2018 Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete Award finalist: Anthony Robinson, Golden Gate

Anthony Robinson got to be where he is by looking ahead and behind.

Robinson had what he described as a rough freshman year, he steadied himself by watching those in front of him.

"Just seeing what they've done and their life after high school and the little things they tell me," he said. "As a freshman, you don't listen to people -- make sure you do this or do that. But I picked up on the little things and seeing where people ended up after high school -- every little piece of advice I could get. It sticks with me."

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Robinson also has four little brothers, so he wanted them to have a good role model to watch. And for his mom not to have to watch out for him.

"My mother, it was not wanting her to have to worry about me when I leave the house," he said. "I always have people watching every little thing I do. That's something my mom always told me: when I do something, my brothers are watching me. And I just want them to follow my lead."

Robinson did a lot of leading as his high school career progressed on the football field and the track. He was second team all-conference and a team captain in football, and a two-time team captain and three-year regional qualifier in track. He also was a finalist for the local National Football Foundation's inaugural award.

"Anthony is a natural leader," Golden Gate football coach Mike DiGrigoli wrote in a recommendation letter. "This year he was elected him captain because of the respect they have for his hard work, consistency, athletic ability and trust in doing what is right.

"Anthony is a true team player. This year during football season, Anthony was asked to play on all special teams, and on the defensive and offensive side of the ball. Anthony did this without ever putting his own self-interests in front of the team's needs."

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Robinson will continue doing both sports at Ithaca (N.Y.), and will play cornerback. He mostly ran the 800 meters and the 4x400 relay in track.

His favorite sports memory was on the football field. He had an interception against Palmetto Ridge in the Battle for the Gate.

"I just remember getting up after I got tackled, and all of the fans and everybody cheering, and just hearing my name on the loud speaker," he said. "I loved that."