Sports

Dream on

Kevin Hensley
Wednesday, February 23, 2022
Hiwassee Dam – Robbinsville’s magical season will continue. A back-and-forth outing in the first round of the state playoffs Tuesday at Hiwassee Dam tilted in favor of the Black Knights late, with Robbinsville knocking off the No. 8-seeded Eagles, 61-53.
Robbinsville wrestling head coach Todd Odom (right) shares a laugh with assistant Colby White at Saturday’s state individual tournament. After 21 years as a coach, Odom announced his retirement from the sport Sunday. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville wrestling head coach Todd Odom (right) shares a laugh with assistant Colby White at Saturday’s state individual tournament. After 21 years as a coach, Odom announced his retirement from the sport Sunday. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

'I just know'

Kevin Hensley
Wednesday, February 23, 2022
Robbinsville – “How did you know when it was time for you to retire from coaching? Coach Bob Colvin and coach Bruce Snyder both answered with exactly the same reply: ‘You just know.’  “So why retire or why retire now? I just know.
Kyle Fink, 182-pound state champion. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Kyle Fink, 182-pound state champion. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

4 Horsemen

Kevin Hensley
Wednesday, February 23, 2022
Greensboro – Soon enough, there will be four more championship canvasses hanging inside the Robbinsville wrestling building. The Black Knights trekked to the Greensboro Coliseum on Friday and Saturday, and did what “The ‘Ville” is best known for: bringing home some hardware.
Robbinsville sophomore Donovan Carpenter drives to the paint during Feb. 12's Smoky Mountain Conference Tournament quarterfinal against Cherokee. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville sophomore Donovan Carpenter drives to the paint during Feb. 12's Smoky Mountain Conference Tournament quarterfinal against Cherokee. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Black Knights continue magical run through playoffs

Kevin Hensley
Sunday, February 20, 2022
Concord — Content with the role they were assigned, the Robbinsville Black Knights fought tooth and nail to remain the postseason picture Thursday. Sadly, a strong fourth quarter from Carolina International (No. 9 seed, 19-9) doused Robbinsville’s (No.
Robbinsville senior Yeika Jimenez guards Murphy's Addie Johnson during Friday's Smoky Mountain Conference Tournament finals at Swain County High School. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville senior Yeika Jimenez guards Murphy's Addie Johnson during Friday's Smoky Mountain Conference Tournament finals at Swain County High School. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Lady Knights continue quest for state championship

Kevin Hensley
Sunday, February 20, 2022
Spencer — The Robbinsville Lady Knights saw their 2021-22 season come to an end Thursday night, as they watched a halftime lead over North Rowan slip away in a 78-64 loss. Both Desta Trammell and Yeika Jimenez put up a team-high 18 points for Robbinsville (No. 13 seed).
Several members of the Robbinsville wrestling program gather in the Greensboro Coliseum concourse Saturday night, posing with the 1A Invitational Tournament Team Runner-Up plaque. Photo courtesy of Susan Crowe/Contributing Photographer

Several members of the Robbinsville wrestling program gather in the Greensboro Coliseum concourse Saturday night, posing with the 1A Invitational Tournament Team Runner-Up plaque. Photo courtesy of Susan Crowe/Contributing Photographer

Four Black Knights capture state titles

Kevin Hensley
Saturday, February 19, 2022
Greensboro – At the culmination of the two-day, N.C. High School Athletic Association Individual Wrestling Tournament, four Graham County grapplers departed with state gold.
Robbinsville senior Halee Anderson (5) keeps tabs on Murphy's Addie Johnson during tonight's Smoky Mountain Conference Tournament finale at Swain County High School. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville senior Halee Anderson (5) keeps tabs on Murphy's Addie Johnson during tonight's Smoky Mountain Conference Tournament finale at Swain County High School. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Lady Knights fall in tournament finale

Kevin Hensley
Friday, February 18, 2022
Bryson City – A low shooting percentage and key turnovers proved costly for the Lady Knights on Friday, as they dropped the Smoky Mountain Conference Tournament finals to Murphy, 56-49.
Robbinsville’s Bo Rattler (left) and Dasan Gross guard Cherokee’s Tso Smith during Saturday’s Smoky Mountain Conference Tournament quarterfinal game against the Braves. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville’s Bo Rattler (left) and Dasan Gross guard Cherokee’s Tso Smith during Saturday’s Smoky Mountain Conference Tournament quarterfinal game against the Braves. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Knights ousted in tourney semis

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, February 17, 2022
Bryson City – Heading into Tuesday’s Smoky Mountain Conference tournament semifinal, Robbinsville was seemingly well on its way to making a magical run to the championship game. And for three quarters of the showdown against the hosting Swain County Maroon Devils (No.
It was another history-making night Tuesday for Robbinsville junior Desta Trammell, who shattered the state consecutive free-throw record during the semifinals of the Smoky Mountain Conference tournament against Cherokee.

It was another history-making night Tuesday for Robbinsville junior Desta Trammell, who shattered the state consecutive free-throw record during the semifinals of the Smoky Mountain Conference tournament against Cherokee.

Rewriting history

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, February 17, 2022
Bryson City – This is your reminder that Desta Trammell still has a full year of varsity basketball ahead. Robbinsville’s junior point guard surpassed the 1,000-point mark Jan.
Members of Robbinsville’s youth program take a moment with coaches and parents to relish their state championship victories on Feb. 5 in Advance. Shown are wrestlers (front row, from left) Bracey Wilson, Loxston Hooper, Lawton Gibby, Adair Panama and Lleyton Hooper; Benton Gibby, Braydon Lane, Andrew Adams, Kyler Branham and Mason Phillips (second row, from left).

Members of Robbinsville’s youth program take a moment with coaches and parents to relish their state championship victories on Feb. 5 in Advance. Shown are wrestlers (front row, from left) Bracey Wilson, Loxston Hooper, Lawton Gibby, Adair Panama and Lleyton Hooper; Benton Gibby, Braydon Lane, Andrew Adams, Kyler Branham and Mason Phillips (second row, from left).

Upcoming Knights win title

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, February 17, 2022
Advance – The 40th annual N.C. Junior High State Championship belongs to Robbinsville. Chocked full of potential – which still has time to develop – seventh-, eighth- and ninth-grade Black Knights traveled to the Rise Indoor Sports Complex on Feb.