Sports

Photo courtesy of Kimberly Timan - (From left) Maddie Holden, Alexa Morales and Nadia Owle traverse the site of the Cherokee Mother Town at Kituwah in the Keith Payne Memorial Invitational Sept. 21.

Photo courtesy of Kimberly Timan - (From left) Maddie Holden, Alexa Morales and Nadia Owle traverse the site of the Cherokee Mother Town at Kituwah in the Keith Payne Memorial Invitational Sept. 21.

Cross country readies for conference

Will Woolever
Tuesday, October 1, 2024
Panther cross country is halfway through the regular season. After previewing the State Championship course in Kernersville two weeks before, on Sept. 21 Franklin returned to action much closer to home.
Kate Phillips volleys a ball while Abigail Angel guards the baseline in Franklin’s #1 doubles match versus East Henderson Sept. 16. (Press file photo)

Kate Phillips volleys a ball while Abigail Angel guards the baseline in Franklin’s #1 doubles match versus East Henderson Sept. 16. (Press file photo)

Tennis nears 3rd straight M7 title

Will Woolever
Tuesday, October 1, 2024
Panther women’s tennis had little to improve on last week. After suspending their contest with Tuscola due to rain five days before, Franklin faced a busy week of Sept. 23, including the remainder of their contest with Tuscola and full matches with Pisgah and North Henderson.
Press file photo - Freshman Ella Raby lifts a ball over the net versus East Henderson on Tom Raby Court Sept. 17.

Press file photo - Freshman Ella Raby lifts a ball over the net versus East Henderson on Tom Raby Court Sept. 17.

Volleyball enters home stretch

Will Woolever
Tuesday, October 1, 2024
Panther volleyball is entering the home stretch as one of the region’s top-ranked teams. Ahead of the week of Sept. 23, Franklin boasted one of the 3A West’s best records, sitting at 17-1 with just six matches to play.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Senior Cali Queen prepares to strike the ball versus East Henderson on Tom Raby Court Sept. 17. Queen returned for one final match before undergoing major surgery after injuring her knee versus Murphy Aug. 15.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Senior Cali Queen prepares to strike the ball versus East Henderson on Tom Raby Court Sept. 17. Queen returned for one final match before undergoing major surgery after injuring her knee versus Murphy Aug. 15.

Volleyball among 3A’s best

Will Woolever
Tuesday, September 24, 2024
With just six matches to play, Panther volleyball ranks among the 3A West’s best teams. Having started the season with a 12-1 record, Franklin faced a busy week of Sept. 16, with home matches versus Hayesville, East Henderson and Tuscola.
Press photo/Vickie Carpenter - Junior Aiden Pitts (right) returns his second-quarter interception for a touchdown with help from Addix Sutton in Franklin’s 48-8 win at East Henderson Sept. 20.

Press photo/Vickie Carpenter - Junior Aiden Pitts (right) returns his second-quarter interception for a touchdown with help from Addix Sutton in Franklin’s 48-8 win at East Henderson Sept. 20.

Football dismantles East, earns first conference win

Will Woolever
Tuesday, September 24, 2024
Another game, another blowout win for Panther football. After a red-hot start to the season featuring 20-point wins over Swain, Robbinsville and Murphy, on Sept. 20 Franklin kicked off their conference schedule with a trip to East Henderson.
Photo courtesy of Rob Gasbarro, Outdoor 76 - Canyon Woodward unfurls a North Carolina flag at the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc finish line in Chamonix, France last month. The Franklin native placed 23rd in the 110-mile race, widely regarded as the world’s most competitive trail ultramarathon.

Photo courtesy of Rob Gasbarro, Outdoor 76 - Canyon Woodward unfurls a North Carolina flag at the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc finish line in Chamonix, France last month. The Franklin native placed 23rd in the 110-mile race, widely regarded as the world’s most competitive trail ultramarathon.

Woodward places 23rd at UTMB World Finals

Will Woolever
Tuesday, September 24, 2024
A Franklin native is one of the world’s top ultramarathoners. For the past few years Canyon Woodward has sought out the western hemisphere’s toughest competitive trail races, running up to 110 miles over the world’s most difficult terrain.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Sophomore Halle Shields lifts a ball over the net versus West Henderson Sept. 10.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Sophomore Halle Shields lifts a ball over the net versus West Henderson Sept. 10.

JV Volleyball beats West, eyes unbeaten season

Will Woolever
Tuesday, September 17, 2024
Halfway through their conference schedule, Panther JV volleyball remains unbeaten. After a near-flawless 2023, including a 20-1 record and a Mountain Seven title, Franklin’s JV squad is on another tear this fall.
Press photo/Will Woolever - #1 doubles partners Maci Stork (left) and Kate Phillips look a ball in versus West Henderson Sept. 9.

Press photo/Will Woolever - #1 doubles partners Maci Stork (left) and Kate Phillips look a ball in versus West Henderson Sept. 9.

Tennis improves to 6-0 in M7C

Will Woolever
Tuesday, September 17, 2024
Panther women’s tennis is halfway to another perfect conference season. For the past two years Franklin has controlled the Mountain Seven, posting 12-0 records in the conference en route to trips to the State Semifinals.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Senior Ryan Green prepares to spike the ball versus Rabun Gap-Nacoochee Sept. 12.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Senior Ryan Green prepares to spike the ball versus Rabun Gap-Nacoochee Sept. 12.

Volleyball wins thriller w/ RG-N

Will Woolever
Tuesday, September 17, 2024
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. After a white-hot start to the season, dropping just one out of 34 sets en route to an 11-0 record, on the week of Sept. 9 Panther volleyball faced their toughest stretch yet.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Junior Clara Stork forehands a ball versus North Henderson Aug. 28.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Junior Clara Stork forehands a ball versus North Henderson Aug. 28.

Tennis falls to Rabun Gap, bests Smoky

Will Woolever
Tuesday, September 10, 2024
Panther women’s tennis is 5-0 in the Mountain Seven. After dropping just one out of 36 matches in their first four dual team contests, on Aug. 30 Franklin traveled to Rabun Gap for their first nonconference clash.