A lot of grit led up to Robbinsville picking up its first tournament victory of the season Saturday.
Boosted by five, first-place finishers, the Black Knights tallied 190 team points to clinch the Osley B. Saunooke Tournament championship at Cherokee High School. Robbinsville finished well ahead of the second-place program, Charlotte Christian School (159.5 team points).
Conquering their weight class was Lleyton Hooper (157 pounds); Loxston Hooper (138); Bobby Moore (150); Adair Panama (120); and Jeremiah Phillips (175). Grady Emmons (106) and Devin Hall (144) each wrapped up second in their respective fields, while Ayden Conley (132) claimed third.
Robbinsville (5-0) has also been taking care of business in dual action. The Knights hosted a quad match with Smoky Mountain Conference teams Cherokee and Rosman – as well as Smoky Mountain – on Dec. 3. "The Ville" downed the Braves 51-30; the Tigers 54-30; and the Mustangs 42-29.
The Black Knights also bumped off Franklin 59-24 and Towns County 47-23 in Nov. 18's home, duals opener.
A score of 124 set Robbinsville in sixth place at the always-tough Enka Jet Invitational on Nov. 26. Loxston Hooper and Panama both won gold medals, while Lleyton Hooper and Phillips each finished second. Hall took third and Cyrus Crowe (190) placed fourth.
Trakker Rogers (113) won his bracket in the Jet Invitational's JV field. Emmons brought home second.
At Nov. 22's King of the Mountain tournament – held at Towns County High School in Hiawassee, Ga. – Robbinsville posted 120.5 points to place fifth. Loxston Hooper and Phillips each won their bracket, while Hall claimed second. Moore finished third and Crowe took fourth.
In Nov. 15's season debut – the Dekota Smith Invitational in Hickory – Robbinsville racked up 97.5 points, to finish fifth. Panama was the lone winner for the Knights, with Loxston Hooper and Moore both claiming second.
Phillips finished third, while Conley, Rogers and Colby Welch (126) each placed fourth.
Results from a scheduled tri-match with Gibbs, Tenn., and T.C. Roberson on Tuesday were not available by The Star's Wednesday press deadline.
Lady Knights
Robbinsville's varsity girls also had a strong showing at the Osley B. Saunooke, placing second with 139 team points. The hosting Cherokee Lady Braves won the tournament, accumulating 198 points.
Placing second were Alexis El-Khouri (138); Alexis Miller (132); Natalee Myers (152); Briley Powers (107); Julia Vazquez (114) and Myah Winfrey (145). Madison Felton (152); Kyla Jenkins (235) and Milexa Jenkins (126) each finished third, while Isabella Jones (100) took fourth.
In its most-recent duals competition, Robbinsville (3-1) fell 36-33 to Cherokee; but recovered nicely to trounce Rosman 60-12 and Smoky Mountain 57-12.
A combined varsity/JV team score of 45 placed Robbinsville seventh at Nov. 26's Lady Knights Invitational, which was hosted by North Henderson. Cable, Felton, Jones, Milexa Jenkins and Powers all won in the JV division; while Vazquez and Winfrey both claimed third in the varsity competition. El-Khouri was fourth in the varsity field, as was Kolbi Woods in the JV bracket.
The Lady Knights started their dual season with a 48-12 home victory over Franklin, but kicked the year off Nov. 15 at Swain County's Lady Devil Invitational. Robbinsville collected 107 points, good for fourth.
Myers took down all the competition in her bracket, while Jayden Chekelelee (126), El-Khouri, Miller, Vazquez and Winfrey each finished third. Felton, Kyla Jenkins and Jones all took fourth.