LadyKnights

The Robbinsville Black Knights gather around their 27th Smoky Mountain Conference title, moments after defeating Swain County on Monday to clinch the prize. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

The Robbinsville Black Knights gather around their 27th Smoky Mountain Conference title, moments after defeating Swain County on Monday to clinch the prize. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Many have tried; many have fallen

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, January 25, 2024
Bryson City – With all the well-documented success the Robbinsville wrestling program has experienced since its 1976 launch, it would be easy to assume that an air of superiority exists for the Knights in the Smoky Mountain Conference.

Overtime thriller

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, January 18, 2024
Robbinsville – Inclement weather has thrown the 2023-24 Smoky Mountain Conference Middle School Tournament into chaos. All six of the scheduled quarterfinal games took place Saturday, but the semifinals have been placed on ice – not once, but twice.
Robbinsville’s Novie Dutcher (left) and Abby Wehr close in for a corner trap on Nantahala’s Zoey Passmore during the Lady Knights’ Jan. 11’s road win. Photos by Fala Welch/The Graham Star

Robbinsville’s Novie Dutcher (left) and Abby Wehr close in for a corner trap on Nantahala’s Zoey Passmore during the Lady Knights’ Jan. 11’s road win. Photos by Fala Welch/The Graham Star

Hawk-eye accuracy

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, January 18, 2024
Trey Lambert soars past the defense of Nantahala’s Landon Neal for a fourth-quarter basket Jan. 11. Nantahala – Set to embark on a 3-game loop through 75 percent of the Little Smoky Mountain Conference, Robbinsville’s time on the road was limited to just one game last week.
Robbinsville’s Kellen Ensley (215) stares down Mountain Heritage’s Braxton Batchelor at the dawn of overtime in the semifinals of Saturday’s James Orr Invitational. Ensley would soon take a 13-11 decision over Batchelor and was later named the Most Outstanding Boys Wrestler of the tournament. Photo by Audrey Colvin/The Graham Star

Robbinsville’s Kellen Ensley (215) stares down Mountain Heritage’s Braxton Batchelor at the dawn of overtime in the semifinals of Saturday’s James Orr Invitational. Ensley would soon take a 13-11 decision over Batchelor and was later named the Most Outstanding Boys Wrestler of the tournament. Photo by Audrey Colvin/The Graham Star

Mat masters

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, January 18, 2024
Robbinsville – Another year, another well-rounded showing in their annual home showcase. Saturday’s James Orr Invitational ushered 12 programs from three states into Graham County. But even in a tournament with classifications thrown out the window, the No.
Black Knights senior Kage Williams grapples with Brevard’s Ray Laney during Jan. 3’s home tri-match. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Black Knights senior Kage Williams grapples with Brevard’s Ray Laney during Jan. 3’s home tri-match. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Highway tested

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, January 11, 2024
"We're not afraid to travel" has been a long-standing mantra of the Robbinsville wrestling program. After all, how else can you test the theory of finding the best competition to make yourself the best if you are unwilling to log a few miles?
Senior center Aubrie Wachacha rips free from a rebound struggle with Highlands on Jan. 4. Wachacha’s early run in the game set the path for Robbinsville to conquer the Lady Highlanders. Photo by Fala Welch/The Graham Star

Senior center Aubrie Wachacha rips free from a rebound struggle with Highlands on Jan. 4. Wachacha’s early run in the game set the path for Robbinsville to conquer the Lady Highlanders. Photo by Fala Welch/The Graham Star

Another conference setback

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, January 11, 2024
Robbinsville – Coming off a decisive 45-29 win over Highlands on Jan. 4 – vindicating a 51-48 overtime triumph at Highlands on Dec. 8 – the Lady Knights appeared poised to steer the ship back on course in divisional action Friday.
The Robbinsville Middle School Black Knights gathered at half court in Bryson City on Monday to commemorate a 14-0 regular season after defeating Swain County in the finale. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

The Robbinsville Middle School Black Knights gathered at half court in Bryson City on Monday to commemorate a 14-0 regular season after defeating Swain County in the finale. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Knights cap unbeaten regular season

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, January 11, 2024
Bryson City – When the Robbinsville Middle School Black Knights completed the program’s first perfect regular season since a stretch of back-to-back, undefeated runs from 2009-11, there was very little fanfare.
The Black Knights gather around the inaugural “Mill vs. The ‘Ville” trophy, which was brought back to Robbinsville on Dec. 28 in the wake of a huge dual victory at Pisgah. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

The Black Knights gather around the inaugural “Mill vs. The ‘Ville” trophy, which was brought back to Robbinsville on Dec. 28 in the wake of a huge dual victory at Pisgah. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Long Black (Knight) Train

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, January 4, 2024
Canton – Duals seem to go one of two ways: either it’s clear from the outset who’s in control, or the competition is so fierce that it turns into a race to the finish. The Dec.
Suri Watty was lights out from beyond the arc in Dec. 27’s Smoky Mountain Christmas Invitational opener, posting six in Robbinsville’s victory over the Lady Mustangs. Photos by Fala Welch/The Graham Star

Suri Watty was lights out from beyond the arc in Dec. 27’s Smoky Mountain Christmas Invitational opener, posting six in Robbinsville’s victory over the Lady Mustangs. Photos by Fala Welch/The Graham Star

Back on track

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, January 4, 2024
Junior guard Claire Barlow works out of the corner and around the defense of Brevard’s Ella Scott on Dec. 29. Barlow finished with a team-best 19 points in the Christmas tournament finale.
Elijah Kirkland seemingly reaches into the lights – and over the plea of Andrews’ Tanner Postell – for two of his Black Knights-best 15 points in Dec. 14’s home win over the Wildcats. Photo courtesy of Jozlyn Garland/Contributing Photographer

Elijah Kirkland seemingly reaches into the lights – and over the plea of Andrews’ Tanner Postell – for two of his Black Knights-best 15 points in Dec. 14’s home win over the Wildcats. Photo courtesy of Jozlyn Garland/Contributing Photographer

On cusp of perfection

Kevin Hensley
Saturday, December 30, 2023
Robbinsville’s Bella Coats storms past the corner defense of Andrews’ Juliet Holloway on Dec. 14. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com Martins Creek – Things are pretty well in the bag at this juncture for the middle school Black Knights. Robbinsville (12-0) has already clinched the No.