Sports

Press file photo - Rhiley Bryson made 1,344 digs during her three-year varsity career.

Press file photo - Rhiley Bryson made 1,344 digs during her three-year varsity career.

Bryson will miss volleyball ‘family’

Andy Scheidler
Tuesday, May 19, 2020
Rhiley Bryson describes herself as “boney.” Not having much cushion when hitting the hardwood floor means she has plenty of battle wounds from diving for balls while playing volleyball.
Press file photo - Juan Gomez possesses a “rocket left foot” according to Franklin soccer coach Matt Kolodzik, which will serve him well at the next level.

Press file photo - Juan Gomez possesses a “rocket left foot” according to Franklin soccer coach Matt Kolodzik, which will serve him well at the next level.

Friends join forces at JUCO

Andy Scheidler
Tuesday, May 12, 2020
Juan Gomez and Cris Chavez have known each other since they were 10. They’re good friends, and as such, they’re very competitive with one another.  At the start of their senior season in the fall of 2019, Gomez opened with a hat trick.
Press file photo - Fall is the next time organized baseball might take place after Macon County canceled its spring season.

Press file photo - Fall is the next time organized baseball might take place after Macon County canceled its spring season.

Cancellation of sports affects 800 youth

Andy Scheidler
Tuesday, May 12, 2020
They held out hope for two months. But as the coronavirus pandemic rages on, organizers deemed it’s still unsafe to attempt playing youth sports.
Press file photo - Chris Hartbarger, a 6-foot-7 center, will join Warren Wilson College to continue his basketball career and pursue a pre-med degree.

Press file photo - Chris Hartbarger, a 6-foot-7 center, will join Warren Wilson College to continue his basketball career and pursue a pre-med degree.

Center yet to reach his peak

Andy Scheidler
Tuesday, May 5, 2020
Chris Hartbarger was over 6 feet tall when he was in sixth grade. He grew another 3-4 inches as a seventh-grader.  Now, the Franklin senior stands 6-7.  Some people might not enjoy being so much taller than their peers growing up, but not Hartbarger.
Press file photo - Franklin’s UNIFY March Madness game, held in March 2019, received recognition from the NCHSAA. Franklin athletic director Blair King nominated the group, which won the 2-A Commissioner’s Cup. UNIFY wins commu

Press file photo - Franklin’s UNIFY March Madness game, held in March 2019, received recognition from the NCHSAA. Franklin athletic director Blair King nominated the group, which won the 2-A Commissioner’s Cup. UNIFY wins commu

UNIFY wins community service award

Andy Scheidler
Tuesday, May 5, 2020
When Shanlee Angel heard the news, she was immensely happy.  “I did cry a little bit,” Angel said.  The news: Franklin High School won the Commissioner’s Cup. It’s an annual award given to athletic teams or cheerleading squads.
Press file photo - With teammates waiting at the plate, Taylor Carlton finishes a home run trot last season. She’ll play next year at Catawba Valley CC.

Press file photo - With teammates waiting at the plate, Taylor Carlton finishes a home run trot last season. She’ll play next year at Catawba Valley CC.

Carlton brings traits to softball diamond that will help CVCC

Andy Scheidler
Tuesday, April 28, 2020
Bobby Bishop repeated the words “versatile” and “consistent” multiple times when talking about Taylor Carlton.  The Franklin senior is versatile when it comes to positions she can play on the softball diamond. Carlton has mostly played third and first base.
Press photo/Andy Scheidler The softball field at Macon Middle School will sit empty for the remainder of April and May, two months when the middle school and high school teams would be using it nearly every day for practices or games.

Press photo/Andy Scheidler The softball field at Macon Middle School will sit empty for the remainder of April and May, two months when the middle school and high school teams would be using it nearly every day for practices or games.

NCHSAA cancels spring sports season

Andy Scheidler
Tuesday, April 28, 2020
Franklin’s softball team made it to the state final in the spring of 2018. The Panthers nearly made it back in 2019, losing in the final game of the regional championship series.  Hopes were very high once again this spring for coach Bobby Bishop and the Panthers.
Press file photo - Haley Freeman hit eight of her 10 career home runs last year as a junior. That power helped her earn a spot at the next level.

Press file photo - Haley Freeman hit eight of her 10 career home runs last year as a junior. That power helped her earn a spot at the next level.

Power-hitter lands with CVCC

Andy Scheidler
Tuesday, April 21, 2020
One of the best memories Haley Freeman has from playing softball at Franklin came during her junior year. The Panthers were playing at Brevard, and they trailed when she came to the plate with the bases loaded.  Freeman launched the ball over the fence for her first career grand slam.
Press photo/Andy Scheidler - Franklin’s new baseball locker room still had uniforms hanging on March 13, one day after the Panthers’ most recent game. It features 18 cubbies for players on Franklin’s varsity baseball team.

Press photo/Andy Scheidler - Franklin’s new baseball locker room still had uniforms hanging on March 13, one day after the Panthers’ most recent game. It features 18 cubbies for players on Franklin’s varsity baseball team.

Upgrades, renovations for sports complex

Andy Scheidler
Tuesday, April 21, 2020
Tim Hawkins coached baseball at rival Smoky Mountain in 1997 when Franklin debuted its new baseball field at Macon Middle School.
Press file photo - Cris Chavez had a breakout senior season, scoring 39 goals to go with nine assists. It helped him land a spot with a junior college program.

Press file photo - Cris Chavez had a breakout senior season, scoring 39 goals to go with nine assists. It helped him land a spot with a junior college program.

Final year fuels motivation

Andy Scheidler
Tuesday, April 14, 2020
A gruesome injury ended Cris Chavez’s junior season.  Standing in the middle of the field, he watched a cross go over his head and out of bounds. While turning to run in the other direction, his left ankle gave out and he heard it pop.