Showcase Q&A: Macomb’s Robinson discusses her sister’s influence, making Bombers history and riding bikes
The fourth annual Muddy River Showcase takes place June 21 at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. The girls game will tip at 2 p.m. with the boys game to follow at 4 p.m. General admission is $10.
MACOMB, Ill. — Kylie Robinson picked up some sage advice from her older sister, Kaitlyn, while being recruited to play college basketball.
“She was like, ‘Go where you like,’” Robinson said. “She told me to make sure I liked the atmosphere and the team I would be around.”
Kaitlyn Robinson found that to be the case twice in her career. The Macomb graduate spent the past two seasons pitching for the Heartland Community College softball team and is transferring to Eureka College to finish her career.
Watching her sister succeed and enjoy each and every moment had an impact on Kylie.
“I always wanted to play in college, but I saw how much fun she was having with her teammates and just getting to try new things,” said Kylie, a recent Macomb graduate who was a three-sport standout and will be playing basketball at Lincoln Land Community College. “I wanted to try new things as well.”
But her big sister’s influence isn’t limited to the court or the field. It extends to the kitchen.
“One that my sister brought home that will be easy to make in college is a steamer and rice,” Robinson said. “Steamed broccoli. It’s really good.”
Before she begins cooking for herself at college, Robinson will represent the Bombers one final time in the fourth annual Muddy River Showcase. She recently chatted with Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman about choosing Lincoln Land, making history with the Macomb girls soccer program, and biking for this Showcase Q&A.
Q: What made you decide Lincoln Land is where you wanted to go?
A: When I went and visited, I really liked it. The coaches were very competitive, so I liked that. They were nice, too. And I really liked the campus.
Q: Did the fact it was in Springfield and there is plenty to do influence your decision?
A: Not really. Other places I visited had quite a bit of stuff, too. After I visited and I really liked it, it felt right. I’ve been around Springfield a lot playing traveling softball, so I was familiar with some of the options there.
Q: Was making basketball your choice over other sports an easy choice?
A: I’d say so. For a little bit, I debated possibly playing a second sport. Ultimately, I knew I wanted to play basketball.
Q: What is about basketball that made you want to continue playing?
A: It has always been my favorite sport growing up, especially with my family playing pickup games in our driveway, playing with friends at the YMCA. And I love being able to control the game.
Q: What has you ready to be a college athlete?
A: I want to be better at my sport and go on to play at a high level in future years.
Q: What is the best advice you have ever received?
A: I’ve heard it from several different people, and it’s always try your best and never giving up when it gets hard.
Q: How much of an influence has your mom, Shawna, who is a coach, been in helping you and your sister succeed?
A: She’s been a huge factor. She’s always our No. 1 supporter and she’s really made us stay dedicated to lifting and practicing our sports as well.
Q: How nice is it to be able to go home and talk about games and practices with her?
A: It’s definitely a big help because she knows what she is talking about, and she always gives good advice to help us make our decisions.
Q: What advice would you give your younger Macomb teammates?
A: To make the most of it, have fun, try hard at everything you do and don’t give up on it.
Q: What was your favorite moment of your high school career?
A: There are definitely a lot, but for basketball, I would say hitting 1,000 points because of how supportive everyone was.
Q: Will winning the first regional championship in girls soccer in program history rank pretty high as well?
A: Oh, yes, definitely.
Q: What was that moment like for you?
A: It was really exciting and I was glad I was able to do it with some of my closest friends. That made it even more fun.
Q: Do you know what you want to study at Lincoln Land?
A: I’m going in as a business major right now.
Q: Do you know what you want to do with it?
A: No, I haven’t decided yet. I have time to figure it out.
Q: What did you enjoy about going to school at Macomb?
A: I like that it wasn’t too big of a school, but it wasn’t a small school either.
Q: What was the atmosphere like at home games in the Washington Street gym?
A: We had a lot of fans, not just parents, but other adults in the community came to our games. When our student section was good, they were always really loud.
Q: When you want to get away from sports, what do you do for fun?
A: I ride bikes. If I’m on vacation, we go hiking a lot.
Q: Is there a memorable play you have gone hiking?
A: Colorado was really cool. There were several different sites we went to.
Q: Where do you go bike riding?
A: I usually ride through town, but there have been several different times where me and my family have ridden trails through Spring Lake or Argyle Lake.
Q: What do you enjoy about riding bikes?
A: It’s a faster pace than walking, and it’s just relaxing. It’s not like running where you’re exerting a lot of energy, but you’re still going faster.
Q: Are you going to take a bike to college?
A: Maybe.
Check out more of the Muddy River Showcase Q&As at the links below:
Payson Seymour’s Blake Schwartz
South Shelby’s Callie McWilliams
West Hancock’s Lewis Siegfried
Quincy Notre Dame’s Alex Dance
Central-Southeastern’s Lauren Miller
Camp Point Central’s Elijah Genenbacher
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