Sports

Press photo/Andy Scheidler - Franklin junior Nevaeh Tran prepares to make an inbounds pass, looking for Makayla Brewer (40) and Sierra Wade (23) while being defended by Cherokee’s Deante Toineeta during action Friday, Jan. 3.

Press photo/Andy Scheidler - Franklin junior Nevaeh Tran prepares to make an inbounds pass, looking for Makayla Brewer (40) and Sierra Wade (23) while being defended by Cherokee’s Deante Toineeta during action Friday, Jan. 3.

Ready for MSC play

Andy Scheidler
Tuesday, January 7, 2020
Andy Scheidler sports@thefranklinpress.com After playing 11 nonconference games, Franklin’s girls are undefeated against teams in North Carolina and winless against teams from Georgia.
top 10 sports moments 2019

top 10 sports moments 2019

Athletes of all ages, abilities shine in 2019

Andy Scheidler
Tuesday, December 31, 2019
Andy Scheidler sports@thefranklinpress.com Here’s a look back at Franklin’s 10 most newsworthy moments from 2019, arranged chronologically.   WINTER 1 Breaking barriers   Tyler Vinson has undoubtedly left his mark on Franklin’s wrestling program.
Press photo/Andy Scheidler Franklin sophomore Trey Penland rises high above a Rabun County player for a rebound. Penland scored 14 points in the road win, which saw the Panthers shoot above 50 percent for the second straight game.

Press photo/Andy Scheidler Franklin sophomore Trey Penland rises high above a Rabun County player for a rebound. Penland scored 14 points in the road win, which saw the Panthers shoot above 50 percent for the second straight game.

Panthers rise up

Andy Scheidler
Thursday, December 26, 2019
Andy Scheidler sports@thefranklinpress.com Hot shooting is carrying Franklin’s boys basketball team to victories.  The Panthers shot 51 percent from the field against Swain County on Friday, Dec. 20, and then made 54 percent of their shots at Rabun County on Saturday.
Press photo/Andy Scheidler - A dozen swimmers make up each of Franklin’s swim teams: Front row, from left: Taylor Harrell, Nya Canzone, Callie Roper, Claire Holland, Roselyn Sanchez, Ocean Anderson, Ilah Williams, Deaven Lombard. Middle row: Olivia Stahl, Isaiah Stockton, Blake Cassada, Hunter Cabe, Joseph Vernelson, Taylor Lawrence, Teri Martin, Lauryn Basham. Back row: Landon Shaw, Jacob Cabe, Clayton Guynn, Caden Tyler, Luke Borgmann, Michael Frazier, Traveler Shaw, Kyler Cochran.

Press photo/Andy Scheidler - A dozen swimmers make up each of Franklin’s swim teams: Front row, from left: Taylor Harrell, Nya Canzone, Callie Roper, Claire Holland, Roselyn Sanchez, Ocean Anderson, Ilah Williams, Deaven Lombard. Middle row: Olivia Stahl, Isaiah Stockton, Blake Cassada, Hunter Cabe, Joseph Vernelson, Taylor Lawrence, Teri Martin, Lauryn Basham. Back row: Landon Shaw, Jacob Cabe, Clayton Guynn, Caden Tyler, Luke Borgmann, Michael Frazier, Traveler Shaw, Kyler Cochran.

FHS motto: Quality over quantity

Andy Scheidler
Monday, December 23, 2019
Andy Scheidler sports@thefranklinpress.com Christmas songs echoed inside the pool as swimmers went back and forth completing laps.  The songs weren’t coming from a speaker, but from members of Franklin’s swim team who got into the holiday spirit during practice last week.
Photo submitted Franklin’s cheerleading team took third at the NCHSAA competition. Front row, from left: Madison Phillips, Kaitlyn Henry, Christa Perry, Katy Nettles, Kassidy Mixer, Kaylan Foutty, Lexi Hoyt. Back row, from left: Rex Baker, Alivia Gibbs, Mackenzie Hughes, Sierra Kreis, Michelle Perez, Brielle Perry, Belle Reale, Abbie Passmore, Madison Lowe, Lylian Foutty, Zoe Berkstresser, coach Lynn Baker.

Photo submitted Franklin’s cheerleading team took third at the NCHSAA competition. Front row, from left: Madison Phillips, Kaitlyn Henry, Christa Perry, Katy Nettles, Kassidy Mixer, Kaylan Foutty, Lexi Hoyt. Back row, from left: Rex Baker, Alivia Gibbs, Mackenzie Hughes, Sierra Kreis, Michelle Perez, Brielle Perry, Belle Reale, Abbie Passmore, Madison Lowe, Lylian Foutty, Zoe Berkstresser, coach Lynn Baker.

Panthers bond at state

Andy Scheidler
Tuesday, December 17, 2019
Andy Scheidler sports@thefranklinpress.com Making memories and having fun competing were highlights from the NCHSAA Cheerleading Invitational.  “I feel like the team really went out on the mat and gave everything we had,” Franklin junior Madison Phillips said.
Press photo/Andy Scheidler Chad Wilson (30), Trey Woodard (10) and Franklin players and coaches celebrate moments after surviving to hold off Hayesville in Monday’s home game. The Panthers improved to 2-1 on the season.

Press photo/Andy Scheidler Chad Wilson (30), Trey Woodard (10) and Franklin players and coaches celebrate moments after surviving to hold off Hayesville in Monday’s home game. The Panthers improved to 2-1 on the season.

FHS escapes with win

Andy Scheidler
Friday, December 13, 2019
Andy Scheidler sports@thefranklinpress.com Games early in the season are a prime time for learning.  Franklin’s basketball team is still building cohesion, while the young players new to varsity are still getting a grasp on the level of competition.
Press photo/Tom Pantaleo Franklin senior Chela Green goes to the floor after teammate Taylor Carlton and a Cherokee player collide. Green scored five points and grabbed six rebounds in the road victory.

Press photo/Tom Pantaleo Franklin senior Chela Green goes to the floor after teammate Taylor Carlton and a Cherokee player collide. Green scored five points and grabbed six rebounds in the road victory.

Great start helps fuel FHS win

Andy Scheidler
Thursday, December 12, 2019
Andy Scheidler sports@thefranklinpress.com A 21-point lead was nearly not enough.  Franklin’s girls basketball team led 21-0 in the first quarter Thursday at Cherokee. The Panthers managed to hold off the Braves for a 67-65 victory.

Momentum shifts

Andy Scheidler
Thursday, December 5, 2019
Andy Scheidler sports@thefranklinpress.com The first home wrestling event of the season ended on a positive note after getting off to a rocky start.  Franklin hosted Fannin County (Georgia) and Swain County on Tuesday.
Andy Scheidler sports@thefranklinpress.com Two relay teams nailed regional-qualifying times in Franklin’s first swim meet of the season. The girls 200-yard medley relay kicked things off Nov. 23 at Franklin Health & Fitness. Ilah Williams, Claire Holland, Deaven Lombard and Callie Roper combined to win the event with a time of 2 minutes, 11 seconds. It was 1.99 seconds under the threshold to qualify for regional. Later in the meet, the boys 200 freestyle relay won their event and landed a regional berth.

Andy Scheidler sports@thefranklinpress.com Two relay teams nailed regional-qualifying times in Franklin’s first swim meet of the season. The girls 200-yard medley relay kicked things off Nov. 23 at Franklin Health & Fitness. Ilah Williams, Claire Holland, Deaven Lombard and Callie Roper combined to win the event with a time of 2 minutes, 11 seconds. It was 1.99 seconds under the threshold to qualify for regional. Later in the meet, the boys 200 freestyle relay won their event and landed a regional berth.

Panthers land regional times in season opener

Andy Scheidler
Tuesday, December 3, 2019
Andy Scheidler sports@thefranklinpress.com Two relay teams nailed regional-qualifying times in Franklin’s first swim meet of the season.  The girls 200-yard medley relay kicked things off Nov. 23 at Franklin Health & Fitness.
Press file photo - Franklin’s two Treys – Penland (23) and Woodard (10) – reach for a rebound in a November scrimmage against Andrews. Penland, a sophomore, scored 13 points Saturday in his first career varsity start.

Press file photo - Franklin’s two Treys – Penland (23) and Woodard (10) – reach for a rebound in a November scrimmage against Andrews. Penland, a sophomore, scored 13 points Saturday in his first career varsity start.

Balanced scoring attack for FHS

Andy Scheidler
Tuesday, December 3, 2019
Andy Scheidler sports@thefranklinpress.com Franklin achieved a rare feat during Saturday’s season-opening 81-52 win at Highlands. All five starters for the boys scored in double figures.  “That’s the first time that’s happened in a long time,” coach Doug Plemmons said.