Crenshaw senior Talita Robinson is a quarterback for the girl’s flag football team. Last season, she led the team to the Open Division City Section playoffs. In their inaugural season, the Cougars had a 17-2 overall record and 13-0 Coliseum League record.
This season, Robinson is helping the Cougars be a dominant force in the Coliseum League. They are currently 10-0 in Coliseum League play, flaunting a 12-4 overall record.
“I like inspiring my team and I like pushing them to be better. I like pushing them to be the best them they can be,” Robinson said. “Being a leader really means a lot to me because I know they look to me for inspiration, help.”
Last season, Robinson learned that having patience is key when playing flag football. She knows that she must keep a level head when dealing with the different personalities on the team as well as their competition.
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“If you’re not patient, everything will crumble,” she said. “I’ve learned that it don’t always have to be the big play, the small plays count. And I kind of took that off the field too. Everything don’t have to be big and extravagant.”
Last season, Robinson played short stop for the Crenshaw softball team. Her quick thinking and arm strength helped her become a shortstop.
“To be shortstop, you got to really get that ball to first base,” she said. “Football correlates with softball a lot, especially when it comes to moving around, the drive.”
Robinson came on the softball team not knowing much about the sport. She enjoyed learning the fundamentals and had fun competing in a different sport.
Being a student athlete means to consistently find a balance between athletics and academics, no matter how demanding both obligations can become.
“It means dedication, to be focused, to persevere, even when it gets hard,” Robinson said. “You can have three games in a week and two essays and five assignments and you just got to get it done.”
Robinson normally works on her homework in class to manage her academic and athletic obligations. This method is especially helpful on gamedays. She enjoys her government class because of how her teacher engages with the students.
“She’s a very hands-on teacher … she’s teaching you what government is and about the latest updates about life,” Robinson said. “She’s actually involved. She comes to our games.”
Her goal this season is to win a championship for the Cougars.
Robinson enjoys watching her teammates improve. She makes sure to encourage and celebrate them throughout the season.
“These girls don’t understand how much I love them, how much I appreciate them,” Robinson said. “I really go home and think about how much potential they have. Every time we play is a memorable moment.”