BlackKnights

Loxston Hooper, Kage Williams and Adair Panama (from left) sport the championship belts they received for conquering their respective weight classes at the Nov. 23 Jet Invitational. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Loxston Hooper, Kage Williams and Adair Panama (from left) sport the championship belts they received for conquering their respective weight classes at the Nov. 23 Jet Invitational. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Knights snack on pre-holiday opposition

Kevin Hensley
Friday, December 2, 2022
Candler – Robbinsville’s wrestling program set up shop at Enka High School last week and, in the tradition of the holiday season, carved up the competition. A dual against the T.C. Roberson Rams on Nov.
Members of the 2022-23 Robbinsville High School indoor track team. All names are listed from left. Front row: Tia Hall, Naomi Taylor, Kadence Howell, Katie-Lyn Gross, Anna Wehr, Taelyr Jackson, Delaney Brooms and Zoie Shuler. Back row: Colton Satterfield, Zeb Stewart, Albert Avella, Bruce Helms, Caleb Draper, Fala Welch, William Cable, Eden Orr, Logan Hooper, Kensley Phillips, Donovin Hall, Cooper Adams, Caden Lail and Tytan Teesateskie. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Members of the 2022-23 Robbinsville High School indoor track team. All names are listed from left. Front row: Tia Hall, Naomi Taylor, Kadence Howell, Katie-Lyn Gross, Anna Wehr, Taelyr Jackson, Delaney Brooms and Zoie Shuler. Back row: Colton Satterfield, Zeb Stewart, Albert Avella, Bruce Helms, Caleb Draper, Fala Welch, William Cable, Eden Orr, Logan Hooper, Kensley Phillips, Donovin Hall, Cooper Adams, Caden Lail and Tytan Teesateskie. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Cold weather, hot talent

Kevin Hensley
Friday, December 2, 2022
* Robbinsville indoor track season preview Robbinsville W ith success come widespread intrigue. To say the least, the Robbinsville indoor track program made quite the splash during the first indoor track season in the history of the Smoky Mountain Conference last year.
Robbinsville Middle’s Cameron Allison glides to the basket during home action Nov. 17 against Hayesville. Four days later, Allison was seriously injured at Swain County, when a Maroon Devils player slammed the 13-year-old to the floor late in the game. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville Middle’s Cameron Allison glides to the basket during home action Nov. 17 against Hayesville. Four days later, Allison was seriously injured at Swain County, when a Maroon Devils player slammed the 13-year-old to the floor late in the game. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Troubling incident leads to game ending early

Kevin Hensley
Friday, December 2, 2022
Bryson City – It has to be one of every parent’s worst nightmares: you witness your child being attacked, and you can’t get there in time to stop it.
Eli Lambert (second from right) is greeted cheerfully by his teammates Nov. 17, moments after he drained a 3-pointer at the final buzzer to stamp Robbinsville Middle School’s 45-27 win over Hayesville. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Eli Lambert (second from right) is greeted cheerfully by his teammates Nov. 17, moments after he drained a 3-pointer at the final buzzer to stamp Robbinsville Middle School’s 45-27 win over Hayesville. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville continues perfect run at home

Kevin Hensley
Tuesday, November 22, 2022
Robbinsville – Simply put, the middle-school Black Knights shine on their home court. Robbinsville (3-1) came to life after halftime Nov. 17’s tilt against Hayesville, dropping 31 across the final two quarters in a 45-27 stifling of the Jackets.
Kage Williams maintains top control over Cherokee’s Vincent Owle during a Nov. 15 dual. A two-time state champion, Williams won the 195-pound bracket at Saturday’s Dekota Smith Invitational. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Kage Williams maintains top control over Cherokee’s Vincent Owle during a Nov. 15 dual. A two-time state champion, Williams won the 195-pound bracket at Saturday’s Dekota Smith Invitational. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Knights trio dominates invitational

Kevin Hensley
Tuesday, November 22, 2022
Hudson – Kage Williams has already won two 1A state championships. In two different weight classes. So it was little surprise that Robbinsville’s top grappler went 3-0 against competition from 2A, 3A and 4A at Saturday’s Dekota Smith Invitational, as Williams easily won the 195-pound bracket.
Cuttler Adams (4) dashes around the pursuit of Eastern Randolph’s Pierce Leonard on a second-half run Friday. Adams eclipsed 200 rushing yards in the game, but Robbinsville fell 29-26 to the Wildcats in the third round of the state playoffs. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Cuttler Adams (4) dashes around the pursuit of Eastern Randolph’s Pierce Leonard on a second-half run Friday. Adams eclipsed 200 rushing yards in the game, but Robbinsville fell 29-26 to the Wildcats in the third round of the state playoffs. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Wild ending spurns loss

Kevin Hensley
Tuesday, November 22, 2022
Ramseur – There is really no way the Black Knights’ 2022 campaign should have ended before Thanksgiving. Robbinsville outgained Eastern Randolph 465-197 in total yardage, had 22 first downs to the Wildcats’ 10 and overcame a 10-point deficit at halftime to carry a lead into the fourth quarter.
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.
Robbinsville senior William Cable (seated, center) signed to run at Carson-Newman University on Monday. Sitting with Cable are parents Patsy (left) and Edward Cable. Standing in back are sister Jamie Carver and brother Patrick Cable. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville senior William Cable (seated, center) signed to run at Carson-Newman University on Monday. Sitting with Cable are parents Patsy (left) and Edward Cable. Standing in back are sister Jamie Carver and brother Patrick Cable. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Flipping the script

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, November 17, 2022
Robbinsville – Nothing in life has ever been handed to William Cable. He was born on Jan. 5, 2005 – 15 weeks premature – and, because of his early arrival, only has two developed valves connected to his heart.
An exhausted Jacob Teesateskie glances at his raucous teammates Tuesday, as Madison’s Mason Clubb lays despondent on the mat. Teesateskie had just scored a takedown to prevail 7-5 in overtime against Clubb. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

An exhausted Jacob Teesateskie glances at his raucous teammates Tuesday, as Madison’s Mason Clubb lays despondent on the mat. Teesateskie had just scored a takedown to prevail 7-5 in overtime against Clubb. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Black Knights handle business in opener

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, November 17, 2022
Snowbird – The one advantage Robbinsville usually has against opponents is its ability to fill out all 14 weight classes. It doesn’t hurt that finesse and talent are found across the roster, either.
Led by the protection of classmate Tytan Teesateskie (72), Robbinsville sophomore quarterback Bryce Adams scans his downfield options Nov. 10 against Cherokee. Bryce completed eight passes – two for touchdowns to his brother, Brock Adams – and collected 131 yards in the Knights’ 39-12 second-round playoff victory over the Braves. Photos courtesy of Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Led by the protection of classmate Tytan Teesateskie (72), Robbinsville sophomore quarterback Bryce Adams scans his downfield options Nov. 10 against Cherokee. Bryce completed eight passes – two for touchdowns to his brother, Brock Adams – and collected 131 yards in the Knights’ 39-12 second-round playoff victory over the Braves. Photos courtesy of Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Icing on the cake

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, November 17, 2022
Robbinsville – If that was the final home game of the season, what a way to go out. The Black Knights peppered 39 points across the first three quarters of the Nov. 10 playoff affair against Cherokee, clinching a Sweet 16 berth by knocking off the divisional rival 39-12 under the Big Oaks.