Sports

Press photo/Will Woolever - Senior Jack Teesateskie elevates to the rim versus Brevard Dec. 16.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Senior Jack Teesateskie elevates to the rim versus Brevard Dec. 16.

Boys 6-1, unbeaten in M8C

Will Woolever
Monday, December 22, 2025
Panther men’s hoops are off to a hot start. After beating East Henderson in their first conference game Dec. 12, on the week of Dec. 15 Franklin continued their Mountain Eight schedule, hosting Brevard and traveling to Pisgah.
Junior Lance Parker elevates to the rim versus North Buncombe Dec. 2. (Press file photo)

Junior Lance Parker elevates to the rim versus North Buncombe Dec. 2. (Press file photo)

Men’s basketball starts year 4-1

Will Woolever
Tuesday, December 16, 2025
Panther men’s hoops have earned their first conference win.  After routing North Buncombe and Cherokee at home to start the year, on the week of Dec. 8 Franklin embarked on a three-game road trip, traveling to Swain County, North Buncombe and East Henderson.
Press file photo - (From left) Amy Mendoza Lopez, Abigail Pope, Morgan Cress and Abigail Timan are pictured in Franklin’s home meet at Macon Middle School earlier this month.

Press file photo - (From left) Amy Mendoza Lopez, Abigail Pope, Morgan Cress and Abigail Timan are pictured in Franklin’s home meet at Macon Middle School earlier this month.

Track breaks school records in Winston-Salem

Will Woolever
Tuesday, December 16, 2025
Panther track and field looks right at home versus top competition. On Dec. 13, they traveled to Winston-Salem for one of the state’s biggest indoor meets, the Stay In Your Lane Invitational. There Franklin continued their quest for a 5A title. “That indoor facility is great.
Photo submitted - Local driver Chuck Southard shows off his first-place trophy following a Southern Wedge Late-Model Association race at Lavonia Speedway in Georgia recently.

Photo submitted - Local driver Chuck Southard shows off his first-place trophy following a Southern Wedge Late-Model Association race at Lavonia Speedway in Georgia recently.

Local driver wins SWLA title

Will Woolever
Tuesday, December 16, 2025
A Franklin native is the Southern Wedge Late-Model Association Points Champion. For much of the past four decades, Chuck Southard has been one of WNC’s top stock car racers, winning titles in multiple series around the region.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Franklin High School’s Lana Walker (left) and Kenna Keyworth swim a close race in the girls 100-yard breaststroke at Franklin Health and Fitness Dec. 6. 

Press photo/Will Woolever - Franklin High School’s Lana Walker (left) and Kenna Keyworth swim a close race in the girls 100-yard breaststroke at Franklin Health and Fitness Dec. 6. 

FHS, MEC host second home swim meet

Will Woolever
Tuesday, December 9, 2025
Franklin high school swim teams are rounding into midseason form. On Saturday, Dec. 6, Franklin High School and Macon Early College hosted their second home meet of the year, racing four other area squads at Franklin Health and Fitness. There, FHS outscored rival Smoky Mountain for a narrow win.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Senior Peyton Hervey fights for a loose ball versus Cherokee Dec. 4.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Senior Peyton Hervey fights for a loose ball versus Cherokee Dec. 4.

Men’s hoops starts year 2-0

Will Woolever
Tuesday, December 9, 2025
The early returns have been good for Panther men’s hoops. After months of offseason work, on the first week of December Franklin tipped off their first official games, hosting North Buncombe and Cherokee on Tom Raby Court. With 30-plus-point wins in each, they started their regular season 2-0.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Kai Pelletier (left), Anna Timan and Michelle Ortega run a close race in the girls 55-meter dash at Macon Middle School Dec. 3.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Kai Pelletier (left), Anna Timan and Michelle Ortega run a close race in the girls 55-meter dash at Macon Middle School Dec. 3.

Track hosts milestone meet at MMS

Will Woolever
Tuesday, December 9, 2025
Panther track and field may still be thawing out. After completion of the new Macon Middle School track this spring, on Dec. 3 they hosted their first home winter meet in more than five years, welcoming 11 other teams from across WNC.
Then-freshman Devlin Bailey (left) battles a Rabun County wrestler in the heavyweight class last winter. (Press file photo)

Then-freshman Devlin Bailey (left) battles a Rabun County wrestler in the heavyweight class last winter. (Press file photo)

Football players return for wrestling

Will Woolever
Tuesday, December 2, 2025
It was another busy week for Panther wrestling. Having opened the regular season with contests at Swain and Robbinsville, Franklin kept rolling into the week before Thanksgiving, traveling to Cherokee, North Henderson and Towns County, Ga.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Junior Will Rauers elevates for a shot versus Hayesville Nov. 25.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Junior Will Rauers elevates for a shot versus Hayesville Nov. 25.

Basketball readies for season

Will Woolever
Tuesday, December 2, 2025
The regular season is at hand for Panther hoops. After last year’s strong winter including 20 wins from the boys and a Mountain Seven Conference Tournament title from the girls, both teams have been hard at work preparing for the next campaign.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Macon Early College senior Alyse Remery competes for the Foxes in the 100-yard breaststroke at Franklin Health and Fitness Nov. 22.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Macon Early College senior Alyse Remery competes for the Foxes in the 100-yard breaststroke at Franklin Health and Fitness Nov. 22.

MEC fields first-ever teams

Will Woolever
Tuesday, December 2, 2025
Franklin sports fans have a new set of teams to root for. When Macon Early College students were barred from playing for Franklin High School last year, some wondered whether MEC athletes would ever suit up again. More than a year later, they now represent their school in competition.