Sports

Press Photo/Will Woolever - Junior linebacker/fullback Brayden Watts (#14) celebrates after recovering a first-quarter Hayesville fumble Aug. 27.

Press Photo/Will Woolever - Junior linebacker/fullback Brayden Watts (#14) celebrates after recovering a first-quarter Hayesville fumble Aug. 27.

Football stomps Hayesville

Will Woolever
Tuesday, August 31, 2021
Panther football is a convincing 2-0 to begin the season. After beating last year’s 1A state champion, Murphy, 35-15, avenging their 48-14 loss in Cherokee County this spring, Franklin emerged from the first week of the fall 2021 season with a 20-point win over one of the region’s top programs.
Press Photo/Will Woolever - Senior running back/safety Kellen Stiles meets a Murphy linebacker in the hole in Franklin’s 35-15 win at the Panther Pit Aug. 20.

Press Photo/Will Woolever - Senior running back/safety Kellen Stiles meets a Murphy linebacker in the hole in Franklin’s 35-15 win at the Panther Pit Aug. 20.

Football beats 1A state champs

Will Woolever
Tuesday, August 24, 2021
The 2021 FHS football season is off to a fast start. When head coach Josh Brooks scheduled Franklin’s first game against last year’s 1A State Champion Murphy Bulldogs, the idea was to give Panther football an early litmus test to start the season.
Press photo/Will Woolever - FHS All-Mountain Six selections Solomon Espinal (center, left) and Luis Torres try to slice through the Smoky Mountain defense in a game at Macon Middle School last season.

Press photo/Will Woolever - FHS All-Mountain Six selections Solomon Espinal (center, left) and Luis Torres try to slice through the Smoky Mountain defense in a game at Macon Middle School last season.

Soccer getting set for fall

News Staff
Tuesday, August 10, 2021
After a unique but successful spring that saw the Panthers finish with a winning record despite not having any seniors on the roster, this year the men’s soccer teams have been moved back to their normal fall season.
Photo courtesy of ICF Photography - Bryson City native Evy Leibfarth navigates through obstacles in a recent canoe slalom event. Leibfarth competed in the first-ever Olympic women’s canoe slalom event last week at just 17 years of age.

Photo courtesy of ICF Photography - Bryson City native Evy Leibfarth navigates through obstacles in a recent canoe slalom event. Leibfarth competed in the first-ever Olympic women’s canoe slalom event last week at just 17 years of age.

Local canoer makes history

(not verified)
Tuesday, August 3, 2021
The 2020 Tokyo Olympics slalom competitions wrapped up Thursday, July 29 at the Kasai Slalom Center. For Evy Leibfarth, 17, of Bryson City, the experience was an amazing one as the first American woman to compete in the debut of the women’s canoe slalom events.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Timers watch a close finish in the boys’ 11-12 100-yard freestyle at the Mountain Swim League All-Star Meet July 24.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Timers watch a close finish in the boys’ 11-12 100-yard freestyle at the Mountain Swim League All-Star Meet July 24.

F.A.S.T. All-Stars end season

News Staff
Tuesday, July 27, 2021
Another season for the Franklin Amateur Swim Team is in the books. After claiming their 17th-straight Mountain Swim League title at the MSL championship meet July 17, the majority of F.A.S.T.’s swimmers hung up their goggles until next summer.
Photo Contributed - Franklin’s Little League Softball 8U All-Stars hold a players-only meeting at the State Championship tournament.

Photo Contributed - Franklin’s Little League Softball 8U All-Stars hold a players-only meeting at the State Championship tournament.

8U teams make splash at state

Will Woolever
Tuesday, July 20, 2021
Franklin’s 8U Little League teams had a season to remember this year.
Press Photo/Will Woolever - F.A.S.T. timers watch a last-second finish between two swimmers in the boys’ 9-10 50-yard freestyle.

Press Photo/Will Woolever - F.A.S.T. timers watch a last-second finish between two swimmers in the boys’ 9-10 50-yard freestyle.

F.A.S.T. back in action

Will Woolever
Tuesday, July 13, 2021
The Franklin Amateur Swim Team is back in action again. After a lost 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Franklin’s community swim team, known as F.A.S.T., is competing for the first time in two years.
Press Photo/Will Woolever - FHS head football coach Josh Brooks adresses FHS athletic staff, players and their families at the school’s annual Athletic Awards ceremony June 21.

Press Photo/Will Woolever - FHS head football coach Josh Brooks adresses FHS athletic staff, players and their families at the school’s annual Athletic Awards ceremony June 21.

Athletes honored at awards night

Will Woolever
Tuesday, July 6, 2021
On June 21, FHS athletes, faculty and parents gathered in the high school auditorium for the annual FHS Athletic Awards ceremony.
Photo courtesy of Melissa Ward - Women’s 4x400-meter relay State Champions (clockwise from top left) Hannah Angel, Hope Smith, Dylan Garcia, and Maria Sgro show off their gold medals on the State Championship podium.

Photo courtesy of Melissa Ward - Women’s 4x400-meter relay State Champions (clockwise from top left) Hannah Angel, Hope Smith, Dylan Garcia, and Maria Sgro show off their gold medals on the State Championship podium.

Girls win state gold in 4x400m

Will Woolever
Tuesday, June 29, 2021
Will Woolever sports@thefranklinpress.com Another stellar FHS track and field season has come to an end. At the 2A State Championship meet at North Carolina A&T University June 26, 17 Panther athletes tested their skills against the finest athletes from across North Carolina.
Photo courtesy of FHS track and field - Members of the FHS women’s track and field team show off their hardware after taking 2nd place at the 2A West Regional meet June 18.

Photo courtesy of FHS track and field - Members of the FHS women’s track and field team show off their hardware after taking 2nd place at the 2A West Regional meet June 18.

Track sends 17 to State

Will Woolever
Tuesday, June 22, 2021
Will Woolever sports@thefranklinpress.com  The FHS Track and Field Team has made an impression on the biggest stage.