LadyKnights

Brooke Cox, Ella Nelms and Myah Winfrey (from left) listen intently as Robbinsville head coach Brittany Snider sets up a play during a late timeout Jan. 15 at Hayesville. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Brooke Cox, Ella Nelms and Myah Winfrey (from left) listen intently as Robbinsville head coach Brittany Snider sets up a play during a late timeout Jan. 15 at Hayesville. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Lady Knights back in semifinals

Kevin Hensley
Friday, January 31, 2025
Bryson City – Following the quarterfinals of the 2024-25 Smoky Mountain Conference middle school championship tournament, one of Robbinsville’s teams is right back in the same position it was last year, while another was dismissed early. The Lady Knights (No.
Robbinsville’s Kellen Ensley brushed off a desperate attempt by North Henderson’s Aden Slusser to break up this standing single-leg to win the 215-pound bout in the third period Jan. 22. Photos by Bella Eddings/The Graham Star

Robbinsville’s Kellen Ensley brushed off a desperate attempt by North Henderson’s Aden Slusser to break up this standing single-leg to win the 215-pound bout in the third period Jan. 22. Photos by Bella Eddings/The Graham Star

Full steam ahead

Kevin Hensley
Friday, January 31, 2025
Robbinsville – State duals are right around the corner, but no matter the format in front of them when the Black Knights arrive to a gym, there is no disputing that the program is wrestling in top form. After celebrating Senior Night on Jan.
Robbinsville’s Anna Williams (5) and Suri Watty (23) trap Murphy’s Ilie Smith on Tuesday. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville’s Anna Williams (5) and Suri Watty (23) trap Murphy’s Ilie Smith on Tuesday. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Lady Knights split 4-game schedule

Kevin Hensley
Friday, January 31, 2025
Robbinsville – Four games in as many school days kept the local high school basketball stars busy.
Suri Watty takes flight amongst the flocked defense of Lady Eagles Olivia McNabb (15), Bella Stiles (44), Sky Taylor and Abby Harris (21) on Jan. 14. Photo by Kyla Garland/The Graham Star

Suri Watty takes flight amongst the flocked defense of Lady Eagles Olivia McNabb (15), Bella Stiles (44), Sky Taylor and Abby Harris (21) on Jan. 14. Photo by Kyla Garland/The Graham Star

Knights scorch Maroon Devils

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, January 23, 2025
Dane Knott prepares to deposit a foul shot Tuesday at Swain County. Knott led Robbinsville with 22 points in the win over the Maroon Devils. Photo by Bella Eddings/The Graham Star Bryson City – The Knights’ returned to Smoky Mountain Conference play Tuesday with great vengeance and furious anger.
Skyler Anderson wraps up West-Oak’s Gunner Mease during the 106-pound finals of the James Orr Invitational on Saturday. Photos by Bella Eddings/The Graham Star

Skyler Anderson wraps up West-Oak’s Gunner Mease during the 106-pound finals of the James Orr Invitational on Saturday. Photos by Bella Eddings/The Graham Star

Anderson, Panama run the table

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, January 23, 2025
Adair Panama applies a low waist-lock on Glenn’s Yusel Aguilar en route to winning the 113-pound weight class Saturday. Robbinsville – Proving that less is better, the Black Knights’ two lightest grapplers sawed through the field during the James Orr Invitational on Saturday.
Senior Darion Ledbetter (5) works into the paint and looks to split the defense of North Buncombe’s Cole Edmonds (11) and Tripp Switzer (20) on Jan. 8. Photo by Jacquline Gayosso/The Graham Star

Senior Darion Ledbetter (5) works into the paint and looks to split the defense of North Buncombe’s Cole Edmonds (11) and Tripp Switzer (20) on Jan. 8. Photo by Jacquline Gayosso/The Graham Star

Black Knights end 4-game skid

Kevin Hensley
Tuesday, January 21, 2025
Robbinsville – After a tough stretch of losses – which included a pair of 3-point defeats – the Black Knights finally reversed their fortunes Tuesday night. Winless since leaving Hiwassee Dam (6-6) on the better end of a 79-51 blowout Dec.
Ethan Webster hooks a half on Hayesville’s Mason Ray during Jan. 9’s Smoky Mountain Conference duals. Despite the bout being halted twice to plug a bloody nose, Webster scored a 20-5 technical fall and went 4-0 on the evening. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Ethan Webster hooks a half on Hayesville’s Mason Ray during Jan. 9’s Smoky Mountain Conference duals. Despite the bout being halted twice to plug a bloody nose, Webster scored a 20-5 technical fall and went 4-0 on the evening. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Divisional domination

Kevin Hensley
Tuesday, January 21, 2025
Robbinsville – The Black Knights once again showed why depth and talent equal supremacy in the Smoky Mountain Conference. A last-second shuffle led to Robbinsville hosting the annual league duals Jan.
With Smoky Mountain’s Ben Brown (21) looking on, Luke Lovin puts up an inside floater in the second quarter of Tuesday’s game with the Mustangs. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

With Smoky Mountain’s Ben Brown (21) looking on, Luke Lovin puts up an inside floater in the second quarter of Tuesday’s game with the Mustangs. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Saddled with struggles

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, January 9, 2025
Sylva – At every turn and circumstance, the Knights were thwarted in their quest to start 2025 off in the win column. A 4-game tilt at Smoky Mountain on Tuesday ended with Robbinsville exiting 0-4 on the evening, with only the varsity Black Knights posing a serious threat to the 3A Mustangs.
Black Knight Lleyton Hooper secured his 100th career win at Saturday’s Enka Duals. With Hooper is assistant coach David Haney (left) and head coach Travis Hooper. Photos courtesy of Robbinsville Wrestling

Black Knight Lleyton Hooper secured his 100th career win at Saturday’s Enka Duals. With Hooper is assistant coach David Haney (left) and head coach Travis Hooper. Photos courtesy of Robbinsville Wrestling

Another Hooper wins 100

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, January 9, 2025
Candler – In resounding fashion, Lleyton Hooper joined an esteemed chapter of Robbinsville’s storied wrestling tradition. During the opening match of Saturday’s Enka Duals, the junior grappler dominated Union (Va.) High School’s Dylan Brugger.
McKynlee Adams launches a long-range jumper Dec. 19 at Andrews. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

McKynlee Adams launches a long-range jumper Dec. 19 at Andrews. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Lady Knights tame Wildcats

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, December 26, 2024
Andrews – The middle school hoopsters touched the court for the final time in 2024 on Dec. 19, traveling to Andrews and emerging with a mixed bag of results. The Lady Knights (7-5) won the afternoon’s opener 45-33, while the Black Knights (5-7) dropped a 58-41 contest.