LadyJackets

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.
Lady Knights point guard Zayleigh Chekelelee scans the floor for passing options Monday against Hayesville. Chekelelee recorded 22 points against the Lady Jackets in Robbinsville’s victory. Photo by Bella Eddings/The Graham Star

Lady Knights point guard Zayleigh Chekelelee scans the floor for passing options Monday against Hayesville. Chekelelee recorded 22 points against the Lady Jackets in Robbinsville’s victory. Photo by Bella Eddings/The Graham Star

Stung on the Chek

Kevin Hensley
Friday, December 6, 2024
Robbinsville – The middle school Lady Knights quickly reversed what looked to be a post-Thanksgiving lull Monday, drubbing Hayesville 51-36 at Robbinsville Elementary School. Competing for the first time since Nov.
The Lady Knights prepare to defend the back row Tuesday against Swain County. Pictured are Claire Barlow, Daphne Barlow (5), Ryn Hooper and Liz Carpenter (20). Photo by Cheyanne Geyer/The Graham Star

The Lady Knights prepare to defend the back row Tuesday against Swain County. Pictured are Claire Barlow, Daphne Barlow (5), Ryn Hooper and Liz Carpenter (20). Photo by Cheyanne Geyer/The Graham Star

Knights fighting for postseason spot

Kevin Hensley
Friday, October 11, 2024
Robbinsville – Tuesday was one of the most important matches for Lady Knights volleyball in quite some time. Attempting to stay in the playoff conversation, Robbinsville held its annual “Pink Night” – a fundraiser for the Graham Cancer Support Group – by hosting Swain County.

Success halted

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, September 5, 2024
Hayesville – The Lady Knights carried a 17-set win streak into Tuesday’s Smoky Mountain Conference showdown at Hayesville.
It was smiles all around for Robbinsville volleyball Saturday, as the Lady Knights swept the field clean in a tournament at Chase High School. Counting Tuesday’s win over Murphy, Robbinsville has won 14 straight sets. From left are Suri Watty, Daphne Barlow, Khaygen Buchanan, Chloe Adams, Olivia Lewis (in back), Claire Barlow, Liz Carpenter and Ryn Hooper. Photo courtesy of RHS Volleyball

It was smiles all around for Robbinsville volleyball Saturday, as the Lady Knights swept the field clean in a tournament at Chase High School. Counting Tuesday’s win over Murphy, Robbinsville has won 14 straight sets. From left are Suri Watty, Daphne Barlow, Khaygen Buchanan, Chloe Adams, Olivia Lewis (in back), Claire Barlow, Liz Carpenter and Ryn Hooper. Photo courtesy of RHS Volleyball

Showing up and showing out

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, August 29, 2024
A sleeping giant has been inadvertently awoken. Down 2-0 in an Aug. 22 road match at Asheville, the Lady Knights made some adjustments between sets two and three – simply hoping to keep the contest alive.
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.
Robbinsville senior Delaney Brooms unloads a 3-point attempt over the defense of Hayesville’s Emma Ashe during Feb. 20’s meeting in the semifinals of the conference tournament. The Knights and Jackets were paired together in the first round of the playoffs exactly one week later, with Hayesville pulling away late to advance in the postseason race. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville senior Delaney Brooms unloads a 3-point attempt over the defense of Hayesville’s Emma Ashe during Feb. 20’s meeting in the semifinals of the conference tournament. The Knights and Jackets were paired together in the first round of the playoffs exactly one week later, with Hayesville pulling away late to advance in the postseason race. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Lady Knights unable to recreate playoff magic

Kevin Hensley
Friday, March 1, 2024
Hayesville – It was the fourth time this year that Robbinsville had drawn the Lady Jackets as its opponent. The Lady Knights made the trek to Clay County on Tuesday to face their conference rival in the first round of the state playoffs. Robbinsville (No.