LadyKnights

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.
Kelsey Waldroup sends a shot back into Franklin territory during Monday’s season opener against the Lady Panthers. Robbinsville would prevail in a five-set battle. Photos by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

Kelsey Waldroup sends a shot back into Franklin territory during Monday’s season opener against the Lady Panthers. Robbinsville would prevail in a five-set battle. Photos by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

Lady Knights undergo early test

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, August 19, 2021
Robbinsville – In their first outing of the season, the Robbinsville Lady Knights were pushed to their limit. And yet, they prevailed. It took five sets, but Robbinsville (1-0) bested the 3A Franklin Lady Panthers (0-1) to the tune of 14-25, 17-25, 27-25, 25-16, 10-15 on Monday night.
The 2021 Robbinsville Lady Knights are (front row, from left): Fala Welch, Zoie Shuler, Halee Anderson and Kensley Phillips. Back row (from left) are Yeika Jimenez, Aubrie Wachacha, Phoebe Rattler, Ivy Odom and Kylie Farley. Not pictured are Ally Ayers, Delaney Brooms, Tai Owle and Kelsey Waldroup. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

The 2021 Robbinsville Lady Knights are (front row, from left): Fala Welch, Zoie Shuler, Halee Anderson and Kensley Phillips. Back row (from left) are Yeika Jimenez, Aubrie Wachacha, Phoebe Rattler, Ivy Odom and Kylie Farley. Not pictured are Ally Ayers, Delaney Brooms, Tai Owle and Kelsey Waldroup. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Lady Knights eye return to prominence

Kevin Hensley
Wednesday, August 11, 2021
Robbinsville – Coming off a Smoky Mountain Conference title and the program’s first Elite 8 appearance since the 1980s, the Lady Knights understandably entered the 2020 season with a lot of swagger.
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.
Brock Adams (right) bested North Rowan’s Tsion Delaney by 0.10 seconds to win the 110-meter hurdles state championship Friday at N.C. A&T University in Greensboro. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Brock Adams (right) bested North Rowan’s Tsion Delaney by 0.10 seconds to win the 110-meter hurdles state championship Friday at N.C. A&T University in Greensboro. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Clearing the hurdle

Kevin Hensley
Wednesday, June 30, 2021
Greensboro – It took just 16.35 seconds for Brock Adams to etch his name into the record books. At Friday’s 1A state track meet, Adams crossed the finish line of the boys 110-meter hurdles in first place, edging out North Rowan’s Tsion Delaney by just .10 of a second.
The Robbinsville track program qualified 10 athletes for Friday's 1A state track meet. Kneeling in front are Hayden Stewart (left) and Cutler Adams. Standing in back are Zoie Shuler, Keylie Jordan, Lina Pagan, Haize Moore, Kensley Phillips and Caylin Lunsford. Not pictured are Brock Adams and Delaney Brooms. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

The Robbinsville track program qualified 10 athletes for Friday's 1A state track meet. Kneeling in front are Hayden Stewart (left) and Cutler Adams. Standing in back are Zoie Shuler, Keylie Jordan, Lina Pagan, Haize Moore, Kensley Phillips and Caylin Lunsford. Not pictured are Brock Adams and Delaney Brooms. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

And then, there were 10

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, June 24, 2021
* State track meet preview Cherokee – When the 1A state track meet takes place Friday at N.C. A&T in Greensboro, Robbinsville will be scattered across several events.
Aynsley Fink shows off a battle wound Saturday, moments after capturing the N.C. High School Athletic Association’s 106-pound championship at the Women’s Invitational in Kernersville. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Aynsley Fink shows off a battle wound Saturday, moments after capturing the N.C. High School Athletic Association’s 106-pound championship at the Women’s Invitational in Kernersville. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Blood Sport

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, June 24, 2021
Kernersville – Nobody stood a chance. Aynsley Fink mowed down three competitors Saturday at the N.C. High School Athletic Association Women’s Invitational, capturing the 106-pound state title with three decisive pinfall victories.
Aynsley Fink was all smiles June 10, moments after being named the Most Valuable Wrestler of the 2020-21 Smoky Mountain Conference Tournament. Fink became the first female to win a Smoky Mountain Conference tournament championship. Photo by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

Aynsley Fink was all smiles June 10, moments after being named the Most Valuable Wrestler of the 2020-21 Smoky Mountain Conference Tournament. Fink became the first female to win a Smoky Mountain Conference tournament championship. Photo by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

History in the making

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, June 17, 2021
Robbinsville – It seems that every time Aynsley Fink steps on the mat, another chapter is added to the annals of North Carolina High School women’s wrestling history.
The Robbinsville Black Knights won nine of the 14 weight classes contested in June 10’s Smoky Mountain Conference tournament. All names are listed from left. Kneeling in front are Jaret Panama (152 pounds), Luke Wilson (113), Aynsley Fink (106) and Jayden Nowell (126). Standing in back are Kage Williams, Wade Hamilton, Ben Wachacha, Kyle Fink and Carlos Wesley. Photo by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

The Robbinsville Black Knights won nine of the 14 weight classes contested in June 10’s Smoky Mountain Conference tournament. All names are listed from left. Kneeling in front are Jaret Panama (152 pounds), Luke Wilson (113), Aynsley Fink (106) and Jayden Nowell (126). Standing in back are Kage Williams, Wade Hamilton, Ben Wachacha, Kyle Fink and Carlos Wesley. Photo by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

14 divisions, 9 champions

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, June 17, 2021
Robbinsville – Another year, another thumping. For the fifth consecutive season, the Robbinsville Black Knights have laid claim to the Smoky Mountain Conference championship, after running up a team score of 230.5 points at June 10’s tournament.
One family, two awards, 30 years apart: Zoie Shuler (left) was named the Most Outstanding Female Track and Field Athlete of the Smoky Mountain Conference championship meet June 9. Her father Michael received the distinction of Most Outstanding Male Field Athlete in both 1991 and 1992. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

One family, two awards, 30 years apart: Zoie Shuler (left) was named the Most Outstanding Female Track and Field Athlete of the Smoky Mountain Conference championship meet June 9. Her father Michael received the distinction of Most Outstanding Male Field Athlete in both 1991 and 1992. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Family tradition

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, June 17, 2021
Cherokee – The sudden emergence of a Robbinsville freshman over the last month has shaken up the hopes of many girls track and field athletes who were hoping for a state championship bid. And the success is coming exactly 30 years after her father made waves of his own.