
Panther women’s tennis have earned their first wins of the season. While crews resurfaced the Macon County Rec Park courts this summer, the team was forced to begin their regular season on the road, losing their first two matches as they waited for their home venue to be completed.
Photo courtesy of Jennifer Oetting - Swain County High School junior Carden Oetting is pictured at the International Canoe Federation Junior World Championships in Foix, France, earlier this year.

Photo courtesy of Jennifer Oetting - Swain County High School junior Carden Oetting is pictured at the International Canoe Federation Junior World Championships in Foix, France, earlier this year.

Local paddler places in Junior World Finals

Will Woolever
Tuesday, September 9, 2025
Bryson City continues to produce some of the world’s top paddling talent. For the past several years Evy Leibfarth has put the region on the map, winning bronze at last year’s Paris Olympics in Women’s Canoe Slalom Singles.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Senior captain Addix Sutton intercepts a Devil pass during Franklin’s 45-27 win at Swain Sept. 5.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Senior captain Addix Sutton intercepts a Devil pass during Franklin’s 45-27 win at Swain Sept. 5.

Football routs Devils at Swain

Will Woolever
Tuesday, September 9, 2025
Panther football has earned its second straight win. One week after beating Robbinsville 28-7, on Friday, Sept. 5, the Panthers traveled to Bryson City for another nonconference game with Swain.
Press photo/Will Woolever. Junior center back Malik Walker heads a ball away from danger versus Hendersonville at Macon Middle School Aug. 27.

Press photo/Will Woolever. Junior center back Malik Walker heads a ball away from danger versus Hendersonville at Macon Middle School Aug. 27.

Men’s soccer wins thriller at MMS

Will Woolever
Tuesday, September 2, 2025
Panther men’s soccer is rounding into midseason form. Having earned their first-ever win under Bryan Wilkinson Aug. 14, the new head coach and his team continued their early-season gauntlet, facing some of their toughest nonconference foes in the region.
Press photo/Will Woolever. Sophomore Bristol Brooks makes a difficult diving save versus Asheville Independent School Aug. 25.

Press photo/Will Woolever. Sophomore Bristol Brooks makes a difficult diving save versus Asheville Independent School Aug. 25.

Volleyball tied for 1st in M8C

Will Woolever
Tuesday, September 2, 2025
Panther volleyball is tied for first in the Mountain Eight. After routing East Henderson in their first conference match, on the week of Aug. 25 Franklin continued their M8 schedule, traveling to face rivals Brevard and Pisgah.
Press photo/Will Woolever. Sophomore running back Paxton Sutton stiff-arms a defender on the opening kickoff at Robbinsville Aug. 29.

Press photo/Will Woolever. Sophomore running back Paxton Sutton stiff-arms a defender on the opening kickoff at Robbinsville Aug. 29.

Football routs Robbinsville for 1st win

Will Woolever
Tuesday, September 2, 2025
Panther football is in the win column. After a disappointing loss to Murphy to start the season, on Aug. 29 the team traveled to Robbinsville for Week 2. In routing the Black Knights 28-7, Franklin improved their record to 1-1.
Sophomore Ella Raby keeps a ball in play during Franklin’s preseason scrimmager versus Cherokee Aug. 6. (Press file photo)

Sophomore Ella Raby keeps a ball in play during Franklin’s preseason scrimmager versus Cherokee Aug. 6. (Press file photo)

Volleyball earns first M8C win

Will Woolever
Tuesday, August 26, 2025
Panther volleyball has earned their first conference win. After winning their first two matches of the year at Hayesville and Enka, on the week of Aug. 18 Franklin continued their early-season road trip, traveling to King’s Mountain and to Mountain Eight foe East Henderson.