Terry Sanford receives $10,000 donation for girls’ basketball program
The Terry Sanford girls’ basketball team received a $10,000 surprise Tuesday morning inside the auditorium of their high school.
A donation from Hibbett Sports and Nike in partnership with the “Support Her Sole” program, which aims to aid “connection to your community, your creative source and yourself” as women in sports, the Bulldogs were presented with a check ahead of the 2021-22 season.
“I’m not gonna say too much because when I talk about the girls I allow my emotions to come out,” head coach Thurston Robinson Jr. said as he fought off tears.
“People don’t have a clue about how hard these young ladies work. … They know I love them and want them to be their best. We’re a family.”
Reigning conference champions, the Bulldogs enter the season with state championship aspirations as one of the favorites among the N.C. High School Athletic Association’s 3-A teams.
“It’s very exciting. We do have expectations. I pick with the girls all the time and say, ‘It’s no pressure, we just want a state championship. No pressure, no pressure,’ ” Terry Sanford athletics director Royvell Godbolt said, smiling.
“But we definitely want our women’s basketball program to have a successful year. One of the most exciting things I’ve done since being the athletic director here is hiring Coach Rob.”
Gerald Fyre and Shawn Chavis, representatives of Hibbett Sports, were inside the auditorium to present the Bulldogs with their $10,000 check and gift bags, which included a t-shirt, water bottle, lanyard and $125 gift card for Hibbett Sports.
Terry Sanford also received a video message of support from Aari McDonald, who plays for the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream.
“We want to make sure that each and every one of these young ladies is not only prepared to go to college from an athletic standpoint, but more so from an academic standpoint and from an integrity standpoint,” Terry Sanford assistant coach Dale Paschall said.
“We’re proud of each and every one of these young ladies. … Hibbett Sports and Nike, thank you so much for showing an interest and supporting ladies’ sports. Not just youth sports, but ladies’ athletics. That means the world to us.”
Staff writer Rodd Baxley can be reached at rbaxley@fayobserver.com.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Terry Sanford girls' basketball program receives donation from Hibbett Sports, Nike
