2008 Woodie Awards
Senior Spotlight: Athlete one of few able to claim a fan club all her own
Patrick McHugh
Issue date: 3/17/08 Section: Focus
Few college athletes have their own fan page online.
Senior Lucia Pablos of the women's basketball team is one of the few who does. She has a group on Facebook entitled "Fans of Lucia Pablos," where her biggest admirers gather to celebrate her excellence on the hardwood.
But Pablos said the fame has not gone to her head.
"That page began as a joke by my friends," Pablos said. "They thought it would be funny if they made a place where they talked about how good I was. I think it's silly but it's nice to have at least some fans who appreciate me."
Although her head coach is not part of the group, she has declared herself a fan of Pablos in her own right. Daynia La-Force Mann has coached Pablos for two years, and has noted what an advantage it is to have the senior guard on her team.
"Lucia is a leader both on and off the court," La-Force Mann said. "She's a strong young woman with a never-give-up mentality, never hang your head. She would show up early for practice and stay late afterward to get extra work in. The team followed the example she set and that helped in our success."
Born in Leon, Spain, Pablos was introduced to the sport of basketball by her friends, who played often when she was younger. Soon the game became her passion. She played with club team C.B. Aros for six years and prepped at Colegio Leones Milagrosa in Leon. Despite her prowess on the court, Pablos was reluctant to pursue a career overseas until a friend convinced her.
"I met a player at a summer camp and she was just a great player, eventually playing professionally I think," Pablos said. "We got to talking about basketball in America and she said it would be good for me to play in college in the US. I figured it was a unique opportunity and when I saw that Northeastern was interested in me I decided to come to Boston and play."
Joining the team in January 2005, Pablos was immediately put to work, playing in the team's final 19 games of that season, starting in 13. Her sophomore year was hampered by an early-season injury that caused her to miss the first eight games.
Senior Lucia Pablos of the women's basketball team is one of the few who does. She has a group on Facebook entitled "Fans of Lucia Pablos," where her biggest admirers gather to celebrate her excellence on the hardwood.
But Pablos said the fame has not gone to her head.
"That page began as a joke by my friends," Pablos said. "They thought it would be funny if they made a place where they talked about how good I was. I think it's silly but it's nice to have at least some fans who appreciate me."
Although her head coach is not part of the group, she has declared herself a fan of Pablos in her own right. Daynia La-Force Mann has coached Pablos for two years, and has noted what an advantage it is to have the senior guard on her team.
"Lucia is a leader both on and off the court," La-Force Mann said. "She's a strong young woman with a never-give-up mentality, never hang your head. She would show up early for practice and stay late afterward to get extra work in. The team followed the example she set and that helped in our success."
Born in Leon, Spain, Pablos was introduced to the sport of basketball by her friends, who played often when she was younger. Soon the game became her passion. She played with club team C.B. Aros for six years and prepped at Colegio Leones Milagrosa in Leon. Despite her prowess on the court, Pablos was reluctant to pursue a career overseas until a friend convinced her.
"I met a player at a summer camp and she was just a great player, eventually playing professionally I think," Pablos said. "We got to talking about basketball in America and she said it would be good for me to play in college in the US. I figured it was a unique opportunity and when I saw that Northeastern was interested in me I decided to come to Boston and play."
Joining the team in January 2005, Pablos was immediately put to work, playing in the team's final 19 games of that season, starting in 13. Her sophomore year was hampered by an early-season injury that caused her to miss the first eight games.
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