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Brotherly Love
Mount St. Joseph has produced its share of great athletes, none, however, like Renard and Jalen Robinson.
Renard is a senior wide receiver for the football team and has helped lead the Gaels to a 7-2 record this season. Younger brother Jalen is a freshman starter on Mount St. Joe's soccer team, which made it to the championship game in the MIAA A Conference this season.
Renard Robinson has scored a touchdown in every game this season and is his team’s leading rusher, gaining many of those yards on reverses and direct snaps. He is also the team’s leading receiver.
Not many freshmen can start and succeed in MIAA A Conference soccer. But Jalen Robinson is not a normal freshman. With a combination of speed, intelligence and strength, Jalen played offense, midfield and defense for Mount St. Joe and is being pursued by the U.S. National team.
The brothers’ athletic achievements are unmatched, but they might be more respected for the way they handle themselves off the field.
“Renard is one of those kids that I know I will not have to worry about after high school,” said head varsity football coach Chuck Armstrong. “I know he will do the right thing.”
Varsity soccer coach Mike St. Martin said Jalen is "a great player but most importantly, a better person.”
The younger brother usually follows the older brother in everything he does; however, Jalen chose soccer instead of football in large part because his mom believed that he was too small to play football. Even if Jalen didn’t follow Renard on the football field, the older Robinson knows he's a role model to his brother.
“I know he looks up to me,” said Renard, looking over at his brother with a smile. “It’s natural to do the right thing because of how I was raised.”
"My mom always says ‘do as well as your brother,’” Jalen said. “He always told me to do my work first, that's the most important thing.”
Jalen believes this is what helps make Renard as successful as he is today. The Robinson brothers are both thinking about life after sports and have set many goals in their lives.
“Neither of our parents graduated from college and they want us to be better then they were,” Renard said. “So that is something that is very important to us.”
Achieving in life is more important to both of them then achieving on the field. Both brothers look at sports as a way for them to get into a great school and get a top-notch education.
“I want to do something in the science field,” Jalen said. “I have always wanted to be a paleontologist.”
Renard has his sights set on the business world. He hopes to get a degree in sports management and then pursue graduate school.
Renard and Jalen Robinson embody everything that is good on and off the field. Renard is graduating this year and has offers from Richmond, James Madison and Towson University but has yet to make a decision. Jalen could be training with the U.S. National soccer team in Florida as early as next season.
Many great High School athletes only look to the now, but Renard and Jalen Robinson are looking to the future. They put education first and sports second.
That said, most observers have little doubt that we will see Renard in the NFL and Jalen representing the United States in the World Cup.
Posted Nov. 25, 2008
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