Sports

Press photo/Andy Scheidler - Alison Knop had the third-most kills in the Mountain Six Conference this past season, slamming 322. She earned all-conference honors and helped Franklin go 19-7.

Press photo/Andy Scheidler - Alison Knop had the third-most kills in the Mountain Six Conference this past season, slamming 322. She earned all-conference honors and helped Franklin go 19-7.

Love for volleyball carries Knop

Andy Scheidler
Tuesday, February 4, 2020
Alison Knop played volleyball in sixth grade at Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School. But when she tried out for the Macon Middle School team in seventh grade, she was cut.  Knop spent the year serving as the manager, while working on her game and joining a travel team in the offseason.
Press photo/Andy Scheidler - Large areas of the Franklin High School track have been repaired where bubbles formed because of poor drainage. However, repairs are no longer adequate to where FHS can host other teams to compete.

Press photo/Andy Scheidler - Large areas of the Franklin High School track have been repaired where bubbles formed because of poor drainage. However, repairs are no longer adequate to where FHS can host other teams to compete.

FHS track continues to deteriorate

Andy Scheidler
Tuesday, February 4, 2020
Andy Scheidler sports@thefranklinpress.com Franklin won’t host any track meets on campus this spring. Nor will the school host any meets in the future unless a major repair or rebuilding of the track occurs.
Press photo/Andy Scheidler - Taylor Carlton (20) and Kyndell Burns trap a Hendersonville player during Friday’s home game. The Panthers allowed only 31 points in the win.

Press photo/Andy Scheidler - Taylor Carlton (20) and Kyndell Burns trap a Hendersonville player during Friday’s home game. The Panthers allowed only 31 points in the win.

Defense ignites streak

News Staff
Tuesday, January 28, 2020
Here’s where Franklin’s girls basketball team currently stands:  • 16-3 overall record • 6-0 in the Mountain Six Conference, first place by two games • Ranked No. 8 in the MaxPreps.
Press photo/Andy Scheidler - From left: Kyler Cochran, Hunter Cabe, Isaiah Stockton, Jacob Cabe, Michael Frazier (holding plaque), Caden Tyler, Joseph Vernelson, Blake Cassada, Luke Borgmann, Clayton Guynn. Not pictured: Traveler Shaw, Landon Shaw.

Press photo/Andy Scheidler - From left: Kyler Cochran, Hunter Cabe, Isaiah Stockton, Jacob Cabe, Michael Frazier (holding plaque), Caden Tyler, Joseph Vernelson, Blake Cassada, Luke Borgmann, Clayton Guynn. Not pictured: Traveler Shaw, Landon Shaw.

Conference 3-peat

Andy Scheidler
Tuesday, January 28, 2020
No seniors, no problem.  Despite having only one upperclassman, Franklin’s boys swim team won the Mountain Six Conference championship.  It was the third straight title for the Panthers. “We all encourage each other and we work as a team,” said Michael Frazier, who is the lone junior and captain.
Press photo/Andy Scheidler - Braden Berger jumps into the arms of assistant coach Bill Barrington, while head coach Kyle Barrington also celebrates with the junior. Berger beat Smoky Mountain’s Will Frady for the first time in eight matches.

Press photo/Andy Scheidler - Braden Berger jumps into the arms of assistant coach Bill Barrington, while head coach Kyle Barrington also celebrates with the junior. Berger beat Smoky Mountain’s Will Frady for the first time in eight matches.

Breakthrough win

Andy Scheidler
Tuesday, January 21, 2020
Andy Scheidler sports@thefranklinpress.com Branden Berger lifts his hair to reveal a bloody forehead. It matches the rest of his face, which features blood marks near his left temple and below his right eye. His nose was also bleeding from his latest wrestling match.
Press photo/Andy Scheidler Franklin’s Griffin Green gets called for a foul on this play. The sophomore made far more positive plays, however, including sinking six 3-pointers in the Panthers’ win Friday against Brevard. It was a career-high for the first-year varsity player.

Press photo/Andy Scheidler Franklin’s Griffin Green gets called for a foul on this play. The sophomore made far more positive plays, however, including sinking six 3-pointers in the Panthers’ win Friday against Brevard. It was a career-high for the first-year varsity player.

FHS boys tackle pressure

Andy Scheidler
Tuesday, January 14, 2020
Andy Scheidler sports@thefranklinpress.com The inability to handle pressure effectively is a source of concern at the moment for Franklin’s boys basketball team.  Committing too many turnovers against Hendersonville and Tuscola led to a pair of road losses last week.
Andy Scheidler sports@thefranklinpress.com Doug Plemmons feels good about where Franklin’s boys basketball team sits heading into conference play. That might not come as a huge surprise, however, based on the Panthers’ 10-1 record and what they’ve achieved so far this season. “I know our conference will bring a lot of challenges,” said Plemmons, who’s in his 19th year coaching the Panthers. “We started off young. We had to learn how to play together. We had a lot of first-time varsity players. We’re basic

Andy Scheidler sports@thefranklinpress.com Doug Plemmons feels good about where Franklin’s boys basketball team sits heading into conference play. That might not come as a huge surprise, however, based on the Panthers’ 10-1 record and what they’ve achieved so far this season. “I know our conference will bring a lot of challenges,” said Plemmons, who’s in his 19th year coaching the Panthers. “We started off young. We had to learn how to play together. We had a lot of first-time varsity players. We’re basic

Panthers extend win streak to 9

Andy Scheidler
Tuesday, January 7, 2020
Andy Scheidler sports@thefranklinpress.com Doug Plemmons feels good about where Franklin’s boys basketball team sits heading into conference play.  That might not come as a huge surprise, however, based on the Panthers’ 10-1 record and what they’ve achieved so far this season.
Press photo/Andy Scheidler - Franklin junior Nevaeh Tran prepares to make an inbounds pass, looking for Makayla Brewer (40) and Sierra Wade (23) while being defended by Cherokee’s Deante Toineeta during action Friday, Jan. 3.

Press photo/Andy Scheidler - Franklin junior Nevaeh Tran prepares to make an inbounds pass, looking for Makayla Brewer (40) and Sierra Wade (23) while being defended by Cherokee’s Deante Toineeta during action Friday, Jan. 3.

Ready for MSC play

Andy Scheidler
Tuesday, January 7, 2020
Andy Scheidler sports@thefranklinpress.com After playing 11 nonconference games, Franklin’s girls are undefeated against teams in North Carolina and winless against teams from Georgia.
top 10 sports moments 2019

top 10 sports moments 2019

Athletes of all ages, abilities shine in 2019

Andy Scheidler
Tuesday, December 31, 2019
Andy Scheidler sports@thefranklinpress.com Here’s a look back at Franklin’s 10 most newsworthy moments from 2019, arranged chronologically.   WINTER 1 Breaking barriers   Tyler Vinson has undoubtedly left his mark on Franklin’s wrestling program.
Press photo/Andy Scheidler Franklin sophomore Trey Penland rises high above a Rabun County player for a rebound. Penland scored 14 points in the road win, which saw the Panthers shoot above 50 percent for the second straight game.

Press photo/Andy Scheidler Franklin sophomore Trey Penland rises high above a Rabun County player for a rebound. Penland scored 14 points in the road win, which saw the Panthers shoot above 50 percent for the second straight game.

Panthers rise up

Andy Scheidler
Thursday, December 26, 2019
Andy Scheidler sports@thefranklinpress.com Hot shooting is carrying Franklin’s boys basketball team to victories.  The Panthers shot 51 percent from the field against Swain County on Friday, Dec. 20, and then made 54 percent of their shots at Rabun County on Saturday.