By SHERMAN GOLDENBERG
Wawasee High School graduate Shanna Zolman, a 2002 “Miss Basketball” and University of Tennessee star who retired from active sports in 2012 after six years in the WNBA, is scheduled to appear May 2 at the North Webster Community Center gym in a faith-based presentation billed as a “homecoming” for the all-time Indiana state womens’ basketball scoring champ.
Shanna Zolman. (Photo provided)
Zolman, a Syracuse native who scored 3,085 points and had a 33.2-point-per-game average while playing ball for her father/coach Kem Zolman at Wawasee, currently works as a Seattle area representative for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
“We are really excited about having Shanna Zolman come to our community because she was such an important part of our whole Wawasee school community,” said NWCC executive board member Jon Sroufe. “I spent four years attending every Friday and Saturday night game she ever played in. She was a real inspiration to all of us, and I think having her back here for the people who knew her then – as well as those who don’t know her now — will be a great evening for us.”
In the process, Sroufe noted, Zolman’s “homecoming” should serve as an entertaining moment for all those who would enjoy hearing about the life experiences of a genuine role model with local ties who speaks around the country these days at youth conferences, church functions, camps and motivational events. Her talks often center on her Christian faith and surviving life’s setbacks.
“I think she’s bringing to us a faith-based presentation and with that we’ll have the local churches and the Upward Basketball people who will be part of it,” said Sroufe, who also serves as president of the North Webster Town Council. “And I would hope that we would bring young children in here, boys and girls who will see her as an inspiration. And I think she’ll deliver a message that we’ll really enjoy having here.“And after the presentation,” he added, “everyone can come to our banquet hall and we’ll have desserts for all who would like to stay for a chat and, perhaps, an autograph.”
Zolman, daughter of Kem and Lynnette Zolman, still holds numerous records at the Indiana high school level and at Tennessee, where she played for the legendary Pat Summitt, the winningest coach in NCAA women’s basketball history who – in a touching story that drew national attention – stepped down in 2012 due to early onset Alzheimer’s.
Having graduated from Tennessee with a broadcasting degree, Zolman was selected 16th in the 2006 WNBA draft before playing for the San Antonio Silver Stars and Tulsa Shock. She still holds NCAA records from her four years with the Lady Volunteers for single season (.957 in 2003–04) and career (.916) free throw shooting percentage as well as for single game 3-pointers (7), single season 3-pointers (103), career 3-pointers (266) and career 3-point percentage (.425).
The “Shanna Zolman Homecoming,” fund-raiser is scheduled to take place at 7 p.m., Saturday, May 2, with tickets available starting this week ($10 for adults, $5 for students and children) at the North Webster Community Center office (301 N. Main St.) as well as at Wawasee High School and at both the Milford and Wawasee middle schools. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.eventbrite.com (enter “North Webster, Ind.” as the location, then “An Evening with Shanna Zolman” in the “search” queue).