Sports

Press Photo/Will Woolever - FHS senior Branden Berger (center) stands on the podium after winning a Mountain Six Conference individual title. Berger will not wrestle at Regionals or State in order to attend basic training in the National Guard.

Press Photo/Will Woolever - FHS senior Branden Berger (center) stands on the podium after winning a Mountain Six Conference individual title. Berger will not wrestle at Regionals or State in order to attend basic training in the National Guard.

Wrestling hosts MSC Tourney

Will Woolever
Tuesday, June 8, 2021
Another busy week is in the books for FHS wrestling.
Press Photo/Will Woolever - FHS senior and volleyball standout Amy Tippett signs her official offer from UNC-Asheville as dad Steve, sister Brooke, and mom Kelli look on.

Press Photo/Will Woolever - FHS senior and volleyball standout Amy Tippett signs her official offer from UNC-Asheville as dad Steve, sister Brooke, and mom Kelli look on.

Tippett signs with UNCA

Will Woolever
Tuesday, June 1, 2021
Another FHS athlete has signed an offer with a college program. In her time playing softball and volleyball for Franklin, senior Amy Tippett has been a part of some excellent Panther teams.
File photo - Longtime FHS football coach Josh Brooks coaches up his players from the sideline against Hendersonville March 12.

File photo - Longtime FHS football coach Josh Brooks coaches up his players from the sideline against Hendersonville March 12.

Brooks returns to FHS

Will Woolever
Tuesday, June 1, 2021
A Franklin High School fixture is returning to his longtime post.  When head football coach Josh Brooks announced his intent to step down from the top job last month, it appeared the reign of FHS’s all-time winningest coach would come to an end.
Photo courtesy of Nikki Adams - FHS senior Dylan Garcia is pictured at Charles Owen High School May 21. Garcia broke the FHS 1,600-meter record at the meet.

Photo courtesy of Nikki Adams - FHS senior Dylan Garcia is pictured at Charles Owen High School May 21. Garcia broke the FHS 1,600-meter record at the meet.

Track rolls on at Owen

Will Woolever
Tuesday, May 25, 2021
Another week, another successful meet for Franklin’s track and field team. In a three-team meet at Charles Owen High School May 21 against Owen and Avery County, Panther track and field dominated team point totals in both men’s and women’s events.
Press Photo/Will Woolever FHS point guard chad Wilson hugs his mom, Stephanie Moore, after signing his official offer to Bryan College while Braeden and William Moore look on.

Press Photo/Will Woolever FHS point guard chad Wilson hugs his mom, Stephanie Moore, after signing his official offer to Bryan College while Braeden and William Moore look on.

Drake, Wilson sign with Bryan

News Staff
Tuesday, May 18, 2021
Bryan College has a brand new pair of first-class athletes.  Throughout their four-year careers at FHS, seniors Canaan Drake and Chad Wilson have been among the hardest-working athletes to wear the Panther red.
Press photo/Will Woolever - FHS head football coach Josh Brooks (center left) addresses his team following his last game, a home win against Smoky Mountain April 9.

Press photo/Will Woolever - FHS head football coach Josh Brooks (center left) addresses his team following his last game, a home win against Smoky Mountain April 9.

Brooks steps down

Will Woolever
Tuesday, May 11, 2021
Will Woolever sports@thefranklinpress.com A fixture of Franklin High School athletics is stepping down from his role.
Press photo/Will Woolever - Panther players celebrate after earning the final out against Smoky Mountain April 29. The Panthers defeated the Mustangs, at the time the state’s top-ranked 2A team, to advance to the first round of the state playoffs this week.

Press photo/Will Woolever - Panther players celebrate after earning the final out against Smoky Mountain April 29. The Panthers defeated the Mustangs, at the time the state’s top-ranked 2A team, to advance to the first round of the state playoffs this week.

Softball advances to playoffs

Will Woolever
Tuesday, May 4, 2021
It was a whirlwind week for FHS softball.  After surviving a scare from East Henderson to earn a fifth-place ranking in the state 2A classification, on the week of April 26 the Lady Panthers geared up for their final two games of the 2021 regular season.
Senior second baseman Nevaeh Tran belts a home run against East Henderson April 22. Tran hit two two-run homers in the game.

Senior second baseman Nevaeh Tran belts a home run against East Henderson April 22. Tran hit two two-run homers in the game.

Softball back on track

Will Woolever
Tuesday, April 27, 2021
After suffering their first two losses to state 2-A contenders Smoky Mountain and Oak Grove the previous week, on the week of April 19 Panther softball returned to Macon Middle School for two games with Mountain Six Rivals.
Press Photo/Will Woolever - Sophomore third baseman Tori Ensley knocks a 2-run homer against Smoky Mountain April 13. Ensley has compiled a .483 batting average on the season with 14 hits and 10 RBI’s.

Press Photo/Will Woolever - Sophomore third baseman Tori Ensley knocks a 2-run homer against Smoky Mountain April 13. Ensley has compiled a .483 batting average on the season with 14 hits and 10 RBI’s.

Setbacks for Softball

Will Woolever
Tuesday, April 20, 2021
After dispatching the Pisgah Black Bears 16-0 March 30, on April 13 Panther softball returned to Macon Middle School for a game between two of the top-ranked teams in the state.
Press Photo/Will Woolever - Senior fullback/outside linebacker Evan Klatt carries against Smoky Mountain in the final game of his Panthers career April 9. Klatt went out with a bang, recording 183 yards and 4 touchdowns on 27 carries.

Press Photo/Will Woolever - Senior fullback/outside linebacker Evan Klatt carries against Smoky Mountain in the final game of his Panthers career April 9. Klatt went out with a bang, recording 183 yards and 4 touchdowns on 27 carries.

Football ends year with ‘W’

Will Woolever
Tuesday, April 13, 2021
After two straight losses in the Battle of Cowee Mountain, many Panther fans circled April 9’s game with Smoky Mountain as one of Franklin’s toughest tests of the year.