Sports

(Press file photo) Amy Mendoza Lopez nears the mile mark for Panther cross country at the Cherokee Mother Town near Ela Sept. 18. The sophomore broke a school record in the 3,200-meter run at the New Balance Dash for Doobie meet near Winston-Salem Nov. 18.

(Press file photo) Amy Mendoza Lopez nears the mile mark for Panther cross country at the Cherokee Mother Town near Ela Sept. 18. The sophomore broke a school record in the 3,200-meter run at the New Balance Dash for Doobie meet near Winston-Salem Nov. 18.

Distance runners break records

Will Woolever
Tuesday, November 28, 2023
It’s been a busy few weeks for Panther distance runners. After ending their cross country season at the state meet Nov. 4, many team members jumped right into track and field, trading 5-kilometer treks over land for two-mile runs around a track. At the New Balance Dash for Doobie Nov.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Senior Jose Gomez (left) and sophomore Isaiah Baldwin dive off the block for the 100-yard butterfly at Franklin Health & Fitness Nov. 18.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Senior Jose Gomez (left) and sophomore Isaiah Baldwin dive off the block for the 100-yard butterfly at Franklin Health & Fitness Nov. 18.

Swimming kicks off 2023

Will Woolever
Tuesday, November 28, 2023
The reigning two-time swim and dive champions of the Mountain Seven are back in action. Through the conference’s first two years of existence, Franklin has dominated the pool, winning men’s and women’s titles at its championship meets in 2022 and earlier this year. In a Nov.
Junior Malaina Alberry locks horns with a wrestler from Enka in Franklin’s first home meet Nov. 16. (Press photo/Will Woolever)

Junior Malaina Alberry locks horns with a wrestler from Enka in Franklin’s first home meet Nov. 16. (Press photo/Will Woolever)

Wrestling opens season vs. Enka, Union

Will Woolever
Monday, November 20, 2023
The Mat Cats are back for another winter season. After taking over the program last year, head coach Coley Tyler has been hard at work, filling out the team’s roster and teaching Panther athletes the finer points of wrestling. Against two elite programs in Enka and Union County, Georgia Nov.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Goalkeeper Drew Hodges (center, wearing goggles) is mobbed by teammates, family and friends after a 10-round penalty shootout versus Polk to clinch a Blue Ridge Athletic Conference title.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Goalkeeper Drew Hodges (center, wearing goggles) is mobbed by teammates, family and friends after a 10-round penalty shootout versus Polk to clinch a Blue Ridge Athletic Conference title.

MMS boys soccer wins epic BRAC title match

Will Woolever
Monday, November 20, 2023
It’s been a good two seasons for Macon Middle School men’s soccer. After an unbeaten season and a Blue Ridge Athletic Conference title last fall, Sam Vargas’s team entered 2023 with a full head of steam.
Press photo/Will Woolever - From left, Jason Mesa, Wyatt Cantrell, Elijah Cochran, Justin Rodriguez and Zachary Call compete in the 55-meter dash at Swain Nov. 15.

Press photo/Will Woolever - From left, Jason Mesa, Wyatt Cantrell, Elijah Cochran, Justin Rodriguez and Zachary Call compete in the 55-meter dash at Swain Nov. 15.

Track qualifies 11 for state

Will Woolever
Monday, November 20, 2023
The reigning 3A Indoor Track State Champions are back in action. At last year’s state title meet, Franklin nearly swept the entire competition, defying prognosticators to place first in men’s scoring and a close second in the women’s. At the Polar Bear #1 meet at Swain County High School Nov.
Zach Tallent

Zach Tallent

Tallent discusses Banner season for MMS athletics

Will Woolever
Tuesday, November 14, 2023
An incredible run of success continues for Macon Middle School athletics. After a stellar 2022-23, in which MMS teams racked up eight conference titles and went a combined 113-7 in team sports, the Panthers have continued their stretch of dominance into 2023-24.
Press photo/Will Woolever - A gang of Panthers brings down a Waynesville ball carrier in the Blue Ridge Athletic Conference Championship Oct. 19. The MMS defense held opponents to just 44 points across seven games this fall.

Press photo/Will Woolever - A gang of Panthers brings down a Waynesville ball carrier in the Blue Ridge Athletic Conference Championship Oct. 19. The MMS defense held opponents to just 44 points across seven games this fall.

MMS football rolls over BRAC

Will Woolever
Tuesday, November 14, 2023
It’s been a good two years for Macon Middle School football. After an 8-0 season and a Blue Ridge Athletic Conference title in 2022, the Panthers faced a difficult challenge, losing a whopping 17 starters to eighth-grade graduation.
Freshman quarterback Anderson Terrell evades a defender in Franklin’s 35-26 win over T.C. Roberson Oct. 26. (Photo courtesy of Ronnie Vanhook)

Freshman quarterback Anderson Terrell evades a defender in Franklin’s 35-26 win over T.C. Roberson Oct. 26. (Photo courtesy of Ronnie Vanhook)

JV football finishes 7-2, looks ahead to ‘24

Will Woolever
Tuesday, November 14, 2023
The future looks bright for Panther football. Amid a tough season for the varsity team, Franklin’s JV squad showed plenty of promise, compiling a 7-2 record overall and going 5-2 in the Mountain Seven Conference. Recently, head coach Josh Brooks discussed his team’s strong finish to the season.
Photo courtesy of Lynn Baker - Panther cheer and dance are pictured with their second-place plaques at the Universal Cheerleaders’ Association Regional in Concord Nov. 4.

Photo courtesy of Lynn Baker - Panther cheer and dance are pictured with their second-place plaques at the Universal Cheerleaders’ Association Regional in Concord Nov. 4.

Cheer advances to Nationals

Will Woolever
Tuesday, November 14, 2023
Panther cheer and dance is headed to Nationals for the second straight year.
Photo courtesy of Ronnie Vanhook MMS volleyball is pictured with their Blue Ridge Athletic Conference Championship plaque after defeating Polk in the BRAC Final Oct. 23.

Photo courtesy of Ronnie Vanhook MMS volleyball is pictured with their Blue Ridge Athletic Conference Championship plaque after defeating Polk in the BRAC Final Oct. 23.

MMS volleyball goes unbeaten, claims BRAC title

Will Woolever
Tuesday, November 7, 2023
It’s been a good two years for Macon Middle School volleyball. After losing Blue Ridge Athletic Conference title games in 2020 and 2021, last year the team finally broke through, winning their first-ever BRAC Championship under first-year head coach Brooke Watson.