The Norwood native brings community service focus to Minutewomen.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This story is part of a series of profiles created by UMass’ Journalism 332 Sports Writing class.
If you ask UMass women’s basketball assistant coach Clare Fitzpatrick, Megan Olbrys never has a bad day.
“I put an orange ball in the hoop, at the end of the day you can’t really stress over things,” Olbrys said.
Before Olbrys focused on an orange ball, she pushed herself to try every sport, including football. In middle school, she convinced her mother, Patty Ann, to let her play on the all boys team until they continued to get bigger and she didn’t.
Despite her size and gender, her mother always thought Olbrys was one of the best on the team.
Going into high school, Olbrys decided to focus on basketball and stay in the Norwood public school system, despite the large number of students choosing to go to private schools. She found public school to be much more beneficial with its opportunities to be engaged with her community.
With Norwood being on the smaller side, Olbrys got to know her community well and has always considered herself a “townie.” Local basketball camps allowed her to connect with those around her and support causes she found important.
As a sophomore in high school, Olbrys took part in a two-hour shooting competition for “A Shot For Life,” a cancer research non-profit that utilizes sports-centered activities to increase community engagement.
In a two-hour event, Olbrys raised money doing what she loves … but that was not enough for her, she wanted to do more for the organization. In the following years, she assisted with their men’s basketball, softball, hockey and lacrosse programs and volunteered for the 24-hour gauntlet that required her to stay overnight at their facilities.
Olbrys took part in a 24-hour basketball marathon, the “A Shot For Life Gauntlet,” raising over the $1,000 minimum required for the event. The event’s all day grind is meant to be “loosely symbolic of the struggle that cancer patients often endure,” according to the organization.
“(Megan) is always looking out for other people, she’s selfless,” and that, “she would give you the shirt off her back,” Patty Ann said.
At UMass, Olbrys continues to prioritize community service with her Minutewomen teammates.
Earlier this year, she went to Amherst Regional High School and played volleyball with a group of girls while Brooke Pulpi, a freshman guard, joined a game of soccer.
Doing boots on the ground work is Olbrys’ favorite way to connect with her community. It’s not something she does for them, it’s what she gets to do with them.
She prioritizes the relationships she builds with the students, ensuring to follow them back on Instagram to keep a connection with them. To Olbrys, it is more than wanting to provide services to those in need – it is her approach to life.
“The positivity she brings to every day … she really brings the joy to what we are doing,” Fitzpatrick said. “There’s good days and bad, but no matter what’s happening she comes back the next day, ready to attack it.”
Olbrys’ unwavering positive approach has allowed her to take on a leadership role this season. On the court, Olbrys is always the first to rally for her team. When the Mullins Center goes silent as her teammate stands at the line to shoot a free throw, Olbrys’ words of encouragement echo from mid-court.
Where she goes others follow – whether that be getting fired up during a game, going on a Sunday Target run or a trip to Six Flags. Outside of the UMass Basketball Champion Center is where Olbrys makes most of her memories. Last year, Olbrys took on competitive spikeball with junior center Chinenye Odenigbo’s as her partner.
“I’m with these girls every day. I live with them and I don’t think I could get sick of them,” Olbrys said.
While with the team, it’s the small acts that add up. Olbrys always ensures those around her have eaten and will offer to feed those who haven’t, she’s made late night emergency room trips without hesitation, and continues to include injured teammate Taylor Derkack in game day activities.
“She led the way of getting money and putting together a gift basket to help Derkack with her recovery,” Fitzpatrick said. “She wanted her to feel welcomed back by the team.”
Having dealt with a major injury herself, Olbrys knew that Derkack had a difficult recovery ahead of her and wanted her to know that she was not alone. During the summer, Olbrys helped Derkack move by having her sit on the bed while she packed up her entire room. She never wanted her to have to overextend herself or need to ask for help with the little things.
At the start of her injury, Derkack did not have a way to stay engaged during the games, so Olbrys created a job for her to feel important – holding her lip gloss.
This gameday tradition between the duo has created a foundation for a strong relationship. With the lip gloss, Derkack also shares with Olbrys pointers and mental support during the game.
“(Derkack’s encouragement) has helped me a lot for sure,” Olbrys said.
From shooting basketballs for two hours, to following back on Instagram, or asking for a safe place to keep her Dior lip gloss, there is no gesture too small for Olbrys to show she cares about those around her.
Patty Ann said it best, “she has a heart of gold.”
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Category: General Sports
