Sports

Robbinsville’s Alexis Panama maintains top control over Swain County’s Owen Craig during May 13’s match with the Maroon Devils. Photos by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville’s Alexis Panama maintains top control over Swain County’s Owen Craig during May 13’s match with the Maroon Devils. Photos by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Exorcising the demons

Kevin Hensley
Friday, May 21, 2021
Robbinsville – The two toughest programs in the Smoky Mountain Conference met head-to-head May 13. And at the end of the match, it was clear who was the top dog. Robbinsville (10-3) more than took care of business against the Swain County Maroon Devils, handing the visitors a 63-10 loss.
Robbinsville’s Cole Patterson crouches in preparation of thwarting Andrews’ A.J. Weaver on a stolen base attempt during May 11’s road game against the Wildcats. Photos by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Robbinsville’s Cole Patterson crouches in preparation of thwarting Andrews’ A.J. Weaver on a stolen base attempt during May 11’s road game against the Wildcats. Photos by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Knights stung by Jackets

Kevin Hensley
Friday, May 21, 2021
Robbinsville – Despite 12 strikeouts, Hayesville prevailed. The Black Knights (3-4, 3-4) were shutout in their first pairing against the Smoky Mountain Conference-leading Yellow Jackets (6-0, 6-0) on Tuesday, mustering just five hits in a 3-0 loss.
Simon Cody remained in the zone after scoring his first career pin May 4 in Andrews. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Simon Cody remained in the zone after scoring his first career pin May 4 in Andrews. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Mat attack

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, May 13, 2021
Rosman – Robbinsville wrestling is widely known for its motto: “Representing The ‘Ville.” And no matter what segment of North Carolina the Black Knights travel to, they live up to the credo.
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.