Return
to the "POINTER VIEW"June 7, 2002
Return
to the "POINTER VIEW"
June
7, 2002
Saturday marked the end of the 47-month learning experience for the 958 members of the West Point Bicentennial Class of 2002.
Included in that newest batch of young military officers were two senior athletes who credit the support they received both at home and at the academy for helping make them the young officers they are today.
Softball’s Nicki Robbins and lacrosse’s Tim Pearson both had good support networks in place long before they arrived at the old, gray fortress along the Hudson almost four years ago.
Robbins, an only child, had her parents Bill and Phyllis.
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| Pat Pearson gives her son Tim, a three time Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year, a hug and kiss after the hat toss at Michie Stadium. |
Pearson had his parent’s too, in Charlie, Sr. and Pat, but he also had his older brother Charlie, Jr., here.
Tim’s brother Charlie was a member of the Class of 2001. Charlie was a scoring machine his first year at Army. During their one year playing together at Army the tandem lit up the scoreboard for coach Jack Emmer.
The Pearson brothers electrified Army lacrosse as a scoring tandem rarely seen for one season until Charlie’s back injury ended his playing career and caused him to leave the academy for a year to recover.
Charlie was the finisher during his two highly productive years with the Army stickmen. Tim came along and right away was the playmaker that the Black Knight attack needed.
After Charlie’s career was cut short Tim emerged to become the most prolific scorer in Army lacrosse history.
Charlie’s year away from West Point put the Pearson brothers, who are 10 and a half months apart in age, in the same graduating class.
Charlie, who served as the B1 Barbarians cadet company commander during the spring semester, cannot be commissioned due to his injuries and plans on seeking a career in the face-paced world of finance.
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| Pat and Charlie Pearson meet Sgt. Scott D. Tracy, a medic who helped their son Tim recover from his many lacrosse injuries. |
Though disappointed in his older brother’s missing out on a career as an infantry officer Tim knows that the country is getting a good citizen, someone who will contribute to society.
"We never had a lick of trouble from either of them," said their mother Pat, proudly.
Their father chimed in that once the boys became immersed in lacrosse discipline was simple. If they got out of line their lacrosse sticks went into the trunk of the family car.
"We didn’t have much trouble," Charlie, Sr. said, a chuckle sneaking across his lips. "They really loved lacrosse."
"No one could be prouder of two sons," Pat said at the graduation dinner May 31.
Tim branched aviation and will report to Fort Rucker, Ala. July 29. He will begin OBC August 19.
The Systems Engineering major said he chose Aviation because it is full of highly motivated individuals. With an eye to the future, he added that whenever his Army career is over he could then transfer his experience into becoming, say, a commercial pilot.
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| Bill and Phyllis Robbins pin 2nd lieutenant bars on their daughter Nicki at Buffalo Soldier Field Saturday afternoon. Nicki Robbins, who was named this year’s female Army Athletic Association Trophy Winner, credits a strong support chain for her success at the U.S. Military Academy. |
Another proud set of parents last week were the Robbins’. Bill and Phyllis spent the week drinking in every last bit of West Point that they could.
"We are going to miss this place," Phyllis, as she fought back the tears that came along with the memories she and her husband have of all the times they enjoyed their daughter’s four-year West Point experience.
Robbins, this year’s female winner of the Army Athletic Association Trophy, leaves the West Point with nine career records in her back pocket.
The Human and Regional Geography major branched Air Defense Artillery and will begin her Officer Basic Course at Fort Bliss, Texas, Sept. 1.
Her first duty station will be in Germany.
The Seminole, Fla. native said athletics at West Point helped her get through the tough times as a cadet.
While attending graduation week events with her folks, the three-time Patriot League offensive player of the year reflected on why she chose to come to Army.
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| Bill Robbins watches as Nicki takes her oath of office. |
"I have been given so much," the former Army right fielder said. "I wanted to give something back to those that have give so much."
Robbins, who has worked with American Legions posts back home extensively since high school and in West Point, she said, found her avenue to give something back to her country.
Army softball coach Jim Flowers knew he had something special when Robbins arrived on the scene back in 1998.
"She was the hub that we built the program around the last four years," Flowers said. "We could count on her both on and off the field. She has represented us and athletics as a whole at the academy in many different ways.
"I don’t even keep count of the number of games she had a hand in helping us win," Flowers added. "That’s really the least of the things she has done here."
Though eager to move on to their Army careers, these two seniors take with them a wealth of memories. Memories that fans of Army athletics will not soon forget.
