Sports

Press file photo - Hannah Angel is highly motivated to earn a college scholarship.

Press file photo - Hannah Angel is highly motivated to earn a college scholarship.

Pain is only temporary for Angel

Andy Scheidler
Tuesday, March 31, 2020
Some days, the motivation to work out and practice is very high for Hannah Angel. Other days, not so much.  “Right now I’d much rather be at home eating,” she said, laughing.  Don’t let the comment fool you.
Press photo/Andy Scheidler - Franklin junior Ally Roots was a returning all-conference player for Franklin’s soccer team. The Panthers were 3-0 before the season was halted.

Press photo/Andy Scheidler - Franklin junior Ally Roots was a returning all-conference player for Franklin’s soccer team. The Panthers were 3-0 before the season was halted.

Panthers in waiting game

Andy Scheidler
Tuesday, March 24, 2020
Andy Scheidler sports@thefranklinpress.com With schools closed until May 15, the spring sports season in North Carolina is in serious jeopardy.   The NCHSAA originally listed April 6 as the first possible date to resume sports.
Press photo/Andy Scheidler - The baseball and soccer fields at Macon Middle School sit empty on Friday afternoon, when they would normally be bustling with action. No games, practices, workouts or skill developments are allowed with coaches until April 6, yet players in spring sports are permitted to meet on their own to stay sharp in the interim.

Press photo/Andy Scheidler - The baseball and soccer fields at Macon Middle School sit empty on Friday afternoon, when they would normally be bustling with action. No games, practices, workouts or skill developments are allowed with coaches until April 6, yet players in spring sports are permitted to meet on their own to stay sharp in the interim.

Sports world hits pause

Andy Scheidler
Tuesday, March 17, 2020
Athletics enter unknown realm Andy Scheidler sports@thefranklinpress.com The baseball, softball and soccer fields sat empty and eerily quiet.  No sounds of the crack of a bat hitting a ball.  No sounds of a ball swishing into the net.
Press photo/Andy Scheidler Tanner Carlton throws to first after fielding a grounder in front of the mound during a Franklin home game last week. FHS went 3-0 before the NCHSAA ban on athletic contests.

Press photo/Andy Scheidler Tanner Carlton throws to first after fielding a grounder in front of the mound during a Franklin home game last week. FHS went 3-0 before the NCHSAA ban on athletic contests.

FHS enjoys blowout win before shutdown

Andy Scheidler
Tuesday, March 17, 2020
Andy Scheidler sports@thefranklinpress.com When Dylan Burt heard the news, he wanted to know one thing.  “Are we playing tonight?” Burt asked.
Photo provided - Franklin’s all-time leading scorer Lindsay Simpson presented a 200 wins ball to coach Scott Hartbarger.

Photo provided - Franklin’s all-time leading scorer Lindsay Simpson presented a 200 wins ball to coach Scott Hartbarger.

FHS coach achieves milestone

Andy Scheidler
Tuesday, March 10, 2020
Although he was still a child, Scott Hartbarger remembers a few things when his dad coached the men’s basketball team at Western Carolina University.  Jim Harbarger coached the Catamounts from 1969-75. The son remembers his father being tough on the players while also treating them like family.
Riddle

Riddle

Brevard a ‘perfect fit’

News Staff
Tuesday, March 3, 2020
It’s safe to say Gavin Riddle knows what to expect this fall when he attends Brevard College.  The Franklin senior’s sister plays soccer at the school, plus former football teammates and friends are on the Tornado’s roster.
Bradley Stiles (40) holds up the plaque while his teammates react after winning the Mountain Six Conference tournament for junior varsity boys basketball. Franklin went 23-1 this season and dominated Smoky Mountain in the finale.

Bradley Stiles (40) holds up the plaque while his teammates react after winning the Mountain Six Conference tournament for junior varsity boys basketball. Franklin went 23-1 this season and dominated Smoky Mountain in the finale.

JV teams win titles

Andy Scheidler
Tuesday, February 25, 2020
Panthers get redemption in title game  Before the final game, coach Tres Rogers emphasized two things.  The Franklin JV boys coach wanted his players to “finish the season” and to remember there is no practice tomorrow and make the last night special.
Press photo/Tom Pantaleo Abby Carpenter shields off a Hendersonville player reaching for the ball during Friday’s tournament game.

Press photo/Tom Pantaleo Abby Carpenter shields off a Hendersonville player reaching for the ball during Friday’s tournament game.

Huge turnaround for JV girls

Andy Scheidler
Tuesday, February 18, 2020
The nonconference record was far from pretty: 1-7.  Yet Franklin’s girls basketball team flipped that record around and went 9-1 in the Mountain Six Conference. The Panthers shared the regular season title with Smoky Mountain.
Press photo/Tom Pantaleo Franklin’s Devyn Blackburn gets some serious elevation while a Brevard player tries taking a charge. Fortunately, neither player got injured on the collision.

Press photo/Tom Pantaleo Franklin’s Devyn Blackburn gets some serious elevation while a Brevard player tries taking a charge. Fortunately, neither player got injured on the collision.

High-flying title

News Staff
Tuesday, February 18, 2020
It’s a chance for redemption.  “We have a little bit of unfinished business to take care of,” Tres Rogers said. Franklin’s JV boys basketball team will play at 5:30 p.m. Thursday in the championship game of the Mountain Six Conference tournament.
Press photos/Tom Pantaleo - Chad Wilson drives to the hoop while Pisgah’s Max Wait tries to cut him off during action Friday. Franklin avenged a 53-30 loss to the Black Bears by winning another low-scoring battle, 46-43.

Press photos/Tom Pantaleo - Chad Wilson drives to the hoop while Pisgah’s Max Wait tries to cut him off during action Friday. Franklin avenged a 53-30 loss to the Black Bears by winning another low-scoring battle, 46-43.

Streaky Panthers win 3

Andy Scheidler
Tuesday, February 11, 2020
In three games last week, Franklin’s boys basketball team allowed 48 points at Brevard, 33 against East Henderson and 43 against Pisgah.  The stellar defensive efforts led to three victories, which came on the heels of a four-game losing streak.