Sports

Press Photo/Will Woolever - FHS boys cross-country athletes burst out of the gate in a recent meet at Smoky Mountain High School.

Press Photo/Will Woolever - FHS boys cross-country athletes burst out of the gate in a recent meet at Smoky Mountain High School.

Cross-country scopes out state course

Will Woolever
Tuesday, December 22, 2020
Franklin’s distance runners have faced their toughest test of the season to date. At the NCRunners Elite Winter Quads invitational Dec. 19, Franklin travelled to this year’s state championship course in Kernersville to race some of North Carolina’s best cross-country competition.
Press Photo/Will Woolever - Senior setter Rylee Corbin saves a ball in a match against East Henderson on Dec. 15.

Press Photo/Will Woolever - Senior setter Rylee Corbin saves a ball in a match against East Henderson on Dec. 15.

Volleyball rolls on

Will Woolever
Tuesday, December 22, 2020
Panther volleyball has picked up two more wins on its path to the Mountain Six Conference tournament. In a match against East Henderson at Tom Raby court Dec. 15, the Lady Panthers hosted the Eagles after beating them on their home floor in November.
Press Photo/Will Woolever - Senior libero Amy Tippett tries to dig out an attack in a game against Pisgah last week.

Press Photo/Will Woolever - Senior libero Amy Tippett tries to dig out an attack in a game against Pisgah last week.

Volleyball gets two wins, sits at 5-1

Will Woolever
Tuesday, December 8, 2020
Franklin High School’s volleyball team picked up two more wins on their quest for a Mountain Six Title. In a game against Pisgah at Coach Tom Raby Court Dec.
Press Photo/Will Woolever - Senior track and field star Hannah Angel (center right) signs her official offer letter from UNC Charlotte while her brother, Phillip (left); dad, Jeremy; and mom, Jennifer, look on.

Press Photo/Will Woolever - Senior track and field star Hannah Angel (center right) signs her official offer letter from UNC Charlotte while her brother, Phillip (left); dad, Jeremy; and mom, Jennifer, look on.

Angel signs with UNC Charlotte

Will Woolever
Tuesday, December 8, 2020
Another Panther athlete has signed with a Division 1 college program.  In her time competing for the Franklin High School track team, Hannah Angel has been one of the program’s brightest stars.
Photo submitted - Middle blocker Anya Valentine sends a spike over the net in a game against Hendersonville Now. 16. Valentine was dominant

Photo submitted - Middle blocker Anya Valentine sends a spike over the net in a game against Hendersonville Now. 16. Valentine was dominant

Volleyball picks up wins

Will Woolever
Wednesday, December 2, 2020
FHS volleyball picked up two more wins last week.  After going 1-1 against two Mountain Six conference contenders in Hendersonville and Brevard in their first two games of the season, the Panthers travelled to Highlands Nov. 23 for a cross-county meeting with the Highlanders.
Press Photo/Will Woolever - Setter Tori Ensley, No. 17, sends a ball over the net in the Panther’s home match againt Hendersonville last Monday. The Panthers went 1-1 against two Mountain Six contenders in Hendersonville and Brevard last week.

Press Photo/Will Woolever - Setter Tori Ensley, No. 17, sends a ball over the net in the Panther’s home match againt Hendersonville last Monday. The Panthers went 1-1 against two Mountain Six contenders in Hendersonville and Brevard last week.

Volleyball splits first two matches

Will Woolever
Monday, November 23, 2020
Franklin High School has hosted its first official sporting event of 2020.  After eight months of restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, FHS volleyball opened its season last week with Franklin’s first regular-season competitions in any sport.
Press Photo/Will Woolever - Senior outfielder Mckenzie Redoutey stands with her mother, Deborah, and her father, Scott, after signing her official offer to LSU last week. Redouty will join a team with four Women’s College World Series berths in the past eight years.

Press Photo/Will Woolever - Senior outfielder Mckenzie Redoutey stands with her mother, Deborah, and her father, Scott, after signing her official offer to LSU last week. Redouty will join a team with four Women’s College World Series berths in the past eight years.

Redoutey signs with LSU

Will Woolever
Monday, November 23, 2020
Another Franklin athlete has signed with a Power-5 program.  In her four years on the Franklin High School softball team, Mckenzie Redoutey has been among the nation’s best high school players.
Press photo/Will Willover - The Ensley family celebrates Taylor’s signing. From left: her sister Tori, her dad Todd, Taylor and her mom Kim.

Press photo/Will Willover - The Ensley family celebrates Taylor’s signing. From left: her sister Tori, her dad Todd, Taylor and her mom Kim.

Ensley signs with NC State

Will Woolever
Tuesday, November 17, 2020
An FHS athlete has signed with a Division 1 program.  Through her three years with Panthers’ softball, Taylor Ensley has been a huge part of some very good teams.
File photo - Two-time All-Western North Carolina senior Canaan Drake drives toward the lane durng a game last season. The Panthers will defend their Mountain Six Conference title against tough competition after the new year.

File photo - Two-time All-Western North Carolina senior Canaan Drake drives toward the lane durng a game last season. The Panthers will defend their Mountain Six Conference title against tough competition after the new year.

Girls defend conference title

Will Woolever
Tuesday, November 3, 2020
Will Woolever sports@thefranklinpress.com  The Franklin High School girls’ basketball is getting ready to defend its conference title.  After a successful 2019 that saw FHS secure a Mountain Six Conference championship, the team will attempt to retain its title in a COVID-19-shortened season.
File photo - Franklin junior forward Miles McClure releases a shot during a game last season. McClure returns after leading the team in scoring and earning All-Mountain Six Conference honors.

File photo - Franklin junior forward Miles McClure releases a shot during a game last season. McClure returns after leading the team in scoring and earning All-Mountain Six Conference honors.

FHS basketball loaded with talent

Will Woolever
Tuesday, October 27, 2020
Although FHS boys’ basketball only had one returning starter from the 2018 season last year, the team still went 17-10 and ended up winning a playoff game. This year, all five starters return for the Panthers, and the team hopes to pick up where it left off in its pursuit of a deep postseason run.