SPORTS
Wildcat Andrea Robinson’s Off Court Battle
Wildcat sophomore Andrea Robinson shooting free-throws at the line during the game against Princeton. In late December Robinson was diagnosed with leukemia.
When doctors were unable to determine an orthopedic cause for Andrea Robinson’s aches and pains, they ordered blood work. In late December, the 6’1″ Davidson sophomore — and member of the women’s basketball team — was diagnosed with leukemia.
Davidson’s Andrea Robinson goes up head and shoulders above her UNC-Asheville opponent for a layup.
Coach Gayle Coats Fulks, in her first year at Davidson, said that Robinson is “embracing the challenge and fighting it head on.”
From Randallstown, Maryland, Robinson played in all 29 games in her first year. She played in 9 games in November and December of this season – including home games against Princeton, UNC-Asheville, and Elon.
She has taken a leave of absence from Davidson to return home to Maryland, where she is undergoing treatment at Johns Hopkins.
Associate Dean of Students Ernest Jeffries said, “The Davidson College family comes together at a time like this, and we will do all we can to support Andrea and her family.”
While noting that Robinson has a long road ahead, Fulks said, “If there’s a player who is going to fight through it and remain positive – it is Andrea.”
Davidson sophomore Andrea Robinson goes in for a layup against UNC-Asheville.
As the Wildcats take on the University of Massachusetts on Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m., they have asked their fans to wear orange to honor Andrea. True, it’s a color not often seen at the red & black home of the Wildcats, but orange is identified with the fight against leukemia. If you can’t be there in person, you can send a video of encouragement to Andrea by emailing it to the following address: [email protected]
The Davidson Women’s Basketball team has also set up a fundraising page to help Andrea and her family cover a portion of costs of her treatments, as well as the out-patient accommodation costs they are expected to face in the coming months.
Fulks said that the entire team is rallying around Andrea. “They are playing every game for her, and the more the community can come out to our games and support our program during this challenging time the better.”
Listen to the coach. Put on your orange and come out to Belk Arena on Wednesday night to cheer on the ’Cats and support Andrea Robinson.
Jane Campbell
Jane Campbell, U.S. Navy, Capt. ret., grew up in a military family and lived around the globe before graduating from Davidson College with a degree in Political Science. During a 25-year career in the Navy, she served aboard three different ships and held a variety of shore-based assignments. She was stationed on the East and West coasts, as well as overseas. She had tours at the Pentagon and the White House, and volunteered for a deployment to Afghanistan. She moved to Davidson in late 2014 and has become involved in a variety of volunteer activities with college, church, and community. She serves as a photographer and Sports Editor for News of Davidson.