Sports

Press photo/Will Woolever - Junior Jack Teesateskie drives toward the basket in Franklin’s last preseason scrimmage versus Hayesville Nov. 21. Teesateskie transferred to Franklin this summer from Cherokee, where he averaged more than 17 points per game for the Braves.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Junior Jack Teesateskie drives toward the basket in Franklin’s last preseason scrimmage versus Hayesville Nov. 21. Teesateskie transferred to Franklin this summer from Cherokee, where he averaged more than 17 points per game for the Braves.

Basketball scrimmages Hayesville

Will Woolever
Monday, November 25, 2024
Panther basketball’s regular season is at hand. After months of offseason workouts, Franklin played their last preseason scrimmage Nov. 21, hosting Hayesville on Tom Raby Court. In JV girls, varsity girls and varsity boys action, Franklin geared up for their first official games at Cherokee Nov.
Sophomore Joaquin Lopez dribbles upfield in Panther JV soccer’s season finale versus North Henderson Nov. 4. (Press file photo)

Sophomore Joaquin Lopez dribbles upfield in Panther JV soccer’s season finale versus North Henderson Nov. 4. (Press file photo)

JV soccer ends as one of M7’s top teams

News Staff
Monday, November 25, 2024
Panther JV men’s soccer seemed to improve as the season wore on. Between an extremely rigorous schedule and an unusually high rate of injury, the JV Panthers had a more difficult season than most. Despite their myriad challenges, they played their best in their biggest games.
Photo courtesy of Bryan Wilkinson - Macon Middle School men’s soccer; (back, from left): Jesus Lopez Altamirano, Gael Pacheco-Vasquez, Levi Johnson, Salvador Vazquez, Bray O’Donoghue, Samuel Antoine, Alan Zamudio; (middle row) Raylan Sunderhaus, Edgar Morales, Braylon Crisp, Aldair Zamora Reyes, Christian Garcia, Jose Acevedo, Pablo Odilon, William Altamirano, Abram Lynch; (front row) Grayson Hyder, Oliver Martinez, Ryan Anderson, Yael Altamirano, Taurino Martinez Cruz, Jacob Modlin

Photo courtesy of Bryan Wilkinson - Macon Middle School men’s soccer; (back, from left): Jesus Lopez Altamirano, Gael Pacheco-Vasquez, Levi Johnson, Salvador Vazquez, Bray O’Donoghue, Samuel Antoine, Alan Zamudio; (middle row) Raylan Sunderhaus, Edgar Morales, Braylon Crisp, Aldair Zamora Reyes, Christian Garcia, Jose Acevedo, Pablo Odilon, William Altamirano, Abram Lynch; (front row) Grayson Hyder, Oliver Martinez, Ryan Anderson, Yael Altamirano, Taurino Martinez Cruz, Jacob Modlin

MMS men’s soccer wins 3rd straight BRAC title

Will Woolever
Monday, November 25, 2024
Macon Middle School men’s soccer are conference champs for the third straight year. When former head coach Sam Vargas took over Franklin High School’s women’s team last spring, the MMS boys were forced to take on a new look.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Four of Franklin’s top female sprinters run the 55-meter dash at Swain County High School Nov. 20. From left are Michelle Ortega, Laura Covarrubias, Kai Pelletier and Anna Timan.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Four of Franklin’s top female sprinters run the 55-meter dash at Swain County High School Nov. 20. From left are Michelle Ortega, Laura Covarrubias, Kai Pelletier and Anna Timan.

Track opens winter season

Will Woolever
Monday, November 25, 2024
One of the state’s top 3A track and field programs is back in action. On the heels of the greatest-two-year run in program history, including two men’s state titles and five other top-four finishes, Franklin opened their winter season as a team at Swain Nov. 20.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Donated turkeys sit on a bed of ice ahead of delivery to the foodbank.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Donated turkeys sit on a bed of ice ahead of delivery to the foodbank.

Pickleballers donate Thanksgiving turkeys

News Staff
Tuesday, November 19, 2024
More than 60 local families will have a Thanksgiving turkey this year, thanks to Macon County’s pickleball community. At the first-ever Ed Cameron Memorial Fill the Freezer Pickleball Social, dozens of players gathered at Parker Meadows Nov. 14 to benefit Macon County CareNet.
Photo courtesy of Brooke Southard - Macon Middle School volleyball pictured. From left to right are (top row) Amy Tippet, Maydson Clarke, Sydney Johnson, Emmy Moffitt, Cecilia Torres, Aubrey Shope, Kinley Young, Abby Griffith, Hailey Bale, Skylar Lucas, Brooke Southard; (middle row) Chloe Lambert, Mckenna Seay, Jenna Lowe, Hayden Mallin, Maya Brinson, Ali Jones; (bottom row) Palmer Tallent, Lola Pendergrass, Molly Moeller, Alyssa Awtrey, Lexi Tallent.

Photo courtesy of Brooke Southard - Macon Middle School volleyball pictured. From left to right are (top row) Amy Tippet, Maydson Clarke, Sydney Johnson, Emmy Moffitt, Cecilia Torres, Aubrey Shope, Kinley Young, Abby Griffith, Hailey Bale, Skylar Lucas, Brooke Southard; (middle row) Chloe Lambert, Mckenna Seay, Jenna Lowe, Hayden Mallin, Maya Brinson, Ali Jones; (bottom row) Palmer Tallent, Lola Pendergrass, Molly Moeller, Alyssa Awtrey, Lexi Tallent.

MMS volleyball wins 3rd straight BRAC Championship

Will Woolever
Tuesday, November 19, 2024
Macon Middle School volleyball are conference champs for the third straight year. Upon taking over the program in spring 2022, head coach Brooke Southard led the team to two stellar years, accruing a 33-1 record and two Blue Ridge Athletic Conference titles.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Panther cheer and dance is pictured at a football playoff game at Statesville Nov. 15.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Panther cheer and dance is pictured at a football playoff game at Statesville Nov. 15.

Cheer earns 3rd straight Nationals bid

Will Woolever
Tuesday, November 19, 2024
Panther cheer and dance is nationals-bound for the third straight year. For the past several months Lynn Baker’s team has been hard at work, leading cheers at Panther home games and preparing routines for competition.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Junior Addix Sutton finds room to run at Statesville Nov. 15.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Junior Addix Sutton finds room to run at Statesville Nov. 15.

Football falls to Statesville

Will Woolever
Tuesday, November 19, 2024
Panther football’s year is at an end. After a strong regular season in which they accrued a 6-3 record, the upstart team earned the #19 seed in the 3A state playoffs. In a first-round matchup at #14 Statesville Nov. 15, Franklin fell 15-13 to end their 2024 campaign.
Picture 1 - Press photo/Will Woolever

Picture 1 - Press photo/Will Woolever

Powderpuff raises $2,000+ for FHS junior

Will Woolever
Tuesday, November 12, 2024
A Franklin High student can write off thousands of dollars in expenses, thanks to the school’s seventh annual Powderpuff football night. On Nov. 5, the school’s female athletes renewed a tradition unlike any other, pitting grade level against grade level in a flag football tournament.
Franklin’s top three distance runners are pictured at the 3A State Championship Meet in Kernersville Nov. 2. From left are sophomore Morgan Cress, senior Matheson Post and junior Amy Mendoza Lopez. (Photo courtesy of Melissa Ward)

Franklin’s top three distance runners are pictured at the 3A State Championship Meet in Kernersville Nov. 2. From left are sophomore Morgan Cress, senior Matheson Post and junior Amy Mendoza Lopez. (Photo courtesy of Melissa Ward)

Cross Country ends year at state

Will Woolever
Tuesday, November 12, 2024
Panther cross country has defied all expectations. At the 3A state meet in Kernersville Nov. 2, Franklin’s top three runners weren’t projected to light up the leaderboard, entering the meet ranked 60th, 88th and 150th.