Playing sports with the Robinson twins

Started in sports by their parents, Lou and Mary, who stressed that they are students first and athletes second, twin siblings Nicole and Eddie Robinson — Nicole is older by two minutes — are successful in both endeavors.

Both have been on the high honor roll since their freshman year at Lawrence High School and excel during the fall, winter and spring athletic seasons. Nicole plays soccer, basketball and softball and Eddie plays football, basketball and played baseball in his first two years of high school and last spring ran track.

“We played a lot of different things; basketball was the main one and intramural soccer and Little League,” said Nicole as she and Eddie sat around the conference table in the athletic director’s office on Sept. 13.

They played basketball as part of the Inwood Buccaneer Athletic Club and constantly challenged each other in the driveway of their Woodmere home. They have a younger brother, Sammy, a freshman, who plays volleyball, basketball and baseball. In the age of specialization, the Robinson family is bringing back the three-sport athlete. “We just play, it’s something to do and it’s fun while we’re doing it,” Nicole said.

Eddie, who didn’t play football until he was in eighth grade, is part of Lawrence’s offensive juggernaut the past two seasons. Last year, the Golden Tornadoes played in the highest scoring game ever in Long Island Championship history: a 78-61 loss to Sayville. He plays wide receiver and safety.

“I’ll probably never be a part of something like that again,” he said, referring to that game. “We have one goal every year and that is to win LIC. I think we have a good shot at this year.” In two wins this season the offense has scored 116 points and the defense has allowed only 13 points.

Varsity football coach Joe Martilotti said Eddie can play several positions, is one of the hardest working players on the team and exudes leadership, which was demonstrated prior to last year’s Floral Park game. “We go out for the coin toss and I didn’t tell the kids who the game captains were. Ed took it upon himself to walk out there,” said Martilotti, who named Eddie a team captain after that.