Sports

Alyssa Quirk/Asheville Tourists. The Asheville Tourists stadium with a view of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the surrounding city.

Alyssa Quirk/Asheville Tourists. The Asheville Tourists stadium with a view of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the surrounding city.

Why WNC is a great place for baseball fans

News Staff
Tuesday, July 23, 2024
Cannon Crompton sports@cherokeescout.com   Despite not having a professional baseball team in Western North Carolina, this area is secretly a great spot for fans of America’s favorite pastime.
Press file photo. Then-junior Laura Holland makes an excellent over-the-shoulder catch at Macon Middle School last year.

Press file photo. Then-junior Laura Holland makes an excellent over-the-shoulder catch at Macon Middle School last year.

9 named All-M7C for softball

News Staff
Tuesday, July 23, 2024
Once again, Panther softball had some of the best talent in the mountains this year.
Photo submitted. Franklin’s Kimberly Kate Jakushev shows off her First Place Overall trophy at last year’s 80s Flashback 5K.

Photo submitted. Franklin’s Kimberly Kate Jakushev shows off her First Place Overall trophy at last year’s 80s Flashback 5K.

80s 5K to raise funds for Shriners

(not verified)
Tuesday, July 23, 2024
The first weekend in August is all about “nothin but a good time” for a good cause. Celebrating its 10th year in 2024, 80s Flashback Weekend is an annual fundraiser for Shriners Children’s Hospital in Greenville, South Carolina.
Press photo/Vickie Carpenter. FAST’s Izabelle Scruggs dives off the block for the girls 13-14 50-yard freestyle at the Mountain Swim League All-Star meet in Sylva July 20.

Press photo/Vickie Carpenter. FAST’s Izabelle Scruggs dives off the block for the girls 13-14 50-yard freestyle at the Mountain Swim League All-Star meet in Sylva July 20.

FAST ends season at All-Stars

Will Woolever
Tuesday, July 23, 2024
The season is at an end for the Franklin Amatuer Swim Team. Having secured an incredible 20th straight league title at the Mountain Swim League Championships the week before, on July 20 FAST’s most elite swimmers traveled to Sylva for the MSL All-Star meet.
Press file photo - Then-junior Max McClure looks for an outlet pass versus Rabun County last December. McClure enters his senior season as one of just three men in Panther history with 1,000 career points.

Press file photo - Then-junior Max McClure looks for an outlet pass versus Rabun County last December. McClure enters his senior season as one of just three men in Panther history with 1,000 career points.

Three named All-Conference for men’s hoops

Will Woolever
Tuesday, July 16, 2024
Panther men’s hoops boasted some of the best talent in the mountains this year.
Press file photo - Avery Moffitt (left) and Aubrey Haley fight for a rebound versus Smoky Mountain last January.

Press file photo - Avery Moffitt (left) and Aubrey Haley fight for a rebound versus Smoky Mountain last January.

4 named All-M7C for girls hoops

Will Woolever
Tuesday, July 16, 2024
Panther women’s hoops boasted some of the best talent in the mountains this year.
Press photo/Will Woolever - FAST’s Gabriel Ostojic (front) and Thatcher Daniels race to a close finish in the boys 13-14 100-yard breaststroke at the Mountain Swim League Championship meet July 13.

Press photo/Will Woolever - FAST’s Gabriel Ostojic (front) and Thatcher Daniels race to a close finish in the boys 13-14 100-yard breaststroke at the Mountain Swim League Championship meet July 13.

Two decades of dominance

Will Woolever
Tuesday, July 16, 2024
The Franklin Amateur Swim Team has earned its 20th straight league title. After completing their 16th straight unbeaten season the week before, on July 13 the FAST Fins returned to the Macon County Rec Park for the year’s biggest meet.
Press file photo - Senior Aaron Jennings evades an East Henderson defender at the Panther Pit last September.

Press file photo - Senior Aaron Jennings evades an East Henderson defender at the Panther Pit last September.

5 named All-M7C for men’s soccer

Will Woolever
Tuesday, July 9, 2024
Once again, Panther men’s soccer had some of the best talent in the mountains this year. At the end of the fall campaign, in which Matt Kolodzik’s team turned in their fifth-straight winning record at 12-8, Mountain Seven Conference coaches gathered for their annual postseason meeting.
Press photo/Will Woolever - (From left) Stephen Drake, Johnny Lee and Dr. Rocky Battaglino pump iron at Franklin Health and Fitness recently. The trio meets twice a week to bust out nearly 2,000 pushups and flys.

Press photo/Will Woolever - (From left) Stephen Drake, Johnny Lee and Dr. Rocky Battaglino pump iron at Franklin Health and Fitness recently. The trio meets twice a week to bust out nearly 2,000 pushups and flys.

Local trio tests strength, endurance limits

Will Woolever
Tuesday, July 9, 2024
Three local residents are testing the lengths of their own strength and endurance. For much of the past year, Stephen Drake, Johnny Lee and Dr. Rocky Battaglino have met twice a week at Franklin Health and Fitness, pumping out thousands of pushups and flys [repetitive dumbbell movements] at a clip.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Swimmers leave their starting blocks for the 9-10 boys 50-yard backstroke at the Macon County Rec Park July 2.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Swimmers leave their starting blocks for the 9-10 boys 50-yard backstroke at the Macon County Rec Park July 2.

FAST ends season unbeaten

Will Woolever
Tuesday, July 9, 2024
The Franklin Amateur Swim Team has completed its 16th straight unbeaten campaign. Having won their first three contests of the year, FAST ended its regular season with two meets in less than a week.