BlackKnights

Andrew Adams wraps up Murphy’s Will Shore during Robbinsville’s loss to the Bulldogs on Sept. 23. Photo by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

Andrew Adams wraps up Murphy’s Will Shore during Robbinsville’s loss to the Bulldogs on Sept. 23. Photo by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

Black Knights stymied by Bulldogs

Kevin Hensley
Tuesday, October 5, 2021
Robbinsville – Squandered opportunities. That’s the biggest takeaway from Robbinsville’s junior varsity loss to Murphy on Sept. 23. The Knights were deep in Bulldogs territory on several occasions, but were unable to cash in and ultimately fell 22-0.
Lenoir City’s Zane Ward (9) jogs off as Robbinsville’s Dalton Hill, Eddie Brooms, Cuttler Adams, Kage Williams and Isaac Wiggins (back, from left) swarm Briley Tolbert (23), following Tolbert’s second-quarter interception Friday night. The Black Knights would pull ahead during the ensuing possession and never looked back, besting the Panthers 35-19. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Lenoir City’s Zane Ward (9) jogs off as Robbinsville’s Dalton Hill, Eddie Brooms, Cuttler Adams, Kage Williams and Isaac Wiggins (back, from left) swarm Briley Tolbert (23), following Tolbert’s second-quarter interception Friday night. The Black Knights would pull ahead during the ensuing possession and never looked back, besting the Panthers 35-19. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Here’s a quarter; call someone who cares

Kevin Hensley
Tuesday, October 5, 2021
Lenoir City, Tenn. – After a month off, it naturally took a full quarter to knock off the rust. Robbinsville (2-1) scored its first touchdown in four weeks early in the second quarter of Friday’s game in Lenoir City, Tenn.
Robbinsville’s Cooper Adams rushed for two touchdowns and two conversions in the Knights’ 34-12 season-opening win over Cherokee. Photo by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville’s Cooper Adams rushed for two touchdowns and two conversions in the Knights’ 34-12 season-opening win over Cherokee. Photo by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

Black Knights win opener in convincing fashion

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, September 23, 2021
Robbinsville – After several delays, the Black Knights’ junior varsity team finally got its 2021 football season started Sept. 16. As is custom, Robbinsville put the entire Smoky Mountain Conference on notice.
Briley Tolbert (23) and Ben Wachacha (74) close in on Brevard quarterback Anson Burgess during Aug. 27’s road game. Robbinsville has not played since the 15-14 loss, but will suit up for a trip to Tennessee on Friday. Photo by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Briley Tolbert (23) and Ben Wachacha (74) close in on Brevard quarterback Anson Burgess during Aug. 27’s road game. Robbinsville has not played since the 15-14 loss, but will suit up for a trip to Tennessee on Friday. Photo by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Back at work

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, September 23, 2021
Robbinsville football fanatics, rejoice: the boys will be putting their pads back on soon enough. For the first time since Aug. 27, the Black Knights (1-1) will play under the Friday night lights – but will have to travel out of state to do so, as the Lenoir City (Tenn.
Cuttler Adams (4) breaks through the pack during Friday’s game at Brevard. Adams scored both of Robbinsville’s touchdowns in a 16-15 loss to the Blue Devils. Photo by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Cuttler Adams (4) breaks through the pack during Friday’s game at Brevard. Adams scored both of Robbinsville’s touchdowns in a 16-15 loss to the Blue Devils. Photo by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Rough Knight at the office

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, September 2, 2021
Brevard – For years to come, Black Knight fans will look back at Friday’s game with one simple question: What if?
Pictured are the 2021 Robbinsville High School cross-country teams. All names are pictured from left. Seated in front: Liberty Hartley, Delaney Brooms and Greta Whisonant. Second row: Hayden Stewart, William Cable, Xander Wachacha and Jacob Satterfield. Standing in back: Zeb Stewart and Isaiah Brown. Not pictured are Ainslee Munro and Anna Wehr. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Pictured are the 2021 Robbinsville High School cross-country teams. All names are pictured from left. Seated in front: Liberty Hartley, Delaney Brooms and Greta Whisonant. Second row: Hayden Stewart, William Cable, Xander Wachacha and Jacob Satterfield. Standing in back: Zeb Stewart and Isaiah Brown. Not pictured are Ainslee Munro and Anna Wehr. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Knights ready for run at regionals, state

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, August 26, 2021
Robbinsville – Years of building a boys program are nearing a significant payoff. The Robbinsville Black Knights return several well-conditioned and disciplined runners for the 2021 cross-country season, a mere seven months after the delayed 2020 slate ended with a 1A Western Regional appearance.
Sophomore tackle Koleson Dooley (55) runs interference for classmate Cuttler Adams (4) during Friday’s season opener against the Asheville Cougars. Along with another sophomore – Kage Williams – Adams had three touchdowns in Robbinsvile’s 45-23 victory. Photo by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Sophomore tackle Koleson Dooley (55) runs interference for classmate Cuttler Adams (4) during Friday’s season opener against the Asheville Cougars. Along with another sophomore – Kage Williams – Adams had three touchdowns in Robbinsvile’s 45-23 victory. Photo by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Critics silenced

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, August 26, 2021
Robbinsville – Before Asheville had a chance to get settled, Robbinsville led 21-0. Sophomore backs Cuttler Adams and Kage Williams each had a hat trick – and the Black Knights’ defense took care of the rest – as Robbinsville handily defeated the 4A Cougars 45-23 in Friday’s season debut.
Robbinsville’s Nathan Collins was named the Keller Ferrell Division II Male Athlete – Major Sport Award winner at Sunday’s Mountain Amateur Athletic Club WNC Sports Awards Banquet in Asheville. Receiving the award on Nathan’s behalf was his father, Michael. With Michael is Mountain Amateur Athletic Club Board of Directors members David Cappiello (left) and Ann Brandis. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville’s Nathan Collins was named the Keller Ferrell Division II Male Athlete – Major Sport Award winner at Sunday’s Mountain Amateur Athletic Club WNC Sports Awards Banquet in Asheville. Receiving the award on Nathan’s behalf was his father, Michael. With Michael is Mountain Amateur Athletic Club Board of Directors members David Cappiello (left) and Ann Brandis. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Collins named Division II Male Athlete of the Year

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, August 19, 2021
Asheville – Select members of the Robbinsville athletic program left Sunday’s Mountain Athletic Amateur Club WNC Sports Awards Banquet with some extra hardware.
New Graham County Schools music educator Amber Watkins (right) works one-on-one with freshman tenor saxophonist Ryan Lynn Monday. The band is currently preparing its marching show for the upcoming season. Photo by Charlie Benton/news@grahamstar.com

New Graham County Schools music educator Amber Watkins (right) works one-on-one with freshman tenor saxophonist Ryan Lynn Monday. The band is currently preparing its marching show for the upcoming season. Photo by Charlie Benton/news@grahamstar.com

Putting in the work

Charlie Benton
Thursday, July 29, 2021
Robbinsville – After a turbulent year, the Black Knight Band is gearing up for its 2021-22 marching season as its camp continues through the month of July.
For the first time in North Carolina history, a pair of siblings have won an individual state championship in both the same sport and the same calendar year. Robbinsville’s Aynsley and Kyle Fink reached the pinnacle in wrestling this season. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

For the first time in North Carolina history, a pair of siblings have won an individual state championship in both the same sport and the same calendar year. Robbinsville’s Aynsley and Kyle Fink reached the pinnacle in wrestling this season. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Wonder twin powers, activate

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, July 22, 2021
Robbinsville – Leave it to “The ‘Ville” to be trendsetters yet again. For the first time in North Carolina history, a pair of siblings have won individual, high-school state titles in not only the same sport, but the same season.