Sports

Press photo/Will Woolever - Senior outside/opposite hitter Talley Kinsland attempts a spike versus Cherokee Aug. 15 on Tom Raby Court.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Senior outside/opposite hitter Talley Kinsland attempts a spike versus Cherokee Aug. 15 on Tom Raby Court.

Volleyball starts season 3-0

Will Woolever
Tuesday, August 22, 2023
It’s three down, 17 to go for Panther volleyball. After months of preparation, on the week of Aug. 14 Franklin finally began their regular season, with nonconference matches against Robbinsville, Cherokee and Murphy. In dropping just one set all week, Bekah Brooks’ team kicked off 2023 with a bang.
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7 named All-M7C for Softball

Will Woolever
Tuesday, August 15, 2023
Panther softball had no shortage of talent in 2023. With nine All-Mountain Seven Conference players (seven First Team and two Honorable Mentions), six N.C.
Press file photo - Junior shortstop Ian Knepp throws to first versus A.C. Reynolds April 19 at McConnell Field.

Press file photo - Junior shortstop Ian Knepp throws to first versus A.C. Reynolds April 19 at McConnell Field.

Four named All-Mountain Seven for Panther baseball

Will Woolever
Tuesday, August 15, 2023
The arrow is trending up for Panther baseball. After a difficult 3-10 season in 2021, the past two years have seen steady improvement from the program, which has posted records of 9-9 and 11-10 in its first two years under head coach Jared Greenwood.
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Football readies for Week 1 vs. Murphy

Will Woolever
Tuesday, August 15, 2023
Panther football’s first regular season game is nigh. On the week of Aug. 7, Josh Brooks’ team geared up for a final week of preseason work, hosting scrimmages with Hayesville and Andrews at the Panther Pit.
Photo courtesy of Claire Ballard - Franklin Amateur Swim Team standouts (from left) Claire Ballard, Zoi Walker and Lana Walker are pictured at the Amateur Athletic Union Junior Olympics in Des Moines, Iowa.

Photo courtesy of Claire Ballard - Franklin Amateur Swim Team standouts (from left) Claire Ballard, Zoi Walker and Lana Walker are pictured at the Amateur Athletic Union Junior Olympics in Des Moines, Iowa.

FAST Fins recount Junior Olympics

Will Woolever
Tuesday, August 15, 2023
Three local swimmers have returned home from the nation’s most competitive amateur meet. Throughout the Franklin Amateur Swim Team season, Claire Ballard, Zoi Walker and Lana Walker have kept a close eye on their times, hoping to qualify for the Amateur Athletic Union Junior Olympics.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Freshman Dani Ledford sets a ball for her teammates in a preseason scrimmage July 26.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Freshman Dani Ledford sets a ball for her teammates in a preseason scrimmage July 26.

Freshmen impress for JV Volleyball

Will Woolever
Tuesday, August 1, 2023
The regular season draws near for Panther JV volleyball. For most of the past several weeks, Cindy Christie’s team has been hard at work, bringing this year’s freshmen into the fold and preparing for the fall campaign.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Senior setter/defensive specialist McCall Sanders pushes a ball over the net in a preseason scrimmage with T.C. Roberson at Smoky Mountain July 27.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Senior setter/defensive specialist McCall Sanders pushes a ball over the net in a preseason scrimmage with T.C. Roberson at Smoky Mountain July 27.

Varsity volleyball readies for fall

Will Woolever
Tuesday, August 1, 2023
Panther volleyball is less than two weeks out from the regular season. For much of the past two months, Bekah Brooks’ team has been hard at work, bringing a new crop of varsity players up to speed and preparing for the fall campaign.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Franklin Amateur Swim Team standouts Zoi Walker (left) and Claire Ballard compete in the girls 15-18 100-yard butterfly at the Mountain Swim League All-Star meet July 22.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Franklin Amateur Swim Team standouts Zoi Walker (left) and Claire Ballard compete in the girls 15-18 100-yard butterfly at the Mountain Swim League All-Star meet July 22.

FAST travels to Junior Olympics

Will Woolever
Tuesday, August 1, 2023
Three Franklin Amateur Swim Team athletes took part in a national meet last weekend. Throughout the Mountain Swim League season this summer, FAST’s best swimmers have kept track of their personal-best times, hoping to qualify for the Amatuer Athletic Union Junior Olympics.
Wylie Dilbeck competes in the boys 11-12 100-yard freestyle at the Mountain Swim League All-Star Meet in Sylva July 22.

Wylie Dilbeck competes in the boys 11-12 100-yard freestyle at the Mountain Swim League All-Star Meet in Sylva July 22.

FAST ends season at MSL All-Star meet

Will Woolever
Tuesday, July 25, 2023
Another stellar season has ended for the Franklin Amateur Swim Team.
Photo courtesy of Deena Carpenter - Franklin’s 8U baseball All-Stars are pictured on their home field at Parker Meadows, including Leighton Mason, Maddox Rostallon, Branson Carpenter, Gunner Crawford, Greyson Breedlove, Lincoln Cashion, William Daniels, Zachary Bogedain, Judah Savaiko, Gavin Fuller, Jared Estes and Brantley Monteith.

Photo courtesy of Deena Carpenter - Franklin’s 8U baseball All-Stars are pictured on their home field at Parker Meadows, including Leighton Mason, Maddox Rostallon, Branson Carpenter, Gunner Crawford, Greyson Breedlove, Lincoln Cashion, William Daniels, Zachary Bogedain, Judah Savaiko, Gavin Fuller, Jared Estes and Brantley Monteith.

8U baseball ends ’23 at state

Will Woolever
Tuesday, July 25, 2023
It was quite a season for Franklin’s 8U baseball All-Stars. After winning the N.C. District 5 Tournament last month, the team recently traveled to Wilson for the 8U Little League State Tournament.