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.
Franklin’s girls led the way once again, getting wins from Dalila Canzone in the 100-yard freestyle, Kenna Keyworth in the 100 breaststroke and AnnMarie Hinton in the 200 medley. All three swimmers also earned additional second-place finishes, including Canzone in the 50 free, Keyworth in the 100 butterfly and Hinton in the 500 free. Lana Walker placed second in the 100 breast and third in the 200 free, while Olivia Rinker placed third in the 200 medley and fifth in the 100 backstroke.
Canzone, Keyworth and Walker also impressed in the relay events, joining Cadee Breedlove to win the 200 medley and Emma Ballard to win the 200 free. As a team Franklin’s girls earned 132 points, outscoring Smoky’s 100 for first place.
On the boys side two Panthers won multiple events, including Gavin Alverson in the 100 back and 500 free, and Thatcher Daniels in the 100 fly and 100 breast. Jonah Brant won the 100 free, while Malik Walker claimed the 200 free.
Brant, Daniels and Walker also impressed in the relay events, joining Dusty Fraites to win the 200 free and Alverson to win the 400 free. As a team Franklin’s boys earned 116 points, good for second place behind a much larger Smoky team (140).
Despite sporting just four swimmers, all girls, MEC punched above their weight, with Alyse Remery winning the 200- and 500-yard freestyles. Lydia Kennedy placed second in the 200 medley and third in the 100 breast, while Anna Sharpe placed second in the 100 free. Eleanor Kessler placed fourth in both the 100 back and 500 free.
The foursome also placed second in the 200 medley and 400 free relays. As a team the Foxes earned 78 points, just behind Smoky for third. In combined team scoring the Panthers earned 248, just ahead of Smoky’s 240 for first.
After Saturday’s win, Brant prepared for an unusual contest, traveling to the Levine Jewish Community Center in Charlotte for a dive meet. While the senior has long been one of Franklin’s fastest swimmers, his best event is arguably the 1-meter dive, in which he placed second at the 3A state meet last winter. With few such facilities west of Asheville, the meet presents a chance to battle foes from further afield.
Upon returning home from Charlotte, Brant will rejoin his teammates in Murphy for the annual Candy Cane Invitational Dec. 13.