Sports

Senior outside hitter Delaney Brooms rises for a spike Monday against Hiwassee Dam. Her kills were too much for the Lady Eagles to handle in the match – especially in the clinching set. Photo by Danielle Crabtree/The Graham Star

Senior outside hitter Delaney Brooms rises for a spike Monday against Hiwassee Dam. Her kills were too much for the Lady Eagles to handle in the match – especially in the clinching set. Photo by Danielle Crabtree/The Graham Star

Little Smoky Smackdown

Kevin Hensley
Friday, August 25, 2023
The latest Robbinsville volleyball slate can be simplified as a cliche from another sport: nine up, nine down.
The 2023 Robbinsville High School cross-country team is comprised of (front row, from left): Skyler Oliver, Abby Wehr, Cassidy Kirkland, Kamree Oliver, Matilda Wehr and Oliver Wehr; (back row, from left): assistant coach Jessica Wehr, Zeb Stewart, Bruce Helms, Colt Colvin, assistant coach Sunny Pringle and head coach Emily Wehr. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

The 2023 Robbinsville High School cross-country team is comprised of (front row, from left): Skyler Oliver, Abby Wehr, Cassidy Kirkland, Kamree Oliver, Matilda Wehr and Oliver Wehr; (back row, from left): assistant coach Jessica Wehr, Zeb Stewart, Bruce Helms, Colt Colvin, assistant coach Sunny Pringle and head coach Emily Wehr. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Knights set new pace with new coaches

Kevin Hensley
Friday, August 25, 2023
* Robbinsville cross country season preview Robbinsville – Numbers may be low, but the Black Knights are used to defying expectations. A new variable in the equation looks to make success this year more seamless.

Last-second heroics stun Cougars

Kevin Hensley
Friday, August 25, 2023
Robbinsville – In the first game contested with new seating hovering above the home sideline, the junior varsity Black Knights showed why a venture to their Thursday-night outings can prove to be just as thrilling as the rush felt on Fridays.
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.