Sports

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.
Rossi Wachacha’s blocked extra point in the second quarter prevented Mitchell from tying Friday’s game. Robbinsville went on to defeat the Mountaineers and advance to the 1A Western Regional Final with a 28-20 victory. Photo by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Rossi Wachacha’s blocked extra point in the second quarter prevented Mitchell from tying Friday’s game. Robbinsville went on to defeat the Mountaineers and advance to the 1A Western Regional Final with a 28-20 victory. Photo by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Fas10 your seatbelts

Kevin Hensley
Friday, April 30, 2021
Robbinsville – Nine of the last 10 Western Regional championships in the state 1A classification have been split between Robbinsville and Murphy. This Friday night, that statistic will increase to 10 of 11.
Robbinsville freshman Memory Frapp prepares to fire a pitch during April 13’s home game against Murphy. Frapp tossed a no-hitter at Rosman on Tuesday. Photo by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Robbinsville freshman Memory Frapp prepares to fire a pitch during April 13’s home game against Murphy. Frapp tossed a no-hitter at Rosman on Tuesday. Photo by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

A Memory she’ll never forget

Kevin Hensley
Friday, April 23, 2021
Rosman – Memory Frapp has certainly been making a name for herself in the Smoky Mountain Conference this season.  But the seventh win of her varsity career might be the most resounding so far.
Senior running back Lex Hooper (20) pumps up his teammates during Friday’s first-round playoff matchup against Winston-Salem Preparatory Academy. Robbinsville would edge the Phoenix 42-40 for a wild double-overtime victory. Photos by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Senior running back Lex Hooper (20) pumps up his teammates during Friday’s first-round playoff matchup against Winston-Salem Preparatory Academy. Robbinsville would edge the Phoenix 42-40 for a wild double-overtime victory. Photos by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Like a Phoenix, we will rise

Kevin Hensley
Friday, April 23, 2021
Robbinsville – Plenty of adjectives exist, but “resilient” should be on the tip of your tongue. It took two free quarters of football and an immeasurable amount of tenacity, but the No. 2-seeded Robbinsville Black Knights (8-0) outlasted the No.
Alexis Panama (24) evades a Swain defender during a carry in April 1’s game. Panama was named the Robbinsville Black Knights junior varsity MVP after April 8’s road finale at Rosman, which saw Robbinsville clinch a share of the Smoky Mountain Conference title. Photo by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Alexis Panama (24) evades a Swain defender during a carry in April 1’s game. Panama was named the Robbinsville Black Knights junior varsity MVP after April 8’s road finale at Rosman, which saw Robbinsville clinch a share of the Smoky Mountain Conference title. Photo by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

The future is bright

Kevin Hensley
Wednesday, April 14, 2021
Rosman – For the first time since 2013, Robbinsville sits atop the Smoky Mountain Conference junior varsity football standings. The Black Knights (5-1) finished the year by disposing of the Rosman Tigers in a 54-0 road triumph on April 8, securing a share of the division crown with Murphy.
With her teammates celebrating in the dugout, Ivy Odom turns the third-base bag after hitting a 2-run homer during Tuesday’s 11-6 victory over Murphy. The win put Robbinsville in a first-place tie atop the Smoky Mountain Conference standings. Photo by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

With her teammates celebrating in the dugout, Ivy Odom turns the third-base bag after hitting a 2-run homer during Tuesday’s 11-6 victory over Murphy. The win put Robbinsville in a first-place tie atop the Smoky Mountain Conference standings. Photo by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Things are all knotted up

Kevin Hensley
Wednesday, April 14, 2021
Robbinsville – Anyone who expected another slugfest between Robbinsville and Murphy on Tuesday were left disappointed.  That is, unless you’re a Lady Knights fan.
Black Knights head coach Dee Walsh (right) greets his team to celebrate clinching the Smoky Mountain Conference championship after defeating Murphy 17-7 on Friday. Photos by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Black Knights head coach Dee Walsh (right) greets his team to celebrate clinching the Smoky Mountain Conference championship after defeating Murphy 17-7 on Friday. Photos by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Knights of the round table

Kevin Hensley
Wednesday, April 14, 2021
Robbinsville – How appropriate that the Smoky Mountain Conference title game once again came down to Robbinsville and Murphy. Obviously no strangers to each other, the Black Knights (7-0, 6-0) and the Bulldogs (6-1, 5-1) met in the divisional title game in 2019, which Robbinsville won 17-14.

Against all odds

Kevin Hensley
Friday, April 9, 2021
Bryson City – Seven hours before kickoff, the junior varsity Black Knights found out their home finale had been switched to Swain County – a move necessitated by poor field conditions, spurned by heavy rainfall. And at halftime, Robbinsville had not scored.