Shanna Zolman Mahaley spoke at a Chautauqua-Wawasee sponsored event hosted in the Wawasee High School’s gymnasium. Zolman led state scoring during all four years of her high school basketball career. Photo by Marissa Sweatland.

By Lauren Zeugner and Marissa Sweatland
InkFreeNews

Zolman Inspires Students To Follow Their Passion

Former WNBA player and Wawasee graduate Shanna Zolman Mahaley returned to Wawasee High School Tuesday morning, May 7, to bring an inspirational message to the students.

Shanna Zolman returned to Wawasee High School to give a motivational speech to the entire student body Tuesday morning, May 7. Zolman was in town to participate in a Chautauqua-Wawasee Tuesday evening. Photo by Lauren Zeugner.

Her presentation was one of two sponsored by Chautauqua-Wawasee.
Zolman finished her high school career as an All-American, Indiana Miss Basketball, co-MVP of the McDonald’s All-American Gamer and at the time was the state’s all time leading scorer for girls.

She went on to play for Pat Summit at the University of Tennessee and then played four seasons in the WNBA for the San Antonio Silver Stars.

Her presentation started with a highlight reel of Zolman’s time on the hardwood. She was introduced by friend and former teammate Jessica Barger, executive director of Lakeland Youth Center.

Zolman spoke of having a warrior like mentality. “I’m here to tell you something today… Your age group, I genuinely believe in you and the opportunities you have,” she told the student body.

“The capabilities, the impact you have… because of technology. You guys have the opportunity to change your sphere if you want too.”

She challenged the students to take at least one nugget of her presentation with them. “Twenty years ago I was sitting where you are sitting. Twenty years ago I played basketball on this floor… The difference is I seized opportunities.”

She challenged the kids to find a cause and stressed the importance of finding something that makes them want to wake up in the morning, something that motivates them to succeed. “What are you going to do with what you have been given,” she asked.

She spoke about the three aspects of passion, intensity, sacrifice and “what is your why.”

Zolman said intensity is never giving up and facing head on the challenges that may come.

As an example she spoke of how after losing the national championship twice, Couch Pat Summitt devised a plan to help the players become physically stronger.

During one workout, the team did wall sits for seven minutes straight. While they did wall sits, trainers put 45 pound weights on their laps until they had 180 pounds. Summitt warned if they fell out from the wall sit, they would have to do sprints until they threw up.

Zolman spoke of how her and her teammates legs were literally shaking, yet they knew mentally they could handle the extra weight.

Zolman went on to tell a story about a young man in Florida who was attacked by an alligator. The boy’s father died trying to save him and the boy also lost both legs due to the alligator grabbing him by the legs and starting to barrel roll. When interviewed by reporters the boy spoke of how much his father loved him to sacrifice his own life to save him.

What is your why? Zolman explained God created each student uniquely “What would it be look like if you put your arm around someone and said ‘I want to learn about you because you’re different’ rather than mocking them?” she asked.

Using ping pong balls, rocks and sand in a glass bowl, Shanna Zolman illustrates the different priorities in life during a presentation to the student body at Wawasee High School. The ping pong balls represented the most important priorities in someone’s life, the rocks the second most important and the sand, the least important. Zolman warned the students about not letting the least important things be a distraction from pursuing their passion in life. Photo by Lauren Zeugner.

She demonstrated passion by filling a glass bowl with ping pong balls, rocks and then sand. The ping pong balls represent the most important things in a person’s life. The rocks the second most important things and the sand, the least important.

“Being able to think deeply within yourself about what is important to you. What will motivate you to get up in the morning…

“Every single one of you is created for a purpose with talents and gifts.

“If you have a passion, don’t let anyone distract you from it. If you don’t have have a passion, find someone to help you,” she said ending her presentation.

With a few minutes left to spare, Geoff Walmer, principal of Wawasee High School, noted the school is striving to become the number one high school in the nation. In the last five years it has gone from being ranked in the 12,000s to the 5,000s of nationally ranked high schools.

In the state Wawasee High School went from being ranked 313 to 121.

Walmer said Wawasee wants to be the most compassionate and kind high school both in the country and state.

“As you look back, you will regret those you mistreated,” Walmer said. “My hope for you is if you wronged someone, seniors, you have three weeks to right that wrong. Juniors and those lower, you have time to make it right.”

After her presentation, Zolman said it was a bit strange coming back to Wawasee.

“Enough time has gone by that so much has changed,” she said.

She added talking to high school students is difficult because she’s never sure how she was received by the audience.

Zolman Thanks Syracuse For Unwavering Support

Jessica Barger, left, was Zolman’s teammate for three years and had the honor of introducing her to the crowd of community members that were buzzing with excitement. Photo by Marissa Sweatland.

2002 Miss Indiana Basketball and Wawasee graduate Shanna Zolman Mahaley returned home to Syracuse to give two speeches: one in the morning to the current Wawasee Warriors and one in the evening to community members and longtime fans. The event was sponsored by Chautauqua-Wawasee.

Zolman gave an impassioned speech, highlighting some of her favorite memories, her “glory days”, moments that tested her faith and her love for her community.

“When I was here, you guys gave so much to us as kids. We were 15, 16, 17, 18. But every single each and every one of you gave us love,” Zolman said. “You’re stories have traveled through the country with me and Pat Summit. You didn’t know that. You weren’t trying to be seen or heard. You were just trying to support your local teams, but because of how you loved us, you are known.”

Zolman reminisced on some of her favorite memories during her basketball career. She led state scoring during all four years of her high school basketball career. She led the Wawasee Warriors with 74 wins.

She was recruited by Coach Pat Summitt and continued playing basketball at the University of Tennessee. While there, Zolman won four SEC Championships and appeared in the Final Four three times. She was 4-year All South Eastern Conference Academic All American.

She was drafted into the WNBA and ranked 13th in the 3-point percentage. All memories she is incredibly proud and fond of. A memory not so fond? Her career ending injury. During one of her WNBA games, she re-tore her ACL.

After Zolman hung up her jersey, she became the director of women’s ministry for The Fellowship of Christian Athletes, one of the largest sports ministries in the world.

As Zolman was getting ready to wrap up her speech, an audience member asked how she felt about Caitlyn Clark, a current day Zolman.

“She definitely has brought some much needed attention to women’s basketball! I don’t know much about her but what I do know is that she is an incredibly skilled basketball player,” Zolman replied. “And is somebody who relied on skill and hard-work and I can appreciate that as somebody who also relied on that.”