Sports

Robbinsville Termite Black Knight Braylon Phillips weaves through the Copper Basin, Tenn., defense during a Sept. 28, 2019 showdown. The Smokey Mountain Youth Conference announced the cancelation of the 2020 football and cheerleading seasons on June 16. Photo courtesy of Jenny Millsaps

Robbinsville Termite Black Knight Braylon Phillips weaves through the Copper Basin, Tenn., defense during a Sept. 28, 2019 showdown. The Smokey Mountain Youth Conference announced the cancelation of the 2020 football and cheerleading seasons on June 16. Photo courtesy of Jenny Millsaps

Youth football, cheer season cancelled

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, June 25, 2020
It is a move all involved were hoping to avoid. The 2020 Smokey Mountain Youth Conference football and cheerleading seasons were officially canceled on June 16.
Robbinsville senior Rylee Anderson breaks the plane for one of his five 1A state championship game touchdowns on Dec. 14. Photos by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville senior Rylee Anderson breaks the plane for one of his five 1A state championship game touchdowns on Dec. 14. Photos by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Black Knights win two more, for the road

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, June 18, 2020
Asheville – Much like everything else, the COVID-19 pandemic eliminated the possibility of holding the 59th Western North Carolina Sports Awards.
Judy Nichols Memorial Field – home of the Robbinsville High School Lady Knights – was set to host a team that very well could have contended for a state championship this season. New seating was installed behind home plate and improvements were made field-wide in preparation for the year, but the cancelation of the remainder of the school year is going to leave seniors school-wide wondering, “What if?" Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Judy Nichols Memorial Field – home of the Robbinsville High School Lady Knights – was set to host a team that very well could have contended for a state championship this season. New seating was installed behind home plate and improvements were made field-wide in preparation for the year, but the cancelation of the remainder of the school year is going to leave seniors school-wide wondering, “What if?" Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Spring sports season cancelled

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, April 30, 2020
Following the statewide closure of K-12 public schools for the remainder of the 2019-20 year Friday, the N.C. High School Athletic Association quickly made a difficult decision.

Big inning dooms Knights

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, March 19, 2020
Bryson City – Entering the fifth inning of the final Robbinsville sporting event for the foreseeable future, things were knotted at 0-0. The Black Knights broke the deadline in the top of the frame and seemed poised to take command as the game entered the bottom of the fifth.

Peaking at the right time

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, March 12, 2020
Fayetteville – Anywhere you look, the future of wrestling in Robbinsville is prosperous. The Peak Wrestling Club took five Graham County wrestlers to the NCWay State Championship Tournament, which was held at Fayetteville’s Crown Coliseum on Feb. 29.
With Gracye Burchfield (right) backing her up, Robbinsville's Gabby Hooper eyes a putout during Monday’s season-opening victory at Copper Basin.

With Gracye Burchfield (right) backing her up, Robbinsville's Gabby Hooper eyes a putout during Monday’s season-opening victory at Copper Basin.

Picking up where they left off

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, March 12, 2020
Copperhill, Tenn. – Talk about starting the year on the right foot. Robbinsville (1-0, 1-0) traveled across state lines Monday to begin its state-title quest at Copper Basin.

Seamless on the diamond

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, March 12, 2020
Copperhill, Tenn. – If the first week is any indication, Black Knight fans could be in for a fun season of Robbinsville baseball.