Sports

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.
Robbinsville’s seniors Olivia Lewis (9), Liz Carpenter (center) and Claire Barlow (3) celebrate Barlow’s stout block in the closing moments of set one Monday against T.C. Roberson. The Lady Knights swept the Lady Rams in the season premiere. Also pictured on the court is Ryn Hooper (8); Daphne Barlow is behind Claire. Photo by Royce Worbington/The Graham Star

Robbinsville’s seniors Olivia Lewis (9), Liz Carpenter (center) and Claire Barlow (3) celebrate Barlow’s stout block in the closing moments of set one Monday against T.C. Roberson. The Lady Knights swept the Lady Rams in the season premiere. Also pictured on the court is Ryn Hooper (8); Daphne Barlow is behind Claire. Photo by Royce Worbington/The Graham Star

Rams stuffed

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, August 15, 2024
Ella McGuire delivered some tough serves during the JV Lady Knights’ season opener Monday. Robbinsville – If the Lady Knights play the entire season like they did Monday, opponents are going to have a hard time finding a way to attain victory.
Delaney Brooms took a chance by visiting Fayetteville Technical Community College on July 26 – and left with a scholarship to play volleyball.

Delaney Brooms took a chance by visiting Fayetteville Technical Community College on July 26 – and left with a scholarship to play volleyball.

Sweeping plans out from under the rug

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, August 8, 2024
Robbinsville – As the ink was drying on former Lady Knights teammate Aubrie Wachacha’s volleyball/basketball commitment to Warren Wilson College, Delaney Brooms was busy securing her future some 352 miles away.
Fresh off high school graduation two months ago, Aubrie Wachacha solidified her immediate plans for the future by signing to play both volleyball and basketball at Warren Wilson College. Sitting with Wachacha are father Randy Wachacha (left), sister Amara Wachacha and mother Monaka Wachacha. Standing in back (from left) are grandmother Carolyn Wachacha, plus Debbie and John Bird. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Fresh off high school graduation two months ago, Aubrie Wachacha solidified her immediate plans for the future by signing to play both volleyball and basketball at Warren Wilson College. Sitting with Wachacha are father Randy Wachacha (left), sister Amara Wachacha and mother Monaka Wachacha. Standing in back (from left) are grandmother Carolyn Wachacha, plus Debbie and John Bird. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Plans aren’t always cut and dry

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, August 1, 2024
Robbinsville – Despite interest trickling in from colleges around the region, Aubrie Wachacha knew what she wanted to do after graduating from Robbinsville High at the end of May: cosmetology school. However, life had other ideas.