BlackKnights

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.

8 local ballers named All-Conference

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, April 4, 2024
The 2023-24 basketball season officially wrapped up after this year’s state champions were determined over the weekend of March 15-16. With the schedule in the rearview mirror, the Smoky Mountain Conference formally announced its annual All-Conference honorees.
There’s plenty for the Robbinsville Black Knights to smile for right now. Winners of five straight, the Knights have crept into second place in the Smoky Mountain Conference and are off to their best start in well over 20 years. Photo by Jacquline Gayosso/The Graham Star

There’s plenty for the Robbinsville Black Knights to smile for right now. Winners of five straight, the Knights have crept into second place in the Smoky Mountain Conference and are off to their best start in well over 20 years. Photo by Jacquline Gayosso/The Graham Star

Mediocrity goes out the window

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, April 4, 2024
Robbinsville – Every season begins with some sense of optimism. Even if a team is the flat-out pits, there’s always a bright spot to be found. Pitching is young, but will improve with reps. We’re striking out a lot, but we’re taking good cuts at the plate.

Knights falter late, suffer 1st loss

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, March 28, 2024
Cherokee – Things seemed well in-hand for Robbinsville Middle School’s baseball team March 21. Carrying a 9-6 lead into the bottom of the first, the Black Knights were three outs from starting the season 5-0.
Ethan Orr blanked 10 Cherokee batters in March 21’s 9-2 victory; while Quinn Jumper (12) tripled home the winning runs in Monday’s 10-8 win at Swain County. Photo by Jacquline Gayosso/The Graham Star

Ethan Orr blanked 10 Cherokee batters in March 21’s 9-2 victory; while Quinn Jumper (12) tripled home the winning runs in Monday’s 10-8 win at Swain County. Photo by Jacquline Gayosso/The Graham Star

Series of fortunate events

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, March 28, 2024
Bryson City – It was a game the Black Knights wanted back. Badly.

Who’s next?

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, March 21, 2024
Robbinsville – They score early and often; they pepper the field with offense. “They” are Robbinsville Middle’s baseball and softball teams, which are through nine games with a combined 9-0 record.
Tytan Teesateskie continued his hot start at the varsity level last week, with the junior first baseman driving in four of Robbinsville’s runs amid a 13-3 rout of the visiting Copper Basin Cougars. To help compliment Graylen Orr’s dominant starts this year, Teesateskie has drove in seven runs during Robbinsville’s first two wins. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Tytan Teesateskie continued his hot start at the varsity level last week, with the junior first baseman driving in four of Robbinsville’s runs amid a 13-3 rout of the visiting Copper Basin Cougars. To help compliment Graylen Orr’s dominant starts this year, Teesateskie has drove in seven runs during Robbinsville’s first two wins. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Batters provide few answers for senior deliveryman

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, March 21, 2024
Robbinsville – Through his first three starts of the season, Graylen Orr has left hitters mystified — more often than not, returning to the dugout in short order.
Graylen Orr fires a ball to first during Monday’s conference opener against Swain. Orr manned the hill in Robbinsville’s first win of the season last week. Photo courtesy of Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Graylen Orr fires a ball to first during Monday’s conference opener against Swain. Orr manned the hill in Robbinsville’s first win of the season last week. Photo courtesy of Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

No Gray area

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, March 14, 2024
Rosman – Over the course of 101 pitches, Graylen Orr dazzled, danced and hoodwinked the Rosman Tigers (0-4). The hosts ultimately mustered just three hits in response to the Black Knights senior, who fanned 10 in a complete-game effort.
With his sister Bella looking on, Landen Eddings competes in the shotgun event at March 2’s FarWest Invitational. Photos courtesy of Cheri Lynn/Robbinsville Shooting Team

With his sister Bella looking on, Landen Eddings competes in the shotgun event at March 2’s FarWest Invitational. Photos courtesy of Cheri Lynn/Robbinsville Shooting Team

Locked and loaded

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, March 14, 2024
Ryan Lynn stands with his second-place shotgun trophy at March 2’s FarWest Invitational in Marble. Lynn finished with a 200 in the event and only missed out on first place due to a shoot-off.