The senior forward is a University of Cincinnati commit and the all-time leading scorer for the Braves, who have been nearly perfect so far this season.
WEEK 5 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
Talawanda is 8-0 overall and 6-0 in the Southwest Ohio Conference, outscoring its opponents 32-1. A Little Miami penalty kick is the only blemish on the Braves’ resume.
“We have 13 seniors. That’s a lot of leadership,” seventh-year Talawanda coach Heath Kelly said. “We knew we were going to score this season, but I’ve been impressed with how our ‘D’ has played in front of the goal. We lost almost the entire defensive line from last season.”
The Braves will take their best shot at earning some Greater Cincinnati respect Saturday when they travel to Greater Catholic League South Division c0-leader Moeller (8-0-1). Game time will be 1 p.m. at the Gerry Faust Athletic Complex.
“That’s going to be huge. We’re going to be amped and ready to play,” Robinson said. “I know a lot of guys on that team. I’m just really looking forward to playing a big team, getting some rankings out there, getting our names out there.”
Kelly is eager to find out how Talawanda stacks up with one of the area’s best programs.
“We see that as a big opportunity to make a statement,” he said. “We’ve got nothing to lose. If ever there was a Talawanda team that should be able to compete, this is the one.
“We haven’t played Moeller (since 2012), but if you want to run with big dogs, you’ve got to get off the porch. We’re going to see what we’ve got to earn some respect. You’re not going to earn it in the city voting just playing in the SWOC, so we’ve got to go after somebody.”
Robinson isn’t the only Brave with a knack for scoring. Talawanda has three of the SWOC’s top point producers, and that group includes seniors Quinn Flaspohler (four goals, eight assists) and Jake Kelly (three goals, seven assists).
“Quinn and Sam have a special bond,” Heath Kelly said. “They played together in club, and they come in here and just feed each other all season long. I love that.”
Senior Tommy Winkler is the goalkeeper, and he has 26 saves and a .960 save percentage. Classmate Ben Marks has appeared in four games and totaled nine saves.
Coach Kelly said seniors Tristan Fontaine and Max Farrell have been key figures in the Braves’ defensive excellence. Senior defensive holding midfielder Andy June has also been a standout.
“They’re all skilled,” Kelly said of his roster. “I’ve got a group of guys that has come up together and played with each other through the different levels. That experience shows itself when they’re playing out here. I don’t have any weak spots when they’re moving the ball around, and they all know their role.”
Robinson has been the SWOC’s No. 1 scorer the last two years. Talawanda hasn’t lost a conference match since 2015 and is striving to become the first team in program history to three-peat as a league winner.
“This is his year, and he’s shining like a player of his caliber should shine,” Kelly said of Robinson, who will be the first THS boys soccer player to compete at the NCAA Division I level next season. “He’s double-teamed and marked, and his numbers are still ridiculous. He plays with a lot of emotion.”
The Braves have another goal on their list: Getting past the second round of the Division I postseason. It’s never been done at Talawanda.
“I think this is the year,” Robinson said. “We hope to be the best team in Talawanda history. We want to leave our legacy.”
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