12-13-2023 10:50pm

Hononegah basketball standout signs with Southwestern Michigan College

Olivia Robinson will play college basketball in the National Junior College Athletic Association.

Olivia Robinson signed with Southwestern Michigan College on Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2023 to join their basketball program starting next year.

She doesn’t yet know what area of study she will take up but whatever it is, she will be determined to be her best. Olivia is a hardworking leader at Hononegah High School. She is a tremendous student-athlete.

I had the pleasure of watching and listening to her Hononegah High School coach Jason Brunke, her basketball trainer Gene Houston, and her future college coach at Southwestern Michigan College Jay Jenkins all speak glowingly of the work Olivia has put into getting to this point.

During her time at Hononegah, she went through many things all athletes go through during these amazing times in their lives. However, she and her classmates went through COVID but that didn’t stop her from working to improve, even if that meant working outside in less-than-ideal weather.

Olivia was quick to give credit to her family, friends, coaches, and teammates. She said, “My mom is honestly like my best friend.” She spoke of all the times her mom got her up for training and drove her to practices or games.

Tennis legend Arthur Ashe was quoted as saying, "Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can." What a great quote to sum up Olivia Robinson and her journey so far.

Olivia Robinson and the Hononegah Indians are undefeated on the season at 10-0 and they sit atop of the NIC-10 with a 6-0 conference record.

Next couple of games are non-conference tilts against Naperville Central and Richwoods in the Sterling Shootout on Saturday, December 16, 2023. Game 1 against Naperville Central tips at 11:30 a.m. followed at 2:30 p.m. with Richwoods.

Follow the Hononegah girls basketball team on Twitter.

Thank you to Southwestern Michigan College for use of the graphic for Olivia Robinson at the top of the story.

A self-described sports evangelist, Harold Bone is the Rockton-Roscoe News sports editor who is committed to finding stories behind the box scores and discovering engaging sports content. Harold has a background in many forms of media - everything from radio to TV. He has spent the last 25-plus years attending, following, and cheering for teams and athletes from the pros and colleges to local high schools and youth recreational leagues. Harold is passionate about creating engaging stories for athletes and sports fans in the Rockton/Roscoe/South Beloit, Illinois communities. Got a story idea? Contact Harold via email at harold@roscoenews.com and follow him on Twitter at @SPRTSEDRRNews. Sign up for the daily Roscoe News newsletter here.