Andrews

Senior Caleb Draper (1) slides past Hiwassee Dam’s Kyle Taylor during Monday’s road game. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Senior Caleb Draper (1) slides past Hiwassee Dam’s Kyle Taylor during Monday’s road game. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Target: acquired

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, February 2, 2023
Showing complete disregard for the defense of Hiwassee Dam’s Leo Dickson, Robbinsville’s Brock Adams stretches for a second-half push into the net Monday.
Exhausted, Koleson Dooley (220) rises to a knee after securing a 3-2, sudden-death overtime win over Swain County’s Blake Sain on Jan. 19. Dooley went to overtime with Sain during the James Orr Invitational on Jan. 14 and went to ultimate-tiebreaker in Saturday’s conference Tournament. Dooley triumphed on all three occasions. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Exhausted, Koleson Dooley (220) rises to a knee after securing a 3-2, sudden-death overtime win over Swain County’s Blake Sain on Jan. 19. Dooley went to overtime with Sain during the James Orr Invitational on Jan. 14 and went to ultimate-tiebreaker in Saturday’s conference Tournament. Dooley triumphed on all three occasions. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Conference conquered

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, January 26, 2023
Robbinsville – When a program has won 25 Smoky Mountain Conference titles in just 46 years of existence, the term “powerhouse” is certainly applicable. But this year was supposed to be different, critics said. Of the six state champions Robbinsville Wrestling produced last year, just two returned.
Lady Knights senior Kensley Phillips pulls away from the defensive pursuit of Andrews’ Gracelyn Worley (22) and Demi Davis (15) on Tuesday. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Lady Knights senior Kensley Phillips pulls away from the defensive pursuit of Andrews’ Gracelyn Worley (22) and Demi Davis (15) on Tuesday. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Knights back in the win column

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, December 22, 2022
Robbinsville – Fresh off losing their first conference opener since a 66-60 loss at Hayesville on Dec. 20, 2019, the Lady Knights could have felt dejected as they headed into Friday’s showdown with Murphy (1-7, 1-2). Instead, Robbinsville showed up and showed out.
Despite the best efforts of Wildcat Cameron Rattler, Robbinsville junior shooting guard Donovan Carpenter soars toward the net during Tuesday’s win over Andrews. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Despite the best efforts of Wildcat Cameron Rattler, Robbinsville junior shooting guard Donovan Carpenter soars toward the net during Tuesday’s win over Andrews. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Who’s next?

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, December 22, 2022
Andrews – At this point, one has to wonder: just who can stop Robbinsville’s pursuit of history? Following a 52-43 triumph Tuesday at Andrews, the Black Knights are off to their best start ever: 7-0.
Zirriyah Wachacha drives to the basket Dec. 5 against Cherokee. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Zirriyah Wachacha drives to the basket Dec. 5 against Cherokee. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Knights again tame Cats

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, December 22, 2022
Andrews – In its only action of the week, Robbinsville Middle School once again swept its Cherokee-County neighbors. A quick Dec. 8 zip to Andrews netted the middle-school girls a 34-26 win over the Wildcats, with the middle-school boys picking up a 33-30 triumph.
Surrounded by a flock of Eagles, Xamuel Wachacha soars toward the basket during the Nov. 3 season opener against Hiwassee Dam/Ranger. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Surrounded by a flock of Eagles, Xamuel Wachacha soars toward the basket during the Nov. 3 season opener against Hiwassee Dam/Ranger. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Not 1 or 2, but 3x the excitement

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, November 17, 2022
Robbinsville – It took three extra periods, but the Knights got the job done. The Robbinsville Middle School boys carved out their second win of the season in exhausting fashion, using an 9-0 shutout in a third overtime session to best Andrews 49-40 on Nov. 10.
Senior lineman Carlos Lopez (54) attempts to bring down Andrews quarterback Donovan Carpenter during Robbinsville’s foray against the Wildcats on Friday. Photo courtesy of Haley Coffey

Senior lineman Carlos Lopez (54) attempts to bring down Andrews quarterback Donovan Carpenter during Robbinsville’s foray against the Wildcats on Friday. Photo courtesy of Haley Coffey

Black Knights eliminated from conference-title picture

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, October 27, 2022
Andrews – For the first time since 2018, there will be a new champion in the Smoky Mountain Conference. Robbinsville made the short pilgrimage to Andrews for a highly-anticipated showdown Friday.
Sophomore quarterback Bryce Adams (6) finds some open room to advance during Friday’s loss to Murphy. Photo by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Sophomore quarterback Bryce Adams (6) finds some open room to advance during Friday’s loss to Murphy. Photo by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Spoil sports

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, October 20, 2022
Robbinsville – What began as a highly-anticipated clash turned into a lopsided victory – for the visitors.
The Robbinsville Lady Knights surprised senior Kensley Phillips with gifts immediately after Oct. 6’s home match against Andrews, to help celebrate Phillips surpassing the 1,000-dig threshold. Surrounding Phillips are (back row, from left): Claire Barlow, Liz Carpenter, Aubrie Wachacha and team manager Eden Orr; (front row, from left): Fala Welch, Tai Owle and Olivia Lewis; kneeling in front, Delaney Brooms (left) and Suri Watty.

The Robbinsville Lady Knights surprised senior Kensley Phillips with gifts immediately after Oct. 6’s home match against Andrews, to help celebrate Phillips surpassing the 1,000-dig threshold. Surrounding Phillips are (back row, from left): Claire Barlow, Liz Carpenter, Aubrie Wachacha and team manager Eden Orr; (front row, from left): Fala Welch, Tai Owle and Olivia Lewis; kneeling in front, Delaney Brooms (left) and Suri Watty.

Can you dig it?

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, October 13, 2022
Robbinsville – Just two days after her older sister hit a coaching milestone, Kensley Phillips found her own way into the annals of Lady Knights volleyball history. Kadey Phillips recorded her 100th career win as head coach of the Lady Knights at Swain County on Sept. 27. Skip ahead to Sept.
Members of the JV Black Knights – Tillman Adams (12), Kasen Buchanan, Isiac Collins, John Dominguez-Romero (74), Matthew Phillips (7) and Kellen Ensley (52) – were all smiles while jogging off the field after Collins connected on a rare JV point-after during Robbinsville’s 59-6 romping of Andrews on Sept. 22. Photo by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Members of the JV Black Knights – Tillman Adams (12), Kasen Buchanan, Isiac Collins, John Dominguez-Romero (74), Matthew Phillips (7) and Kellen Ensley (52) – were all smiles while jogging off the field after Collins connected on a rare JV point-after during Robbinsville’s 59-6 romping of Andrews on Sept. 22. Photo by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Complete tune-up

Kevin Hensley
Friday, September 30, 2022
Robbinsville – Just six days prior to challenging for a piece of the pie, the junior varsity Black Knights put on a showcase.