Sports

Press photo/Will Woolever. Macon Middle School boys track and field shows off their Blue Ridge Athletic Conference Championship plaque.

Press photo/Will Woolever. Macon Middle School boys track and field shows off their Blue Ridge Athletic Conference Championship plaque.

MMS boys track claims BRAC title

Will Woolever
Tuesday, May 21, 2024
It was a good year for Macon Middle School track and field. At the Blue Ridge Conference Championship meet at Apple Valley Middle School May 7, nearly a dozen  WNC teams gathered to administer bragging rights for the year.
Photo submitted. Franklin High School students Taylor Thomas (left) and Evan Lampkin are pictured at the USA Powerlifting High School Nationals in Baton Rouge last month.

Photo submitted. Franklin High School students Taylor Thomas (left) and Evan Lampkin are pictured at the USA Powerlifting High School Nationals in Baton Rouge last month.

Lifters excel at USAPL Nationals

Will Woolever
Tuesday, May 21, 2024
A pair of local athletes have burst onto the national powerlifting scene. For the past two-plus years, Taylor Thomas and Evan Lampkin have tested the limits of human musculature, quickly becoming two of the southeast’s strongest high schoolers.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Freshman Anna Stiles makes contact with a pitch versus West Henderson April 30.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Freshman Anna Stiles makes contact with a pitch versus West Henderson April 30.

JV softball churns out more hitters

Will Woolever
Tuesday, May 14, 2024
It’s been a solid year for Franklin JV softball. While their varsity counterparts garner all the headlines, the JV Panthers quietly toil away, waiting patiently in the wings for their own shot at stardom.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Senior Avery Moffitt makes a beautiful catch in center field versus North Iredell May 7.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Senior Avery Moffitt makes a beautiful catch in center field versus North Iredell May 7.

Softball falls to N. Iredell, ends year

Will Woolever
Tuesday, May 14, 2024
Another year is in the books for Panther softball. Having ended the regular season as the 13th-ranked team in the 3A West, on Tuesday, May 7 Franklin began their state playoff journey. In a narrow loss to #20 North Iredell, the team brought their 2024 campaign to a close.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Sophomore Tanner Jones tees off on Hole 10 at Sky Valley Country Club during the Mountain Seven Conference Tournament April 22.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Sophomore Tanner Jones tees off on Hole 10 at Sky Valley Country Club during the Mountain Seven Conference Tournament April 22.

Golf ends season at Regionals

Will Woolever
Tuesday, May 14, 2024
It was another year to remember for Panther men’s golf. Throughout the spring campaign Franklin boasted a strong roster from top to bottom, to the point where head coach Ryan Raby was hard-pressed to choose the team’s lineup.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Sophomore goalkeeper Carramia Anthony-Ramos corrals a ball versus West Henderson at Macon Middle School May 7.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Sophomore goalkeeper Carramia Anthony-Ramos corrals a ball versus West Henderson at Macon Middle School May 7.

Soccer headed to 3A state playoffs

Will Woolever
Tuesday, May 14, 2024
Panther women’s soccer is through to the postseason. Entering their last match of the regular season, Franklin stood at 33rd in the 3A West Rankings, just one spot shy of the region’s 32-team playoff field.
Panther women’s track and field is pictured with their Regional Champion plaque at the 3A West title meet at A.C. Reynolds May 11.

Panther women’s track and field is pictured with their Regional Champion plaque at the 3A West title meet at A.C. Reynolds May 11.

Track places 1st, 2nd in 3A West

Will Woolever
Tuesday, May 14, 2024
Panther track and field are the top program overall in the 3A West. After placing first on the women’s side and second on the men’s at the Mountain Seven Conference Championships April 30, on May 11 Franklin traveled to A.C. Reynolds for the 3A West Regional meet.
Junior Charley Seagle competes in the shot put at Rabun Gap April 13. (Press photo/Will Woolever)

Junior Charley Seagle competes in the shot put at Rabun Gap April 13. (Press photo/Will Woolever)

Women’s track wins M7C title

Will Woolever
Tuesday, May 7, 2024
The Panther women’s track and field team is the Mountain Seven Conference Champion. On Tuesday, April 30 the team traveled to North Henderson to kick off their postseason with the M7C title meet. Ahead of the 3A West Regional at A.C.
Senior Olivia Birchard slides back into first base versus North Henderson April 23. (Press photo/Will Woolever)

Senior Olivia Birchard slides back into first base versus North Henderson April 23. (Press photo/Will Woolever)

Softball seeded 13th in 3A West playoffs

Will Woolever
Tuesday, May 7, 2024
Panther softball has advanced to the 3A state playoffs. On the week of April 29 Franklin had just two more games on the schedule, including a de facto Mountain Seven Conference title game with West Henderson. In falling to West but routing T.C.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Junior Cole Martin tees off on Hole 10 at Sky Valley Country Club in the first round of the Mountain Seven Conference Tournament April 22. The ball is visible between two spectators to Martin’s right.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Junior Cole Martin tees off on Hole 10 at Sky Valley Country Club in the first round of the Mountain Seven Conference Tournament April 22. The ball is visible between two spectators to Martin’s right.

Golf advances to West Regional

Will Woolever
Tuesday, May 7, 2024
Panther men’s golf is through to the 3A West Regional. Entering the final round of the Mountain Seven Tournament, Franklin ranked second on the conference leaderboard, traveling to Springdale Country Club April 29 for the last 18 holes.