Cherokee

Robbinsville’s Aaliyah Wolfe keeps a watchful eye on a Swain County player during Nov. 4’s season opener.

Robbinsville’s Aaliyah Wolfe keeps a watchful eye on a Swain County player during Nov. 4’s season opener.

Middle school Lady Knights back in win column

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, November 21, 2024
The Robbinsville Middle School Lady Knights shook off back-to-back losses Nov. 14, upending the visiting Hiwassee Dam/Ranger Lady Eagles 49-35.  Robbinsville (2-3) ran away with the game by opening up a 24-6 lead at the outset of the second quarter.
The expression concerning football being a “game of inches” was illustrated nicely by Robbinsville Mites quarterback Kyson Carpenter on Saturday, as the 11-year-old stretched to break the plane and give the Black Knights another Cracker Bowl title. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

The expression concerning football being a “game of inches” was illustrated nicely by Robbinsville Mites quarterback Kyson Carpenter on Saturday, as the 11-year-old stretched to break the plane and give the Black Knights another Cracker Bowl title. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

‘Mighty Mites’ retain title

Kevin Hensley
Wednesday, November 6, 2024
Until someone manages to flip the script, get used to the sight of the Robbinsville Mites standing tall at the end of each year. The group won its fourth Cracker Bowl championship Saturday, prevailing 6-0 over Swain County.
Daphne Barlow, Claire Barlow and Ryn Hooper (clockwise, from top left) celebrate after a block Oct. 10 against Cherokee. Photos by Cheyanne Geyer/The Graham Star

Daphne Barlow, Claire Barlow and Ryn Hooper (clockwise, from top left) celebrate after a block Oct. 10 against Cherokee. Photos by Cheyanne Geyer/The Graham Star

Lady Knights reach tourney semifinals

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, October 17, 2024
Zaelyn Phillips takes flight for a push during Oct. 10’s JV clash against the Lady Braves. Cherokee – At Wednesday’s press deadline, the Lady Knights were still in the hunt for significant bragging rights in the Smoky Mountain Conference.
Senior Roman Jones prepares to lower the boom on Cherokee’s Kingston Welch en route to one of his five trips into the end zone Friday. Photos by Royce Worbington/The Graham Star

Senior Roman Jones prepares to lower the boom on Cherokee’s Kingston Welch en route to one of his five trips into the end zone Friday. Photos by Royce Worbington/The Graham Star

Roman Empire

Kevin Hensley
Friday, October 11, 2024
The box score from Oct. 4, 2024's game between Cherokee and Robbinsville. Robbinsville – One game removed from a breakout performance, Roman Jones tied a record set by his father some 32 years ago.
Robbinsville senior Liz Carpenter (20) looks to tip the ball past Hiwassee Dam’s Olivia McNabb during Monday’s sweep of the Lady Eagles. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville senior Liz Carpenter (20) looks to tip the ball past Hiwassee Dam’s Olivia McNabb during Monday’s sweep of the Lady Eagles. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Conference struggles continue

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, September 26, 2024
Cherokee – Two matches stand between the Lady Knights and a long-awaited return to the friendly confines of home. Robbinsville has been inundated with road matches this year, including playing the first 5-of-6 Smoky Mountain Conference affairs outside its home gym.
Cameron Allison ran wild on defense for the Black Knights during Sept. 5’s Smoky Mountain Conference opener at Cherokee, scoring on an interception and punt return in Robbinsville’s trouncing of the Braves. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Cameron Allison ran wild on defense for the Black Knights during Sept. 5’s Smoky Mountain Conference opener at Cherokee, scoring on an interception and punt return in Robbinsville’s trouncing of the Braves. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

JV Black Knights run wild

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, September 12, 2024
Cherokee – Three defensive touchdowns, two scoring receptions and a 56-yard rush to the end zone.  No, the JV Robbinsville Black Knights (3-0) did not have the cheat codes turned on when they stepped off the bus at Cherokee on Sept.
The Robbinsville Middle School Lady Knights capped an unblemished 13-0 season by downing Cherokee 16-5 on Monday to win the conference title game. All names are listed from left. Front row: Bella Coats, Khaygen Buchanan, Loxley Burke, Daphne Barlow, Kynadee Spencer, Lexie Williams and Zeyli Williams. Back row: Assistant coach Lauren Silvers, Natalee Myers, Mylee Webster, Lakin Orr, Alyssa Bohn, Ella Nelms, Jayden Chekeleelee, Myah Winfrey and head coach Anna Stewart.

The Robbinsville Middle School Lady Knights capped an unblemished 13-0 season by downing Cherokee 16-5 on Monday to win the conference title game. All names are listed from left. Front row: Bella Coats, Khaygen Buchanan, Loxley Burke, Daphne Barlow, Kynadee Spencer, Lexie Williams and Zeyli Williams. Back row: Assistant coach Lauren Silvers, Natalee Myers, Mylee Webster, Lakin Orr, Alyssa Bohn, Ella Nelms, Jayden Chekeleelee, Myah Winfrey and head coach Anna Stewart.

2 for the price of 1

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, May 16, 2024
Hiwassee Dam – For one team, the championship was a foregone conclusion. For the other, it was a first. Robbinsville Middle School shipped both its baseball and softball teams to Hiwassee Dam on Monday to play in their respective de facto Smoky Mountain Conference title games.
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.

Knights falter late, suffer 1st loss

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, March 28, 2024
Cherokee – Things seemed well in-hand for Robbinsville Middle School’s baseball team March 21. Carrying a 9-6 lead into the bottom of the first, the Black Knights were three outs from starting the season 5-0.