SOUTHWICK – At the first school committee of the 2017-18 school year, the Southwick-Tolland-Granville School Committee listened to an educational presentation by Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School Principal Joseph Turmel.
Turmel’s presentation centered on Southwick basketball legend Rebecca Lobo being inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass.
Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional High School Principal Joseph Turmel speaks about supporting Rebecca Lobo at the Basketball Hall of Fame Induction ceremony. (Photo courtesy of Greg Fitzpatrick)
According to Turmel, he has met with Basketball Hall of Fame officials and has spoken to them about the idea of allowing Southwick to show support for Lobo, their hometown hero.
“We want to show support for Mrs. Lobo and all she’s done,” said Turmel.
In an effort to support Lobo, Turmel said that staff and students have put together an advertisement that will go into the school yearbook and will be placed right next to the page that is dedicated to Lobo.
But, even more importantly, Turmel wants to give some of the students at the regional school the chance to attend the ceremonies at the Hall of Fame and show their support.
“I’m hoping that there’s some opportunity in the next couples of days to get our kids over there,” said Turmel.
A graduate of Southwick-Tolland High School in 1991, Lobo had a historic high school career, totaling 2,710 points in four years, a Parade Magazine All-American in 1990, and the 1991 Gatorade State Player of the Year in Massachusetts. Attending the University of Connecticut, Lobo helped lead the Huskies to a 35-0 record in the 1995 season and an eventual National Championship. The 6 foot 4 center was then selected in the 1997 WNBA Draft by the New York Liberty and played in the WNBA until 2003 with three different teams.
As Turmel is waiting to hear back from Hall of Fame officials, the Westfield News will continue to follow this story and release any information that may arise.
