Sports

Press photo/Will Woolever - Senior Jaydon Pevia makes a run upfield against Pisgah Oct. 11.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Senior Jaydon Pevia makes a run upfield against Pisgah Oct. 11.

Soccer beats West, falls to Pisgah at home

Panther men’s soccer will not repeat as conference champions. Entering the week of Oct. 11, last year’s Mountain Seven winners faced long odds of defending their title, sitting in fourth with a 3-4 conference record.
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XC prepares for M7C title meet

The regular season is at an end for Panther cross country. On Wednesday, Oct. 11, Melissa Ward’s team traveled to the Canton Sports Complex for the Mountaineer Invitational hosted by Tuscola.
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Volleyball prepares for M7C tourney

The regular season is at an end for Panther volleyball. After their thrilling win over West Henderson to secure a Mountain Seven Conference title Oct. 5, Franklin had just one match remaining in the regular season. In a 3-1 win over Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School Oct.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Junior tailback Braydon Hervey follows his blockers versus Smoky Mountain at the Panther Pit Oct. 13. The game may have been the last for the team in the stadium as county leaders discuss renovations to Franklin High School.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Junior tailback Braydon Hervey follows his blockers versus Smoky Mountain at the Panther Pit Oct. 13. The game may have been the last for the team in the stadium as county leaders discuss renovations to Franklin High School.

Smoky edges out football

The Mustang flag will fly over Cowee Mountain for another year. Amid a tough season for both teams, on Friday, Oct. 13 Franklin welcomed Smoky Mountain to the Panther Pit to renew an age-old rivalry.
Photo courtesy of Heather Bell - Franklin’s top six singles players are pictured at the Mountain Seven Conference Tournament in Hendersonville. From left are Kate Phillips, Abigail Angel, Logan Guynn, Maci Stork, Laura Holland and Lydia Holland.

Photo courtesy of Heather Bell - Franklin’s top six singles players are pictured at the Mountain Seven Conference Tournament in Hendersonville. From left are Kate Phillips, Abigail Angel, Logan Guynn, Maci Stork, Laura Holland and Lydia Holland.

Tennis nearly sweeps Conference Tournament

Out of six semifinalists in the Mountain Seven Tournament, five represented Panther women’s tennis. After wrapping up their second-straight unbeaten regular season, on Oct. 11 the 14-0 Panthers traveled to Jackson Park in Hendersonville for the conference individual championships.
Senior left back Jaydon Pevia fights for possession against Smoky Mountain Sept. 25 at the Panther Pit. (Press photo/Will Woolever)

Senior left back Jaydon Pevia fights for possession against Smoky Mountain Sept. 25 at the Panther Pit. (Press photo/Will Woolever)

Soccer falls to East, drops to 3-4 in conference

It’s been a tough few weeks for Panther men’s soccer. After opening their conference schedule with a pair of Mountain Seven wins, Franklin dropped three of their next four games to fall to the middle of the pack. With a 3-1 loss to East Henderson Oct.

XC scopes out M7C course

Panther cross country have their sights set on another conference title. At the Mountain Seven Pre-Conference meet in Hendersonville Oct. 4, the conference gathered at the city’s Jackson Park for a kind of dress rehearsal. Ahead of the actual championship at the same venue Oct.
Franklin native Canyon Woodward climbs a steep alpine pass in the Ultra Trail du-Mont Blanc trail race last month. (Photo submitted)

Franklin native Canyon Woodward climbs a steep alpine pass in the Ultra Trail du-Mont Blanc trail race last month. (Photo submitted)

Woodward places 29th at Mont Blanc race

WNC’s premiere ultramarathoner is rapidly climbing the world rankings. For the past few years, Franklin native Canyon Woodward has traveled the world in search of its toughest trail races, traversing hundreds of miles of difficult terrain against some of the world’s best distance trail runners.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Head coach Bekah Brooks passes out “2023 Conference Champion” T-shirts to her team following their title-clinching home win over West Henderson Oct. 5.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Head coach Bekah Brooks passes out “2023 Conference Champion” T-shirts to her team following their title-clinching home win over West Henderson Oct. 5.

Football improves in loss to North

Panther volleyball is the champion of the Mountain Seven Conference. Heading into the week of Oct. 2, Bekah Brooks’ team boasted a 9-1 record in the M7C, tied for first with West Henderson with two conference matches to play.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Sisters Laura and Lydia Holland are pictured in a doubles match versus West Henderson on Senior Night Oct. 4.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Sisters Laura and Lydia Holland are pictured in a doubles match versus West Henderson on Senior Night Oct. 4.

Tennis completes second straight unbeaten year

Panther women’s tennis has gone unbeaten once again. After a historic 2022, in which they went 14-0 in the regular season and played in the 3A state semifinals, Heather Bell’s team entered the fall season with great expectations.