Panther athletics remains one of the state’s most decorated programs.
On June 10, a Franklin contingent traveled to Greensboro for the N.C. High School Athletic Association’s Annual Awards Celebration. There for the seventh straight year, they received the Commissioner’s Trophy award, as one of the top eight schools across the state in community service. The award was given jointly to Franklin’s Student Leadership team, who organize the school's annual UNIFY basketball game; and to Panther track and field, who assisted the local Night to Shine prom event.
Franklin also received three individual and team honors, including a Team Scholar-Athlete award for women’s indoor track and field, who earned the highest average GPA (3.95) of any team in their sport statewide. The team’s senior distance-running talisman, Amy Mendoza Lopez, also earned one of nine Heart of a Champion awards statewide, given to athletes that “have demonstrated outstanding character, overcome adversity, and gone above and beyond in their pursuit of success.”
Panther football chief Josh Brooks received the Tony Webb Outstanding Coach award. Named for the former Hall of Fame head football coach at Albemarle, the award is given annually to just one male and one female coach statewide for success on the field and community service away from the sideline.
The awards bring Franklin’s total to 24 in the last seven years, including nine Commissioner’s Trophies/Cups, 13 individual awards, and two Team Scholar-Athlete awards dating back to 2020.
Will Woolever can be reached at sports@thefranklinpress.com