Sports

Robbinsville coaches Randy Moody, Lucas Ford and Dee Walsh (clockwise, from left) all commend senior Chase Calhoun (2) after his pivotal fourth-down tackle Friday against East Surry, which solidified a crucial goal-line stand for the Black Knights in the season-opening victory. Photo by Danielle Crabtree/The Graham Star

Robbinsville coaches Randy Moody, Lucas Ford and Dee Walsh (clockwise, from left) all commend senior Chase Calhoun (2) after his pivotal fourth-down tackle Friday against East Surry, which solidified a crucial goal-line stand for the Black Knights in the season-opening victory. Photo by Danielle Crabtree/The Graham Star

Doubters silenced

Kevin Hensley
Friday, August 25, 2023
Robbinsville – It did not take long for the Knights to become accustomed to the unique atmosphere under the Big Oaks this year. Cuttler Adams trampled his way to three rushing touchdowns, while tacking on a 73-yard scoring reception and an interception to aid the cause.
Prior to Friday’s season opener against East Surry, the Robbinsville Black Knights filed through a line to personally thank local contractors and officials that helped complete the renovation of the home-seating area at Big Oaks Stadium in just 49 days. Players pictured are Daegan Bird, Darion Ledbetter, Tillman Adams and Cuttler Adams (from left). Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Prior to Friday’s season opener against East Surry, the Robbinsville Black Knights filed through a line to personally thank local contractors and officials that helped complete the renovation of the home-seating area at Big Oaks Stadium in just 49 days. Players pictured are Daegan Bird, Darion Ledbetter, Tillman Adams and Cuttler Adams (from left). Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

If you build it, they will come

Kevin Hensley
Friday, August 25, 2023
Robbinsville – The first efforts began at 1:45 p.m. Thursday, June 29, just two hours after a pair of local boards agreed to the idea. By 5 p.m. Thursday, Aug.
Tanner Hedden (10) weaves through traffic during Friday’s season opener against East Surry. Photo courtesy of Danielle Crabtree

Tanner Hedden (10) weaves through traffic during Friday’s season opener against East Surry. Photo courtesy of Danielle Crabtree

Black Knights pour on in season opener

Kevin Hensley
Friday, August 18, 2023
Robbinsville — It did not take long for the Knights to become accustomed to the unique atmosphere under the Big Oaks this year. Cuttler Adams trampled his way to three rushing touchdowns, while tacking on a 73-yard scoring reception and an interception to aid the cause.
The Robbinsville Lady Knights celebrate moments after clinching a 5-set comeback win Tuesday against Asheville. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

The Robbinsville Lady Knights celebrate moments after clinching a 5-set comeback win Tuesday against Asheville. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

‘Quit’ is not in their vocabulary

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, August 17, 2023
Novie Dutcher prepares to serve during Tuesday’s JV match against the Lady Cougars. Robbinsville – Somebody forgot to tell the Lady Knights that 2-0 deficits do not often play in their favor.
The 2023 Robbinsville Lady Knights volleyball team is comprised of (from left): assistant coach Kensley Phillips, Ryn Hooper, Liz Carpenter, Claire Barlow, Delaney Brooms, Aubrie Wachacha, Tia Hall, Anna Williams, Olivia Lewis, Suri Watty and head coach Kadey Phillips. Not pictured is assistant coach Dede Brooms. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

The 2023 Robbinsville Lady Knights volleyball team is comprised of (from left): assistant coach Kensley Phillips, Ryn Hooper, Liz Carpenter, Claire Barlow, Delaney Brooms, Aubrie Wachacha, Tia Hall, Anna Williams, Olivia Lewis, Suri Watty and head coach Kadey Phillips. Not pictured is assistant coach Dede Brooms. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Lady Knights embark on conference-title defense

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, August 10, 2023
* Robbinsville volleyball season preview Robbinsville – For just the second time in program history, the Lady Knights ended a season atop the Smoky Mountain Conference standings.
Robbinsville High School Principal David Matheson, Graham County Project Manager Jason Marino and Brandon Lovin of Lovin Contracting (from left) discuss fencing options while standing above a newly-placed retaining wall at Modeal Walsh Memorial (Big Oaks) Stadium on Monday. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville High School Principal David Matheson, Graham County Project Manager Jason Marino and Brandon Lovin of Lovin Contracting (from left) discuss fencing options while standing above a newly-placed retaining wall at Modeal Walsh Memorial (Big Oaks) Stadium on Monday. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Too near home to turn back now

Kevin Hensley
Wednesday, August 2, 2023
Robbinsville – As officials, administrators and contractors alike stood over the two new retaining walls that have been erected to support new seating at Big Oaks Stadium on Monday, a certain air of confidence lingered in the strategy session.
Led by the assurance of fellow classmate Kage Williams (33), Cuttler Adams takes off in the open during the first round of the state playoffs Nov. 3 against Cherryville. Adams has barely pumped the brakes this summer – and the fruits of his labor are already showing. Photos courtesy of Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Led by the assurance of fellow classmate Kage Williams (33), Cuttler Adams takes off in the open during the first round of the state playoffs Nov. 3 against Cherryville. Adams has barely pumped the brakes this summer – and the fruits of his labor are already showing. Photos courtesy of Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Cut to the chase

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, July 27, 2023
Robbinsville – For now, Cuttler Adams is back within the friendly borders of home. For now.
The demolition and renovation of the home bleachers at Big Oaks Stadium is still on track to be completed in time for the upcoming football season. As seen in this Monday photo, a front-retaining wall has been poured and finished; the rear wall was set to begin pouring this week. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

The demolition and renovation of the home bleachers at Big Oaks Stadium is still on track to be completed in time for the upcoming football season. As seen in this Monday photo, a front-retaining wall has been poured and finished; the rear wall was set to begin pouring this week. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Right on schedule

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, July 27, 2023
Robbinsville – For a project that has such a narrow window to be completed, everything thus far has been executed like a strategic Black Knights gameplan: to a “T.
Snowbird native Ty Teasdale stands on the podium after winning the Grand National Cross Country Series’ Life Time Sea Otter Classic. Surrounding Teasdale are his teammates, Mitch Hawkins (left) and Ali Cardoza.

Snowbird native Ty Teasdale stands on the podium after winning the Grand National Cross Country Series’ Life Time Sea Otter Classic. Surrounding Teasdale are his teammates, Mitch Hawkins (left) and Ali Cardoza.

Teasdale earns top spot in national competition

Kevin Hensley
Monday, July 24, 2023
Monterey, Calif. – It is not too often that a Graham County native gets to boast that they won a gold medal in a national competition. Leave it to Ty Teasdale to change the narrative.
Tylen Trammell is carving out his own sports legacy in a family full of competitors, as he is compiling quite the resume in dirt-track racing.

Tylen Trammell is carving out his own sports legacy in a family full of competitors, as he is compiling quite the resume in dirt-track racing.

1 Track Mind

Kevin Hensley
Monday, July 24, 2023
Concord – Volleyball. Basketball. Track. Racing. One of these things is not like the other, but Tylen Trammell has found a way to stand out from the crowd in a family chock-full of perennial athletes.