Franklin: Excellence on the hardwood and in the pool, too
Franklin swimming under coach Eric Smith:
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574 victories in 25 years
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undefeated boys teams (2006-07-08-11-12)
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undefeated girls teams (1992-97-07)
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19 conference titles
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16 district crowns
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46 All-Americans
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263 D-10 champs in 128 events
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Girls -- 1992-95-97-99-05-06-07-14
Boys -- 1991-94-95-96-99-00-06-07-08-11-12-13
Franklin boys also won league titles in 1991 under Hank Reed and 2024 under Charlie Smith
While their counterparts on the hardwood were hoopin' it up on the hardwood from the mid '90s on, Franklin swimmers were no slouches, either, making a big splash in the pool under Eric Smith -- the most successful coach in school history.
​His two biggest stars were Phil Emerson, a five-time individual state champion and Jill Wilkinson, who claimed two state crowns.
Emerson won three titles in the 100 free and two in the 50 from 2012-14. He also teamed with Andy Frederick, Quinn Heffernan and Isaac Cooke to win the 200 free relay in 2013 when the Knights were runners-up in the team standings at states despite only having six swimmers.
Wilkinson won the breaststroke in 1995-96. She was on the Lady Knights' state championship 200 medley relay in 1997 with Amanda Armburger, Gwynne Junkin and Katie Findlan.
Both Emerson and Wilkinson would go on to swim for Division I programs in college, Emerson at Tennessee and Wilkinson at Penn State where her career was cut short by injury.
Smith later returned to his alma mater, Oil City, to coach.
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