Sports

Senior Logan Guynn forehands a ball in Franklin’s second-round playoff matchup versus West Henderson Oct. 23 (Press photo/Will Woolever)

Senior Logan Guynn forehands a ball in Franklin’s second-round playoff matchup versus West Henderson Oct. 23 (Press photo/Will Woolever)

Historic run ends for tennis

News Staff
Tuesday, November 7, 2023
A historic season is over for Panther women’s tennis. After playing in the 3A State Doubles Championship Oct. 27, Laura Holland, Lydia Holland, Logan Guynn and Maci Stork had little time to rest, returning home for the Dual Team State Quarterfinals just three days later.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Freshman Danni Ledford lifts a ball over the net in the Mountain Seven Conference JV Final versus Pisgah Oct. 18.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Freshman Danni Ledford lifts a ball over the net in the Mountain Seven Conference JV Final versus Pisgah Oct. 18.

JV Volleyball named Mountain Seven champions

Will Woolever
Tuesday, October 31, 2023
Panther JV volleyball is the champion of the Mountain Seven Conference. After falling to West Henderson in last year’s conference final, Franklin entered the fall season on a mission, racking up the Mountain Seven’s best record at 20-1. At the conference tournament in Sylva Oct.
Senior Logan Russo is pictured after winning the 3A West Regional Cross Country Championship in Mortganton Oct. 28 (Photo courtesy of Melissa Ward)

Senior Logan Russo is pictured after winning the 3A West Regional Cross Country Championship in Mortganton Oct. 28 (Photo courtesy of Melissa Ward)

Russo wins Regional, XC readies for state

Will Woolever
Tuesday, October 31, 2023
Panther cross country have punched their tickets to state. After nearly sweeping the Mountain Seven Conference Championships in Hendersonville Oct. 17, on Oct. 28 Franklin traveled to Morganton for the 3A West Regional Meet.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Juniors Abigail Angel (left) and Kate Phillips are pictured in the No. 1 doubles match vs. Atkins Oct. 25

Press photo/Will Woolever - Juniors Abigail Angel (left) and Kate Phillips are pictured in the No. 1 doubles match vs. Atkins Oct. 25

Tennis advances to state semis

Will Woolever
Tuesday, October 31, 2023
A season for the record books continues for Panther women’s tennis. After routing Central Cabarrus in Round 1 of the Dual Team State Playoffs, Heather Bell’s squad faced a jam-packed week of Oct. 23, with Day 2 of the 3A West Individual Tournament and two more rounds of Dual Team action.
Press graphic

Press graphic

Football grounded by talented Falcons

Will Woolever
Tuesday, October 24, 2023
It was tough week for Panther football. After a one-point home loss to Smoky Mountain the previous week, on Oct. 20 the team traveled to West Henderson for a difficult matchup with the 8-0 Falcons.
Press graphic

Press graphic

Soccer picks up big M7 wins over Smoky, North

Will Woolever
Tuesday, October 24, 2023
Panther men’s soccer has picked up two big conference wins. On the week of Oct. 16, the team faced two of their last regular-season games: a home date with North Henderson and a trip to Smoky Mountain.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Senior McCall Sanders sets a ball for teammates in the Mountain Seven Semifinal versus Smoky Mountain Oct. 16.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Senior McCall Sanders sets a ball for teammates in the Mountain Seven Semifinal versus Smoky Mountain Oct. 16.

Volleyball rolls into playoffs

Will Woolever
Tuesday, October 24, 2023
Panther volleyball’s quest for a state title continues. On the week of Oct. 16, Bekah Brooks’ team faced a busy slate of games, traveling to Sylva for the Mountain Seven Conference Tournament and hosting Round 1 of the 3A State Playoffs.
Promising freshman Morgan Cress nears the finish line in a meet at the Cherokee Mother Town near Ela last month. As the first female Panther finisher, Cress placed fifth out of 71 runners at the Mountain Seven Conference Championship meet in Hendersonville Oct. 17, earning All-Conference honors in the process. (Press file photo)

Promising freshman Morgan Cress nears the finish line in a meet at the Cherokee Mother Town near Ela last month. As the first female Panther finisher, Cress placed fifth out of 71 runners at the Mountain Seven Conference Championship meet in Hendersonville Oct. 17, earning All-Conference honors in the process. (Press file photo)

XC boys earn M7C title, girls finish 2nd

Will Woolever
Tuesday, October 24, 2023
Panther men’s cross country is the Mountain Seven Conference Champion. On Oct. 17, the conference gathered at Jackson Park in Hendersonville to kick off the postseason and dole out bragging rights for the year.
3A West Doubles Finalists (from left) Lydia Holland, Logan Guynn, Maci Stork and Laura Holland show off their medals from the regional tournament Oct. 21-23. As the top two pairs in the region, they’ll receive favorable seeds in the 3A State Doubles tourney in Burlington Oct. 27-28.

3A West Doubles Finalists (from left) Lydia Holland, Logan Guynn, Maci Stork and Laura Holland show off their medals from the regional tournament Oct. 21-23. As the top two pairs in the region, they’ll receive favorable seeds in the 3A State Doubles tourney in Burlington Oct. 27-28.

Hollands win 3A West Doubles title

Will Woolever
Tuesday, October 24, 2023
For the second straight year, a Franklin pair are 3A West Doubles Champions. After wrapping up their second straight 14-0 regular season, on the week of Oct. 16 Franklin dove headfirst into the postseason, with Round 1 of the Dual Team State Playoffs and the 3A West Individual Tournament.