Robbins and Brown reach milestones

BOSTON, Mass. – The names of Sarah Brown and Sherard Robbins were etched into the Wheelock record books over the past two weeks, as the two senior basketball stars scored the 1,000th point of their respective careers just three days apart. Robbins reached his mark during a home win against Southern Vermont College, becoming the first men’s basketball player to reach the milestone, while Brown drilled a triple at Becker College to become only the third women’s player to do so.

Both athletes have been the leaders of their respective teams for much of their career here at Wheelock. Robbins came to Wheelock as a sophomore and immediately became the cornerstone of the brand new men’s basketball program when head coach John Preziosa brought the 6’5” center in as a sophomore. Robbins spent the first year of his collegiate career at Curry College.

“Sherard has made a significant impact to our basketball program, both on and off the court,” said Preziosa. “Watching him mature throughout his college career has been something I hope every college coach gets to experience, as it has been truly special. I'm confident Sherard will be successful in anything he attempts after Wheelock. His 1000 points in 2 1/2 seasons with us is a testament to how driven he is.”

For Robbins, the transition from Curry to Wheelock provided him with an excellent fit, both academically and athletically.

“I always sort of saw myself as a ‘diamond in the rough’ my whole life and I truly believed that this was my chance to omit that designation from my status,” said Robbins. “I always pictured myself scoring 1000 points, I just never thought it would happen this fast. Not in my wildest dreams.”

What is perhaps even more impressive for both Robbins and Brown, is that neither player scored 1,000 points in high school. But each player took on a leadership role from the time they set foot at Wheelock, Robbins as a sophomore and Brown as a freshman.

“Scoring 1,000 is still kind of surreal,” said Brown. “I guess I haven’t grasped the significance of it yet. It’s definitely not something I thought I would accomplish when I started playing my freshman year.”

“I have gone out and played my hardest for four years, so it’s kind of cool to see it pay off in this way,” she continued. “But I could never have done it without the support from my teammates and coaches, or without the confidence that they have in me.”

Wheelock coach Brooke Freeburg has high praise for Brown. “I can’t think of another student-athlete more deserving of this type of achievement,” Freeburg said. “She has been a leader since her freshman year, and is well-respected by fellow student-athletes and staff. She is a tough competitor and a pleasure to coach. She will be missed next year.”

Both Brown and Robbins have gotten the most out of their college experiences. Aside from playing basketball, Brown is Student Government Association Treasurer and a Student Advisor. Also, she is a member of Pi Gamma Mu, the school’s Honor Society. Currently, she has a 3.84 grade-point average. Robbins, meanwhile, is an open house panel speaker and a member of the student diversity advisory council. Recently, Robbins was named a finalist in the Colleges of the Fenway Martin Luther King essay contest.