Knights rosters beefs up for new season
* Robbinsville cross country season preview
Robbinsville – Since the beginning of the pandemic, it has been a challenge to spark interest in varsity cross country.
The turnout has steadily decreased for Robbinsville – which once won a pair of consecutive state championships, between the Lady Knights (2009) and Black Knights (2010) – including the shortened 2020 season that featured just one female runner.
Fast forward to the 2022 outlook. Head coach Kaitlyn Carringer-Adams has a combined 14 runners – six girls and eight boys – so competition for meet participation will be fierce. Combine the motivation with years of running experience between many of the athletes and you have all the right components in place for Robbinsville to find its way back into the Smoky Mountain Conference title hunt.
The Lady Knights drought has lasted for 10 years; the Black Knights have not stood atop the division since 2013.
“This year, we have a good group of kids, who have great attitudes, listen and will try their very best – which makes a huge difference,” Carringer-Adams said. “It will take some time to get the newer runners and freshmen used to 5K races (3.1 miles; middle school races are just 2 miles) but as the season progresses, I foresee lots of improvement from each runner.”
A former Lady Knight runner herself, Carringer-Adams – who graduated from Robbinsville in 2016, before competing at the collegiate level with Maryville (Tenn.) College – certainly knows not only what it takes to win, but when the talent pool is deep.
Black Knights
Looking over the lineup, there’s many reasons to believe success is on the radar. Back for the Robbinsville boys are senior William Cable – who rarely slowed down over the summer, clocking in multiple hours running in Amateur Athletic Union meets across the Southeast – and junior Xander Wachacha.
Along with Cable and Wachacha, Carringer-Adams specifically noted improvements shown by junior Zeb Stewart as a pivotal part of the game plan. Rounding out the Black Knights’ roster are junior Bruce Helms; sophomores Skyler Anderson, Albert Avella and Ethan Webster – and freshman Braxton Hicks.
“William and Xander will lead the team with time and have chances of earning conference awards, as well,” Carringer-Adams said.
“We have quite a few boys who have just started running, or are new to longer distance. Once they get into cross country shape – and get a few races under their belt – they will help the team, score-wise.”
Lady Knights
The only returning athlete for the Robbinsville girls is junior Liberty Hartley, who has taken great strides in trimming down her 5K time.
But an influx of younger talent – in the form of freshman Abby Wehr and
Jennifer Guzman, as well as sophomore twins Kamree and Skyler Oliver – gives the Lady Knights their first chance at a team score in years.
Robbinsville also welcomes senior Elizabeth Boyle to the roster for her first year of cross country.
“In the two weeks she has been practicing with us, she has improved her endurance a lot, and will continue to get into shape and develop as an athlete this season,” Carringer-Adams said of Boyle.
“Liberty and Abby are veteran runners, who both had great seasons last year and will remain competitive this year, as well as look for conference awards.”