Sports

Robbinsville quarterback Nathan Collins prepares to take the snap during the first half of Saturday's 1A state championship football game in Durham. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville quarterback Nathan Collins prepares to take the snap during the first half of Saturday's 1A state championship football game in Durham. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Black Knights win second 1A title of decade

Kevin Hensley
Saturday, December 14, 2019
Durham – Behind the strength of five Rylee Anderson touchdowns, a Cody Cline field goal and a rushing score from Lex Hooper, Robbinsville is back atop the 1A state mountaintop.
Robbinsville’s Kyle Fink (right) jockeys for position with Fannin County, Ga.’s Levi Patton during Monday’s home match against the Rebels. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville’s Kyle Fink (right) jockeys for position with Fannin County, Ga.’s Levi Patton during Monday’s home match against the Rebels. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Knights sweep tri-match

Kevin Hensley
Friday, December 13, 2019
Robbinsville – The Knights just wrapped up a stretch of three grueling encounters in a span of five days. After sweeping a tri-match at Mitchell on Dec. 5, the Black Knights traveled to the NEO Invitational at Tuscola on Saturday and capped the run with a home match against Fannin County, Ga.
Lady Knights senior Gracye Burchfield (seated, center) signed with Pfeiffer University on Dec. 4. Seated with Burchfield are Larry Icenhower (left) and Gary Icenhower. Standing in back (from left) are Brent Icenhower, Barbara Icenhower, Hannah Lewis and Jordan Lewis. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Lady Knights senior Gracye Burchfield (seated, center) signed with Pfeiffer University on Dec. 4. Seated with Burchfield are Larry Icenhower (left) and Gary Icenhower. Standing in back (from left) are Brent Icenhower, Barbara Icenhower, Hannah Lewis and Jordan Lewis. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Burchfield signs with Pfeiffer Lady Falcons

Kevin Hensley
Friday, December 13, 2019
Robbinsville – Gracye Burchfield has made her collegiate softball plans. The Lady Knights senior inked a letter of intent to join the Pfeiffer University Lady Falcons on Dec. 4. Burchfield is a three-year starter for Robbinsville. “It feels pretty good.

And then there was one ...

Kevin Hensley
Friday, December 13, 2019
Robbinsville – The Black Knights’ win over the Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy Gryphons on Friday ensured that a Smoky Mountain Conference team will appear in every 1A state championship football game of the decade. Robbinsville will now be the Western representative in three of the 10.
Members of the Robbinsville Black Knights crowd around the 1A Western Regional Championship trophy moments after defeating the Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy Gryphons 28-14 on Friday night. Photo by Byron Housley/The Graham Star

Members of the Robbinsville Black Knights crowd around the 1A Western Regional Championship trophy moments after defeating the Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy Gryphons 28-14 on Friday night. Photo by Byron Housley/The Graham Star

Kings of the West

Kevin Hensley
Friday, December 13, 2019
Robbinsville – In the final home game of the year, the Black Knights showed why they are 14-0. Robbinsville welcomed the Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy Gryphons on Friday night, to determine the 1A Western Regional champion.
Robbinsville High School principal David Matheson (right) presents Black Knight players (from left) Carlos Wesley, Grady Garland, Kamron McGuire, Clayson Lane and Rylee Anderson with the 1A Western Regional Championship trophy, moments after a 28-14 win over Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy on Friday night. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville High School principal David Matheson (right) presents Black Knight players (from left) Carlos Wesley, Grady Garland, Kamron McGuire, Clayson Lane and Rylee Anderson with the 1A Western Regional Championship trophy, moments after a 28-14 win over Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy on Friday night. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Knights reach 1A state title game

Kevin Hensley
Friday, December 6, 2019
Robbinsville – For the first time since 2015, Robbinsville is heading to the state finals. The Black Knights (14-0) defeated the visiting Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy Gryphons (12-2) to win the 1A Western Regional Championship Friday night, 28-14.

Knights split with Jackets

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, December 5, 2019
  Robbinsville – In the lone middle school hoops action of the week, Robbinsville hosted Hayesville on Nov. 25. The Lady Knights improved to 3-1 by picking up a 46-36 victory, while the Knights (3-1) suffered their first loss of the season at the hands of a 54-32 Jackets triumph.
Robbinsville’s Jacob Hall muscles his T.C. Roberson opponent down to the mat during Nov. 26’s 152-pound bout. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville’s Jacob Hall muscles his T.C. Roberson opponent down to the mat during Nov. 26’s 152-pound bout. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Knights enter new year with same philosophy

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, December 5, 2019
Robbinsville – You can look at the 2019-20 Robbinsville wrestling season from many angles. Just don’t think the outcome is going to be any different.
Robbinsville quarterback Nathan Collins (5) looks to outpace the defense of Murphy’s Ray Rathburn during Friday’s third-round playoff game. Collins had two rushing touchdowns in the Knights’ 24-13 win over the Bulldogs. Photos by Byron Housley/The Graham Star

Robbinsville quarterback Nathan Collins (5) looks to outpace the defense of Murphy’s Ray Rathburn during Friday’s third-round playoff game. Collins had two rushing touchdowns in the Knights’ 24-13 win over the Bulldogs. Photos by Byron Housley/The Graham Star

Black Friday

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, December 5, 2019
Robbinsville – Long after most everyone was finished with their holiday shopping, Robbinsville took advantage of a home-field discount. The Black Knights (13-0) welcomed the Bulldogs (10-3) for the third round of the N.C.