BlackKnights

Robbinsville seniors Brock Adams (left) and Kensley Phillips were recently named as the school’s 2022 Heisman High School Scholarship winners. Photo courtesy of Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Robbinsville seniors Brock Adams (left) and Kensley Phillips were recently named as the school’s 2022 Heisman High School Scholarship winners. Photo courtesy of Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Success pays off

News Staff
Friday, November 11, 2022
Robbinsville – A pair of Black Knight seniors were recently awarded for their academic and athletic endeavors. Brock Adams and Kensley Phillips were selected last week as Robbinsville’s 2022 Heisman High School Scholarship recipients.
Zayleigh Chekeleelee outpaces the pursuit of Hiwassee Dam/Ranger defenders for a lay-up during the Nov. 3 season opener. Chekeleelee led the Lady Knights with a 10-point afternoon. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Zayleigh Chekeleelee outpaces the pursuit of Hiwassee Dam/Ranger defenders for a lay-up during the Nov. 3 season opener. Chekeleelee led the Lady Knights with a 10-point afternoon. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Middle school hoops tips off

Kevin Hensley
Friday, November 11, 2022
Robbinsville – It might be a few more weeks before the high school Knights begin their latest basketball season, but the next generation of varsity superstars tipped their year off Nov. 3.
Pictured are members of the 2022-23 Robbinsville High School wrestling program. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Pictured are members of the 2022-23 Robbinsville High School wrestling program. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Technically proficient

Kevin Hensley
Friday, November 11, 2022
* Robbinsville wrestling season preview Robbinsville – How do you respond to a season which saw five state champions crowned? Simple: you go back to the basics.
Junior fullback Kage Williams (33) soaks in the realization that he will be playing his first home game of the season before first-round playoff action kicked off Friday. Williams ended up with two rushing touchdowns and two PATs in Robbinsville’s 40-14 win over the Ironmen. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Junior fullback Kage Williams (33) soaks in the realization that he will be playing his first home game of the season before first-round playoff action kicked off Friday. Williams ended up with two rushing touchdowns and two PATs in Robbinsville’s 40-14 win over the Ironmen. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Goes together like biscuits and gravy

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, November 10, 2022
Robbinsville – He’s back.
The Black Knights’ defense – led by Haden Key, Quinn Jumper, Jude Campbell, Roman Jones, Cuttler Adams and Carlos Lopez (clockwise from center) – swarm Hayesville’s Taylor McClure to stuff the Jackets’ top running threat Friday. Robbinsville held Hayesville to just 64 rushing yards on the night. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

The Black Knights’ defense – led by Haden Key, Quinn Jumper, Jude Campbell, Roman Jones, Cuttler Adams and Carlos Lopez (clockwise from center) – swarm Hayesville’s Taylor McClure to stuff the Jackets’ top running threat Friday. Robbinsville held Hayesville to just 64 rushing yards on the night. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

The real Black Swarm

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, November 3, 2022
Hayesville – Admittedly, there was a lot of hype surrounding Friday’s Smoky Mountain Conference title game in Murphy. So it’s OK if you forgot that Robbinsville played a game just 15 miles away at the exact same time. However, the Knights did not forget.
Robbinsville’s youth football program collected three Cracker Bowl championships Saturday in Sylva. The Termite Black Knights shutout the previously-unbeaten Franklin Panthers 6-0. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville’s youth football program collected three Cracker Bowl championships Saturday in Sylva. The Termite Black Knights shutout the previously-unbeaten Franklin Panthers 6-0. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

3 games, 3 titles

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, November 3, 2022
Sylva – Nail technicians across the region had to be swamped Monday morning.

Roger Dale Smallen

News Staff
Thursday, November 3, 2022
Roger Dale Smallen, 71 of Lenoir City, Tenn., – formerly of Dublin, Ga. – passed away Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022. Dale was a graduate of the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. He enjoyed a successful career as a high school football coach.
N.C. Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson delivered a lengthy message to a crowd of the roughly-200 individuals gathered at Oct. 27’s N.C. Faith & Freedom Coalition event, held inside the Robbinsville High School theater. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

N.C. Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson delivered a lengthy message to a crowd of the roughly-200 individuals gathered at Oct. 27’s N.C. Faith & Freedom Coalition event, held inside the Robbinsville High School theater. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

‘We need to step on toes’

Randy Foster
Thursday, November 3, 2022
Robbinsville – In 2018, Mark Robinson spoke at a Greensboro City Council meeting: just an average citizen, a church-goer and Army veteran, defending gun rights. A video of him went viral. Later that year, he was invited to speak at the National Rifle Association’s annual convention.
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.