BlackKnights

Brock Adams and Zoie Shuler were named the respective Male and Female Most Outstanding athletes of the 2023 Smoky Mountain Conference championship meet, which was held May 3 at Cherokee. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Against the wind

Kevin Hensley

Monday, May 15, 2023

Cherokee – Between just two Robbinsville High athletes, five total Most Outstanding Athlete of the Smoky Mountain Conference Track & Field Championship Meet distinctions exist. There was really no need to have a coaches poll at the conclusion of May 3’s meet: their results spoke for themselves.

Prior to Tuesday’s home game against Hayesville, the Robbinsville Black Knights recognized their four baseball seniors. From left are Alex Knight, Lathan Buchanan, Preston Phillips and Caleb Turpin. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Knights split Senior Night appointments with Hayesville

Kevin Hensley

Thursday, May 4, 2023

Robbinsville – The final home games of the regular season featured two Robbinsville programs meeting two Hayesville teams – and both in stark contrast of the other. The Lady Knights are sitting atop the Smoky Mountain Conference standings, as are the Hayesville Yellow Jackets baseball team.

Surrounded by family, Robbinsville senior Brock Adams signed to play basketball at Bryan College on Monday. Sitting with Brock are his mother Andrea and father Tommy. Standing in back (from left) are grandparents Roger and Lisa Orr; brothers, Bryce and Reece Adams; and grandparents Louise and Boyd Adams. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Lion’s Share of success

Kevin Hensley

Thursday, May 4, 2023

Robbinsville – When a Letter of Intent is about to be signed, there is normally so much emotion that speeches are hard to come by. But much as he did his entire life as a Black Knight, Brock Adams refused to let the moment get in the way.

Junior Graylen Orr picked up his fifth win of the season Tuesday, posting a complete-game effort in Robbinsville’s 5-3 win over Hiwassee Dam. Photo by Montana Buchanan/The Graham Star

Quite a pickle

Kevin Hensley

Monday, May 1, 2023

Robbinsville – Just one week ago, the Black Knights were eyeing a return to the .500 mark. But after a tough 3-game skid ended with a victory in Game 2 of a doubleheader with Hiwassee Dam, Robbinsville is simply trying to tread water and hope for the best.

Black Knights grappler Willie Riddle became the third Robbinsville wrestler to sign a letter-of-intent in a span of 28 hours April 10, opting to join the Montreat College Cavaliers. Photo by Anna Riddle/The Graham Star

Riddle solved

Kevin Hensley

Friday, April 21, 2023

Joining Willie Riddle (seated, right) when he signed to wrestle at Montreat College on April 10 were close family, including (clockwise, from Willie): father, Ben Riddle; sister, Anna Riddle; and grandmother Hettie Riddle.

Senior first baseman Lathan Buchanan recorded two doubles and drove in five runs for Robbinsville in Tuesday’s 14-3 road win over Andrews. Photo courtesy of Fala Welch/Contributing Photographer

Knights continue hot run

Kevin Hensley

Friday, April 21, 2023

Andrews – By the end of the week, Robbinsville could be a .500 ball club – for the first time this year. Nearly faded is the memory of the ugly 0-6 start to the campaign: since March 28, the Black Knights have amassed a 6-2 record and with return contests against Copper Basin, Tenn.

It’s going to be a challenge, but Robbinsville alumni Aynsley Fink and Jayden Nowell are returning to the mat – this time, at the collegiate level. Both signed to wrestle for Ottawa (Kan.) University on Easter Sunday. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Putting all of their eggs into one basket

Kevin Hensley

Thursday, April 13, 2023

Robbinsville – While others were busy scouring the depths of their acreage for magical gifts on Easter Sunday, both Aynsley Fink and Jayden Nowell were busy making sure their wrestling aptitude would carry over to the college level.

Ethan Orr patiently awaits his chance to swing Monday against Towns County, Ga. The next day, Orr homered and pitched a complete game for Robbinsville, helping lift the Black Knights to a 5-3 home win over Rosman. Photo courtesy of Fala Welch/Contributing Photographer

Not your average Knights

Kevin Hensley

Thursday, April 13, 2023

Robbinsville – Just 2 ½ weeks ago, the Black Knights were 0-6 and had only played one seven-inning game to start the season. Counting Tuesday’s 5-3 home victory over Rosman, Robbinsville has went 5-2 to put the bumpy opening of the campaign in the rearview mirror.

Khaygen Buchanan unleashes a hit for the middle school Lady Knights against Murphy on March 14. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

No answers for Knights against Braves

Kevin Hensley

Thursday, April 6, 2023

Robbinsville – In what was Robbinsville Middle School’s final games for two weeks – the fallout of an 8th-grade coastal trip and Spring Break – the Knights could not manufacture a season split with Cherokee.

The Robbinsville Black Knights have good reason to smile: the team has recently put together its first winning streak of the season. Graylen Orr (2) struck out 10 Copper Basin batters in just four innings of work Monday, as Robbinsville made the streak official with an 8-7 win over the Cougars. Clockwise from Orr are Bryc Garrison, head coach Brent Icenhower, Lathan Buchanan, Alex Knight, Caleb Turpin, Quinn Jumper, Preston Phillips, Ethan Orr and Bryce Adams. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Have yourself a day, kid

Kevin Hensley

Thursday, April 6, 2023

Robbinsville – He was a one-man wrecking crew. At the outset of Monday’s home game against Copper Basin, Tenn., Black Knights junior Graylen Orr had just 16 strikeouts across four starts.