TAMPA, Fla. — In the Hillsborough County flag football world, there’s a huge responsibility that comes with being a Robinson Knight.
And for players like Sarah Williams, understanding that she stands on the shoulders of the giants that came before her is a big part of that responsibility.
“The girls and the coaches create such a good environment that I love to be in, and I want to always help perpetuate that environment,” Williams said.
This junior wide receiver makes herself at home on the football field. And this season, it’s been home sweet home. She’s the Knights’ leading receiver, and she doesn’t just lead her team with her 256 points, she leads the nation. And while she may be the nation’s best at scoring points, that’s not what stands out about her.
“Her desire to always give back and always make sure that she’s promoting the sport and leading,” said head coach Josh Saunders. “You know, she’s our future head captain, so I think that hopefully is what her legacy’s going to be, including some really awesome play.”
Earlier this season, Williams and her teammates attended the annual Game On Girls Summit, which featured a panel of female industry leaders who offered words of wisdom and real-life advice for on and off the field.This gathering included some of the Tampa Bay area’s top flag football programs.
And Robinson has been at the top for more than a decade. The Knights have won 10 state championships, including nine in a row.
How do they do it? The Knights put in the work. They practice year-round and fine tune those workouts during the season. And they’re successful because of players like Williams who embrace everything that comes with being a Robinson Knight.
“It’s a lot of pressure, but you have to take it and just run with it because everybody has the same goal at the end, and we all want to support each other through it,” Williams said. “And that’s really what makes us so tight-knit.
”Because we all have the same goal in mind, and we embrace the pressure and thrive from it.”