Sports

Photo courtesy of Melissa Ward - Panther women’s cross country is pictured at this year’s State Championship course at the Ivey Redmon Sports Complex in Kernersville Sept. 6.

Photo courtesy of Melissa Ward - Panther women’s cross country is pictured at this year’s State Championship course at the Ivey Redmon Sports Complex in Kernersville Sept. 6.

Cross country scopes out state course

Will Woolever
Tuesday, September 10, 2024
Panther cross country is rounding into midseason form. After opening the year with an easy course at A.C. Reynolds Aug. 28, on Sept. 6 Franklin’s distance runners navigated a much tougher race.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Sophomore Danni Ledford receives a difficult pass versus North Henderson Sept. 3.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Sophomore Danni Ledford receives a difficult pass versus North Henderson Sept. 3.

Volleyball improves to 10-0

Will Woolever
Tuesday, September 10, 2024
Nearly halfway through the season, Panther volleyball remains unbeaten. Having lost just one set out of 25 in their first eight matches, on the week of Sept. 2 Franklin continued their conference schedule in meetings with Mountain Seven foes North Henderson and Smoky Mountain.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Freshman fullback Garrett Young tries to break a Swain tackle at the Panther Pit Aug. 6.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Freshman fullback Garrett Young tries to break a Swain tackle at the Panther Pit Aug. 6.

3-0 football routs Swain

Will Woolever
Tuesday, September 10, 2024
The good times keep rolling for Panther football. After starting their season with 20-point wins over Robbinsville and Murphy, on Sept. 6 Franklin returned to the Panther Pit for a clash with Swain.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Senior Piper Wittekind makes an impressive dig versus Pisgah on Tom Raby Court Aug. 29.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Senior Piper Wittekind makes an impressive dig versus Pisgah on Tom Raby Court Aug. 29.

Good times roll for 8-0 volleyball

Will Woolever
Tuesday, September 3, 2024
Eight matches in, Panther volleyball has lost just a single set. Having earned their first Mountain Seven win over East Henderson five days before, on the week of Aug. 27 Franklin entered the heart of their conference schedule.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Abigail Angel (right) serves while Caroline Deal guards the net in Franklin’s #2 doubles match vs. Pisgah Aug. 26.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Abigail Angel (right) serves while Caroline Deal guards the net in Franklin’s #2 doubles match vs. Pisgah Aug. 26.

Tennis starts season 4-0

Will Woolever
Tuesday, September 3, 2024
Four contests into the season, Panther women’s tennis has lost just one match. Having opened their season with successful trips to East Henderson (9-0) and Tuscola (8-1), on the week of Aug. 26 Franklin returned to the Macon County Rec Park for two more Mountain Seven Conference contests.
Press photos/Will Woolever - Senior linebacker Avery Carpenter grabs the jersey of Robbinsville’s quarterback behind the line of scrimmage at the Panther Pit Aug. 30.

Press photos/Will Woolever - Senior linebacker Avery Carpenter grabs the jersey of Robbinsville’s quarterback behind the line of scrimmage at the Panther Pit Aug. 30.

Football routs Robbinsville, improves to 2-0

Will Woolever
Tuesday, September 3, 2024
The Panther Pit’s final season has kicked off in style. After a dominant win at Murphy to start the year, on Aug. 30 Franklin hosted Robbinsville in the Pit’s 75th home opener. With a 30-7 drubbing of the Black Knights, the upstart Panthers improved to 2-0.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Sophomore goalkeeper Ken Modlin punches a ball from danger versus Asheville Aug. 19.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Sophomore goalkeeper Ken Modlin punches a ball from danger versus Asheville Aug. 19.

Soccer falls to Asheville, beats BREC

Will Woolever
Tuesday, August 27, 2024
It’s been a week of extremes for Panther men’s soccer. After opening the year with two very different nonconference games, routing Highlands by nine goals and falling to Hendersonville by two, on the second week of the season Franklin faced another mixed bag.
Abigail Angel forehands a ball versus Pisgah Aug. 26 while fellow senior Caroline Deal guards the net.

Abigail Angel forehands a ball versus Pisgah Aug. 26 while fellow senior Caroline Deal guards the net.

Tennis routs East, Tuscola to open year

Will Woolever
Tuesday, August 27, 2024
Franklin’s 3A State Semifinalists are back in action. Coming off the greatest two-year run in program history, including two trips to the state final four and two 3A West Doubles titles, on the week of Aug. 19 the Panthers began their fall campaign.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Senior Aubrey Haley lifts a ball over the net in Franklin’s 3-0 home win over West Oak (Westminster, S.C.) Aug. 21.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Senior Aubrey Haley lifts a ball over the net in Franklin’s 3-0 home win over West Oak (Westminster, S.C.) Aug. 21.

Volleyball improves to 6-0; Queen out for season

Will Woolever
Tuesday, August 27, 2024
It’s been a bittersweet week for Panther volleyball. After a costly win over Murphy Aug. 15, from which senior outside hitter Cali Queen exited with a knee injury, Franklin soldiered on without their two-time All-Mountain Seven selection.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Senior Braydon Hervey gains a tough extra yard in Franklin’s 33-13 rout of Murphy Aug. 23. Hervey finished with 197 yards and three touchdowns from scrimmage in Cherokee County.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Senior Braydon Hervey gains a tough extra yard in Franklin’s 33-13 rout of Murphy Aug. 23. Hervey finished with 197 yards and three touchdowns from scrimmage in Cherokee County.

Football bests Murphy 33-13

Will Woolever
Tuesday, August 27, 2024
It’s one win down and nine to go for Panther football. After a difficult 2023 and months of summer workouts, practice and scrimmages, on Aug. 23 Franklin opened their season versus Murphy for the fourth straight year.