Sports

Press file photo - (From left) Abigail Pope, Mindi Holbrooks and Amy Mendoza Lopez are pictured in Franklin’s season-opening meet at Macon Middle School Aug. 13.

Press file photo - (From left) Abigail Pope, Mindi Holbrooks and Amy Mendoza Lopez are pictured in Franklin’s season-opening meet at Macon Middle School Aug. 13.

Mendoza Lopez wins XC Carnival Invitational

Will Woolever
Tuesday, August 26, 2025
Panther cross country has started their year with a win. On Saturday, Aug. 23, the team traveled to Jackson Park in Hendersonville for the WNC Carnival, the area’s largest kickoff meet of the season.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Sophomore fullback Garrett Young (right) carries the ball versus Murphy in Franklin’s season opener at Western Carolina University Aug. 22. Young racked up 125 yards on 27 attempts against the Bulldogs.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Sophomore fullback Garrett Young (right) carries the ball versus Murphy in Franklin’s season opener at Western Carolina University Aug. 22. Young racked up 125 yards on 27 attempts against the Bulldogs.

Football falls to Murphy at WCU

Will Woolever
Tuesday, August 26, 2025
Panther football has kicked off a unique season. Amid major renovations to the Panther Pit, on Aug. 22 they began their regular season, hosting Murphy at Western Carolina University. In their first of five “home” games scheduled at WCU, Franklin fell 29-16.
Press file photo - Junior Audrey Pressley sends a shot over the net in Franklin’s preseason scrimmage versus Cherokee Aug. 6.

Press file photo - Junior Audrey Pressley sends a shot over the net in Franklin’s preseason scrimmage versus Cherokee Aug. 6.

Volleyball opens year with wins

Will Woolever
Tuesday, August 19, 2025
Panther volleyball has started their year with a bang. After months of offseason work, on the week of Aug. 11 the team began their regular season, traveling to Hayesville and Enka for nonconference matches.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Sophomore Arturo Soto (right) watches his shot sail into the net in Franklin’s home opener versus Highlands Aug. 14.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Sophomore Arturo Soto (right) watches his shot sail into the net in Franklin’s home opener versus Highlands Aug. 14.

Men’s soccer earns first win under Wilkinson

Will Woolever
Tuesday, August 19, 2025
A new era is underway for Panther men’s soccer. When new head coach Bryan Wilkinson took over this offseason, he brought with him an impressive resume, spanning three decades at the middle, high and college levels.
Panther cross country leaves the starting line in the FHS 2-Miler Aug. 13, the program’s first home meet since completion of the new Macon Middle School track.

Panther cross country leaves the starting line in the FHS 2-Miler Aug. 13, the program’s first home meet since completion of the new Macon Middle School track.

Cross country hosts long-awaited meet

Will Woolever
Tuesday, August 19, 2025
It’s been a long time coming for Panther cross country. With their own facilities in disrepair and few other suitable venues nearby, the program has hosted precious few home meets in the past several years. Following completion of the new Macon Middle School track this spring, on Aug.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Junior Anna Stiles makes a difficult diving save in Franklin’s preseason scrimmage versus Cherokee Aug. 6.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Junior Anna Stiles makes a difficult diving save in Franklin’s preseason scrimmage versus Cherokee Aug. 6.

Volleyball scrimmages Cherokee

Will Woolever
Tuesday, August 12, 2025
The regular season is at hand for Panther volleyball. On Wednesday, Aug. 6 the program welcomed Cherokee to Macon Middle School, for their final preseason scrimmage ahead of the start of the regular season.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Junior quarterback Anderson Terrell targets senior running back Addix Sutton in Franklin’s preseason scrimmage at Rabun County Aug. 8.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Junior quarterback Anderson Terrell targets senior running back Addix Sutton in Franklin’s preseason scrimmage at Rabun County Aug. 8.

Football scrimmages Rabun

Will Woolever
Tuesday, August 12, 2025
Panther football has received its first live “game” action. On Aug. 8, the team traveled to Rabun County High School for their first preseason scrimmage. After a back-and-forth contest with the Wildcats, Franklin stood just two weeks away from their regular-season opener.
Photo courtesy of Lynn Baker - Panther cheer and dance shows of their Top Banana award at the Universal Cheerleaders’ Association team camp in Concord recently.

Photo courtesy of Lynn Baker - Panther cheer and dance shows of their Top Banana award at the Universal Cheerleaders’ Association team camp in Concord recently.

Cheer named top team at UCA camp

Will Woolever
Tuesday, August 12, 2025
Before the school year even starts, Panther cheer and dance is racking up hardware. On the week of July 28, the team traveled to Great Wolf Lodge in Concord for its annual Universal Cheerleaders Association team camp, attracting squads from across the Southeast for four days of intensive training.
(Press photo/Will Woolever) Then-junior Addix Sutton finds room to run in Franklin’s state playoff football game at Statesville last November.

(Press photo/Will Woolever) Then-junior Addix Sutton finds room to run in Franklin’s state playoff football game at Statesville last November.

Panthers prepare for fall season

Will Woolever
Tuesday, August 5, 2025
The 2025-26 season is at hand. Ahead of their first official contests Aug. 11, Franklin’s fall sports teams have been hard at work in preparation, training, practicing and scrimmaging other teams throughout the summer.
(Press photo/Will Woolever) Gale Helix uses the rowing machine at MoveMore Fitness recently during a private session with gym owner Matt Harlfinger.

(Press photo/Will Woolever) Gale Helix uses the rowing machine at MoveMore Fitness recently during a private session with gym owner Matt Harlfinger.

Helix overcomes injuries, defies adversity

Will Woolever
Tuesday, August 5, 2025
A local septuagenarian is inspiring fellow gymgoers. As the matriarch of MoveMore Fitness, Gale Helix has spent the past several years defying the odds, continuing to thrive decades longer than doctors thought she’d live. Far from a medical miracle however, she says her secret is simple.