By Christopher Tremblay

The wheels were set in motion seven years ago when Megan Olbrys started playing basketball for the first time competitively. Over the next few years, the Norwood Mustang took part in many other sports while growing up, but by the time she reached the seventh grade she decided that it was going to be basketball, and only basketball.

Playing in her final season for the Mustangs, the senior etched her name in Norwood history becoming only the fifth girl and ninth overall high school basketball player to eclipse the 1,000-point plateau during her career. Susanne Maher (1982-85) was the first Mustang to have reached the milestone, while Bill Brigham became the first male athlete to achieve the feat three years later. Other talented Mustangs to have their name in the record books are: Jack Dixon, Dave Rukstalis, and Chris Johnson for the boys and Danielle Chaisson, Ali Dixon, and Megan Reen, who was the last to break the barrier in 2018.

According to the four-year varsity athlete, she really had no idea how close she was to topping the mark as her senior campaign was nearing until Coach Amy Quinn told her she needed about 250 points.

On February 1, in a 57-26 win over Westwood, Olbrys notched her elusive 1,000 point with a little over two minutes left in the fourth quarter when she nailed an off-post shot. It was in Norwood’s thirteenth straight win, which was also on the team’s charity game (a fundraiser for Helping Hands aiding families in need) and what became a 20-0 campaign.

“It was the most surreal experience of my life,” Olbrys said of reaching the milestone. “It was definitely an honor, especially to have my teammates and a huge home crowd around me. I was so glad that we had fans back in the crowd, otherwise I don’t think it would have been as memorable.”

Olbrys added that the crowd was into the game right from the opening tip and you could feel their energy throughout the gym. Coach Quinn knew that this day was inevitable.

“As a freshman, I believed that she was a special individual and could accomplish this,” Coach Quinn said. “I had told her that the sky was the limit with her play. Megan elevated her game each and every year. As a freshman, she averaged 11 points per game; she was at 13 the next year, 15 last year, and 19 this past season.”

Through her four years at Norwood thus far, Olbrys has accumulated 1105 points and still has this year’s tournament play in hand. As a first-year player, Olbrys scored 255 points for the Mustangs. During her sophomore campaign, she increased those numbers to 341 points scored and added another 152 during the Covid abbreviated year. This past regular season she has already knocked down 357 points.

The amazing thing about Olbrys becoming the ninth Mustang to reach 1,000 points in her career was that her junior season was cut short.

“Last year, she only played in 10 games because of Covid otherwise she probably could have hit 1,000 that year,” Coach Quinn said. “In my seven years at Norwood, I have only been part of one other girl to do this (Meghan Reen).”

Looking back on what she has accomplished, Olbrys remembers what it was like when she first ventured onto the court for tryouts as a freshman. She recalls how it was very intimidating but having other freshman beside her for the tryouts made it a lot easier. 

“The varsity speed and style of play was nothing like I had ever experienced, but after about five games I felt that I was comfortable and finding my rhythm,” Olbrys said.

Throughout her high school career, the senior had played all five positions but prefers power forward as it the one position that she feels she can do the most with her talent. Talent that not only saw her go over 1,000 points but get recruited to play basketball on the collegiate level. Olbrys has committed to play for Villanova University in Pennsylvania.

While she did have a few other schools approach her with offers, the senior felt that Villanova was best fitted for her style of basketball, in addition to the overall atmosphere of the school and the coaching staff.

Heading off to Pennsylvania to play for the Wildcats may be on the horizon for Olbrys, but in the meantime, she still has her final high school season to complete. 

“Our goal was to go undefeated and now that we’ve accomplished that it’s off to the tournament,” Olbrys said. “Our goal now is to go day-by-day taking it one game at a time and hopefully we can win a State Championship.”

After going undefeated during the regular season, Norwood was awarded the number one seed in the Division 2 Tournament.