Sports

Carlos Wesley (56) and Candler Edwards (50) make sure that Lex Hooper has room to run during an April 2 game in Andrews. The trio were three of 15 Robbinsville players recently named All-Smoky Mountain Conference. Photo by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

Carlos Wesley (56) and Candler Edwards (50) make sure that Lex Hooper has room to run during an April 2 game in Andrews. The trio were three of 15 Robbinsville players recently named All-Smoky Mountain Conference. Photo by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

15 Knights named All-Conference

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, May 13, 2021
With the 2020-21 high school football season in the rearview mirror, the Smoky Mountain Conference has officially released its All-Conference list. Littered across the lineup of accolades are 17 athletes from the Robbinsville Black Knights, all who made an impact across the shortened slate.

Middle school baseball underway

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, May 13, 2021
Robbinsville – The middle school Knights baseball program has already squeezed in seven games in this short season. The Black Knights (1-6) downed Cherokee 14-2 in an April 22 road affair, but dropped home games to Swain County (20-8, April 19) and Rosman (14-2, April 27).
Senior catcher Maggie Knight tags out South Stokes’ Madison Wilson during the May 5 first-round playoff game against the Sauras. Robbinsville fell 3-0, to be eliminated from the postseason. Photo by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

Senior catcher Maggie Knight tags out South Stokes’ Madison Wilson during the May 5 first-round playoff game against the Sauras. Robbinsville fell 3-0, to be eliminated from the postseason. Photo by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

Lady Knights fall in first round of playoffs

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, May 13, 2021
Robbinsville – Things certainly did not go to plan. After compiling a 13-win season, winning the Smoky Mountain Conference for the fourth straight season and clinching a No. 2 seed in the 1A postseason bracket, the Lady Knights held all the cards.
Robbinsville’s Kade Garrison (left) and Rossi Wachacha combined to throw a no-hitter at Andrews on Tuesday. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville’s Kade Garrison (left) and Rossi Wachacha combined to throw a no-hitter at Andrews on Tuesday. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Doing things the Black Knight Way

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, May 13, 2021
Andrews – The Black Knights (2-3, 2-3) pushed Rosman (3-2, 3-2) into extra innings during Robbinsville’s home opener Friday, before freshman Greyler Orr connected on an opposite-field single in the bottom of the eighth that allowed Ethan Beavers to sprint home and give the Knights a 4-3, walk-off...
Robbinsville’s Jeb Shuler connects for a leadoff homer Saturday at Murphy. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville’s Jeb Shuler connects for a leadoff homer Saturday at Murphy. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Knights drop first two games

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, May 6, 2021
Murphy – For a moment, Robbinsville was in the driver’s seat. Starting pitcher Jeb Shuler led off the Knights’ road game Saturday against Murphy with a solo homer over the left-field fence, giving Robbinsville a boost of momentum before the defense even took the field.
Aynsley Fink begins her slide into second base during the April 29 regular-season finale against Hayesville. Photo by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

Aynsley Fink begins her slide into second base during the April 29 regular-season finale against Hayesville. Photo by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

Everything’s coming up Robbinsville

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, May 6, 2021
Robbinsville – Five consecutive shutouts. Sixty-nine unanswered runs. Nineteen team home runs. Those statistics read as video-game numbers, ones you can attain if you turn on every secret code available. Only, the numbers are all too real.
Members of the Robbinsville football program share the final post-game prayer of the 2020-21 season moments after falling 24-14 to Murphy in the Western Regional championship game. The loss ended the Black Knights’ defense of the state 1A championship. Photos by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

Members of the Robbinsville football program share the final post-game prayer of the 2020-21 season moments after falling 24-14 to Murphy in the Western Regional championship game. The loss ended the Black Knights’ defense of the state 1A championship. Photos by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

All good things must come to an end

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, May 6, 2021
Robbinsville – It was the wrong time to have a bad game.
Robbinsville's Sydney Farley, Maggie Knight and Gabby Hooper (from left) celebrate Senior Night on April 29. Photo by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville's Sydney Farley, Maggie Knight and Gabby Hooper (from left) celebrate Senior Night on April 29. Photo by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

Lady Knights begin postseason trek

Kevin Hensley
Tuesday, May 4, 2021
Robbinsville – The Lady Knights' postseason journey was derailed Wednesday night, as Robbinsville fell to the visiting South Stokes Sauras (No. 15 seed, 10-4) in the first round of the 1A state playoffs, 3-0. The Lady Knights (No.
Taelyr Jackson prepares for a connection during Friday’s home game against Andrews. Jackson’s cut would result in an RBI for the Lady Knights. Photo by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Taelyr Jackson prepares for a connection during Friday’s home game against Andrews. Jackson’s cut would result in an RBI for the Lady Knights. Photo by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Green, green grass of home

Kevin Hensley
Friday, April 30, 2021
Robbinsville – Everything is clicking at the right time. As the Robbinsville Lady Knights (11-1, 11-1) look ahead at the final two games of the regular season – Rosman after press time Wednesday and Hayesville on Friday, both at home – the team is firing on all cylinders.
Jeb Shuler prepares to fire a pitch at Hiwassee Dam on March 9, 2020. The senior hurler looks to be the ace of Robbinsville’s pitching staff this season.

Jeb Shuler prepares to fire a pitch at Hiwassee Dam on March 9, 2020. The senior hurler looks to be the ace of Robbinsville’s pitching staff this season.

Batter up

Kevin Hensley
Friday, April 30, 2021
* Robbinsville baseball season preview Out of all the sports affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Black Knights’ baseball team may be the one left with the biggest argument of “What if?” Robbinsville sat at 3-1 when the virus canceled the remainder of the 2020 season.