By Bridget Letukas
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 3/13/09
Ask Kelsi Robinson, the senior captain at Washington and Lee University, what she admires about her head coach, Brook Diamond, and she responds free of pause.
“She’s definitely been a real inspiration,” said Robinson, the Wapner Newman Wigrizer & Brecher Collegiate Scholar-Athlete of the Week. “She’s dedicated beyond belief. I
admire that she works hard for everything she’s done.”
What Diamond did was to follow her passion, giving up her job to pursue coaching her true joy – lacrosse.
As if a staggering list of statistics doesn’t prove the quick study Robinson is under her second-year coach, the Westtown School graduate has already learned what takes others years to learn: follow your passion.
So the Spanish and Psychology major is doing just that.
Inspired by a high school exchange experience in Mexico, Robinson is determined to become a counselor to Latin children in a non-profit situation.
“I’ve always loved kids, and I went to Mexico and fell in love with it,” said the West Chester native of her plan to blend both passions.
Robinson’s passions also have translated to success on and off the field at Washington and Lee. She has earned both school and Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Scholar-Athlete honors.
On the field, Robinson was named third-team Division III All-American and first-team ODAC last year when she amassed 25 goals and 29 assists. In her career, Robinson currently ranks fifth all-time at W&L in career points (173) and third all-time in career assists (85).
While south of the border, Robinson became impressed by the country’s high regard for family life.
She relates those values to the close-knit feeling of her own team. The Generals (3-1), ranked seventh in the nation, have just one loss after losing to powerhouse Franklin and Marshall by a mere two goals.
Despite the temporary stumble, Robinson indicates that, like a family, the team has the ability to mesh different personalities to achieve success.
“Everyone says we’re one of the closest teams on campus,” Robinson said. “We all get along.”
Picture courtesy of Washington & Lee University
