BlackKnights

Robbinsville head coach Brent Icenhower goes over strategy with the Black Knights in-between innings at May 1's home game against Murphy. Photo by Jacquline Gayosso/The Graham Star

Robbinsville head coach Brent Icenhower goes over strategy with the Black Knights in-between innings at May 1's home game against Murphy. Photo by Jacquline Gayosso/The Graham Star

Black Knights embark on first playoff run since 2011

Kevin Hensley
Tuesday, May 7, 2024
High Point -- The groundswell of popularity garnered by the Black Knights this year propelled Robbinsville into the postseason for the first time since 2011.
Senior Bryc Garrison leads off during Friday’s game with Hayesville. Garrison swiped two bases in the contest to become Robbinsville’s new record holder for most stolen bases in a single season. Photo by Jacquline Gayosso/The Graham Star

Senior Bryc Garrison leads off during Friday’s game with Hayesville. Garrison swiped two bases in the contest to become Robbinsville’s new record holder for most stolen bases in a single season. Photo by Jacquline Gayosso/The Graham Star

Show must go on

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, May 2, 2024
Robbinsville – Friday’s 7-2 loss to Hayesville effectively halted Robbinsville’s quest for its first-ever Smoky Mountain Conference championship. That’s the bad news.
The Black Knights had not won a round of golf against the Murphy Bulldogs since Robbinsville’s last conference title in 2000. That changed Monday, with the team slicing by Murphy in the second round of the annual divisional tournament. From left are Avery Brown, assistant coach Jody Brown, Trey Lambert, Isiac Collins, Isaiah Brown, Nathanael Shope, Cody Crisp, assistant coach Jeremy Brown and head coach Kent Williams. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

The Black Knights had not won a round of golf against the Murphy Bulldogs since Robbinsville’s last conference title in 2000. That changed Monday, with the team slicing by Murphy in the second round of the annual divisional tournament. From left are Avery Brown, assistant coach Jody Brown, Trey Lambert, Isiac Collins, Isaiah Brown, Nathanael Shope, Cody Crisp, assistant coach Jeremy Brown and head coach Kent Williams. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

‘Ever’ is a long time, but ...

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, May 2, 2024
Cashiers – From the edge of the green, Isaiah Brown chipped a birdie shot clean into Hole No. 9 at Old Edwards Club. It was all over for the rest of the field from there.
Benton Gibby lays it all on the line to snag a fly ball Tuesday against Hayesville. Gibby made the catch and Robbinsville went on to preserve an 11-7 win over the Yellow Jackets. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Benton Gibby lays it all on the line to snag a fly ball Tuesday against Hayesville. Gibby made the catch and Robbinsville went on to preserve an 11-7 win over the Yellow Jackets. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Buzzkills

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, April 25, 2024
As both the high school baseball and softball teams continue to vie for a piece of the conference title, the next generation of varsity players are showing that the standard can – and will – be matched for years to come.
Luke Lovin earned his first win of the year April 18 against Rosman, posting 6 ⅔ innings of work against the Tigers. Photo by Jacquline Gayosso/The Graham Star

Luke Lovin earned his first win of the year April 18 against Rosman, posting 6 ⅔ innings of work against the Tigers. Photo by Jacquline Gayosso/The Graham Star

Round 1 goes to the Jackets

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, April 25, 2024
Hayesville – On the surface, everything that the Black Knights have clawed and scraped at this season was lost Monday. Nothing could be further from the truth – there’s still a lot of baseball and a lot of scenarios that could easily play out in Robbinsville’s favor.
The Robbinsville Middle School Black Knights won the Smoky Mountain Conference track & field championship Monday at Cherokee. From left are Braylon Blevins, Cameron Allison, Xamuel Wachacha, Mason Silvers, Ben Koeller, Eli Lambert, Braydon Lane, head coach Wren Millsaps, Channing Mull and Colton McCoy. Not pictured are Austin Angelo, Ethan Chekeleelee, Kenai Wolfe, Carsan Snider, Kam Woods, Jaxson Blundell, Khayton Swimmer, Braydon Allison and Elijah Kirkland.

The Robbinsville Middle School Black Knights won the Smoky Mountain Conference track & field championship Monday at Cherokee. From left are Braylon Blevins, Cameron Allison, Xamuel Wachacha, Mason Silvers, Ben Koeller, Eli Lambert, Braydon Lane, head coach Wren Millsaps, Channing Mull and Colton McCoy. Not pictured are Austin Angelo, Ethan Chekeleelee, Kenai Wolfe, Carsan Snider, Kam Woods, Jaxson Blundell, Khayton Swimmer, Braydon Allison and Elijah Kirkland.

Strength in numbers

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, April 25, 2024
Cherokee – Just because you have a large quantity of athletes on your roster, it does not always mean you have a large amount of quality to go with it. But sometimes, the stars align.
Graylen Orr improved to 5-0 on the year Tuesday, tossing 5 ⅓ innings in Robbinsville’s 10-1 road victory at Hiwassee Dam. Photos by Jacquline Gayosso/The Graham Star

Graylen Orr improved to 5-0 on the year Tuesday, tossing 5 ⅓ innings in Robbinsville’s 10-1 road victory at Hiwassee Dam. Photos by Jacquline Gayosso/The Graham Star

Both Orrs in the water

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, April 18, 2024
Ethan Orr walked back into the home dugout on cloud nine April 2, moments after he launched his third long ball of the year. Tuesday at Hiwassee Dam, Orr unloaded home run No. 4.
Senior southpaw Ethan Orr tossed a complete game Friday, striking out 10 Wildcats to give Robbinsville its fifth conference win of the year. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Senior southpaw Ethan Orr tossed a complete game Friday, striking out 10 Wildcats to give Robbinsville its fifth conference win of the year. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Playoffs?

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, April 11, 2024
Chase Calhoun celebrates after roping the go-ahead RBI single Friday at Andrews. Andrews – Entering spring break, the Robbinsville baseball program is in fine shape to not only break a 13-year playoff drought, but contend for a conference title.
The passing of beloved Robbinsville Elementary School custodian Mike Hyde ushered in a bevy of tributes. Here, a wall on the 4th/5th grade hallway surrounding his work closet is filled with cards from students who will always remember “Mr. Mike.” Photo by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

The passing of beloved Robbinsville Elementary School custodian Mike Hyde ushered in a bevy of tributes. Here, a wall on the 4th/5th grade hallway surrounding his work closet is filled with cards from students who will always remember “Mr. Mike.” Photo by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

Be like Mike

Latresa Phillips
Thursday, April 11, 2024
Known as a friend to all, it was not uncommon to see Mike Hyde conversing with a student in the halls of the elementary school. Here, Hyde strikes up a conversation with Strider Graves. * Editor’s note: The writer was a classmate of Mike Hyde.