“Playing three sports has really built me up as an athlete and as a person,” said Ben Davis junior Kansas Robinson. Robinson is a varsity starter in volleyball, basketball, and softball. In fact, she has seen action in all three sports since her freshman year.
Robinson’s top sport is softball, the sport in which she was unable to have a sophomore season because of COVID-19. But when the season was canceled last spring, Robinson did not put that time to waste. “I feel like since quarantine I’ve worked harder than I ever have before,” said Robinson. “I’ve had so much time to really get my stuff together and realize if I want to be the best player I can be, I have to put in that work.”
Whether it was hitting lessons, working out in the backyard alone, or simply running with her dog, Robinson was “always working.” And that hard work has paid off as the shortstop had a .582 batting average with 11 home runs and 41 RBIs in the regular season. She leads the Ben Davis Giants in each of those statistical categories. Robinson also recently made the All-Marion County team, as voted on by coaches.
Participating in a variety of sports has also helped Robinson with her leadership skills. “It’s taught me so much how to deal with different types of people,” said Robinson. “I love competition, I love all the sports I play.”
What’s even more ridiculous about Robinson is that she committed to play softball at Northwestern University when she was in the eighth grade. That’s right, she committed prior to even beginning high school. “I went on the visit and I fell in love.” The Wildcats first contacted her at the beginning of her eighth-grade year and by February, she was committed. “I never really looked into Northwestern until they started recruiting me,” notes Robinson.
Robinson’s own persistence is what got her recognition from Division I schools in middle school. “I emailed coaches constantly asking them to come watch me play,” said Robinson. “I made so many phone calls, and spoke with a whole bunch of coaches.” Once these coaches saw her travel ball performances for Indiana Magic Gold (IMG), they knew she had the talent to play at the Division 1 level.
The academic prestige of Northwestern is what set the university apart for Robinson. She realizes the value of her education, saying, “Softball’s not always going to be there for me in the future.” Robinson, whose mother is a nurse, hopes to one day become a doctor. “I feel like my purpose in life is to help people,” said Robinson, adding that she enjoys working with kids.
The IHSAA softball state tournament begins this week with sectionals starting today. Kansas Robinson and the Ben Davis Giants will compete in Sectional 10 at Pike, with a game tonight against MIC opponent Lawrence North. No matter what happens in the sectional, Kansas Robinson will continue to be a winner in sports, and in life.
Zion Brown reports on local sports stories as part of the NextGen Sports/Recorder Media Group collaboration. Reach him at info@thenxgen.org.