LadyKnights

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.
Freshman Presley Caylor (10) hit her first-ever varsity home run Monday, which gave the 16-win Robbinsville Lady Knights yet another achievement to celebrate amid what is already a monumental year for the program. Photo by Jacquline Gayosso/The Graham Star

Freshman Presley Caylor (10) hit her first-ever varsity home run Monday, which gave the 16-win Robbinsville Lady Knights yet another achievement to celebrate amid what is already a monumental year for the program. Photo by Jacquline Gayosso/The Graham Star

‘Back, back, gone!’

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, April 25, 2024
Eighteen games into the season, opponents are still trying to find the weak point on the Lady Knights’ roster. Good luck. Just in the last week, Robbinsville (16-2, 8-0) made short work of its latest sprint.
The Robbinsville Middle School Black Knights won the Smoky Mountain Conference track & field championship Monday at Cherokee. From left are Braylon Blevins, Cameron Allison, Xamuel Wachacha, Mason Silvers, Ben Koeller, Eli Lambert, Braydon Lane, head coach Wren Millsaps, Channing Mull and Colton McCoy. Not pictured are Austin Angelo, Ethan Chekeleelee, Kenai Wolfe, Carsan Snider, Kam Woods, Jaxson Blundell, Khayton Swimmer, Braydon Allison and Elijah Kirkland.

The Robbinsville Middle School Black Knights won the Smoky Mountain Conference track & field championship Monday at Cherokee. From left are Braylon Blevins, Cameron Allison, Xamuel Wachacha, Mason Silvers, Ben Koeller, Eli Lambert, Braydon Lane, head coach Wren Millsaps, Channing Mull and Colton McCoy. Not pictured are Austin Angelo, Ethan Chekeleelee, Kenai Wolfe, Carsan Snider, Kam Woods, Jaxson Blundell, Khayton Swimmer, Braydon Allison and Elijah Kirkland.

Strength in numbers

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, April 25, 2024
Cherokee – Just because you have a large quantity of athletes on your roster, it does not always mean you have a large amount of quality to go with it. But sometimes, the stars align.
Naomi Taylor – shown preparing for contact April 2 against Andrews – was keyed in during Robbinsville’s April 10 appointment at Western Carolina University, blistering three home runs in the Knights’ win over A.C. Reynolds. Photo by Jacquline Gayosso/The Graham Star

Naomi Taylor – shown preparing for contact April 2 against Andrews – was keyed in during Robbinsville’s April 10 appointment at Western Carolina University, blistering three home runs in the Knights’ win over A.C. Reynolds. Photo by Jacquline Gayosso/The Graham Star

We have liftoff

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, April 18, 2024
Cullowhee – Entering April 10’s neutral-site game against A.C. Reynolds, Naomi Taylor had exactly one home run on her resume.
Suri Watty connects for one of her three hits Friday. The sophomore second baseman totaled five hits, four RBI and two doubles in last week’s series with Andrews. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Suri Watty connects for one of her three hits Friday. The sophomore second baseman totaled five hits, four RBI and two doubles in last week’s series with Andrews. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Hits just keep comin’

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, April 11, 2024
An ecstatic Sophie Roberts signals toward the dugout after reaching second on a wild pitch Friday at Andrews. The Lady Knights were fired up from the word go last week, pouring a combined 32 runs in two games against the Lady Wildcats.

8 local ballers named All-Conference

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, April 4, 2024
The 2023-24 basketball season officially wrapped up after this year’s state champions were determined over the weekend of March 15-16. With the schedule in the rearview mirror, the Smoky Mountain Conference formally announced its annual All-Conference honorees.
Sydney Adams signals to the dugout after smacking a 2-run, game-tying double Monday at Tuscola. The Lady Knights went on to defeat the Lady Mountaineers, 5-3. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Sydney Adams signals to the dugout after smacking a 2-run, game-tying double Monday at Tuscola. The Lady Knights went on to defeat the Lady Mountaineers, 5-3. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

No foolin’ around

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, April 4, 2024
Waynesville – Flashes of just how dominant the Robbinsville Lady Knights can be were on full display Monday. Showing the respect warranted by the Knights’ program, Tuscola (4-7) tossed their No. 1 gun Addi Sampson inside the circle for Robbinsville’s third-straight road game.
Nothing could erase the smile of Anna Williams (4), who was greeted by her exuberant teammates following her first varsity home run Monday against Enka. Photo by Jacquline Gayosso/The Graham Star

Nothing could erase the smile of Anna Williams (4), who was greeted by her exuberant teammates following her first varsity home run Monday against Enka. Photo by Jacquline Gayosso/The Graham Star

Sugar Jets end Robbinsville’s perfect run

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, March 28, 2024
Robbinsville – Entering Monday, the question was seriously being floated around the area: can anyone derail the Robbinsville Lady Knights this year?