By Chelsea Bland
Passion, skill, dedication; that is Maryland Women’s Basketball. I started attending the women’s basketball games at the University of Maryland (UMD) back when I was a student, and the program immediately impressed me. I was there when the team won the national championship in 2006 and the feeling was electric! While, I’m not an athlete, I can certainly appreciate the talent, commitment and drive it takes to participate in an organized sport, and excel at the collegiate and professional levels.
As a lover of all things women’s sports I wanted to find a way to contribute to my alma mater and support
a team I grew to love during my time at Maryland. This brought me to joining the UM Rebounders. The Rebounders is a fantastic organization that helps to raise money for the UMD women’s basketball program. It also provides an amazing network of fans and supporters for the team.
The Rebounders was formed in the late-1970s, with the first meeting organized by former head coach Chris Weller. Coach Weller lead the women’s basketball program from 1975 to 2002 and during the early years of her career believed the team could benefit from a booster club. With the commitment of the founding Rebounders, Coach Weller and dedicated fans created a family-like atmosphere to support the women’s basketball program.
While, I’ve only been a Rebounder for less than a year, I can see the history of the club through its members and the passion they have for the program. During the games spectators know they can find a Rebounder and get the latest information on the team. At a Victory Fund event I spoke at length to a woman about the Rebounders and Maryland women’s basketball; which then led to a lively discussion about the Washington Mystics. I also attended an International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 26 retirees meeting recently to discuss a community service project and found a woman there who was an avid Maryland women’s basketball fan and knew a few Rebounders. This goes to show the love and passion people in our area have for the team and how the Rebounders reach so many different communities.
Athletics has a unique ability to unite our communities and inspire us to work a little bit harder toward our individual goals. Through sports we learn teamwork, sportsmanship, commitment and leadership. These are skills that are not only valuable on the court, but also in the workplace and other parts of our lives. We should continue to support these qualities amongst our girls and young women; and athletics is a great way to do it.
I look forward to the continued growth of the club, its impact on the community and its continued love for Maryland women’s basketball.
Go Terps!
