SMCWrestling

Black Knights senior Skyler Anderson signed a Letter of Intent to wrestle at Ottawa (Kan.) University on May 5. Seated with Anderson are Vickie and Dean Carpenter. Photo courtesy of Robbinsville Wrestling

Black Knights senior Skyler Anderson signed a Letter of Intent to wrestle at Ottawa (Kan.) University on May 5. Seated with Anderson are Vickie and Dean Carpenter. Photo courtesy of Robbinsville Wrestling

Braves scoop up another state champ

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, May 15, 2025
Robbinsville – It's no secret that Black Knights wrestling has built a strong reputation for itself. The championship tradition has spurned numerous candidates for collegiate programs to choose from – and Ottawa (Kan.) University has recently zeroed in on "The Ville's" top talent.
Loxston Hooper, Skyler Anderson and Adair Panama (from left) each conquered their respective brackets during the individual state tournament, bringing home three more gold medals for the reputable Black Knights’ wrestling program. Photo courtesy of Brooke Haney/Robbinsville Wrestling

Loxston Hooper, Skyler Anderson and Adair Panama (from left) each conquered their respective brackets during the individual state tournament, bringing home three more gold medals for the reputable Black Knights’ wrestling program. Photo courtesy of Brooke Haney/Robbinsville Wrestling

Tenacious Trio

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, March 6, 2025
Greensboro – The 31st, the 32nd and 33rd individual state wrestling champions in Robbinsville wrestling history had one thing on their minds when they jogged onto the floor of the First Horizon Coliseum: vindication. Each of them were visibly emotional when they got it.
Robbinsville wrestling’s seven state qualifiers stand proudly at the conclusion of the 1A Western Regional tournament Saturday. From left are Jonah Teesateskie, Loxston Hooper, Skyler Anderson, Lleyton Hooper, Adair Panama, Devin Hall and Kellen Ensley. Photo courtesy of Brooke Haney/Robbinsville Wrestling

Robbinsville wrestling’s seven state qualifiers stand proudly at the conclusion of the 1A Western Regional tournament Saturday. From left are Jonah Teesateskie, Loxston Hooper, Skyler Anderson, Lleyton Hooper, Adair Panama, Devin Hall and Kellen Ensley. Photo courtesy of Brooke Haney/Robbinsville Wrestling

Magnificent 7

Kevin Hensley
Friday, February 21, 2025
Cherryville – It is a tradition that will never get old: Robbinsville wrestling will be well-represented at this year’s traditional state tournament.
Robbinsville heavyweight Jonah Teesateskie (left) locks horns with Polk County's Brady Carroll during the third round of the 1A state duals Feb. 5. Teesateskie was 1-of-7 Black Knights to qualify for the individual state tournament. Photo by Kensie Belk/The Graham Star

Robbinsville heavyweight Jonah Teesateskie (left) locks horns with Polk County's Brady Carroll during the third round of the 1A state duals Feb. 5. Teesateskie was 1-of-7 Black Knights to qualify for the individual state tournament. Photo by Kensie Belk/The Graham Star

Knights compete for 1A gold

Kevin Hensley
Tuesday, February 18, 2025
This story will be updated Monday night with quick results from Robbinsville's journey through the 1A state individual tournament.
Adair Panama puts Polk County’s Liam Jackson in a world of hurt during the Feb. 5 third-round, dual-team postseason match. Robbinsville won the dual, but fell in the regional final to Mount Airy. Photos by Kensie Belk/The Graham Star

Adair Panama puts Polk County’s Liam Jackson in a world of hurt during the Feb. 5 third-round, dual-team postseason match. Robbinsville won the dual, but fell in the regional final to Mount Airy. Photos by Kensie Belk/The Graham Star

State duals evade Robbinsville

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, February 13, 2025
Columbus – With high hopes, “The Ville” loaded onto an activity bus Feb. 5 and traveled to the South Carolina border, hoping to return with the program’s second berth in the 1A dual team finals. Instead, Robbinsville (No. 2 seed, 26-8) was halted in the regional round for the third straight season.
Knox Orr controls Alleghany’s Elijah Barker during the second round of the state dual-team postseason Saturday. Orr went on to pin Barker and clinch a third-round berth for Robbinsville. Photos by Bella Eddings/The Graham Star

Knox Orr controls Alleghany’s Elijah Barker during the second round of the state dual-team postseason Saturday. Orr went on to pin Barker and clinch a third-round berth for Robbinsville. Photos by Bella Eddings/The Graham Star

3rd round bound

Kevin Hensley
Wednesday, February 5, 2025
Robbinsville – There’s a reason the third round of the dual-team postseason is dubbed the “Elite 8.” The Black Knights found out after Wednesday’s press deadline if their duals roster was strong enough to withstand another tough evening of competition, as Robbinsville (No.
Robbinsville’s Kellen Ensley brushed off a desperate attempt by North Henderson’s Aden Slusser to break up this standing single-leg to win the 215-pound bout in the third period Jan. 22. Photos by Bella Eddings/The Graham Star

Robbinsville’s Kellen Ensley brushed off a desperate attempt by North Henderson’s Aden Slusser to break up this standing single-leg to win the 215-pound bout in the third period Jan. 22. Photos by Bella Eddings/The Graham Star

Full steam ahead

Kevin Hensley
Friday, January 31, 2025
Robbinsville – State duals are right around the corner, but no matter the format in front of them when the Black Knights arrive to a gym, there is no disputing that the program is wrestling in top form. After celebrating Senior Night on Jan.
Skyler Anderson wraps up West-Oak’s Gunner Mease during the 106-pound finals of the James Orr Invitational on Saturday. Photos by Bella Eddings/The Graham Star

Skyler Anderson wraps up West-Oak’s Gunner Mease during the 106-pound finals of the James Orr Invitational on Saturday. Photos by Bella Eddings/The Graham Star

Anderson, Panama run the table

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, January 23, 2025
Adair Panama applies a low waist-lock on Glenn’s Yusel Aguilar en route to winning the 113-pound weight class Saturday. Robbinsville – Proving that less is better, the Black Knights’ two lightest grapplers sawed through the field during the James Orr Invitational on Saturday.
Ethan Webster hooks a half on Hayesville’s Mason Ray during Jan. 9’s Smoky Mountain Conference duals. Despite the bout being halted twice to plug a bloody nose, Webster scored a 20-5 technical fall and went 4-0 on the evening. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Ethan Webster hooks a half on Hayesville’s Mason Ray during Jan. 9’s Smoky Mountain Conference duals. Despite the bout being halted twice to plug a bloody nose, Webster scored a 20-5 technical fall and went 4-0 on the evening. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Divisional domination

Kevin Hensley
Tuesday, January 21, 2025
Robbinsville – The Black Knights once again showed why depth and talent equal supremacy in the Smoky Mountain Conference. A last-second shuffle led to Robbinsville hosting the annual league duals Jan.
Black Knight Lleyton Hooper secured his 100th career win at Saturday’s Enka Duals. With Hooper is assistant coach David Haney (left) and head coach Travis Hooper. Photos courtesy of Robbinsville Wrestling

Black Knight Lleyton Hooper secured his 100th career win at Saturday’s Enka Duals. With Hooper is assistant coach David Haney (left) and head coach Travis Hooper. Photos courtesy of Robbinsville Wrestling

Another Hooper wins 100

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, January 9, 2025
Candler – In resounding fashion, Lleyton Hooper joined an esteemed chapter of Robbinsville’s storied wrestling tradition. During the opening match of Saturday’s Enka Duals, the junior grappler dominated Union (Va.) High School’s Dylan Brugger.