Sports

Press photo/Will Woolever - Senior forward/center Avery Moffitt elevates for a layup in Franklin’s home opener versus Cherokee Nov. 30.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Senior forward/center Avery Moffitt elevates for a layup in Franklin’s home opener versus Cherokee Nov. 30.

Basketball season tips off

Will Woolever
Tuesday, December 5, 2023
Panther women’s basketball has undergone a trial by fire. After months of preseason work and a few days off for Thanksgiving break, on the week of Nov. 27 the team tipped off their regular season.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Junior guard Braylen Dezarn attempts a short jump shot in Franklin’s home opener versus Cherokee Nov. 30

Press photo/Will Woolever - Junior guard Braylen Dezarn attempts a short jump shot in Franklin’s home opener versus Cherokee Nov. 30

Basketball season tips off

Will Woolever
Tuesday, December 5, 2023
Panther men’s basketball is 3-0 to start the year. Upon returning from Thanksgiving Break, Doug Plemmons’ team had a busy week, opening their regular season with three games against tough opponents.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Senior Wyatt Browning batlles a wrestler from Enka in Franklin’s first meet of the season Nov. 16 on Tom Raby Court.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Senior Wyatt Browning batlles a wrestler from Enka in Franklin’s first meet of the season Nov. 16 on Tom Raby Court.

Wrestling battles more tough WNC competition

Will Woolever
Tuesday, November 28, 2023
It was a busy Thanksgiving week for Panther wrestling. After opening their season with a three-team home meet Nov. 16, the Mat Cats geared up for three away dates over the next six days.
(Press file photo) Amy Mendoza Lopez nears the mile mark for Panther cross country at the Cherokee Mother Town near Ela Sept. 18. The sophomore broke a school record in the 3,200-meter run at the New Balance Dash for Doobie meet near Winston-Salem Nov. 18.

(Press file photo) Amy Mendoza Lopez nears the mile mark for Panther cross country at the Cherokee Mother Town near Ela Sept. 18. The sophomore broke a school record in the 3,200-meter run at the New Balance Dash for Doobie meet near Winston-Salem Nov. 18.

Distance runners break records

Will Woolever
Tuesday, November 28, 2023
It’s been a busy few weeks for Panther distance runners. After ending their cross country season at the state meet Nov. 4, many team members jumped right into track and field, trading 5-kilometer treks over land for two-mile runs around a track. At the New Balance Dash for Doobie Nov.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Senior Jose Gomez (left) and sophomore Isaiah Baldwin dive off the block for the 100-yard butterfly at Franklin Health & Fitness Nov. 18.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Senior Jose Gomez (left) and sophomore Isaiah Baldwin dive off the block for the 100-yard butterfly at Franklin Health & Fitness Nov. 18.

Swimming kicks off 2023

Will Woolever
Tuesday, November 28, 2023
The reigning two-time swim and dive champions of the Mountain Seven are back in action. Through the conference’s first two years of existence, Franklin has dominated the pool, winning men’s and women’s titles at its championship meets in 2022 and earlier this year. In a Nov.
Junior Malaina Alberry locks horns with a wrestler from Enka in Franklin’s first home meet Nov. 16. (Press photo/Will Woolever)

Junior Malaina Alberry locks horns with a wrestler from Enka in Franklin’s first home meet Nov. 16. (Press photo/Will Woolever)

Wrestling opens season vs. Enka, Union

Will Woolever
Monday, November 20, 2023
The Mat Cats are back for another winter season. After taking over the program last year, head coach Coley Tyler has been hard at work, filling out the team’s roster and teaching Panther athletes the finer points of wrestling. Against two elite programs in Enka and Union County, Georgia Nov.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Goalkeeper Drew Hodges (center, wearing goggles) is mobbed by teammates, family and friends after a 10-round penalty shootout versus Polk to clinch a Blue Ridge Athletic Conference title.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Goalkeeper Drew Hodges (center, wearing goggles) is mobbed by teammates, family and friends after a 10-round penalty shootout versus Polk to clinch a Blue Ridge Athletic Conference title.

MMS boys soccer wins epic BRAC title match

Will Woolever
Monday, November 20, 2023
It’s been a good two seasons for Macon Middle School men’s soccer. After an unbeaten season and a Blue Ridge Athletic Conference title last fall, Sam Vargas’s team entered 2023 with a full head of steam.
Press photo/Will Woolever - From left, Jason Mesa, Wyatt Cantrell, Elijah Cochran, Justin Rodriguez and Zachary Call compete in the 55-meter dash at Swain Nov. 15.

Press photo/Will Woolever - From left, Jason Mesa, Wyatt Cantrell, Elijah Cochran, Justin Rodriguez and Zachary Call compete in the 55-meter dash at Swain Nov. 15.

Track qualifies 11 for state

Will Woolever
Monday, November 20, 2023
The reigning 3A Indoor Track State Champions are back in action. At last year’s state title meet, Franklin nearly swept the entire competition, defying prognosticators to place first in men’s scoring and a close second in the women’s. At the Polar Bear #1 meet at Swain County High School Nov.
Zach Tallent

Zach Tallent

Tallent discusses Banner season for MMS athletics

Will Woolever
Tuesday, November 14, 2023
An incredible run of success continues for Macon Middle School athletics. After a stellar 2022-23, in which MMS teams racked up eight conference titles and went a combined 113-7 in team sports, the Panthers have continued their stretch of dominance into 2023-24.
Press photo/Will Woolever - A gang of Panthers brings down a Waynesville ball carrier in the Blue Ridge Athletic Conference Championship Oct. 19. The MMS defense held opponents to just 44 points across seven games this fall.

Press photo/Will Woolever - A gang of Panthers brings down a Waynesville ball carrier in the Blue Ridge Athletic Conference Championship Oct. 19. The MMS defense held opponents to just 44 points across seven games this fall.

MMS football rolls over BRAC

Will Woolever
Tuesday, November 14, 2023
It’s been a good two years for Macon Middle School football. After an 8-0 season and a Blue Ridge Athletic Conference title in 2022, the Panthers faced a difficult challenge, losing a whopping 17 starters to eighth-grade graduation.