Sports

Abby Wehr (left) and Bentley Riggins competed in Oct. 22’s Western Regional tournament.

Abby Wehr (left) and Bentley Riggins competed in Oct. 22’s Western Regional tournament.

Knights duo make history

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, October 31, 2024
Lincolnton – In just its second year of existence, the Robbinsville Lady Knights golf team sent two athletes to Oct. 22’s 1A Western Regional Tournament. Bentley Riggins and Abby Wehr – both juniors – made the cut for the event, which was held at Lincoln Country Club in Lincolnton.
Robbinsville’s three volleyball seniors played their final game as a Lady Knight on Oct. 24, in the second round of the state playoffs. Claire Barlow spikes the ball between Polk County’s Sophia Overholt (2) and Morgan Yoder. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville’s three volleyball seniors played their final game as a Lady Knight on Oct. 24, in the second round of the state playoffs. Claire Barlow spikes the ball between Polk County’s Sophia Overholt (2) and Morgan Yoder. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Lady Knights jousted by reigning champs

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, October 31, 2024
Liz Carpenter swats from the back row to keep a volley alive Oct. 24.   Olivia Lewis delivers a serve at Polk County. Columbus – The second round of the state playoffs remains a hurdle the Lady Knights have been unable to clear since 2019.
Bryce Adams (right) presents the next play to his offensive linemen and tackles during Friday’s game at Hayesville. Adams launched a trio of touchdown passes in Robbinsville’s win. Also pictured are Kasen Buchanan (55), Tytan Teesateskie (72), Kyzik Teesateskie (52), Jonah Teesateskie (66), Avery Webster (63) and Tucker Jones (26). Photo by Cheyanne Geyer/The Graham Star

Bryce Adams (right) presents the next play to his offensive linemen and tackles during Friday’s game at Hayesville. Adams launched a trio of touchdown passes in Robbinsville’s win. Also pictured are Kasen Buchanan (55), Tytan Teesateskie (72), Kyzik Teesateskie (52), Jonah Teesateskie (66), Avery Webster (63) and Tucker Jones (26). Photo by Cheyanne Geyer/The Graham Star

Enemy swarm

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, October 31, 2024
The box score from Oct. 25, 2024's game between Robbinsville and Hayesville. Hayesville – Bryce Adams completed just four passes in Friday’s road trip to Clay County. Three were for touchdowns.
Bryce Adams evades the pursuit of Andrews’ Antonio Hernandez during Friday’s 28-7 win over the Wildcats. Photo by Bella Eddings/The Graham Star

Bryce Adams evades the pursuit of Andrews’ Antonio Hernandez during Friday’s 28-7 win over the Wildcats. Photo by Bella Eddings/The Graham Star

Interior remodeling

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, October 24, 2024
The box score from Oct. 18, 2024's game between Robbinsville and Andrews. Andrews  – It was not the offensive explosion that would thrill today’s generation, but Robbinsville put on a defensive clinic Friday.
Senior middle hitter Claire Barlow – who led the 1A West in kills (338) before Tuesday’s playoff match – pulls some chicanery to slip the ball past Rosman’s Lilly Orr and Lillie Dodson. Robbinsville advanced to the second round of the postseason after besting its former conference rival in four sets. Photos by Jacquline Gayosso/The Graham Star

Senior middle hitter Claire Barlow – who led the 1A West in kills (338) before Tuesday’s playoff match – pulls some chicanery to slip the ball past Rosman’s Lilly Orr and Lillie Dodson. Robbinsville advanced to the second round of the postseason after besting its former conference rival in four sets. Photos by Jacquline Gayosso/The Graham Star

Pro tip: never count out the Lady Knights

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, October 24, 2024
Senior Liz Carpenter entered Tuesday's playoff match against Rosman with a team-best 62 aces. Carpenter delivered several flawless serves in the Knights' four-set victory over the Tigers.
Daphne Barlow, Claire Barlow and Ryn Hooper (clockwise, from top left) celebrate after a block Oct. 10 against Cherokee. Photos by Cheyanne Geyer/The Graham Star

Daphne Barlow, Claire Barlow and Ryn Hooper (clockwise, from top left) celebrate after a block Oct. 10 against Cherokee. Photos by Cheyanne Geyer/The Graham Star

Lady Knights reach tourney semifinals

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, October 17, 2024
Zaelyn Phillips takes flight for a push during Oct. 10’s JV clash against the Lady Braves. Cherokee – At Wednesday’s press deadline, the Lady Knights were still in the hunt for significant bragging rights in the Smoky Mountain Conference.
Under heavy pursuit from Ryelon Waldroup (42) and Isiac Collins (7), Murphy’s Cameron Clem sees his progress slowed drastically after Robbinsville senior Caden Lail (8) opts for a low tackle. Photos by Alex Parton/The Graham Star

Under heavy pursuit from Ryelon Waldroup (42) and Isiac Collins (7), Murphy’s Cameron Clem sees his progress slowed drastically after Robbinsville senior Caden Lail (8) opts for a low tackle. Photos by Alex Parton/The Graham Star

Victory: intercepted

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, October 17, 2024
The box score from Oct. 11, 2024's game between Murphy and Robbinsville. Robbinsville – One errant pass. With 7:57 left in Friday’s home game against Murphy, Robbinsville held firm to a 7-6 advantage.
Braylon Blevins (17) watches for Eli Lambert (11) to catch a two-point conversion pass in JV action Monday against Hayesville. Lambert completed the exchange, to round out the Black Knights’ 30-12 win. Photo by Jacquline Gayosso/The Graham Star

Braylon Blevins (17) watches for Eli Lambert (11) to catch a two-point conversion pass in JV action Monday against Hayesville. Lambert completed the exchange, to round out the Black Knights’ 30-12 win. Photo by Jacquline Gayosso/The Graham Star

JV Knights miss out on repeat title bid

Kevin Hensley
Friday, October 11, 2024
Robbinsville – The junior varsity Black Knights’ defense of the Smoky Mountain Conference title went right down to the wire. Scoreless after the first quarter of the Oct.
The Lady Knights prepare to defend the back row Tuesday against Swain County. Pictured are Claire Barlow, Daphne Barlow (5), Ryn Hooper and Liz Carpenter (20). Photo by Cheyanne Geyer/The Graham Star

The Lady Knights prepare to defend the back row Tuesday against Swain County. Pictured are Claire Barlow, Daphne Barlow (5), Ryn Hooper and Liz Carpenter (20). Photo by Cheyanne Geyer/The Graham Star

Knights fighting for postseason spot

Kevin Hensley
Friday, October 11, 2024
Robbinsville – Tuesday was one of the most important matches for Lady Knights volleyball in quite some time. Attempting to stay in the playoff conversation, Robbinsville held its annual “Pink Night” – a fundraiser for the Graham Cancer Support Group – by hosting Swain County.
The 2009 Robbinsville Lady Knights cross country team remain the only female program in school history to win a state championship. From left are head coach Rance Shuler, Tacey Trammell, Kristi Burchfield, Madison Williams, Chantal Collins, Lynsey Crisp, Faith Trammell (kneeling in front), Lauren Griggs, Lindy Cronk, Kelsey Knight and assistant coach Joanne Knight. Not pictured are Dixie Hedrick and Tianna Williams.

The 2009 Robbinsville Lady Knights cross country team remain the only female program in school history to win a state championship. From left are head coach Rance Shuler, Tacey Trammell, Kristi Burchfield, Madison Williams, Chantal Collins, Lynsey Crisp, Faith Trammell (kneeling in front), Lauren Griggs, Lindy Cronk, Kelsey Knight and assistant coach Joanne Knight. Not pictured are Dixie Hedrick and Tianna Williams.

Stepping toward immortality

Kevin Hensley
Friday, October 11, 2024
This year's Graham County Athletics Hall of Fame inductees both made history and left an indelible mark on the local sports scene.