NCHSAAFB

Cuttler Adams (4) leaves Hayesville’s Cameron Payne laying during Friday’s regular-season finale against Hayesville. Through eight games of his sophomore campaign, Adams has amassed 1,253 rushing yards and has found the end zone on 14 different occasions. Photos by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

Cuttler Adams (4) leaves Hayesville’s Cameron Payne laying during Friday’s regular-season finale against Hayesville. Through eight games of his sophomore campaign, Adams has amassed 1,253 rushing yards and has found the end zone on 14 different occasions. Photos by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville claims 3rd straight division title

Kevin Hensley
Friday, November 5, 2021
Robbinsville – If anyone was expecting a huge celebration at the end of Friday’s game, they were sorely disappointed.
Rossi Wachacha (seated, center) signed his letter of intent to play college football at Lenoir-Rhyne University on June 30. Front row (from left) are father Jeremy Wachacha, Rossi, brother Jace Smith, mother Melissa Smith and sister Jaxtyn Bark. Standing in back (from left) are Rossi' girlfriend Tishara Sneed, friend Court Carpenter, aunt Jennifer Wachacha, cousin Cannon Gross, aunt Paige Gross, grandfather Wayne Wachacha and cousin Dasan Gross. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Rossi Wachacha (seated, center) signed his letter of intent to play college football at Lenoir-Rhyne University on June 30. Front row (from left) are father Jeremy Wachacha, Rossi, brother Jace Smith, mother Melissa Smith and sister Jaxtyn Bark. Standing in back (from left) are Rossi' girlfriend Tishara Sneed, friend Court Carpenter, aunt Jennifer Wachacha, cousin Cannon Gross, aunt Paige Gross, grandfather Wayne Wachacha and cousin Dasan Gross. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Wachacha signs with Lenoir-Rhyne

Kevin Hensley
Saturday, July 10, 2021
Robbinsville – It was quite fitting that Rossi Wachacha signed to play college football on the same field where he made a name for himself.
Members of the Robbinsville football program share the final post-game prayer of the 2020-21 season moments after falling 24-14 to Murphy in the Western Regional championship game. The loss ended the Black Knights’ defense of the state 1A championship. Photos by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

Members of the Robbinsville football program share the final post-game prayer of the 2020-21 season moments after falling 24-14 to Murphy in the Western Regional championship game. The loss ended the Black Knights’ defense of the state 1A championship. Photos by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

All good things must come to an end

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, May 6, 2021
Robbinsville – It was the wrong time to have a bad game.
Rossi Wachacha’s blocked extra point in the second quarter prevented Mitchell from tying Friday’s game. Robbinsville went on to defeat the Mountaineers and advance to the 1A Western Regional Final with a 28-20 victory. Photo by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Rossi Wachacha’s blocked extra point in the second quarter prevented Mitchell from tying Friday’s game. Robbinsville went on to defeat the Mountaineers and advance to the 1A Western Regional Final with a 28-20 victory. Photo by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Fas10 your seatbelts

Kevin Hensley
Friday, April 30, 2021
Robbinsville – Nine of the last 10 Western Regional championships in the state 1A classification have been split between Robbinsville and Murphy. This Friday night, that statistic will increase to 10 of 11.
Senior running back Lex Hooper (20) pumps up his teammates during Friday’s first-round playoff matchup against Winston-Salem Preparatory Academy. Robbinsville would edge the Phoenix 42-40 for a wild double-overtime victory. Photos by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Senior running back Lex Hooper (20) pumps up his teammates during Friday’s first-round playoff matchup against Winston-Salem Preparatory Academy. Robbinsville would edge the Phoenix 42-40 for a wild double-overtime victory. Photos by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Like a Phoenix, we will rise

Kevin Hensley
Friday, April 23, 2021
Robbinsville – Plenty of adjectives exist, but “resilient” should be on the tip of your tongue. It took two free quarters of football and an immeasurable amount of tenacity, but the No. 2-seeded Robbinsville Black Knights (8-0) outlasted the No.
Robbinsville’s Ivy Odom (front) and Kensley Phillips work through a drill at a July 23 workout. Knights volleyball and cross-country will begin their 2020-21 season next month, but COVID-19 restrictions will keep spectators at a minimum. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville’s Ivy Odom (front) and Kensley Phillips work through a drill at a July 23 workout. Knights volleyball and cross-country will begin their 2020-21 season next month, but COVID-19 restrictions will keep spectators at a minimum. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Spectators limited for fall sports

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, October 22, 2020
Raleigh – An Oct. 15 announcement from the N.C. High School Athletic Association confirmed what many had feared: sports will begin next month, but crowds will be sparse. In the release, the association maintained its desire to mirror both advice from the N.C.
Members of the Robbinsville football team pose with their 1A state championship banner and trophy, after the Black Knights defeated the Northampton County Jaguars 45-14 at Duke University’s Wallace Wade Stadium. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Members of the Robbinsville football team pose with their 1A state championship banner and trophy, after the Black Knights defeated the Northampton County Jaguars 45-14 at Duke University’s Wallace Wade Stadium. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

14th crown for Title Town

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, December 19, 2019
Durham – It was the perfect way to cap off a perfect season.
Robbinsville quarterback Nathan Collins prepares to take the snap during the first half of Saturday's 1A state championship football game in Durham. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville quarterback Nathan Collins prepares to take the snap during the first half of Saturday's 1A state championship football game in Durham. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Black Knights win second 1A title of decade

Kevin Hensley
Saturday, December 14, 2019
Durham – Behind the strength of five Rylee Anderson touchdowns, a Cody Cline field goal and a rushing score from Lex Hooper, Robbinsville is back atop the 1A state mountaintop.

And then there was one ...

Kevin Hensley
Friday, December 13, 2019
Robbinsville – The Black Knights’ win over the Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy Gryphons on Friday ensured that a Smoky Mountain Conference team will appear in every 1A state championship football game of the decade. Robbinsville will now be the Western representative in three of the 10.
Members of the Robbinsville Black Knights crowd around the 1A Western Regional Championship trophy moments after defeating the Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy Gryphons 28-14 on Friday night. Photo by Byron Housley/The Graham Star

Members of the Robbinsville Black Knights crowd around the 1A Western Regional Championship trophy moments after defeating the Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy Gryphons 28-14 on Friday night. Photo by Byron Housley/The Graham Star

Kings of the West

Kevin Hensley
Friday, December 13, 2019
Robbinsville – In the final home game of the year, the Black Knights showed why they are 14-0. Robbinsville welcomed the Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy Gryphons on Friday night, to determine the 1A Western Regional champion.