Sports

Under the hot pursuit of Swain County’s Miley Teav (11), Abby Wehr breaks up the floor during the second half of Friday’s win over the Lady Devils. Wehr led Robbinsville with 15 points in the victory. Photo by Kensie Belk/The Graham Star

Under the hot pursuit of Swain County’s Miley Teav (11), Abby Wehr breaks up the floor during the second half of Friday’s win over the Lady Devils. Wehr led Robbinsville with 15 points in the victory. Photo by Kensie Belk/The Graham Star

Knights vie for a bye

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, February 13, 2025
Novie Dutcher sizes up a free throw during Friday’s JV girls win over Swain County.
Lucas Ford reviews a play with Tanner Hedden during Aug. 30’s game at Franklin. Ford’s rapport with the players had many of the Robbinsville faithful pulling for the Black Knight alum to be appointed as the new head football coach; Feb. 6, he was announced as Dee Walsh’s successor. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Lucas Ford reviews a play with Tanner Hedden during Aug. 30’s game at Franklin. Ford’s rapport with the players had many of the Robbinsville faithful pulling for the Black Knight alum to be appointed as the new head football coach; Feb. 6, he was announced as Dee Walsh’s successor. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Built Ford tough

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, February 13, 2025
Robbinsville – Less than 24 hours after being publicly named as the new head football coach and athletic director for Robbinsville High School, Lucas Ford scrolled through his phone in sheer amazement. “Look at this,” he said to a small crowd gathered around him.
The Smoky Mountain Conference title returned to the Black Knights on Tuesday, following a victory over Cherokee. Standing in back (from left) are Nathan Frederick, Roman Jones, Kenyon Swimmer, Quinn Jumper, Isiac Collins, head coach Jake Beasley, Dane Knott, Kasen Buchanan, Trey Lambert, Luke Lovin, Kyzik Teesateskie, Logan Callaway and manager Joshua Satterfield. Sitting in front are Darion Ledbetter (left) and Bryce Adams. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

The Smoky Mountain Conference title returned to the Black Knights on Tuesday, following a victory over Cherokee. Standing in back (from left) are Nathan Frederick, Roman Jones, Kenyon Swimmer, Quinn Jumper, Isiac Collins, head coach Jake Beasley, Dane Knott, Kasen Buchanan, Trey Lambert, Luke Lovin, Kyzik Teesateskie, Logan Callaway and manager Joshua Satterfield. Sitting in front are Darion Ledbetter (left) and Bryce Adams. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

‘They deserve it’

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, February 13, 2025
Robbinsville – For the second time in three seasons, the Black Knights have claimed bragging rights in the Smoky Mountain Conference. Tuesday’s 55-46 win over Cherokee wrapped up the regular-season championship for Robbinsville (17-5, 8-1), which has not lost a game since Jan. 8.
Adair Panama puts Polk County’s Liam Jackson in a world of hurt during the Feb. 5 third-round, dual-team postseason match. Robbinsville won the dual, but fell in the regional final to Mount Airy. Photos by Kensie Belk/The Graham Star

Adair Panama puts Polk County’s Liam Jackson in a world of hurt during the Feb. 5 third-round, dual-team postseason match. Robbinsville won the dual, but fell in the regional final to Mount Airy. Photos by Kensie Belk/The Graham Star

State duals evade Robbinsville

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, February 13, 2025
Columbus – With high hopes, “The Ville” loaded onto an activity bus Feb. 5 and traveled to the South Carolina border, hoping to return with the program’s second berth in the 1A dual team finals. Instead, Robbinsville (No. 2 seed, 26-8) was halted in the regional round for the third straight season.
Middle school Lady Knight Aaliyah Wolfe splits a pair of Murphy defenders to unload a second-half jumper during Jan. 29’s conference-tournament semifinals. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Middle school Lady Knight Aaliyah Wolfe splits a pair of Murphy defenders to unload a second-half jumper during Jan. 29’s conference-tournament semifinals. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Middle school girls fall in tournament semifinals

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, February 13, 2025
Caislee Lane fires the final point of the Lady Knights’ season Jan. 29. Bryson City – Despite missing two starters – including their top scorer and point guard – the Robbinsville Middle School Lady Knights displayed a ton of tenacity in their 2024-25 swan song. Pitted against Murphy (No.
Members of the Robbinsville Lady Knights hit the floor to celebrate with their teammates after Tuesday’s conference win over Hayesville. From left are Bentley Riggins, Abby Wehr, Liz Carpenter and Anna Williams. Photos by Kyla Garland/The Graham Star

Members of the Robbinsville Lady Knights hit the floor to celebrate with their teammates after Tuesday’s conference win over Hayesville. From left are Bentley Riggins, Abby Wehr, Liz Carpenter and Anna Williams. Photos by Kyla Garland/The Graham Star

Lady Knights eliminate Jacket infestation

Kevin Hensley
Wednesday, February 5, 2025
Robbinsville – For the first few minutes of Tuesday’s Smoky Mountain Conference appointment with Hayesville, the Lady Knights seemed to have misplaced a crucial part of their gameplan.
Robbinsville senior Bryce Adams – shown guarding Andrews’ Braxton Rickett on Friday – surpassed the 1,100-point mark for his career Monday against Summit Charter. Photo by Bella Eddings/The Graham Star

Robbinsville senior Bryce Adams – shown guarding Andrews’ Braxton Rickett on Friday – surpassed the 1,100-point mark for his career Monday against Summit Charter. Photo by Bella Eddings/The Graham Star

Black Knights gain sole possession of division

Kevin Hensley
Wednesday, February 5, 2025
Landon Eddings rises above the Andrews defense for a first-half bucket attempt during JV boys action Friday. Eddings went on to hit the game-clinching basket after blocking a Wildcats shot in the closing seconds of the game.
Knox Orr controls Alleghany’s Elijah Barker during the second round of the state dual-team postseason Saturday. Orr went on to pin Barker and clinch a third-round berth for Robbinsville. Photos by Bella Eddings/The Graham Star

Knox Orr controls Alleghany’s Elijah Barker during the second round of the state dual-team postseason Saturday. Orr went on to pin Barker and clinch a third-round berth for Robbinsville. Photos by Bella Eddings/The Graham Star

3rd round bound

Kevin Hensley
Wednesday, February 5, 2025
Robbinsville – There’s a reason the third round of the dual-team postseason is dubbed the “Elite 8.” The Black Knights found out after Wednesday’s press deadline if their duals roster was strong enough to withstand another tough evening of competition, as Robbinsville (No.
Brooke Cox, Ella Nelms and Myah Winfrey (from left) listen intently as Robbinsville head coach Brittany Snider sets up a play during a late timeout Jan. 15 at Hayesville. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Brooke Cox, Ella Nelms and Myah Winfrey (from left) listen intently as Robbinsville head coach Brittany Snider sets up a play during a late timeout Jan. 15 at Hayesville. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Lady Knights back in semifinals

Kevin Hensley
Friday, January 31, 2025
Bryson City – Following the quarterfinals of the 2024-25 Smoky Mountain Conference middle school championship tournament, one of Robbinsville’s teams is right back in the same position it was last year, while another was dismissed early. The Lady Knights (No.
Robbinsville’s Kellen Ensley brushed off a desperate attempt by North Henderson’s Aden Slusser to break up this standing single-leg to win the 215-pound bout in the third period Jan. 22. Photos by Bella Eddings/The Graham Star

Robbinsville’s Kellen Ensley brushed off a desperate attempt by North Henderson’s Aden Slusser to break up this standing single-leg to win the 215-pound bout in the third period Jan. 22. Photos by Bella Eddings/The Graham Star

Full steam ahead

Kevin Hensley
Friday, January 31, 2025
Robbinsville – State duals are right around the corner, but no matter the format in front of them when the Black Knights arrive to a gym, there is no disputing that the program is wrestling in top form. After celebrating Senior Night on Jan.