Sports

Roman Jones (15) looks for some open room during Friday’s loss to Mountain Heritage. Jones scored both of Robbinsville’s touchdowns in the game. Photos by Royce Worbington/The Graham Star

Roman Jones (15) looks for some open room during Friday’s loss to Mountain Heritage. Jones scored both of Robbinsville’s touchdowns in the game. Photos by Royce Worbington/The Graham Star

Quinn essential to win

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, September 12, 2024
The box score from Sept. 6, 2024's game between Mountain Heritage and Robbinsville. Robbinsville – The Knights enjoyed their first lead since the first play of the season Friday, when Roman Jones carved through the defense and scored on a 19-yard run.

Success halted

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, September 5, 2024
Hayesville – The Lady Knights carried a 17-set win streak into Tuesday’s Smoky Mountain Conference showdown at Hayesville.
Eli Lambert wraps up a would-be Mitchell rusher during Aug. 22’s season opener. Lambert snagged the game-winning touchdown catch last week at Mountain Heritage. Photo by Jacquline Gayosso/The Graham Star

Eli Lambert wraps up a would-be Mitchell rusher during Aug. 22’s season opener. Lambert snagged the game-winning touchdown catch last week at Mountain Heritage. Photo by Jacquline Gayosso/The Graham Star

Late-game heroics clinch Black Knights win

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, September 5, 2024
Burnsville – Victory almost evaded the defending Smoky Mountain Conference champions, but persistence won out. Robbinsville entered halftime of Aug. 29’s JV trek to Mountain Heritage with a 16-12 lead, but found itself trailing the hosting Cougars 20-16 at the dawn of the fourth.
Senior Tanner Hedden was all fired up after dropping Braydon Hervey for a first-quarter loss Friday. Giving kudos to Hedden for the stop is Isiac Collins (7). Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Senior Tanner Hedden was all fired up after dropping Braydon Hervey for a first-quarter loss Friday. Giving kudos to Hedden for the stop is Isiac Collins (7). Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Panthers win rematch

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, September 5, 2024
The box score from Aug. 30, 2024's game between Robbinsville and Franklin. Franklin – To say the Panthers have improved ten-fold from this time last year would be an understatement.
It was smiles all around for Robbinsville volleyball Saturday, as the Lady Knights swept the field clean in a tournament at Chase High School. Counting Tuesday’s win over Murphy, Robbinsville has won 14 straight sets. From left are Suri Watty, Daphne Barlow, Khaygen Buchanan, Chloe Adams, Olivia Lewis (in back), Claire Barlow, Liz Carpenter and Ryn Hooper. Photo courtesy of RHS Volleyball

It was smiles all around for Robbinsville volleyball Saturday, as the Lady Knights swept the field clean in a tournament at Chase High School. Counting Tuesday’s win over Murphy, Robbinsville has won 14 straight sets. From left are Suri Watty, Daphne Barlow, Khaygen Buchanan, Chloe Adams, Olivia Lewis (in back), Claire Barlow, Liz Carpenter and Ryn Hooper. Photo courtesy of RHS Volleyball

Showing up and showing out

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, August 29, 2024
A sleeping giant has been inadvertently awoken. Down 2-0 in an Aug. 22 road match at Asheville, the Lady Knights made some adjustments between sets two and three – simply hoping to keep the contest alive.
The 2024 Robbinsville High School cross country team. All names are listed from left. Front row: Avery Brown, Keller Henry, Austin Bohn and Nathan Frederick. Back row: Kamree Oliver, Abby Wehr, Bentley Riggins, Alyssa Bohn, Madison Cable and Skyler Oliver. Not pictured is Xamuel Wachacha. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

The 2024 Robbinsville High School cross country team. All names are listed from left. Front row: Avery Brown, Keller Henry, Austin Bohn and Nathan Frederick. Back row: Kamree Oliver, Abby Wehr, Bentley Riggins, Alyssa Bohn, Madison Cable and Skyler Oliver. Not pictured is Xamuel Wachacha. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Fast and steady wins the race

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, August 29, 2024
* Robbinsville cross country season preview Robbinsville – With the talent pool on the roster, the Robbinsville High School cross country program has the potential to accomplish several things it has not in many years. Namely, win a race.
Xamuel Wachacha (3) stayed busy during Aug. 22’s JV season opener against Mitchell, nailing four PATs and reeling in one touchdown amid Robbinsville’s 38-6 blowout over the Mountaineers. Photo by Jacquline Gayosso/The Graham Star

Xamuel Wachacha (3) stayed busy during Aug. 22’s JV season opener against Mitchell, nailing four PATs and reeling in one touchdown amid Robbinsville’s 38-6 blowout over the Mountaineers. Photo by Jacquline Gayosso/The Graham Star

JV Knights trounce Mitchell

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, August 29, 2024
Robbinsville – Domination. That’s the best way to summarize how the reigning Smoky Mountain Conference champions attained victory in their 2024 debut Aug. 22, as the JV Black Knights struck early and often to send the Mitchell Mountaineers packing 38-6 at Big Oaks Stadium.
Robbinsville quarterback Bryce Adams breaks away from the pursuit of East Surry’s Luke Bruner during Friday’s 21-19 loss to the Cardinals. Photos courtesy of JR Willoughby Photography

Robbinsville quarterback Bryce Adams breaks away from the pursuit of East Surry’s Luke Bruner during Friday’s 21-19 loss to the Cardinals. Photos courtesy of JR Willoughby Photography

Mistakes prove costly

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, August 29, 2024
The box score from Aug. 23, 2024's game between Robbinsville and East Surry. Pilot Mountain – Things got off to an exciting start, but went off the rails quickly.
The 2024 Robbinsville Lady Knights volleyball team. All names are listed from left. Kneeling in front: Ella McGuire, Jayden Chekeleelee, Suri Watty and Novie Dutcher. Back row: Chloe Adams, Ryn Hooper, Claire Barlow, Olivia Lewis, Liz Carpenter, Daphne Barlow and Khaygan Buchanan. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

The 2024 Robbinsville Lady Knights volleyball team. All names are listed from left. Kneeling in front: Ella McGuire, Jayden Chekeleelee, Suri Watty and Novie Dutcher. Back row: Chloe Adams, Ryn Hooper, Claire Barlow, Olivia Lewis, Liz Carpenter, Daphne Barlow and Khaygan Buchanan. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

‘We’ instead of ‘me’

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, August 22, 2024
Robbinsville – The culture around Lady Knights volleyball is changing. Sure, a lot of names fans will recognize are back for another year on the court. Claire Barlow, Liz Carpenter and Olivia Lewis make up the senior representatives; Ryn Hooper and Suri Watty both return for their junior season.
Senior Liz Carpenter (20) prepares for a pass to freshman Daphne Barlow (5) during Aug. 12’s season opener against T.C. Roberson. Photo by Royce Worbington/The Graham Star

Senior Liz Carpenter (20) prepares for a pass to freshman Daphne Barlow (5) during Aug. 12’s season opener against T.C. Roberson. Photo by Royce Worbington/The Graham Star

Why you play the game

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, August 22, 2024
Robbinsville – The Lady Knights continued to work against non-conference action before delving into divisional play next week. After sweeping the T.C. Roberson Lady Rams in Aug. 12’s debut, Robbinsville (2-1) ran into another defending conference champion Aug. 14: the Franklin Lady Panthers.