It has been a memorable year for Franklin High School athletics thus far with several more months of sporting events to look forward to. This past week, two FHS standouts signed their letters of intent to play in college, offering more evidence of the quality talent pool of Franklin High School’s athletes.

Karey Conner signed her letter of intent to play volleyball for Brevard College last Thursday, Nov. 10. Conner will be teaming up with her older sister, Kortney, who is currently a sophomore outside hitter for the Brevard Tornados volleyball team. Karey endured through a shoulder injury this past season, playing through the pain and leading her team to the state semifinals for the first time in school history.

FHS blitzkriegs East Henderson to advance to third round, will take on high powered Burns

If you thought Marshawn Lynch’s 67-yard touchdown run against the New Orleans Saints last year in the first round of the NFL playoffs was unbelievable, then you would have appreciated Parrish Young’s score in the third quarter of Franklin’s game against East Henderson last Friday night in the second round of the state playoffs.

Amazingly, the senior hurled over an Eagle defender, juked another, and pummeled over two more Eagles simultaneously en route to his third touchdown of the night. “It was the best touchdown run I’ve ever seen,” said Young’s head coach Josh Brooks. Witnesses in the stands can attest to Brooks’ statement. The run is posted on youtube for any unbeliever to view.

Western Carolina University Chancellor David O. Belcher announced Friday, Nov. 4, the appointment of a 15-member search committee that will help select the university’s next director of intercollegiate athletics.

Belcher also announced that Collegiate Sports Associates, a North Carolina-based executive search consulting firm, has been hired to assist the committee in its work. The firm was founded by Todd Turner, a 30-year veteran of intercollegiate athletics administration whose career includes stints as director of athletics at four major universities – the University of Connecticut, N.C. State University, Vanderbilt University and the University of Washington.

Shea Browning, associate general counsel at WCU, is chairing the search committee, which includes current and former student-athletes, Catamount Club representatives, and members of the external community with experience in athletics administration.

FHS band gears up after finishing season in second place

Franklin High School proved to be a powerhouse for fall sports all season long. Another group among the exceptionally talented students who endured countless practices and excelled at the state level was the Franklin High School Marching Band.

Led by Band Director Buddy Huckabee, the 73-member strong band competed in a total of six competitions this season, traveling from Charlotte, all the way to Atlanta. In each competition the band excelled, taking either first or second place in all captions.