The Franklin Amatuer Swim Team has completed another stellar season.
A week after claiming their 21st straight title at the Mountain Swim League Championships, on July 19 FAST’s best swimmers traveled to Cullowhee for the All-Star meet. There several Fins impressed at the new Jackson County Aquatic Center, bringing their 2025 campaign to an end.
Owen Baillio turned in an excellent meet for the 8 & under boys, winning the 25-yard freestyle and 25-yard breaststroke in 18.83 and 23.30 seconds, respectively. Baillio also placed second in the 50 free (42.70) and 100 medley (1:48.24), while Sebastian Hernandez placed second in the 25 butterfly (32.20) and third in the 25 free (21.54). Maverick Brabson, Matthew Pena, Gatlin Harlfinger and Emmett Marshall also scored points for the 8 & under boys.
On the girls side Ali Janoe also won the 25 free (19.37) and finished third in the 50 free (48.48), while Abigail Samuelson and Emma Brabson also competed.
Knox Strum led the way for the 9-10 boys, placing second in the 100 free (1:33.34) and third in the 50 breast (50.83). David Hernandez placed third in both the 50 free (38.09) and 100 free (1:35.03), while Emerson Maddrey, Benn Hodges, Kai Fowler and Micah Fowler also competed. Bekah Shepherd, Nyla Rivera, Emmi Malan and Hanna Samuelson competed for the girls.
Madelyn Kennedy impressed for the 11-12 girls, placing second in the 50 breast (47.25) and fourth in both the 50 free (34.01) and 50 fly (43.92). Larken Lynch placed third in the 100 free (1:22.46)and fifth in the 50 backstroke (46.16), while Abeline Maddrey, Leila Pinkston and Katherine Roldan-Iozada also competed.
On the boys side Nathan Jessup placed fourth in the 50 breast (46.06) and fifth in the 50 back (40.78), while Wylie Hinton, Flynn Fowler, Michael Canzone and Coleman Hodges also competed.
Lana Walker turned in an excellent meet for the 13-14 girls, winning the 100 fly (1:19.73) and 200 medley (2:52.00). She also placed second in the 100 free (1:06.44) and 100 breast (1:31.39), while Emma Ballard took second in the 50 free (29.41) and third in the 100 free (1:09.78). Thatcher Daniels was Franklin’s only 13-14 boy in attendance, placing second in the 100 breast (1:15.93) and 200 medley (2:26.79), and third in the 100 back (1:09.80) and 100 fly (1:08.33).
Zoi Walker and Kenna Keyworth won events for the 15-18 girls, with Walker claiming the 100 breast (1:22.98) and Keyworth taking home the 100 fly (1:14.75). Keyworth’s win was fresh off a historic time (1:05.60) in the event at the league championships, in which she broke the previous FAST record (1:07.27) set by Claire Ballard in 2023. In addition to their event wins, Walker placed second in the 200 medley (2:43.56) and third in the 50 free (27.69) and 100 free (1:03.32), while Keyworth took third in the 100 breast (1:27.25) and 200 medley (2:44.89). Dalila Canzone, Alyse Remery and Eleanor Kessler also competed for the 15-18 girls.
Jackson Word led the way on the boys side, placing second in the 100 fly (1:02.38), third in the 100 back (1:08.48) and fourth in the 50 free (25.54). Gavin Alverson placed third in the 100 fly (1:06.65) and fourth in the 100 back (1:11.46), while Jonah Brant and Gabriel Ostojic also competed.
With 24 total points (seven apiece for his two wins and five apiece for his second-place finishes), Baillio was the second-highest overall scorer for the 8 & under boys, followed by Sebastian Hernandez in third (11). Lana Walker was the second-highest 13-14 girls scorer (24), while Daniels (18) and Zoi Walker (20) finished third in their respective groups.
As a team Franklin’s All-Stars scored 261 total points, behind Highlands (319) and Waynesville (290) but ahead of Jackson (178) and Cherokee (114) counties. With the league season over, elite MSL swimmers will now form a combined team for the Amateur Athletic Union Junior Olympics in Houston, Texas, July 22-27.