LadyKnights

Robbinsville’s Suri Watty (23) and Zoie Shuler (2) run down a line of high-fives from teammates Anna Williams, Liz Carpenter and Delaney Brooms (from left), after Shuler scored the second run of Friday’s fourth-round playoff win at Uwharrie Charter. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville’s Suri Watty (23) and Zoie Shuler (2) run down a line of high-fives from teammates Anna Williams, Liz Carpenter and Delaney Brooms (from left), after Shuler scored the second run of Friday’s fourth-round playoff win at Uwharrie Charter. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Sorry, Uwharrie

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, May 23, 2024
Asheboro – Uwharrie Charter Academy held all the cards: the No. 1 seed in the 1A West bracket and home field advantage. However, there was one glaring disadvantage entering Friday’s fourth-round playoff game: the program had not played a team the caliber of Robbinsville.
Lady Knights teammates Zoie Shuler (left) and Claire Barlow took the top two spots on the awards podium in the triple jump competition at Monday’s state championship meet. The happenstance was just one of many that left Robbinsville in high spirits at the conclusion of the gathering. Photo courtesy of Kylie Shuler

Lady Knights teammates Zoie Shuler (left) and Claire Barlow took the top two spots on the awards podium in the triple jump competition at Monday’s state championship meet. The happenstance was just one of many that left Robbinsville in high spirits at the conclusion of the gathering. Photo courtesy of Kylie Shuler

1 for the money, 2 for the show

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, May 23, 2024
Greensboro – Claire Barlow and Zoie Shuler checked in at North Carolina A&T University’s Aggie Stadium long enough to make an indelible impression.
Claire Barlow, state qualifier, long and triple jumps

Claire Barlow, state qualifier, long and triple jumps

Fantastic 5

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, May 16, 2024
* State track & field meet preview Montreat – The Black Knights track program has went the extra mile to improve this season. Meets outside the conference adorned the schedule.
After clinching a trip to the Elite 8 on Monday, the Lady Knights gathered in right field to celebrate the moment. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

After clinching a trip to the Elite 8 on Monday, the Lady Knights gathered in right field to celebrate the moment. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Still dancin’

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, May 16, 2024
Senior Memory Frapp begins her delivery in the second round of the state playoffs Friday against Murphy. Frapp has not lost a decision this year and is closing in on 400 career strikeouts.
The Robbinsville Middle School Lady Knights capped an unblemished 13-0 season by downing Cherokee 16-5 on Monday to win the conference title game. All names are listed from left. Front row: Bella Coats, Khaygen Buchanan, Loxley Burke, Daphne Barlow, Kynadee Spencer, Lexie Williams and Zeyli Williams. Back row: Assistant coach Lauren Silvers, Natalee Myers, Mylee Webster, Lakin Orr, Alyssa Bohn, Ella Nelms, Jayden Chekeleelee, Myah Winfrey and head coach Anna Stewart.

The Robbinsville Middle School Lady Knights capped an unblemished 13-0 season by downing Cherokee 16-5 on Monday to win the conference title game. All names are listed from left. Front row: Bella Coats, Khaygen Buchanan, Loxley Burke, Daphne Barlow, Kynadee Spencer, Lexie Williams and Zeyli Williams. Back row: Assistant coach Lauren Silvers, Natalee Myers, Mylee Webster, Lakin Orr, Alyssa Bohn, Ella Nelms, Jayden Chekeleelee, Myah Winfrey and head coach Anna Stewart.

2 for the price of 1

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, May 16, 2024
Hiwassee Dam – For one team, the championship was a foregone conclusion. For the other, it was a first. Robbinsville Middle School shipped both its baseball and softball teams to Hiwassee Dam on Monday to play in their respective de facto Smoky Mountain Conference title games.
Members of the Robbinsville Lady Knights root on the team during May 10's second-round playoff game against Murphy. From left are Dreylee Webster, Ella Atwell, Anna Williams, Payton Odom, Ella McGuire, Sydney Adams, Delaney Brooms, Olivia Lewis, Claire Barlow, Liz Carpenter, Naomi Taylor and manager Ruthie Aguirre. Photo by Jacquline Gayosso/The Graham Star

Members of the Robbinsville Lady Knights root on the team during May 10's second-round playoff game against Murphy. From left are Dreylee Webster, Ella Atwell, Anna Williams, Payton Odom, Ella McGuire, Sydney Adams, Delaney Brooms, Olivia Lewis, Claire Barlow, Liz Carpenter, Naomi Taylor and manager Ruthie Aguirre. Photo by Jacquline Gayosso/The Graham Star

Robbinsville battles Uwharrie Charter for spot in regional finals

Kevin Hensley
Tuesday, May 14, 2024
Asheboro -- The Lady Knights are still dancin'. Bolstered by a pair of home runs from Zoie Shuler and Sophie Roberts, Robbinsville (No. 4 seed, 24-2) upended the No. 1-seeded Uwharrie Charter Academy Lady Eagles (20-4-1) in a 4-3 triumph Friday.
Although the Robbinsville Lady Knights wrapped up their 16th Smoky Mountain Conference title one day prior, the players wanted to signify their 7th-straight divisional crown by gathering in the outfield moments after sweeping the regular-season series against Murphy on May 2. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Although the Robbinsville Lady Knights wrapped up their 16th Smoky Mountain Conference title one day prior, the players wanted to signify their 7th-straight divisional crown by gathering in the outfield moments after sweeping the regular-season series against Murphy on May 2. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

16x champs

Kevin Hensley
Friday, May 10, 2024
Robbinsville – Dating back to 1981, the Lady Knights have now finished atop the Smoky Mountain Conference standings a whopping 16 times – including laying claim to the last seven in a row.
Senior Memory Frapp became the Robbinsville Lady Knights’ all-time “strikeout queen” Monday, surpassing the program’s former standard in a 14-4 rout of Hiwassee Dam. Photo by Jacquline Gayosso/The Graham Star

Senior Memory Frapp became the Robbinsville Lady Knights’ all-time “strikeout queen” Monday, surpassing the program’s former standard in a 14-4 rout of Hiwassee Dam. Photo by Jacquline Gayosso/The Graham Star

Moment committed to Memory

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, May 2, 2024
Robbinsville – It was business as usual for Robbinsville (18-2, 10-0), which posted a pair of 5-inning, lopsided home victories. A 10-0 blanking of Hayesville (1-14, 1-10) on Friday was eclipsed by a 14-4 disposal of Hiwassee Dam (7-7, 5-5) in a make-up affair Monday.
Benton Gibby lays it all on the line to snag a fly ball Tuesday against Hayesville. Gibby made the catch and Robbinsville went on to preserve an 11-7 win over the Yellow Jackets. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Benton Gibby lays it all on the line to snag a fly ball Tuesday against Hayesville. Gibby made the catch and Robbinsville went on to preserve an 11-7 win over the Yellow Jackets. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Buzzkills

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, April 25, 2024
As both the high school baseball and softball teams continue to vie for a piece of the conference title, the next generation of varsity players are showing that the standard can – and will – be matched for years to come.