Sports

All Smoky Mountain senior Bailey Cloer (8) could do was watch as outfielders madly attempted to field a ball driven to the outer reaches by Lady Knights senior Kensley Phillips. Phillips doubled on the second-inning drive and recorded her Knights-leading fifth triple at Andrews on Tuesday. Photo courtesy of Bentley Riggs/Contributing Photographer

All Smoky Mountain senior Bailey Cloer (8) could do was watch as outfielders madly attempted to field a ball driven to the outer reaches by Lady Knights senior Kensley Phillips. Phillips doubled on the second-inning drive and recorded her Knights-leading fifth triple at Andrews on Tuesday. Photo courtesy of Bentley Riggs/Contributing Photographer

‘Re-build’ ahead of schedule

Kevin Hensley
Friday, April 21, 2023
Robbinsville – This was supposed to be the rebuilding year. The Lady Knights graduated eight seniors (six of which started) and had just two when the season began – Kensley Phillips and Fala Welch. Both combined for exactly one at-bat in 2022. Sure, the core threats were still on the roster.
It’s going to be a challenge, but Robbinsville alumni Aynsley Fink and Jayden Nowell are returning to the mat – this time, at the collegiate level. Both signed to wrestle for Ottawa (Kan.) University on Easter Sunday. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

It’s going to be a challenge, but Robbinsville alumni Aynsley Fink and Jayden Nowell are returning to the mat – this time, at the collegiate level. Both signed to wrestle for Ottawa (Kan.) University on Easter Sunday. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Putting all of their eggs into one basket

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, April 13, 2023
Robbinsville – While others were busy scouring the depths of their acreage for magical gifts on Easter Sunday, both Aynsley Fink and Jayden Nowell were busy making sure their wrestling aptitude would carry over to the college level.
Ethan Orr patiently awaits his chance to swing Monday against Towns County, Ga. The next day, Orr homered and pitched a complete game for Robbinsville, helping lift the Black Knights to a 5-3 home win over Rosman. Photo courtesy of Fala Welch/Contributing Photographer

Ethan Orr patiently awaits his chance to swing Monday against Towns County, Ga. The next day, Orr homered and pitched a complete game for Robbinsville, helping lift the Black Knights to a 5-3 home win over Rosman. Photo courtesy of Fala Welch/Contributing Photographer

Not your average Knights

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, April 13, 2023
Robbinsville – Just 2 ½ weeks ago, the Black Knights were 0-6 and had only played one seven-inning game to start the season. Counting Tuesday’s 5-3 home victory over Rosman, Robbinsville has went 5-2 to put the bumpy opening of the campaign in the rearview mirror.
Lady Knights junior Memory Frapp improved to 6-0 on the season April 6, flirting with a no-no while striking out seven Lady Devils in a five-inning, 11-0 rout over Swain County. Photo courtesy of Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Lady Knights junior Memory Frapp improved to 6-0 on the season April 6, flirting with a no-no while striking out seven Lady Devils in a five-inning, 11-0 rout over Swain County. Photo courtesy of Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Committed to Memory

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, April 13, 2023
Robbinsville – She smacked a hit past the outstretched gloves of infielders and outfielders alike. A run scored. Junior pitcher Memory Frapp had aided her own cause, giving herself and the Lady Knights a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the third.
Khaygen Buchanan unleashes a hit for the middle school Lady Knights against Murphy on March 14. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Khaygen Buchanan unleashes a hit for the middle school Lady Knights against Murphy on March 14. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

No answers for Knights against Braves

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, April 6, 2023
Robbinsville – In what was Robbinsville Middle School’s final games for two weeks – the fallout of an 8th-grade coastal trip and Spring Break – the Knights could not manufacture a season split with Cherokee.
Junior ace Memory Frapp struck out seven Cherokee batters to aid Robbinsville’s thumping of the Lady Braves on Friday. Photos by Montana Buchanan/The Graham Star

Junior ace Memory Frapp struck out seven Cherokee batters to aid Robbinsville’s thumping of the Lady Braves on Friday. Photos by Montana Buchanan/The Graham Star

Lady Knights split bill with Braves, Jets

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, April 6, 2023
Cherokee – Less than 24 hours removed from a tough loss, Robbinsville did what it does best: the Knights shook off the effects of the defeat. It just so happened that Robbinsville (8-2, 5-0) had a short road trip to Cherokee (5-4, 2-4) on the books Friday.
The Robbinsville Black Knights have good reason to smile: the team has recently put together its first winning streak of the season. Graylen Orr (2) struck out 10 Copper Basin batters in just four innings of work Monday, as Robbinsville made the streak official with an 8-7 win over the Cougars. Clockwise from Orr are Bryc Garrison, head coach Brent Icenhower, Lathan Buchanan, Alex Knight, Caleb Turpin, Quinn Jumper, Preston Phillips, Ethan Orr and Bryce Adams. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

The Robbinsville Black Knights have good reason to smile: the team has recently put together its first winning streak of the season. Graylen Orr (2) struck out 10 Copper Basin batters in just four innings of work Monday, as Robbinsville made the streak official with an 8-7 win over the Cougars. Clockwise from Orr are Bryc Garrison, head coach Brent Icenhower, Lathan Buchanan, Alex Knight, Caleb Turpin, Quinn Jumper, Preston Phillips, Ethan Orr and Bryce Adams. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Have yourself a day, kid

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, April 6, 2023
Robbinsville – He was a one-man wrecking crew. At the outset of Monday’s home game against Copper Basin, Tenn., Black Knights junior Graylen Orr had just 16 strikeouts across four starts.
Myley Hyde takes aim during the shotgun competition at March 4’s Far West Competition in Marble. Photo courtesy of Ashton Lambert/Robbinsville High School

Myley Hyde takes aim during the shotgun competition at March 4’s Far West Competition in Marble. Photo courtesy of Ashton Lambert/Robbinsville High School

Robbinsville shooting team ends season at district

Kevin Hensley
Friday, March 31, 2023
Robbinsville High School’s Ryan Lynn finished second in the March 4 Far West Invitational’s shotgun competition, after the event went to a shootoff.
Robbinsville senior Lathan Buchanan relishes his first-ever varsity home run after Tuesday’s 12-7 win over Cherokee. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville senior Lathan Buchanan relishes his first-ever varsity home run after Tuesday’s 12-7 win over Cherokee. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Win No. 1 is here

Kevin Hensley
Friday, March 31, 2023
Robbinsville – Finally. Entering Tuesday’s home game against Cherokee, the Robbinsville varsity baseball team was winless. In 5-of-their-first-6 games, the Black Knights had lost by eight or more runs and opponents had outscored Robbinsville 84-15.
Robbinsville senior Fala Welch – shown recording an RBI on March 20 at Copper Basin, Tenn. – posted another scoring single in Tuesday’s 8-2 win over Cherokee. Photo by Montana Buchanan/The Graham Star

Robbinsville senior Fala Welch – shown recording an RBI on March 20 at Copper Basin, Tenn. – posted another scoring single in Tuesday’s 8-2 win over Cherokee. Photo by Montana Buchanan/The Graham Star

Lady Knights rolling through conference

Kevin Hensley
Friday, March 31, 2023
Robbinsville – Even though March 23’s home appointment with Swain County was rained out, it seems that no one – beyond Mother Nature – can dampen the Lady Knights.