Sports

Press file photo - Then-junior Malaina Alberry battles a wrestler from Enka on Tom Raby Court last winter.

Press file photo - Then-junior Malaina Alberry battles a wrestler from Enka on Tom Raby Court last winter.

New-look wrestling opens season

Will Woolever
Tuesday, December 3, 2024
Panther wrestling has a new look this year. As Macon Middle’s longtime head coach and cofounder of the KLAW (Kids Learning About Wrestling) youth club team, Jimmy Barnett’s name has become synonymous with the sport in Franklin.
Press photo/Will Woolever - (From left) Olivia Rinker, Zoi Walker and Kenna Keyworth dive off the block for the girls 100-yard butterfly at Franklin Health and Fitness Nov. 23.

Press photo/Will Woolever - (From left) Olivia Rinker, Zoi Walker and Kenna Keyworth dive off the block for the girls 100-yard butterfly at Franklin Health and Fitness Nov. 23.

Swim earns three wins, Walker earns Regional berths

Will Woolever
Tuesday, December 3, 2024
Panther swim and dive’s regular season is underway. After months of offseason work, Franklin faced a busy schedule before Thanksgiving, swimming three meets in eight days from Nov. 15-23. With wins over four different WNC opponents, they earned a well-deserved week off for the holiday.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Junior Jack Teesateskie attempts a 3-pointer versus his former team at Cherokee Nov. 26.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Junior Jack Teesateskie attempts a 3-pointer versus his former team at Cherokee Nov. 26.

Men win thriller in Cherokee

Will Woolever
Tuesday, December 3, 2024
Panther men’s basketball has earned a season-opening win. On Nov. 26 the team played their first official game, traveling to Cherokee for a clash with the talented Braves. In a thrilling come-from-behind victory, Franklin tipped off their regular season on the right foot.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Junior Jack Teesateskie drives toward the basket in Franklin’s last preseason scrimmage versus Hayesville Nov. 21. Teesateskie transferred to Franklin this summer from Cherokee, where he averaged more than 17 points per game for the Braves.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Junior Jack Teesateskie drives toward the basket in Franklin’s last preseason scrimmage versus Hayesville Nov. 21. Teesateskie transferred to Franklin this summer from Cherokee, where he averaged more than 17 points per game for the Braves.

Basketball scrimmages Hayesville

Will Woolever
Monday, November 25, 2024
Panther basketball’s regular season is at hand. After months of offseason workouts, Franklin played their last preseason scrimmage Nov. 21, hosting Hayesville on Tom Raby Court. In JV girls, varsity girls and varsity boys action, Franklin geared up for their first official games at Cherokee Nov.
Sophomore Joaquin Lopez dribbles upfield in Panther JV soccer’s season finale versus North Henderson Nov. 4. (Press file photo)

Sophomore Joaquin Lopez dribbles upfield in Panther JV soccer’s season finale versus North Henderson Nov. 4. (Press file photo)

JV soccer ends as one of M7’s top teams

News Staff
Monday, November 25, 2024
Panther JV men’s soccer seemed to improve as the season wore on. Between an extremely rigorous schedule and an unusually high rate of injury, the JV Panthers had a more difficult season than most. Despite their myriad challenges, they played their best in their biggest games.
Photo courtesy of Bryan Wilkinson - Macon Middle School men’s soccer; (back, from left): Jesus Lopez Altamirano, Gael Pacheco-Vasquez, Levi Johnson, Salvador Vazquez, Bray O’Donoghue, Samuel Antoine, Alan Zamudio; (middle row) Raylan Sunderhaus, Edgar Morales, Braylon Crisp, Aldair Zamora Reyes, Christian Garcia, Jose Acevedo, Pablo Odilon, William Altamirano, Abram Lynch; (front row) Grayson Hyder, Oliver Martinez, Ryan Anderson, Yael Altamirano, Taurino Martinez Cruz, Jacob Modlin

Photo courtesy of Bryan Wilkinson - Macon Middle School men’s soccer; (back, from left): Jesus Lopez Altamirano, Gael Pacheco-Vasquez, Levi Johnson, Salvador Vazquez, Bray O’Donoghue, Samuel Antoine, Alan Zamudio; (middle row) Raylan Sunderhaus, Edgar Morales, Braylon Crisp, Aldair Zamora Reyes, Christian Garcia, Jose Acevedo, Pablo Odilon, William Altamirano, Abram Lynch; (front row) Grayson Hyder, Oliver Martinez, Ryan Anderson, Yael Altamirano, Taurino Martinez Cruz, Jacob Modlin

MMS men’s soccer wins 3rd straight BRAC title

Will Woolever
Monday, November 25, 2024
Macon Middle School men’s soccer are conference champs for the third straight year. When former head coach Sam Vargas took over Franklin High School’s women’s team last spring, the MMS boys were forced to take on a new look.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Four of Franklin’s top female sprinters run the 55-meter dash at Swain County High School Nov. 20. From left are Michelle Ortega, Laura Covarrubias, Kai Pelletier and Anna Timan.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Four of Franklin’s top female sprinters run the 55-meter dash at Swain County High School Nov. 20. From left are Michelle Ortega, Laura Covarrubias, Kai Pelletier and Anna Timan.

Track opens winter season

Will Woolever
Monday, November 25, 2024
One of the state’s top 3A track and field programs is back in action. On the heels of the greatest-two-year run in program history, including two men’s state titles and five other top-four finishes, Franklin opened their winter season as a team at Swain Nov. 20.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Donated turkeys sit on a bed of ice ahead of delivery to the foodbank.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Donated turkeys sit on a bed of ice ahead of delivery to the foodbank.

Pickleballers donate Thanksgiving turkeys

News Staff
Tuesday, November 19, 2024
More than 60 local families will have a Thanksgiving turkey this year, thanks to Macon County’s pickleball community. At the first-ever Ed Cameron Memorial Fill the Freezer Pickleball Social, dozens of players gathered at Parker Meadows Nov. 14 to benefit Macon County CareNet.
Photo courtesy of Brooke Southard - Macon Middle School volleyball pictured. From left to right are (top row) Amy Tippet, Maydson Clarke, Sydney Johnson, Emmy Moffitt, Cecilia Torres, Aubrey Shope, Kinley Young, Abby Griffith, Hailey Bale, Skylar Lucas, Brooke Southard; (middle row) Chloe Lambert, Mckenna Seay, Jenna Lowe, Hayden Mallin, Maya Brinson, Ali Jones; (bottom row) Palmer Tallent, Lola Pendergrass, Molly Moeller, Alyssa Awtrey, Lexi Tallent.

Photo courtesy of Brooke Southard - Macon Middle School volleyball pictured. From left to right are (top row) Amy Tippet, Maydson Clarke, Sydney Johnson, Emmy Moffitt, Cecilia Torres, Aubrey Shope, Kinley Young, Abby Griffith, Hailey Bale, Skylar Lucas, Brooke Southard; (middle row) Chloe Lambert, Mckenna Seay, Jenna Lowe, Hayden Mallin, Maya Brinson, Ali Jones; (bottom row) Palmer Tallent, Lola Pendergrass, Molly Moeller, Alyssa Awtrey, Lexi Tallent.

MMS volleyball wins 3rd straight BRAC Championship

Will Woolever
Tuesday, November 19, 2024
Macon Middle School volleyball are conference champs for the third straight year. Upon taking over the program in spring 2022, head coach Brooke Southard led the team to two stellar years, accruing a 33-1 record and two Blue Ridge Athletic Conference titles.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Panther cheer and dance is pictured at a football playoff game at Statesville Nov. 15.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Panther cheer and dance is pictured at a football playoff game at Statesville Nov. 15.

Cheer earns 3rd straight Nationals bid

Will Woolever
Tuesday, November 19, 2024
Panther cheer and dance is nationals-bound for the third straight year. For the past several months Lynn Baker’s team has been hard at work, leading cheers at Panther home games and preparing routines for competition.