Sports

Lady Knights senior Desta Trammell was named as the 2023 Wells Fargo Advisors/Aiken, Meyer, Whatley Division II Female Athlete of the Year, Major Sport at Sunday’s WNC Sports Awards Banquet. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Shuler, Trammell honored as best in WNC

Kevin Hensley

Monday, May 15, 2023

Asheville – Sunday’s 61st WNC Sports Awards Banquet simply confirmed to the rest of Western North Carolina what the Knights’ fanbase already knew: Zoie Shuler and Desta Trammell are two of the most elite athletes to ever wear a Robbinsville uniform.

Knights fall in finale

Kevin Hensley

Monday, May 15, 2023

Hayesville – The 2023 Robbinsville High School baseball season will always be the year remembered for a near-miraculous turnaround.

Haden Key signed to play football at Brevard College on May 3. Sitting with Key are his mother Joanna and coach Wren Millsaps. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Key opens next door

Kevin Hensley

Monday, May 15, 2023

Robbinsville – Perhaps the most important players on the gridiron rarely get the recognition they so richly deserve.

Desta Trammell signed to play basketball at Lenoir-Rhyne University on May 3. Seated with her are mother Kimm (left) and father Ritchie. Standing in back (from left) are cousin Shayla Bush, grandmother Beverly Camden, grandfather Wesley Trammell and grandmother Lib Trammell. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Grin and Bear it

Kevin Hensley

Monday, May 15, 2023

Robbinsville – It was really just a formality. After all, Desta Trammell has known for years that she wanted to play for the Lenoir-Rhyne University Lady Bears, a NCAA Division II program out of Hickory. She entertained offers from six different institutions.

Brock Adams and Zoie Shuler were named the respective Male and Female Most Outstanding athletes of the 2023 Smoky Mountain Conference championship meet, which was held May 3 at Cherokee. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Against the wind

Kevin Hensley

Monday, May 15, 2023

Cherokee – Between just two Robbinsville High athletes, five total Most Outstanding Athlete of the Smoky Mountain Conference Track & Field Championship Meet distinctions exist. There was really no need to have a coaches poll at the conclusion of May 3’s meet: their results spoke for themselves.

The Robbinsville Lady Knights relish in the moment after winning their 14th Smoky Mountain Conference title Saturday at Hiwassee Dam. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Legacy continues

Kevin Hensley

Monday, May 15, 2023

Lady Knights senior Kensley Phillips could not contain her excitement after donning the team’s “home run hat” Friday.

Prior to Tuesday’s home game against Hayesville, the Robbinsville Black Knights recognized their four baseball seniors. From left are Alex Knight, Lathan Buchanan, Preston Phillips and Caleb Turpin. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Knights split Senior Night appointments with Hayesville

Kevin Hensley

Thursday, May 4, 2023

Robbinsville – The final home games of the regular season featured two Robbinsville programs meeting two Hayesville teams – and both in stark contrast of the other. The Lady Knights are sitting atop the Smoky Mountain Conference standings, as are the Hayesville Yellow Jackets baseball team.

Surrounded by family, Robbinsville senior Brock Adams signed to play basketball at Bryan College on Monday. Sitting with Brock are his mother Andrea and father Tommy. Standing in back (from left) are grandparents Roger and Lisa Orr; brothers, Bryce and Reece Adams; and grandparents Louise and Boyd Adams. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Lion’s Share of success

Kevin Hensley

Thursday, May 4, 2023

Robbinsville – When a Letter of Intent is about to be signed, there is normally so much emotion that speeches are hard to come by. But much as he did his entire life as a Black Knight, Brock Adams refused to let the moment get in the way.

Junior Graylen Orr picked up his fifth win of the season Tuesday, posting a complete-game effort in Robbinsville’s 5-3 win over Hiwassee Dam. Photo by Montana Buchanan/The Graham Star

Quite a pickle

Kevin Hensley

Monday, May 1, 2023

Robbinsville – Just one week ago, the Black Knights were eyeing a return to the .500 mark. But after a tough 3-game skid ended with a victory in Game 2 of a doubleheader with Hiwassee Dam, Robbinsville is simply trying to tread water and hope for the best.

Memory Frapp, Claire Barlow and Zoie Shuler (from left) ripped a combined four homers in Friday’s 12-1 win over Andrews. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Fate rests in their hands

Kevin Hensley

Monday, May 1, 2023

Robbinsville – If Tuesday’s game is any indicator, the Lady Knights are going to have to work extra hard to retain their monopoly on the Smoky Mountain Conference championship.