Sports

The Snowbird Mite Boys captured the 2021-22 Smokey Mountain Youth Conference tournament championship Feb. 5, after defeating Robbinsville in the title game. All names are listed from left. Front row: Whyatt Lewis, Hayden Lewis, Elijah Kirkland, Keni Wolf, Xamuel Wachacha, Elijah Lambert, Jayce Turner, Colby Kirkland, Avery Brown and Landon Eddings. Back row: coaches Cody Teesateskie, Adam Wachacha and Zane Wachacha.

The Snowbird Mite Boys captured the 2021-22 Smokey Mountain Youth Conference tournament championship Feb. 5, after defeating Robbinsville in the title game. All names are listed from left. Front row: Whyatt Lewis, Hayden Lewis, Elijah Kirkland, Keni Wolf, Xamuel Wachacha, Elijah Lambert, Jayce Turner, Colby Kirkland, Avery Brown and Landon Eddings. Back row: coaches Cody Teesateskie, Adam Wachacha and Zane Wachacha.

Ultimate Warriors

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, February 17, 2022
Hiwassee Dam – It was a hotly contested nail-biter between two Graham County programs. And in the end, Snowbird prevailed. The Mite Warriors capped off a 9-1 campaign by defeating the Robbinsville Black Knights 35-31 on Feb. 5 in the finals of the Smokey Mountain Youth Conference tournament.
Members of the Robbinsville High School wrestling program gather with the 1A Western Regional Individual Runner-Up plaque, at the conclusion of the two-day tournament at Alleghany. Photos by Susan Crowe/Contributing Photographer

Members of the Robbinsville High School wrestling program gather with the 1A Western Regional Individual Runner-Up plaque, at the conclusion of the two-day tournament at Alleghany. Photos by Susan Crowe/Contributing Photographer

More action, more titles

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, February 17, 2022
Sparta – It won’t be long before Robbinsville will have to construct an addition to its wrestling facility … just for an awards room.
After being denied in the outdoor track finals last spring, Robbinsville Lady Knights sophomore Zoie Shuler finally stood atop the podium Friday, following her 1A/2A long jump state championship victory in Winston-Salem. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

After being denied in the outdoor track finals last spring, Robbinsville Lady Knights sophomore Zoie Shuler finally stood atop the podium Friday, following her 1A/2A long jump state championship victory in Winston-Salem. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

As easy as 1, 2, 3

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, February 17, 2022
Winston-Salem – Zoie Shuler leapt into the record books Friday.
Xander Wachacha takes center stage during Feb. 3's home victory over Cherokee. Photo by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Xander Wachacha takes center stage during Feb. 3's home victory over Cherokee. Photo by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Variable outcome

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, February 10, 2022
Andrews – After allowing a scant 19 points in the first half, Robbinsville’s offense could not get into a tempo in the second half. Meanwhile, Andrews had no problem finding the basket after its return from the locker room. The end result?

Finishing strong

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, February 10, 2022
Robbinsville – The second time around, the Lady Knights made sure to definitively put the game out-of-reach early.
Robbinsville senior Jayden Nowell hooks the left arm of Swain County’s Owen Craig during the 132-pound bout of the Feb. 2 third round, dual-team championship match in Bryson City. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville senior Jayden Nowell hooks the left arm of Swain County’s Owen Craig during the 132-pound bout of the Feb. 2 third round, dual-team championship match in Bryson City. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Black Knights fall in Western Regional finals

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, February 10, 2022
Bryson City – It was not the way things had hoped to go. Robbinsville (No. 1 seed, 22-2) knocked off Smoky Mountain Conference foe Swain County (No. 5, 18-4) in the third round of the N.C. High School Athletic Association’s Dual-Team Championship Tournament on Feb.
Robbinsville’s indoor track team bundled up and showed off at the Feb. 2 Smoky Mountain Conference championship meet in Cherokee. Kneeling in front (from left): Montana Buchanan, Haize Moore and Caylin Lunsford. Standing (from left): Caden Lail, Roman Jones, Kensley Phillips, Zoie Shuler, Delaney Brooms, William Cable and Zeb Stewart. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville’s indoor track team bundled up and showed off at the Feb. 2 Smoky Mountain Conference championship meet in Cherokee. Kneeling in front (from left): Montana Buchanan, Haize Moore and Caylin Lunsford. Standing (from left): Caden Lail, Roman Jones, Kensley Phillips, Zoie Shuler, Delaney Brooms, William Cable and Zeb Stewart. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

By the numbers

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, February 10, 2022
Cherokee – Numbers might have dwindled, but Robbinsville is still sending a fearsome foursome to the state indoor track meet Friday. Coming off an impressive showing at the Smoky Mountain Conference championship meet Feb.
Lady Knights senior Aynsley Fink didn’t even break a sweat Saturday, as she captured her second straight N.C. High School Athletic Association Women’s Invitational State Championship in Greensboro. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Lady Knights senior Aynsley Fink didn’t even break a sweat Saturday, as she captured her second straight N.C. High School Athletic Association Women’s Invitational State Championship in Greensboro. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

History repeats itself

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, February 10, 2022
Greensboro – Label her as you wish: role model, trendsetter or even unstoppable. Just don't peg her as ungrateful.
Robbinsville’s Murphy Shanahan wrangles his opponent to the mat during Monday’s first-round postseason dual against Langtree Charter Academy. Photo by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Robbinsville’s Murphy Shanahan wrangles his opponent to the mat during Monday’s first-round postseason dual against Langtree Charter Academy. Photo by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Bet on Black

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, February 3, 2022
Robbinsville – In swift fashion, the Black Knights proved why they are the No. 1-ranked team in class 1A. Robbinsville (21-1) hosted the first and second rounds of the state dual-team championship Monday, with the Knights taking on Langtree Charter Academy (No. 29 seed) and Rosman (No.
Robbinsville’s Kensley Phillips tries to slow down the progress of Murphy’s Torin Rogers on Tuesday. Photo by Justin Fitzgerald/Cherokee Scout

Robbinsville’s Kensley Phillips tries to slow down the progress of Murphy’s Torin Rogers on Tuesday. Photo by Justin Fitzgerald/Cherokee Scout

Near miss

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, February 3, 2022
Robbinsville – The Lady Knights had the Bulldogs on the ropes Tuesday night. Unfortunately, some late heroics for the visitors proved costly.