Sports

Press photo/Andy Scheidler - A dozen swimmers make up each of Franklin’s swim teams: Front row, from left: Taylor Harrell, Nya Canzone, Callie Roper, Claire Holland, Roselyn Sanchez, Ocean Anderson, Ilah Williams, Deaven Lombard. Middle row: Olivia Stahl, Isaiah Stockton, Blake Cassada, Hunter Cabe, Joseph Vernelson, Taylor Lawrence, Teri Martin, Lauryn Basham. Back row: Landon Shaw, Jacob Cabe, Clayton Guynn, Caden Tyler, Luke Borgmann, Michael Frazier, Traveler Shaw, Kyler Cochran.

Photo submitted Franklin’s cheerleading team took third at the NCHSAA competition. Front row, from left: Madison Phillips, Kaitlyn Henry, Christa Perry, Katy Nettles, Kassidy Mixer, Kaylan Foutty, Lexi Hoyt. Back row, from left: Rex Baker, Alivia Gibbs, Mackenzie Hughes, Sierra Kreis, Michelle Perez, Brielle Perry, Belle Reale, Abbie Passmore, Madison Lowe, Lylian Foutty, Zoe Berkstresser, coach Lynn Baker.

Press photo/Andy Scheidler Chad Wilson (30), Trey Woodard (10) and Franklin players and coaches celebrate moments after surviving to hold off Hayesville in Monday’s home game. The Panthers improved to 2-1 on the season.

Press photo/Tom Pantaleo Franklin senior Chela Green goes to the floor after teammate Taylor Carlton and a Cherokee player collide. Green scored five points and grabbed six rebounds in the road victory.

Andy Scheidler sports@thefranklinpress.com Two relay teams nailed regional-qualifying times in Franklin’s first swim meet of the season. The girls 200-yard medley relay kicked things off Nov. 23 at Franklin Health & Fitness. Ilah Williams, Claire Holland, Deaven Lombard and Callie Roper combined to win the event with a time of 2 minutes, 11 seconds. It was 1.99 seconds under the threshold to qualify for regional. Later in the meet, the boys 200 freestyle relay won their event and landed a regional berth.

Press file photo - Franklin’s two Treys – Penland (23) and Woodard (10) – reach for a rebound in a November scrimmage against Andrews. Penland, a sophomore, scored 13 points Saturday in his first career varsity start.

Press photo/Andy Scheidler - Franklin is set to tip off the 2019-20 season Saturday at Highlands. Front row, from left: Corey Burrell, Kandice Parker, Nevaeh Tran, Kyndell Burns, Taylor Carlton, Sydney Chapman. Back row: Tory Ensley, Chela Green, Sierra Wade, Canaan Drake, Sydney Williams, Makayala Brewer, Chesnie Berry.

Press photo/Andy Scheidler - Franklin’s boys basketball team opens the season Saturday at Highlands. Front row, from left: Isaiah Johns, Eli Gilbert, Trey Woodard, Kellen Stiles, Chad Wilson, Bennett Swafford, Dexter Jennings. Back row: Wyatt Gibson, Brayden Sroka, Bryce Rogers, Chris Hartbarger, Miles McClure, Trey Penland, Griffin Green, Seth Crupi.

Press photo/Andy Scheidler - Aiden Carpenter (right) locks arms with an Andrews wrestler during Tuesday’s exhibition match at Macon Middle School. Carpenter, a junior, is one of three team captains for Franklin. The Panthers are set to open the season Saturday in a tournament at Swain County.