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Jan. 16, 2004
by Cathy Bongiovi Stewart
When Lynette O’Reggio packed her bags for college, she left for Charlottesville filled with high hopes. After all, the 6-4 center from Laurel, Md., was an all-state honoree, averaging 12.0 points, 14.0 rebounds, and 5.0 blocks per game at Elizabeth Seton High School. As a senior, she earned County Player of the Year honors and was named Ms. Basketball for the Washington metro area.
But somewhere among the adjustments to college, basketball, and life on her own, O’Reggio hit a wall. Her hopes and dreams have been cast aside while she finds herself and her place on the Cavalier team.
“As far as basketball goes, not playing that much has been the biggest challenge,” the junior shared. “You come in (to college) with such big anticipation, and a lot of people expect so many things from you. Initially when I came in, I didn’t realize that I wasn’t going to fulfill all those expectations right away. I kind of let that get at me, and it diminished my confidence a little bit. Instead of gradually getting better and better, I hit a plateau in the middle of my collegiate career. I’m trying to work my way out of it, but it’s been a struggle.”
Last season, O’Reggio saw action in 27 games with four starts. She earned the team’s Most Improved Player honor following her freshman season. But this year, she’s only played in eight games as a reserve. Head coach Debbie Ryan knows O’Reggio is waiting for her moment.
“Lynette is tall, powerful, strong inside, and a great rebounder,” Ryan said. “Lynette is working on raising her fitness level this year. I know she’s working hard on becoming a player we can count on in the paint. She also wants to contribute offensively more. She’s worked on her game in the preseason.”
While she patiently waits for her turn to shine, O’Reggio relies on her fellow juniors, especially best friends LaTonya Blue and Jocelyn Logan-Friend.
“That brought us all a little closer when we came in together,” O’Reggio said of her Maryland ties to Blue and Logan-Friend. “There were five of us. We just all bonded freshman year. Because we are from the same area, when we go home, we still hang out and go out.”
When looking at colleges though, O’Reggio didn’t want to stray too far from home.
“I didn’t want to go far away, but I didn’t want to be too close to home either,” she recalled. “(University of) Maryland is in my backyard. Georgetown’s like 20 minutes away from where I live. I didn’t want to be that close. I wanted to go away and experience life, kind of grow up. Virginia was close to home. When I came here, I really felt comfortable around the coaches. I really just liked the atmosphere.”
The atmosphere and friendships are what keep O’Reggio motivated.
“Ideally, I want to win a national championship,” O’Reggio said of her team goals. “To win as many championships as we can- the ACC, every tournament we play. Just win as many championships as we can.”
While she still has her senior season and the second half of her junior season to play yet, O’Reggio is working on her future after basketball.
“I’ve been thinking about social work or something like that,” the sociology major said. “I am also interested in coaching. Anything related to working with people.”
She credits three special people for their influence through the years.
“My grandmother, my mom and my dad. Basically they all took a big part in raising me,” O’Reggio said. “When I was younger, I used to go to Canada every summer and spend the the summer with my grandmother. They all just taught me life lessons and helped me develop into the person I am today, instilling morals and different beliefs into me. They helped me become the person I am, and I appreciate them for that.”
Whatever she decides to do, on or off the basketball court, Lynette O’Reggio has high hopes, and a strong work ethic, to achieve. Whether she realizes it now or not, she has already accomplished so many wonderful things.