Sports

Press photo/Will Woolever - Junior Tanner Jones tees off on Hole #7 at the Waynesville Inn and Golf Club May 6. The ball is visible in the top right corner of the frame.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Junior Tanner Jones tees off on Hole #7 at the Waynesville Inn and Golf Club May 6. The ball is visible in the top right corner of the frame.

Jones ties for 2nd at regional

Will Woolever
Tuesday, May 13, 2025
Franklin golfer Tanner Jones will compete for a state title. Just one week after placing second there in Round 2 of the Mountain Seven Tournament, on May 6 the Panthers returned to Waynesville Inn and Golf Club for the 3A West Regional.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Sophomore Isaiah Deas catches a runner stealing versus East Henderson May 1.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Sophomore Isaiah Deas catches a runner stealing versus East Henderson May 1.

Baseball ends regular season on 4-win streak

Will Woolever
Tuesday, May 6, 2025
Panther baseball has resurrected their season. With a 3-7 record halfway through the regular season, a young Franklin team was left on the outside looking in at the state playoff field.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Senior Aubrey Haley competes in the long jump at Franklin’s first home meet since 2019 at Macon Middle School April 19.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Senior Aubrey Haley competes in the long jump at Franklin’s first home meet since 2019 at Macon Middle School April 19.

Track sweeps conference meet

Will Woolever
Tuesday, May 6, 2025
Panther track and field are Mountain Seven Conference Champions. On Wednesday, April 30, the team traveled to North Henderson to kick off their postseason with the M7 title meet.
Press file photo - Junior Meliah Mason sends a ball down the third-base line versus Murphy April 21 at Macon Middle School.

Press file photo - Junior Meliah Mason sends a ball down the third-base line versus Murphy April 21 at Macon Middle School.

Softball earns M7 title

Will Woolever
Tuesday, May 6, 2025
Panther softball are champions of the Mountain Seven. On the last week of the regular season Franklin had less than two games left to play, including a critical showdown with second-place West Henderson.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Senior Jozy Dehart knocks a second-inning single in Franklin’s Senior Night game versus Smoky Mountain April 24.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Senior Jozy Dehart knocks a second-inning single in Franklin’s Senior Night game versus Smoky Mountain April 24.

Softball chases conference title

Will Woolever
Tuesday, April 29, 2025
Panther softball is hot at the right time. In the latter half of April the team faced a busy slate of games, including four of their last six this regular season. With two wins and a third game suspended due to weather while leading 6-0, Franklin entered the last days of their campaign.
Press file photo

Press file photo

Rumans, Rauers earn statewide awards

Will Woolever
Tuesday, April 29, 2025
Two Panther sluggers have earned statewide honors on the diamond. Just three days after breaking Franklin’s all-time record with her 29th home run, on April 11 Kendall Rumans received a Performance of the Month award from the N.C. High School Athletic Association.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Gavin Rinker serves to Pisgah while Eli Adams guards the net in the Mountain Seven Conference Doubles Semifinals April 23.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Gavin Rinker serves to Pisgah while Eli Adams guards the net in the Mountain Seven Conference Doubles Semifinals April 23.

Tennis takes 2nd, 3rd in M7C

Will Woolever
Tuesday, April 29, 2025
Panther men’s tennis boasts two of the region’s top pairs. At the Mountain Seven Conference Tournament April 23-24, Franklin’s top six players competed for individual titles, as well as berths to the 3A West Regionals this Friday.
Photo submitted

Photo submitted

Smoky Mountain Competition Cheer wins big

Will Woolever
Tuesday, April 22, 2025
Two teams from the Smoky Mountain Competition Cheer Program competed at the U.S. Finals Cheer & Dance Competition in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, on April 5. Teams from all over the U.S. were represented at the competition.
White Team player Abby Brogden celebrates with her partner, McKayla Sanders, after making a shot in the sixth annual UNIFY game March 27. (Press file photo)

White Team player Abby Brogden celebrates with her partner, McKayla Sanders, after making a shot in the sixth annual UNIFY game March 27. (Press file photo)

Panthers earn two Commissioner’s Trophies

Will Woolever
Tuesday, April 22, 2025
Panther athletics have achieved an extraordinary feat. Recently, the N.C. High School Athletic Association released their Commissioner’s Trophy recipients for 2024-25, honoring eight service projects by member schools across the state.
Press photo/Will Woolever - An all-Panther heat competes in the men’s 110-meter hurdles at Franklin’s first home track meet in six years April 19. From left are Dylan Monzon, Josiah Sheldon, Chad Engel, Braylen Dezarn and Jonas Phillips.

Press photo/Will Woolever - An all-Panther heat competes in the men’s 110-meter hurdles at Franklin’s first home track meet in six years April 19. From left are Dylan Monzon, Josiah Sheldon, Chad Engel, Braylen Dezarn and Jonas Phillips.

Track hosts historic meet

Will Woolever
Tuesday, April 22, 2025
It’s been a milestone week for Panther track and field. For the past five years, Franklin’s most successful team have competed as nomads, winning two state titles without ever hosting a home meet.