Sports

Led by the protection of classmate Tytan Teesateskie (72), Robbinsville sophomore quarterback Bryce Adams scans his downfield options Nov. 10 against Cherokee. Bryce completed eight passes – two for touchdowns to his brother, Brock Adams – and collected 131 yards in the Knights’ 39-12 second-round playoff victory over the Braves. Photos courtesy of Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Led by the protection of classmate Tytan Teesateskie (72), Robbinsville sophomore quarterback Bryce Adams scans his downfield options Nov. 10 against Cherokee. Bryce completed eight passes – two for touchdowns to his brother, Brock Adams – and collected 131 yards in the Knights’ 39-12 second-round playoff victory over the Braves. Photos courtesy of Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Icing on the cake

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, November 17, 2022
Robbinsville – If that was the final home game of the season, what a way to go out. The Black Knights peppered 39 points across the first three quarters of the Nov. 10 playoff affair against Cherokee, clinching a Sweet 16 berth by knocking off the divisional rival 39-12 under the Big Oaks.
Robbinsville seniors Brock Adams (left) and Kensley Phillips were recently named as the school’s 2022 Heisman High School Scholarship winners. Photo courtesy of Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Robbinsville seniors Brock Adams (left) and Kensley Phillips were recently named as the school’s 2022 Heisman High School Scholarship winners. Photo courtesy of Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Success pays off

News Staff
Friday, November 11, 2022
Robbinsville – A pair of Black Knight seniors were recently awarded for their academic and athletic endeavors. Brock Adams and Kensley Phillips were selected last week as Robbinsville’s 2022 Heisman High School Scholarship recipients.
Zayleigh Chekeleelee outpaces the pursuit of Hiwassee Dam/Ranger defenders for a lay-up during the Nov. 3 season opener. Chekeleelee led the Lady Knights with a 10-point afternoon. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Zayleigh Chekeleelee outpaces the pursuit of Hiwassee Dam/Ranger defenders for a lay-up during the Nov. 3 season opener. Chekeleelee led the Lady Knights with a 10-point afternoon. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Middle school hoops tips off

Kevin Hensley
Friday, November 11, 2022
Robbinsville – It might be a few more weeks before the high school Knights begin their latest basketball season, but the next generation of varsity superstars tipped their year off Nov. 3.
Pictured are members of the 2022-23 Robbinsville High School wrestling program. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Pictured are members of the 2022-23 Robbinsville High School wrestling program. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Technically proficient

Kevin Hensley
Friday, November 11, 2022
* Robbinsville wrestling season preview Robbinsville – How do you respond to a season which saw five state champions crowned? Simple: you go back to the basics.
Junior fullback Kage Williams (33) soaks in the realization that he will be playing his first home game of the season before first-round playoff action kicked off Friday. Williams ended up with two rushing touchdowns and two PATs in Robbinsville’s 40-14 win over the Ironmen. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Junior fullback Kage Williams (33) soaks in the realization that he will be playing his first home game of the season before first-round playoff action kicked off Friday. Williams ended up with two rushing touchdowns and two PATs in Robbinsville’s 40-14 win over the Ironmen. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Goes together like biscuits and gravy

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, November 10, 2022
Robbinsville – He’s back.
Robbinsville senior Kensley Phillips fires a shot toward a pair of Smoky Mountain defenders in a Sept. 19 road match. Phillips has been named the Co-Smoky Mountain Conference Player of the Year. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville senior Kensley Phillips fires a shot toward a pair of Smoky Mountain defenders in a Sept. 19 road match. Phillips has been named the Co-Smoky Mountain Conference Player of the Year. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Phillips named Conference Player of the Year

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, November 3, 2022
Robbinsville – For the first time in her career, Kensley Phillips has been named the Player of the Year. For the second time in her coaching career, Kadey Phillips has been named the Coach of the Year.
The Black Knights’ defense – led by Haden Key, Quinn Jumper, Jude Campbell, Roman Jones, Cuttler Adams and Carlos Lopez (clockwise from center) – swarm Hayesville’s Taylor McClure to stuff the Jackets’ top running threat Friday. Robbinsville held Hayesville to just 64 rushing yards on the night. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

The Black Knights’ defense – led by Haden Key, Quinn Jumper, Jude Campbell, Roman Jones, Cuttler Adams and Carlos Lopez (clockwise from center) – swarm Hayesville’s Taylor McClure to stuff the Jackets’ top running threat Friday. Robbinsville held Hayesville to just 64 rushing yards on the night. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

The real Black Swarm

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, November 3, 2022
Hayesville – Admittedly, there was a lot of hype surrounding Friday’s Smoky Mountain Conference title game in Murphy. So it’s OK if you forgot that Robbinsville played a game just 15 miles away at the exact same time. However, the Knights did not forget.
Offers from two SEC schools speaks volumes about the softball acumen of Robbinsville junior Zoie Shuler. Ultimately, she announced her commitment to the University of Tennessee on Oct. 26. Photos courtesy of Kate Luffman/University of Tennessee Athletics

Offers from two SEC schools speaks volumes about the softball acumen of Robbinsville junior Zoie Shuler. Ultimately, she announced her commitment to the University of Tennessee on Oct. 26. Photos courtesy of Kate Luffman/University of Tennessee Athletics

Volunteering her services

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, November 3, 2022
Robbinsville – In retrospect, the decision was made long ago. As a Graham County native, Zoie Shuler grew up just on the other side of the mountain from Knoxville, so a love for the Tennessee Volunteers almost came as a birthright.
Robbinsville’s youth football program collected three Cracker Bowl championships Saturday in Sylva. The Termite Black Knights shutout the previously-unbeaten Franklin Panthers 6-0. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville’s youth football program collected three Cracker Bowl championships Saturday in Sylva. The Termite Black Knights shutout the previously-unbeaten Franklin Panthers 6-0. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

3 games, 3 titles

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, November 3, 2022
Sylva – Nail technicians across the region had to be swamped Monday morning.