SMCWrestling

The Robbinsville Black Knights pause to celebrate their second-straight Falcon Frenzy victory Saturday.

The Robbinsville Black Knights pause to celebrate their second-straight Falcon Frenzy victory Saturday.

Black Knights again conquer Falcon Frenzy

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, December 22, 2022
Hendersonville – For the second-straight season, Robbinsville wrestling stood atop the Falcon Frenzy standings. The two-day tournament – held each year at West Henderson High School – concluded Saturday, with Robbinsville posting 176 team points to wrap up the championship.
Robbinsville senior Willie Riddle locks horns with Franklin’s Chase Browning during the Nov. 30 home dual against the Panthers. Photo courtesy of Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Robbinsville senior Willie Riddle locks horns with Franklin’s Chase Browning during the Nov. 30 home dual against the Panthers. Photo courtesy of Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

‘The ‘Ville’ off to 10-1 start

Kevin Hensley
Friday, December 9, 2022
Robbinsville – The only surefire way to ensure improvement from start to finish is to get in as many live-action reps as possible. Back for his fourth stint as the Black Knights’ head coach, David Haney has packed Robbinsville’s 2022-23 schedule with a wide variety of competition.
Loxston Hooper, Kage Williams and Adair Panama (from left) sport the championship belts they received for conquering their respective weight classes at the Nov. 23 Jet Invitational. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Loxston Hooper, Kage Williams and Adair Panama (from left) sport the championship belts they received for conquering their respective weight classes at the Nov. 23 Jet Invitational. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Knights snack on pre-holiday opposition

Kevin Hensley
Friday, December 2, 2022
Candler – Robbinsville’s wrestling program set up shop at Enka High School last week and, in the tradition of the holiday season, carved up the competition. A dual against the T.C. Roberson Rams on Nov.
Kage Williams maintains top control over Cherokee’s Vincent Owle during a Nov. 15 dual. A two-time state champion, Williams won the 195-pound bracket at Saturday’s Dekota Smith Invitational. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Kage Williams maintains top control over Cherokee’s Vincent Owle during a Nov. 15 dual. A two-time state champion, Williams won the 195-pound bracket at Saturday’s Dekota Smith Invitational. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Knights trio dominates invitational

Kevin Hensley
Tuesday, November 22, 2022
Hudson – Kage Williams has already won two 1A state championships. In two different weight classes. So it was little surprise that Robbinsville’s top grappler went 3-0 against competition from 2A, 3A and 4A at Saturday’s Dekota Smith Invitational, as Williams easily won the 195-pound bracket.
Pictured are members of the 2022-23 Robbinsville High School wrestling program. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Pictured are members of the 2022-23 Robbinsville High School wrestling program. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Technically proficient

Kevin Hensley
Friday, November 11, 2022
* Robbinsville wrestling season preview Robbinsville – How do you respond to a season which saw five state champions crowned? Simple: you go back to the basics.
The Robbinsville wrestling program is adding another chapter to its historic legacy: the first-ever Lady Knights team, comprised of girls from Robbinsville Middle School. The coaches are Josh Winfrey (far left) and Sarah Orr (far right).

The Robbinsville wrestling program is adding another chapter to its historic legacy: the first-ever Lady Knights team, comprised of girls from Robbinsville Middle School. The coaches are Josh Winfrey (far left) and Sarah Orr (far right).

Break the walls down

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, October 27, 2022
Robbinsville – As times change, so do the environments that surround us. When the Far West Wrestling program picked up steam last winter, it was mostly because of the unusually-high amount of girls that trotted onto the mat to grapple. Yes, girls.
Ben Wachacha recently traveled to Greensboro, to represent Robbinsville in the AAU Junior Olympics.

Ben Wachacha recently traveled to Greensboro, to represent Robbinsville in the AAU Junior Olympics.

Reaching Olympian levels of success

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, August 11, 2022
Greensboro – For Ben Wachacha, William Cable and Caden Lail, the last two weeks have been perhaps some of the most exciting of their young lives.
Carlos Wesley (seated, center) signed to wrestle at Lincoln Memorial University on Sunday. Surrounding Wesley are family and friends, including mother Scharlene Hardrick (seated, left) and Vincent Wesley, Bryan Wesley, Jasper Knighton, Staci Knighton, Seth Lawson, Jennifer Wesley, Briley Powers and Steven Hardrick (back row, from left). Photo courtesy of Todd Odom/Contributing Photographer

Carlos Wesley (seated, center) signed to wrestle at Lincoln Memorial University on Sunday. Surrounding Wesley are family and friends, including mother Scharlene Hardrick (seated, left) and Vincent Wesley, Bryan Wesley, Jasper Knighton, Staci Knighton, Seth Lawson, Jennifer Wesley, Briley Powers and Steven Hardrick (back row, from left). Photo courtesy of Todd Odom/Contributing Photographer

No split decision here

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, June 30, 2022
Robbinsville – It was well worth the wait.
Todd Odom (left) – who just retired after coaching the Black Knights for 18 years – pauses with David Haney at a banquet in Asheville. Haney has been named as Odom’s successor, which will be the fourth time Haney has been the head coach of the Robbinsville wrestling program.

Todd Odom (left) – who just retired after coaching the Black Knights for 18 years – pauses with David Haney at a banquet in Asheville. Haney has been named as Odom’s successor, which will be the fourth time Haney has been the head coach of the Robbinsville wrestling program.

Back at the helm: Haney new wrestling coach

Kevin Hensley
Monday, June 20, 2022
Robbinsville – After nearly four months of speculation and uncertainty, Todd Odom’s replacement as Robbinsville High School’s head wrestling coach has been announced. And it is a familiar face. David Haney was selected from a pool of applicants to take over the storied tradition of “The ’Ville.
The 2021-22 Robbinsville High School wrestling coach staff was recently named the National Wrestling Coaches Association’s Boys Assistant Staff of the Year for North Carolina. From left are Colby White, D.J. Robinson, Weston Haney, Josh Winfrey, head coach Todd Odom, James Keifer, Travis Hooper, Billy Knight, Irvin Portugal, Wren Millsaps and Josiah Phillips. Not pictured are Jason Tom Sawyer, Brandon Lee and Carter Williamson. Photo courtesy of Maria Shook Photography

The 2021-22 Robbinsville High School wrestling coach staff was recently named the National Wrestling Coaches Association’s Boys Assistant Staff of the Year for North Carolina. From left are Colby White, D.J. Robinson, Weston Haney, Josh Winfrey, head coach Todd Odom, James Keifer, Travis Hooper, Billy Knight, Irvin Portugal, Wren Millsaps and Josiah Phillips. Not pictured are Jason Tom Sawyer, Brandon Lee and Carter Williamson. Photo courtesy of Maria Shook Photography

The Dirty (Baker’s) Dozen

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, June 2, 2022
Manheim, Pa. – It’s hard to argue the logic. The Robbinsville Black Knights’ coaching staff has been named the National Wrestling Coaches Association’s Boys Assistant Staff of the Year for North Carolina.