The Franklin area’s swim and dive teams earned a well-deserved holiday break.
On the week before Christmas Franklin High School and Macon Early College remained hard at work, traveling to Asheville and Cullowhee for meets. Versus top competition from across WNC, they reached the unofficial halfway point of their season.
On Wednesday, Dec. 17, both teams’ divers traveled to the Asheville Jewish Community Center for a meet hosted by Asheville High School. There they competed exclusively in the 1-meter dive, facing opponents from the host team and T.C. Roberson.
Having placed second overall at last year’s 3A state meet, senior Jonah Brant led the way once again for Franklin, placing second with 135.28 points. Thatcher Daniels placed fourth with 111.63. On the girls side both Franklin-area schools were represented, with Lydia Kennedy placing seventh for MEC (105.5) and Lana Walker placing eighth for FHS (104.3).
Two nights later, the divers rejoined their teammates at the Jackson County Aquatic Center in Cullowhee for a five-team meet with Smoky Mountain, Tuscola and Pisgah.
MEC senior Alyse Remery led the way for both schools, winning the girls 200-yard and 500-yard freestyles. Eleanor Kessler placed fourth in the 500 free and third in the 100 backstroke. Kennedy claimed fifth in the 50 free and third in the 100 breaststroke, while Anna Sharpe took third in the 200 medley.
The foursome also impressed in the relay events, finishing second in the 200 free and third in the 200 medley. As a team the Foxes earned 194 points, good for third out of five women’s squads.
Kenna Keyworth earned the lone individual win from Franklin’s girls, claiming the 200 medley and taking second in the 100 butterfly. Several other Panthers came close in freestyle events, including AnnMarie Hinton (2nd, 200; 3rd, 500), Emma Ballard (2nd, 100; 4th, 50), Walker (2nd, 500) and Geraldin Santana (3rd, 200).
Olivia Rinker and Dalila Canzone led the way in other events, placing second in the 200 medley and 100 breaststroke, respectively. Cadee Breedlove finished fourth in the 100 fly and 100 breast.
Walker and Canzone also formed half of three strong relay teams, joining Breedlove and Rinker to win the 200 medley, Ballard and Keyworth to claim the 200 free, and Keyworth and Hinton to take home the 400 free. As a team the Panther girls earned 361 points, edging out Smoky’s 293 for first.
Four individuals won events for the Panther boys, including Daniels in the 200 medley, Malik Walker in the 100 fly, Gavin Alverson in the 100 back and Dusty Fraites in the 500 free. Daniels also placed second in the 100 breast, while Alverson took second in the 200 free.
Brant and Walker also formed half of three strong relay teams, helping Daniels and Alverson win the 200 medley, Daniels and Fraites to place second in the 200 free, and Alverson and Fraites take second in the 400 free.
As a team Franklin’s boys earned 248 points, good for second behind Smoky’s 372. In combined team scoring the Panthers earned 609, also good for second just behind Smoky’s 665. FHS and MEC plan to host a home meet at Franklin Health and Fitness this Saturday, Jan. 10, at 1 p.m.