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LEBANON, N.H. (WCAX) – Some Upper Valley middle schoolers had a special visitor Thursday with the message that everyone has a shot at going pro.
It’s not every day that students get to spend lunch with a professional athlete, but for Taylor Soule, the trip to Lebanon Middle School was a kind of homecoming for the professional basketball player.
“I think it is really cool that she went to this school,” said fifth-grader Aubrey Melendy.
The Lebanon native made a name for herself on the court, first at Boston College, then helping lead Virginia Tech to the final four. From there, she was drafted into the WNBA and has played overseas in Europe.
“I play basketball, so you get inspiration that you could be a basketball player,” said fifth-grader Evie Adino.
Right now, Soule is nursing an ankle injury, which gave her the opportunity to visit her old school. And it was clear the visit left an impression. “I just feel like the work she has done and all those shots — definitely the work, though. The work is the hardest,” said student Sophia Reis.
Soule says her success on the court has given her a platform and a voice that she’s happy to share with the younger generation. “I call them humbling experiences, where you get to ground yourself and remember why you do what you do,” she said.
A group of sixth graders got their shoes autographed. “It’s really cool to see that it is not just boys that are being recognized, and she is kind of standing up for us girls, too,” said student Leyla Wolcott.
And it wasn’t just the girls… “I finally realized why we need school — to learn how to do stuff,” said fifth-grader Aiden Ferrer.
Soule says she is going to need at least six months of rehab before she can get back to the WNBA. However, events like Wednesday’s show she continues to make an impact off the court.
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