Sports

April Perez battles a wrestler from Smoky Mountain on Tom Raby Court last year. (Press file photo)

April Perez battles a wrestler from Smoky Mountain on Tom Raby Court last year. (Press file photo)

Wrestling girls place 3rd at M8 tournament

Will Woolever
Tuesday, January 27, 2026
The postseason is underway for Panther wrestling. On Jan. 22, the team traveled to East Henderson for the Mountain Eight Championships, battling their conference foes in an individual tourney. Led by multiple podium finishes from the girls, Franklin continued to round into late-season form.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Gavin Alverson wins a photo finish in the boys’ 200-yard medley relay at the Mountain Eight Conference Swimming Championships at the Jackson County Aquatic Center in Cullowhee Jan. 20.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Gavin Alverson wins a photo finish in the boys’ 200-yard medley relay at the Mountain Eight Conference Swimming Championships at the Jackson County Aquatic Center in Cullowhee Jan. 20.

Swim impresses at M8 meet

Will Woolever
Tuesday, January 27, 2026
The conference meet is in the books for Panther swim and dive. From Jan. 14-20, Franklin competed in the Mountain Eight Championships, traveling to Asheville and Cullowhee for a two-part meet.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Eleanor Kessler competes for Macon Early College in the 100-yard backstroke at Franklin Health and Fitness Dec. 10.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Eleanor Kessler competes for Macon Early College in the 100-yard backstroke at Franklin Health and Fitness Dec. 10.

Swim and dive teams prepare for postseason

Will Woolever
Tuesday, January 20, 2026
The Franklin area’s swim and dive teams are preparing for the postseason.  Upon returning from Christmas break, Franklin High School and Macon Early College entered the home stretch, with just two full meets left this regular season.
Sophomore Finley Moffitt backs down a defender versus Andrews Jan. 5. (Press file photo)

Sophomore Finley Moffitt backs down a defender versus Andrews Jan. 5. (Press file photo)

Girls hoops navigates coaching change

Will Woolever
Tuesday, January 20, 2026
A new era is underway for Panther women’s hoops. When longtime head coach Scott Hartbarger stepped down earlier this month, former assistant Justin Moffitt took over the team, leading Franklin to back-to-back conference wins. In two more Mountain Eight games the week of Jan.
Photo submitted - Highlands School seventh grader Brynn Mason shows off her tournament champion plaque at a Hurricane Junior Golf Tour event last year.

Photo submitted - Highlands School seventh grader Brynn Mason shows off her tournament champion plaque at a Hurricane Junior Golf Tour event last year.

Golfer among region’s best

Will Woolever
Tuesday, January 20, 2026
A local golfer is among the region’s best amateurs. Throughout the past year, Brynn Mason has traversed the Southeast in search of its toughest events. Recently, she was named the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour’s 13U Girls Player of the Year.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Junior Will Rauers elevates to the rim versus Andrews Jan. 5.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Junior Will Rauers elevates to the rim versus Andrews Jan. 5.

11-2 boys win 4th straight

Will Woolever
Tuesday, January 13, 2026
Panther men’s hoops is on a hot streak.  After a successful five-game road trip, in which senior Jack Teesateskie broke program records for points (52) and 3-pointers (12) in a single game versus Union County, Georgia, on the week of Jan. 5 the team returned to Tom Raby Court.
Press file photo - Senior CJ Engert competes in the long jump in Franklin’s home meet at Macon Middle School Dec. 3.

Press file photo - Senior CJ Engert competes in the long jump in Franklin’s home meet at Macon Middle School Dec. 3.

Track breaks FHS records at Swain, JDL

Will Woolever
Tuesday, January 13, 2026
No school record is safe from Panther track and field. Following a near-monthlong Christmas break, on the week of Jan. 5 Franklin made up for lost time, traveling to meets in Swain County and Winston-Salem.
Press file photo - Former head coach Scott Hartbarger receives a commemorative basketball from Panther all-time leading scorer Lindsay Simpson after earning his 200th career win for Franklin in 2020.

Press file photo - Former head coach Scott Hartbarger receives a commemorative basketball from Panther all-time leading scorer Lindsay Simpson after earning his 200th career win for Franklin in 2020.

Hartbarger steps down after 17 seasons

Will Woolever
Tuesday, January 13, 2026
A fixture of Panther sports is stepping down from his role. For the last 16-plus years, Scott Hartbarger has been synonymous with Panther hoops, coaching Franklin’s girls to four conference titles, six 20-win seasons and 13 state playoff trips.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Thatcher Daniels swims a close race in the boys 100-yard butterfly at a FHS/MEC home meet Dec. 6

Press photo/Will Woolever - Thatcher Daniels swims a close race in the boys 100-yard butterfly at a FHS/MEC home meet Dec. 6

Swim and dive travels to Asheville, Cullowhee

Will Woolever
Tuesday, January 6, 2026
The Franklin area’s swim and dive teams earned a well-deserved holiday break. On the week before Christmas Franklin High School and Macon Early College remained hard at work, traveling to Asheville and Cullowhee for meets.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Sophomore Bristol Brooks eyes the rim versus Brevard Dec. 16.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Sophomore Bristol Brooks eyes the rim versus Brevard Dec. 16.

Varsity girls take 2nd at Battle of the States

Will Woolever
Tuesday, January 6, 2026
Panther women’s hoops are Battle of the States runners-up. After a thrilling one-point win over Erwin Dec. 22, after Christmas the team traveled to Hiawassee, Georgia, for the 31st annual tournament at Towns County High School. There they won their first two games before falling in the final round.