Sports

Franklin native Canyon Woodward climbs a steep alpine pass in the Ultra Trail du-Mont Blanc trail race last month. (Photo submitted)

Franklin native Canyon Woodward climbs a steep alpine pass in the Ultra Trail du-Mont Blanc trail race last month. (Photo submitted)

Woodward places 29th at Mont Blanc race

Will Woolever
Tuesday, October 10, 2023
WNC’s premiere ultramarathoner is rapidly climbing the world rankings. For the past few years, Franklin native Canyon Woodward has traveled the world in search of its toughest trail races, traversing hundreds of miles of difficult terrain against some of the world’s best distance trail runners.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Head coach Bekah Brooks passes out “2023 Conference Champion” T-shirts to her team following their title-clinching home win over West Henderson Oct. 5.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Head coach Bekah Brooks passes out “2023 Conference Champion” T-shirts to her team following their title-clinching home win over West Henderson Oct. 5.

Football improves in loss to North

Will Woolever
Tuesday, October 10, 2023
Panther volleyball is the champion of the Mountain Seven Conference. Heading into the week of Oct. 2, Bekah Brooks’ team boasted a 9-1 record in the M7C, tied for first with West Henderson with two conference matches to play.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Sisters Laura and Lydia Holland are pictured in a doubles match versus West Henderson on Senior Night Oct. 4.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Sisters Laura and Lydia Holland are pictured in a doubles match versus West Henderson on Senior Night Oct. 4.

Tennis completes second straight unbeaten year

Will Woolever
Tuesday, October 10, 2023
Panther women’s tennis has gone unbeaten once again. After a historic 2022, in which they went 14-0 in the regular season and played in the 3A state semifinals, Heather Bell’s team entered the fall season with great expectations.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Junior outside hitter/defensive specialist Kyrah Bowles lifts a ball over the net vs. West Henderson Oct. 6.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Junior outside hitter/defensive specialist Kyrah Bowles lifts a ball over the net vs. West Henderson Oct. 6.

Volleyball secures M7C title

Will Woolever
Tuesday, October 10, 2023
Panther volleyball is the champion of the Mountain Seven Conference. Heading into the week of Oct. 2, Bekah Brooks’ team boasted a 9-1 record in the M7C, tied for first with West Henderson with two conference matches to play.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Senior Jacob Gibson corrals a Pisgah ballcarrier in Canton Sept. 29.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Senior Jacob Gibson corrals a Pisgah ballcarrier in Canton Sept. 29.

Football falls 35-0 to Pisgah

Will Woolever
Tuesday, October 3, 2023
Panther football has picked up its first conference loss. After beating East Henderson and Tuscola in their first two Mountain Seven games, on Sept. 29 the team traveled to Pisgah for a battle with the Black Bears.
Photo courtesy of Blair King - Sophomore wide receiver/defensive back Mark Vanhook tries to break a tackle against Tuscola Sept. 21.

Photo courtesy of Blair King - Sophomore wide receiver/defensive back Mark Vanhook tries to break a tackle against Tuscola Sept. 21.

JV football begins season 4-1; among M7C’s best

Will Woolever
Tuesday, October 3, 2023
It’s been a good start to the season for Panther JV football. Coming off a 9-1 season in 2022, this year’s team has gotten off to a similar start, winning four of their first five games with four more left to play.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Senior setter McCall Sanders (left) gets a standing ovation from fans for her 1,000th career assist on Tom Raby Court Sept. 26.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Senior setter McCall Sanders (left) gets a standing ovation from fans for her 1,000th career assist on Tom Raby Court Sept. 26.

Volleyball ends week tied for 1st

Will Woolever
Tuesday, October 3, 2023
Panther volleyball remains tied for first with just two conference matches remaining. On the week of Sept. 25, Bekah Brooks’ team faced a busy schedule, including a non-conference date with Murphy and Mountain Seven clashes with Pisgah and North Henderson.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Junior Maci Stork (right) forehands a ball in a doubles match with Logan Guynn versus Pisgah Sept. 25.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Junior Maci Stork (right) forehands a ball in a doubles match with Logan Guynn versus Pisgah Sept. 25.

Tennis stays unbeaten at 11-0

Will Woolever
Tuesday, October 3, 2023
For the second straight year, Panther women’s tennis is closing in on an unbeaten season. On the week of Sept. 25, Franklin hosted a pair of Mountain Seven matches, welcoming Pisgah and North Henderson to the Macon County Rec Park.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Senior Logan Russo (left, foreground) leads the pack off the line at Kituwah Sept. 16.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Senior Logan Russo (left, foreground) leads the pack off the line at Kituwah Sept. 16.

Russo breaks school 5K record in Georgia

Will Woolever
Tuesday, October 3, 2023
Panther cross country has a new school record-holder. After taking part in smaller meets in Swain County and Murphy earlier in the month, on the last week of September Franklin prepared for much tougher competition. At the Asics Cross Country Invitational in Fairburn, Georgia, Sept.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Franklin’s female distance runnners leave the starting line at Kituwah Sept. 16.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Franklin’s female distance runnners leave the starting line at Kituwah Sept. 16.

Girls cross country wins Murphy Bulldog meet

Will Woolever
Tuesday, September 26, 2023
Panther cross country is back at full strength. After a strong showing at the Kituwah meet hosted by Swain County the week before, on Sept. 23 Melissa Ward’s team traveled to Murphy for the annual Bulldog XC meet.