Sports

Tough at the top

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, September 15, 2022
Hayesville – The Lady Knights are still the team to beat in the Smoky Mountain Conference. Though the Hayesville Lady Jackets gave Robbinsville a tough road match Sept. 8, the Knights prevailed in a compact 28-26, 25-23, 28-26 sweep.
With the final outcome solidified on the scoreboard, Robbinsville’s Jude Campbell (32), Carson Lovin (9), Turner Jackson (7) and Haden Key (66) swarm Brock Adams after his victory-clinching interception Friday at Smoky Mountain. Photos by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

With the final outcome solidified on the scoreboard, Robbinsville’s Jude Campbell (32), Carson Lovin (9), Turner Jackson (7) and Haden Key (66) swarm Brock Adams after his victory-clinching interception Friday at Smoky Mountain. Photos by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Pickin’ and grinnin

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, September 15, 2022
Sylva – With 1:45 left in Friday’s game, Smoky Mountain quarterback Jed West aired out a long pass downfield.
JV Black Knight Tillman Adams (12) lays waste to a would-be Swain County defender during Robbinsville’s 12-8 loss to the Maroon Devils on Sept. 1. Photo courtesy of Carlos Lopez/Robbinsville High School

JV Black Knight Tillman Adams (12) lays waste to a would-be Swain County defender during Robbinsville’s 12-8 loss to the Maroon Devils on Sept. 1. Photo courtesy of Carlos Lopez/Robbinsville High School

Devils edge JV Knights

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, September 8, 2022
Robbinsville – A third-quarter lead slipped away late for the junior varsity Black Knights, who fell to 1-2 on Sept. 1 by dropping a 12-8 heartbreaker to conference foe Swain County at Modeal Walsh Memorial Stadium.
Robbinsville’s Delaney Brooms, Tai Owle, Kensley Phillips, Desta Trammell and Claire Barlow (from left) erupt after a decisive kill Sept. 1 against Murphy. The Lady Knights handed the Bulldogs a 4-set loss. Photo by Justin Fitzgerald/Cherokee Scout

Robbinsville’s Delaney Brooms, Tai Owle, Kensley Phillips, Desta Trammell and Claire Barlow (from left) erupt after a decisive kill Sept. 1 against Murphy. The Lady Knights handed the Bulldogs a 4-set loss. Photo by Justin Fitzgerald/Cherokee Scout

Deja vu

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, September 8, 2022
Robbinsville – It’s ok if you feel like you have seen this ending before. Ostensibly, you have. Sure, some of the players have changed. There’s a new setter for Robbinsville – senior Desta Trammell – and Murphy’s frontline defense has a different look for the 2022 season.
Robbinsville defenders – led by Tytan Teesateskie (72) and Caleb Draper (3) shut down the progress of Mountain Heritage quarterback Griffin Ray on Friday. For the second-straight week, the Knights’ defense held the opposition to single-digits, as Robbinsville picked up a 26-8 victory. Photos courtesy of Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Robbinsville defenders – led by Tytan Teesateskie (72) and Caleb Draper (3) shut down the progress of Mountain Heritage quarterback Griffin Ray on Friday. For the second-straight week, the Knights’ defense held the opposition to single-digits, as Robbinsville picked up a 26-8 victory. Photos courtesy of Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Cougars crushed

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, September 8, 2022
Robbinsville – A lot of question marks surrounded the Black Knights’ defense as the 2022 season dawned. Robbinsville has silenced the decriers.
Black Knights’ lineman Dane Daniels (72) pursues Mountain Heritage quarterback Brayden Deyton during Aug. 25’s game against the Cougars. Photo courtesy of Carlos Lopez/Robbinsville High School

Black Knights’ lineman Dane Daniels (72) pursues Mountain Heritage quarterback Brayden Deyton during Aug. 25’s game against the Cougars. Photo courtesy of Carlos Lopez/Robbinsville High School

JV upended by Cougars

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, September 1, 2022
Waynesville – It started off promising enough: Robbinsville recovered a fumble, then scored a touchdown and punched in a conversion to take an 8-0 lead. No one could have predicted that would be the final offensive highlight for the Black Knights on Aug. 25.
The work of Robbinsville’s younger varsity players – including Claire Barlow, shown contesting a Highlands return Aug. 23 – was crucial to the Knights’ clinching a four-set victory over Cherokee on Tuesday. Photo courtesy of Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

The work of Robbinsville’s younger varsity players – including Claire Barlow, shown contesting a Highlands return Aug. 23 – was crucial to the Knights’ clinching a four-set victory over Cherokee on Tuesday. Photo courtesy of Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Lady Knights etch 1st conference win

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, September 1, 2022
Robbinsville – Going into Tuesday’s conference opener, the Lady Knights seemingly held all the cards.
The 2022 Robbinsville varsity cross country team. Names are listed from left in both rows. Front: Skyler Oliver, Kamree Oliver, Jennifer Guzman, Liberty Hartley, Abby Wehr and Elizabeth Boyle. Back: Ethan Webster, Skyler Anderson, Bruce Helms, Xander Wachacha, William Cable, Zeb Stewart, Albert Avella and Braxton Hicks. Not pictured is head coach Kaitlyn Carringer-Adams. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

The 2022 Robbinsville varsity cross country team. Names are listed from left in both rows. Front: Skyler Oliver, Kamree Oliver, Jennifer Guzman, Liberty Hartley, Abby Wehr and Elizabeth Boyle. Back: Ethan Webster, Skyler Anderson, Bruce Helms, Xander Wachacha, William Cable, Zeb Stewart, Albert Avella and Braxton Hicks. Not pictured is head coach Kaitlyn Carringer-Adams. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Strength in numbers

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, September 1, 2022
* Robbinsville cross country season preview Robbinsville – Since the beginning of the pandemic, it has been a challenge to spark interest in varsity cross country.
With Haden Key (66) holding off a Brevard defender – and both Cuttler Adams (4) and Brock Adams (2) breaking upfield, quarterback Donovan Carpenter aims a pass as part of Friday’s home opener against the Blue Devils. Robbinsville picked up its first win of the season in the rematch from last year’s loss. Photos courtesy of Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

With Haden Key (66) holding off a Brevard defender – and both Cuttler Adams (4) and Brock Adams (2) breaking upfield, quarterback Donovan Carpenter aims a pass as part of Friday’s home opener against the Blue Devils. Robbinsville picked up its first win of the season in the rematch from last year’s loss. Photos courtesy of Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Loss: avenged

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, September 1, 2022
  Robbinsville – Before the Blue Devils had a chance to gather their bearings, Cuttler Adams trampled downfield for a 78-yard touchdown. Before the first quarter was over, Adams had 129 rushing yards alone on scoring runs.

Dominance

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, August 25, 2022
Candler – A mere 66 yards offensive yards surrendered. Robbinsville (1-0) made a resounding statement in its first junior-varsity contest of the year, played Aug. 18 at a neutral site – Enka High School. The opposition? The Mitchell Mountaineers.