Sports

The Franklin County Lion wrestling team comes into the 2025-26 season with plenty of potential to be a contender in Class AA.

The Franklin County Lion wrestling team comes into the 2025-26 season with plenty of potential to be a contender in Class AA.

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Back to the mat

News Staff
Tuesday, November 25, 2025
By Shane ScogginsPublisher The Franklin County Lion wrestling team graduated one state champion, one third-place finisher and a fourth-place finisher from a team that took third in the state last season.
Isabella Burgess was named to the All-8AA first team.

Isabella Burgess was named to the All-8AA first team.

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Lady Lions make All-8AA in softball

News Staff
Tuesday, November 25, 2025
By Shane ScogginsPublisher Three members of the Franklin County Lady Lion softball team have earned All-Region 8AA honors, with two more garnering honorable mention.The All-8AA honors were chosen by vote of the softball coaches in the region, using only statistics compiled in region contests.
Bentley Huff and the Franklin County Lions are now 3-0.

Bentley Huff and the Franklin County Lions are now 3-0.

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Hoops squads continue road trips

News Staff
Tuesday, November 25, 2025
By Shane ScogginsPublisher An early-season string of road games will continue next week for the Franklin County Lion and Lady Lion basketball teams.Franklin’s squads played Nov. 13 at Oglethorpe County and followed that with games Friday at West Hall in Oakwood.
Senior Ramsey Fulbright celebrates after knocking a Callaway blocker into a ballcarrier to cause a safety during Friday’s first round playoff game in LaGrange.

Senior Ramsey Fulbright celebrates after knocking a Callaway blocker into a ballcarrier to cause a safety during Friday’s first round playoff game in LaGrange.

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Fighting to the end

News Staff
Thursday, November 20, 2025
By Shane ScogginsPublisher The 2025 Franklin County football season may have ended Friday on a cold field two-and-half-hours away in LaGrange with a 25-15 loss to Callaway, but it won’t soon be forgotten.The Lions finished with a 7-4 record and made the playoffs.
Lion Jacob Henkel works to pin a Banks County opponent during action Tuesday at the wrestling gym in Carnesville. (Photo by Shane Scoggins)

Lion Jacob Henkel works to pin a Banks County opponent during action Tuesday at the wrestling gym in Carnesville. (Photo by Shane Scoggins)

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Lions to host Turkey Duals

News Staff
Thursday, November 20, 2025
By Shane ScogginsPublisher Five teams will come to Carnesville next week to wrestle in the Franklin County Turkey Duals.The Franklin County Lions will host Hart County, East Hall, Winder-Barrow and Walhalla, S.C., Wednesday beginning at 9 a.m. in the round-robin dual tournament.
Hayden McGee signed her scholarship to play softball for Emmanuel University while her coaches and family looked on. Those in attendance were (seated, from left) sister Ava McGee, father Bruce McGee, Hayden, mother Laura McGee, brother Brooks McGee, (back) Coach Demond Rivers, head coach Cherokee Bell, Coach Kendsey Chappelear and Coach Tim Cawthon.

Hayden McGee signed her scholarship to play softball for Emmanuel University while her coaches and family looked on. Those in attendance were (seated, from left) sister Ava McGee, father Bruce McGee, Hayden, mother Laura McGee, brother Brooks McGee, (back) Coach Demond Rivers, head coach Cherokee Bell, Coach Kendsey Chappelear and Coach Tim Cawthon.

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McGee signs softball scholarship with Emmanuel

News Staff
Thursday, November 20, 2025
By Charlie EavensonStaff Writer For Franklin Fastpitch senior Hayden McGee a lifelong dream came true last week.She signed a scholarship to play softball for Emmanuel University.“It’s really exciting, something I’ve worked for my whole life,” McGee said.
The Lady Lions finished fifth as a team, which was four places better than the team placed last season.

The Lady Lions finished fifth as a team, which was four places better than the team placed last season.

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New heights

News Staff
Thursday, November 13, 2025
By Shane ScogginsPublisher The 2025 State Cross Country Championship made history for the Franklin County running program.Franklin County’s Will Gipson claimed a state title – only the second in school history, and both the Lions and Lady Lions had their highest-ever finishes in the state meet.
Members of the Franklin County High School Competition Cheer team are (front, from left) Carolina Madden, Livie Roach, Jaidan Silva, Ava Smith, Hadley Floyd, (back) Coach Caitlin Esco, Ciara Williams, Montana Chastain, Heaven LaBoon, Amelia Bennett, Layla Rosales, Hayden Carroll, Kenzie Adams and Coach Courtney Coleman. The team finished 11th in the state sectional Saturday in Cordele and will compete in the state meet Friday at the Macon Coliseum. (Photo courtesy of Courtney Coleman)

Members of the Franklin County High School Competition Cheer team are (front, from left) Carolina Madden, Livie Roach, Jaidan Silva, Ava Smith, Hadley Floyd, (back) Coach Caitlin Esco, Ciara Williams, Montana Chastain, Heaven LaBoon, Amelia Bennett, Layla Rosales, Hayden Carroll, Kenzie Adams and Coach Courtney Coleman. The team finished 11th in the state sectional Saturday in Cordele and will compete in the state meet Friday at the Macon Coliseum. (Photo courtesy of Courtney Coleman)

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‘Resilient’ cheer squad to compete at state Friday

News Staff
Thursday, November 13, 2025
By Shane ScogginsPublisher Franklin County High School’s competition cheer team got off to a slow start this season, but the team is peaking at the right time.
Franklin will travel to LaGrange Friday for a first-round matchup with the Callaway Cavaliers at 7:30 p.m.

Franklin will travel to LaGrange Friday for a first-round matchup with the Callaway Cavaliers at 7:30 p.m.

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First stop: Callaway

News Staff
Thursday, November 13, 2025
By Shane ScogginsPublisher The first round of the state football playoffs will mean a ride across the state to face a Top 10 team for the Franklin County Lions.Franklin will travel to LaGrange Friday for a first-round matchup with the Callaway Cavaliers at 7:30 p.m.
Franklin County senior footbal players were honored before Friday night’s game and celebrated afterward with Coach Chuck Holland and his family after defeating Hart County 31-0. Seniors are Jordan Ardister, D.J. Appleby, Will Akin, Candler Stone, Hunter Hill, Eli Cooling, Martin Lunsford, Billy Hammock, Charlie Sanders, Ben Grizzle, Kirk Teate, Troy Roach, Michael Nguyen, Cole Woods, Brody Crump, Mason Davis, Arthur Shannon, J.C. Curry, Nava Ware, Keyes Harbin, Jeremiah Mayfield, Ramsey Fulbright and Javeon

Franklin County senior footbal players were honored before Friday night’s game and celebrated afterward with Coach Chuck Holland and his family after defeating Hart County 31-0. Seniors are Jordan Ardister, D.J. Appleby, Will Akin, Candler Stone, Hunter Hill, Eli Cooling, Martin Lunsford, Billy Hammock, Charlie Sanders, Ben Grizzle, Kirk Teate, Troy Roach, Michael Nguyen, Cole Woods, Brody Crump, Mason Davis, Arthur Shannon, J.C. Curry, Nava Ware, Keyes Harbin, Jeremiah Mayfield, Ramsey Fulbright and Javeon

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Roar restored

News Staff
Thursday, November 6, 2025
By Shane ScogginsPublisher The motto for the Franklin County Lion football team coming in to the 2025 season was “Restore the Roar.