Sports

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.
Senior lineman Carlos Lopez (54) attempts to bring down Andrews quarterback Donovan Carpenter during Robbinsville’s foray against the Wildcats on Friday. Photo courtesy of Haley Coffey

Senior lineman Carlos Lopez (54) attempts to bring down Andrews quarterback Donovan Carpenter during Robbinsville’s foray against the Wildcats on Friday. Photo courtesy of Haley Coffey

Black Knights eliminated from conference-title picture

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, October 27, 2022
Andrews – For the first time since 2018, there will be a new champion in the Smoky Mountain Conference. Robbinsville made the short pilgrimage to Andrews for a highly-anticipated showdown Friday.
Head coach Kadey Phillips strategizes with the Lady Knights during a fifth-set timeout Tuesday, in the second round of the state playoffs at Highland Tech. Robbinsville fell to the No. 4-seeded Lady Rams, ending its season with 17 wins. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Head coach Kadey Phillips strategizes with the Lady Knights during a fifth-set timeout Tuesday, in the second round of the state playoffs at Highland Tech. Robbinsville fell to the No. 4-seeded Lady Rams, ending its season with 17 wins. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville falls in 2nd round heartbreaker

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, October 27, 2022
Gastonia – One of the Lady Knights’ Achilles heels reared its ugly head Tuesday. Robbinsville (No. 13 seed, 17-9) opened up a 2-0 lead in the second round of the state playoffs at Highland Tech (No. 4, 21-3).
The Robbinsville wrestling program is adding another chapter to its historic legacy: the first-ever Lady Knights team, comprised of girls from Robbinsville Middle School. The coaches are Josh Winfrey (far left) and Sarah Orr (far right).

The Robbinsville wrestling program is adding another chapter to its historic legacy: the first-ever Lady Knights team, comprised of girls from Robbinsville Middle School. The coaches are Josh Winfrey (far left) and Sarah Orr (far right).

Break the walls down

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, October 27, 2022
Robbinsville – As times change, so do the environments that surround us. When the Far West Wrestling program picked up steam last winter, it was mostly because of the unusually-high amount of girls that trotted onto the mat to grapple. Yes, girls.
The Black Knights Marching Band performs its 2022 show, “Valhalla,” at A.C. Reynolds’ Cedar Cliff Classic on Oct. 8 in Asheville. The regiment has been turning heads all year with its spirited performances and a wave of enthusiasm – and the hard work has paid off with numerous accolades collected at two competitions. Photos courtesy of Robbinsville High School Band

The Black Knights Marching Band performs its 2022 show, “Valhalla,” at A.C. Reynolds’ Cedar Cliff Classic on Oct. 8 in Asheville. The regiment has been turning heads all year with its spirited performances and a wave of enthusiasm – and the hard work has paid off with numerous accolades collected at two competitions. Photos courtesy of Robbinsville High School Band

Marching to the beat of their own drum

Randy Foster
Thursday, October 20, 2022
It had been a while since Robbinsville High School fielded a marching band in state competitions. But judging from how the team performed in two competitions this year, the Black Knights Marching Band is a force to be reckoned with.
Sophomore quarterback Bryce Adams (6) finds some open room to advance during Friday’s loss to Murphy. Photo by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Sophomore quarterback Bryce Adams (6) finds some open room to advance during Friday’s loss to Murphy. Photo by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Spoil sports

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, October 20, 2022
Robbinsville – What began as a highly-anticipated clash turned into a lopsided victory – for the visitors.
The Robbinsville Lady Knights clinched a share of the Smoky Mountain Conference title for the second time in four seasons Oct. 13, sweeping Swain County on senior night. All names are listed from left. Front row: Fala Welch, Claire Barlow, Desta Trammell and Tai Owle. Back row: Assistant coach Dede Brooms, manager Eden Orr, Liz Carpenter, Suri Watty, Delaney Brooms, Aubrie Wachacha, Kensley Phillips, head coach Kadey Phillips and line judge Jade Teesateskie. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

The Robbinsville Lady Knights clinched a share of the Smoky Mountain Conference title for the second time in four seasons Oct. 13, sweeping Swain County on senior night. All names are listed from left. Front row: Fala Welch, Claire Barlow, Desta Trammell and Tai Owle. Back row: Assistant coach Dede Brooms, manager Eden Orr, Liz Carpenter, Suri Watty, Delaney Brooms, Aubrie Wachacha, Kensley Phillips, head coach Kadey Phillips and line judge Jade Teesateskie. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Step 1: Complete

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, October 20, 2022
Robbinsville – Entering the 2022 season, they heard the whispers. The doubts. The naysayers. Then the Robbinsville Lady Knights assessed the circumstances and posted a 15-win campaign, which culminated Oct. 13 with a 14-25, 14-25, 20-25 sweep of Swain County (12-11) on senior night.
The Robbinsville Lady Knights surprised senior Kensley Phillips with gifts immediately after Oct. 6’s home match against Andrews, to help celebrate Phillips surpassing the 1,000-dig threshold. Surrounding Phillips are (back row, from left): Claire Barlow, Liz Carpenter, Aubrie Wachacha and team manager Eden Orr; (front row, from left): Fala Welch, Tai Owle and Olivia Lewis; kneeling in front, Delaney Brooms (left) and Suri Watty.

The Robbinsville Lady Knights surprised senior Kensley Phillips with gifts immediately after Oct. 6’s home match against Andrews, to help celebrate Phillips surpassing the 1,000-dig threshold. Surrounding Phillips are (back row, from left): Claire Barlow, Liz Carpenter, Aubrie Wachacha and team manager Eden Orr; (front row, from left): Fala Welch, Tai Owle and Olivia Lewis; kneeling in front, Delaney Brooms (left) and Suri Watty.

Can you dig it?

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, October 13, 2022
Robbinsville – Just two days after her older sister hit a coaching milestone, Kensley Phillips found her own way into the annals of Lady Knights volleyball history. Kadey Phillips recorded her 100th career win as head coach of the Lady Knights at Swain County on Sept. 27. Skip ahead to Sept.