* Robbinsville cross country season preview
Robbinsville – Numbers may be low, but the Black Knights are used to defying expectations.
A new variable in the equation looks to make success this year more seamless. For the first time since 2019, Robbinsville cross country has been getting into shape with a new head coach overseeing the regimen: Emily Wehr was appointed by the Graham County Board of Education on Aug. 1 – mere hours before the team’s first official practice of the season.
Wehr ran both cross country and track in college at both UNC-Charlotte and Florida State University – citing the steeplechase as her favorite event – and later won three national championships in the 2,000-meter, soft-sand beach run while competing with the Clearwater Beach Patrol.
Coupled with her extensive resume, Emily is joined by two assistants: her sister Jessica Wehr and Sunny Pringle. The trio have already established a solid rapport with both the high and middle-school programs they are in charge of.
And optimism is high.
“I’m really excited to see what our team accomplishes this year,” Emily said. “We got a later start to the season than we should have, but now that school is starting we will really get going. I’ve looked back at the last year’s stats for our returning runners and things look promising. Many of our runners lowered their times by 5-plus minutes throughout last year’s season.
“We have a very hard working and dedicated team; I have no doubt that they will continue to improve and I wouldn’t put a limit on what I think they can accomplish this year.”
Emily wants to keep the foundation of the program similar to the one built by her predecessor, Kaitlyn Carringer-Adams. A Robbinsville graduate herself, Carringer-Adams accepted the same role at neighboring Maryville (Tenn.) College over the summer.
“I didn’t come into the program with any planned changes in mind,” said Emily. “Cross country is a very challenging sport, but incredibly rewarding. My plan coming in was to meet the kids where they’re at and help them to grow as runners, improve their times, build confidence and have some fun.
“If I can do all that, I will feel like I’m carrying on the legacy Kaitlyn and Ronnie built.”
All told, seven varsity runners will fill out Robbinsville’s entry sheets this year – and each have a background in competing for first place.
Seniors Bruce Helms and Zeb Stewart join freshman Colt Colvin as the boys on the team; juniors Kamree and Skyler Oliver, sophomore Abby Wehr and freshman Cassidy Kirkland comprise this year’s Lady Knights. No team scores will be achievable, but each have the ability to finish in the upper echelon of races.
“I’ve seen leadership out of every one of these runners,” Emily noted. “I am the newby on the team this year and they all are helping me with this transition to keep this program strong. It is impossible not to mention that our middle school team is a force and with those leaders, the future for Robbinsville cross country looks bright.”
Anyone interested can still join the program.
The Knights’ season began after press time Wednesday at Hayesville.