Sports

Press photo/Will Woolever - Macon Early College and Franklin High School swimmers dive off their starting blocks side-by side in the girls 500-yard freestyle at Franklin Health and Fitness Nov. 22. From right are Dalila Canzone (FHS), Alyse Remery (MEC) and Eleanor Kessler (MEC).

Press photo/Will Woolever - Macon Early College and Franklin High School swimmers dive off their starting blocks side-by side in the girls 500-yard freestyle at Franklin Health and Fitness Nov. 22. From right are Dalila Canzone (FHS), Alyse Remery (MEC) and Eleanor Kessler (MEC).

Franklin, MEC swim and dive open season

Will Woolever
Monday, November 24, 2025
Franklin’s high school swim and dive teams’ winter season is underway. In the days leading up to Thanksgiving, Franklin High School and Macon Early College prepared for their first contests, with meets at T.C. Roberson, Smoky Mountain and Franklin on the docket.
Press graphic

Press graphic

Track and field eyes state title

Will Woolever
Monday, November 24, 2025
Panther track and field is eyeing the state meet. For the past few winters, Franklin has boasted two of the state’s top teams, earning the 2022 boys 3A title and three straight top-five finishes from the girls.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Senior captain center/nose guard Mace Waldroop returns a kickoff in Franklin’s third-round state playoff game at Hickory Nov. 21.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Senior captain center/nose guard Mace Waldroop returns a kickoff in Franklin’s third-round state playoff game at Hickory Nov. 21.

“Fog Bowl” ends stellar year

Will Woolever
Monday, November 24, 2025
A unique season is over for Panther football. Playing their “home” games on the road amid renovations to the Panther Pit, a young Franklin team excelled nevertheless, earning their first playoff win since 2017. In a third-round game at Hickory Nov.
Press file photo - Sophomore Anthony Mora-Martinez keeps the ball away from West Henderson after being called up to the varsity team midway through the year.

Press file photo - Sophomore Anthony Mora-Martinez keeps the ball away from West Henderson after being called up to the varsity team midway through the year.

JV soccer among M8’s top teams

Will Woolever
Tuesday, November 18, 2025
It was a good season for Panther JV soccer. In the program’s first year under varsity head coach Bryan Wilkinson, Franklin’s JV team turned over a new leaf, building a roster full of talented freshmen and sophomores.
Photo submitted - Freshman Antonio Hernandez carries the ball in Franklin’s hard-fought 14-6 win at Brevard Sept. 17.

Photo submitted - Freshman Antonio Hernandez carries the ball in Franklin’s hard-fought 14-6 win at Brevard Sept. 17.

JV football ends unique year 8-2

Will Woolever
Tuesday, November 18, 2025
Panther JV football overcame tough circumstances this year. Amid renovations to the Panther Pit, the team was forced to hit the road, playing their “home” games in Carr Hooper Stadium at Smoky Mountain High School. Despite their nomadic campaign, they turned in their fourth straight winning season.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Quarterback Anderson Terrell targets senior Addix Sutton (right) in Franklin’s second-round playoff win over Forest Hills Nov. 14.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Quarterback Anderson Terrell targets senior Addix Sutton (right) in Franklin’s second-round playoff win over Forest Hills Nov. 14.

Football outlasts Forest Hills

Will Woolever
Tuesday, November 18, 2025
Panther football is through to the third round of the state playoffs. Having earned a first-round bye by way of an 8-2 record, on Nov. 14 Franklin kicked off their postseason with a second-round game.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Junior Kevin Torres (second from right) celebrates with teammates after scoring in Franklin’s first-round playoff match versus North Buncombe.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Junior Kevin Torres (second from right) celebrates with teammates after scoring in Franklin’s first-round playoff match versus North Buncombe.

Men’s soccer nearly topples #1 South Point

Will Woolever
Tuesday, November 11, 2025
A strong season is over for Panther men’s soccer. After ending their regular season with three wins and a tie, on the week of Nov. 3 the team kicked off the 5A state playoffs. With a win over North Buncombe they advanced to a second-round match, where they nearly upset #1 South Point.
Photo submitted - Macon Middle School volleyball shows off their fourth-straight championship plaque after defeating Smoky Mountain in the Blue Ridge Athletic Conference Final.

Photo submitted - Macon Middle School volleyball shows off their fourth-straight championship plaque after defeating Smoky Mountain in the Blue Ridge Athletic Conference Final.

MMS volleyball extends dynasty

Will Woolever
Tuesday, November 11, 2025
Macon Middle School has built a volleyball dynasty. For the past three years the Panthers have controlled the Blue Ridge Athletic Conference, racking up a 48-2 record and three conference titles. With another unbeaten season this fall they entered rarified air.
Photo submitted - Franklin High School sophomore Cooper Rogers shows off his numerous medals at the International Combat Organisation World Championships in Swansea, Wales, last month.

Photo submitted - Franklin High School sophomore Cooper Rogers shows off his numerous medals at the International Combat Organisation World Championships in Swansea, Wales, last month.

Local fighter wins world gold

Will Woolever
Tuesday, November 11, 2025
A Franklin native is a martial arts World Champion. Having earned a North American Sport Karate Association title last year, Cooper Rogers has been hard at work in 2025, traversing the globe in search of its most prestigious competitions.
Photo submitted - Franklin native Canyon Woodward crosses the finish line in 13th at the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc in Chamonix, France, the world’s most prestigious trail ultramarathon race.

Photo submitted - Franklin native Canyon Woodward crosses the finish line in 13th at the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc in Chamonix, France, the world’s most prestigious trail ultramarathon race.

Woodward climbs world trail running ranks

Will Woolever
Tuesday, November 4, 2025
A Franklin native is one of the world’s top ultramarathoners. For the past several years Canyon Woodward has traversed the globe in search of its top competitive trail races, running up to 100 miles at a clip over difficult terrain.