Even if Fall turns to Winter and the climate around Robinson seems to cool down, it isn’t that way for our sports teams. From Soccer to Wrestling and Cheer, these are Robinson’s MVPS, leading the Winter of the ’25 year.
Boys Soccer – Devon Richardson (’25)
For over eight years, Richardson has been playing soccer. Since joining the Robinson Boys Soccer Team during his freshmen year, he has only found the sport to be extremely rewarding, especially for himself, during the ’24-’25 season.
“So far the season has been decent. Some wins, some losses. Personally, I am doing very well, in the past 5 games, I have 9 goals, 2 assists, leading Robinson’s goal scoring for men’s soccer,” Richardson said.
Now as the main Boys Varsity Captain, Richardson has made it an absolute goal to be as strong of a leader as possible.
“A good leader is going to bring up the team morale, be strong, persistent and disciplined. I have those traits definitely,” Richardson said. “[That’s why] as captain, I am enforcing strict training to keep players disciplined.”
With Coach Robert’s continuous support, Alongside the help from the other captains, the rest of the Boys’ Soccer Season, led by Richardson, is looking bright.
Girls Soccer – Sophia Rodriguez (’26)
Rodriguez has been on the Girl’s Varsity Soccer Team since her Freshmen year, after playing the sport over seven years ago. Originally being pushed to join by her parents, Rodriguez ended up finding success and enjoyment from soccer, unlike the other sports she played.
“I continued [soccer] because I liked it more than any of the other sports I was in, like dance and gymnastics,” Rodriguez said. “I joined the high school soccer team because I had wanted a way to continue playing, I was planning on quitting club soccer, and I stayed because of how much fun it is.”
Rodriguez persistence through soccer paid off with her amassing 20 points and 8 assistance in her 41 games played with Robinson.
Rodriguez has had the support of the coach, the captains and even the teammates, in order to push her through the season.
“This year our captains are Jasmyn Mitchner (’26) and Larissa Levy (’25), two of the most wonderful and amazing girls I know, really talented too,” Rodriguez said. “[Our] coach is Vaugn Volpi, and he’s absolutely played such a huge role in our success so far. He’s always dedicating his time to us, planning events, helping us individually and emphasizing how important practice and dedication is.”
Much like the Boys team, Girl’s Varsity Soccer has had an overall good season so far, with a handful of wins and a few losses. If the first half of the season is anything to go by, the rest of the girls schedule is looking promising.
“Our season is off to a great start compared to the other years I’ve been on the team. We’re 5-2, with only losses to really strong schools like Steinbrenner and Alonso. I’m really looking forward to the rest of the season, since I know we’re only going to continue to improve,” Rodriguez said.
Boys Basketball – Kevin Hackett (’25)
Hackett has been a Robinson Athlete since his Freshmen year, playing specifically for the basketball team.
“[I’ve been on the basketball team for the] last four years. Two on JV, two on Varsity,” Hackett said.
While he didn’t play basketball much growing up, after joining the team his freshman year he quickly began to excel as a forward. This season he leads the team in two stats: rebounds per game(7.9 and blocks per game(0.8). Over his Robinson basketball career, Hackett averaged 4.5 rebounds per game and 3.4 points per game over 21 games.
Being a great player doesn’t make you a great teammate, but luckily Hackett takes the time to get to know his team.
Malik Williams (‘25) has played alongside Hackett since sophomore year. Despite sharing the position of forward, Hackett’s work ethic and overall good personality on and off the court has left a lasting impression on Williams.
”He is hard working and he gives his all out there, and he always keeps a great attitude,” Williams said.
With a new coach comes uncertainty, but also new opportunities. With Coach Briggs taking on the team, Hackett sees a good future for the team beyond his senior year.
“Coach Briggs. This is the new coach this year. I’d say he’s been doing good. He’s a good coach, as I see,” Hackett said.
Girls Basketball – Ava Godfrey (’25)
Godfrey has been on Robinson’s girl’s varsity basketball for four years. Basketball has been a part of Godfrey’s life since her early childhood, a fact that has led her to great success on the court.
“I’ve been playing basketball since I was six years old,” Godfrey said. “[I’ve been on varsity] for four years.”
Godfrey plays the point guard, a vital position for the team. She takes the position seriously, as her individual performance can mean a loss or a victory for the whole team, and it shows with her leading the teams in assists in a game, averaging at 4.9. In her career here at Robinson, Godfrey has amassed 11.9 points per game and 4 assists per game over 77 season games and championships.
“I’m the point guard, so I have to facilitate the ball, make sure it’s passed to all the teammates. Make sure everybody has a good attitude on the court,” Godfrey said.
Speaking of good attitude, Godfrey has the extra important job of being the only senior captain on the team.
“I’m the only Senior, and I’m the captain, but Natalie Ashlyn (’26) is also a captain,” Godfrey said.
Despite being the only senior, Godfrey takes the time to have fun with her team during practice and to maintain her connection to her team through experience.
“Probably all the fun we have at practice…it’s just a good experience. I would say winning districts my freshmen year was a pretty big experience,” Godfrey said.
Having been with the team through highs and lows, Godfrey is looking forwards to a fire senior year. With a nice record, girls’ basketball is shooting for districts at the end of the season.
“This season has been going really well this year. We’re 5-1 right now, so it’s a big improvement from last year, Godfrey said. “We’re trying to go to Districts… one of our main goals is to win against Plant,” Godfrey said.
Boys Wrestling – Arron McCarty (’26)
The drowning noise of wrestlers and referees surrounds McCarty, as he stands against an opponent. Dozens of other wrestlers compete in the Robinson Gym, but McCarty is only set on competing in this match.
With an astounding set of wrestlers this year, the boys wrestling team consists of a lot of people, but McCarty has pushed himself to stand out beside the other wrestlers.
McCarty has been on the Boys Wrestling team since his freshmen year, but he’s been participating in wrestling all his life.
“I’m a Junior but the standard is still the same,” McCarty said. “I have to be a leader and a good example, but the best way to do that is by action and just working hard.”
With the last two years of experience to back him, McCarty was able to make it far last year, but hopes to get even further this 2025 season.
“I made it into the blood rounds of regionals. I was one match away from States last year,” McCartey said. “I lost because I had an injury, but this time it’s different, I don’t plan on losing.”
With successes coming naturally for McCarty, a simple consequence of his work ethic, he’s influenced others on the team. Because success isn’t just won on the mat, but off of it too.
“McCarty has always been a lead-by-example, by all his hard work,” Wrestling Head Coach Montero said. “There wasn’t a day I don’t think that he took off. He was either working out, practicing or finding a place to practice. It was Sunday through Saturday, you know…he’s competed throughout not only the county, the state, [but] the nation.”
Girls Wrestling – Jayne Anne (’26)
Although only being a second-year member of the ever scaling-upwards Robinson Girls Wrestling Team, Junior Jayne Anne serves as an official leader and figurehead for the team.
“Me and Ariana Houghtaling (’26) are the team captains for Girls Varsity. I would definitely call myself a leader on the team,” Anne said.
With a strong first year on the team, Anne continues to pursue a hopefully strong season, despite constraints.
“Last year I was 2nd in districts and all of our girls made it to regionals,” Anne said. “So far this year I’ve done alright, but I definitely need to get into more of a wrestler’s mindset when I’m on the mat.”
Since joining, wrestling’s not just been about individual success, but about the relationships made with the other wrestlers and coaches for Anne. She reflects on specifically how great Head Coach Montero has been on her pathway to victory.
“[Montero]’s very laidback in some ways but you need to ‘walk through the fire with him to bask in the sunshine.’ Honestly, Montero is a pretty caring guy who just puts up a tough front and I think that’s what makes him such a good coach,” Anne said.
Seeing Anne on the team since 2024, Montero comments on all the ways she leads the team.
“[Anne] has really done well this beginning of the season. She’s showed that at her first tournament. She went out and has worked hard,” Montero said. “She went to regions last year. Every time it’s a surprise. Now she expects to win. I can see her with that same mindset, going into States.”
Cheer – Maddie McCauley (’25)
McCauley has been on the varsity Robinson Cheer Team since freshman year. Having stuck with the team for so long, McCauley has loved every little bit of the experience, but being a part of the team has been her favorite.
“My favorite part of being a Robinson cheerleader has to be the relationships that I have formed with all of my teammates,” McCauley said. “I’ve learned to love them all like sisters and I’m so grateful that we have each other so I can always support them and they can always support me,” McCauley said.
Forming connections isn’t the only thing McCauley learned from her time on the team. Being able to fail, grow, and compete have taught McCauley the value of an team and built up her confidence.
“I’ve learned so much about what it means to work with a team. This sport has also helped me build a lot of confidence,” McCauley said.
Coach Bri Godfrey has been the head cheerleader coach for the past three years. In her time spent coaching McCauley, she has come to rely on her to get things done.
“She’s my little doer, my task girl, she gets everything done,” Godfrey said.
With McCauley being injured her junior year, Godfrey was excited to see her be able to participate her senior year and watch her grow as an athlete again.
“It’s been really great to watch her get to actually participate her senior year and, you know, get to do this sport that she loves,” Godfrey said.
Godfrey has seen the result of McCauley’s work ethic and attitude beyond her recovery and connection to her team. While the entire team has improved exponentially since McCauley’s senior year, Godfrey has enjoyed seeing her rise up to become the cheerleader she is today.
“Our whole team has grown exponentially, skill wise in the last three years. Maddie falls into that as well, she’s a doer. She tries hard, she’s gotten much better over the last three years,” Godfrey said.
With the end of the season approaching, the team as a whole has a lot to look forwards to. With a very successful season last year, winning first place at their first competition this year, and winning second place in districts, the pressure is on to perform equal or better than last year in states and nationals.
“We wanna place in the top three at our national championship. That’s our goal for the season. We would like to do well at the state championship as well, but our main goal is to place in the top three for nationals,” Godfrey said.
