THELMA NOLAN

THELMA LYLES NOLAN ’85 – ’87
Inducted 1997

Thelma Lyles Nolan ’85 – ’87 was MC’s first female star basketball player. She holds many "firsts" including the first woman basketball player to make the Junior College All-America Team.

Lyles began her career at MC as a recreation major after graduating from Seneca Valley High School, where she played basketball for three years. In her first year, her hopes of playing basketball at MC were postponed due to a lack of players.

THELMA NOLAN ’85 - ’87

The following year, Cynthia Changuria and her assistant Brian Walker rebuilt the team. The team changed Changuris’s doubts into dreams--finishing with a record of 15-6 overall, 4-0 conference, and winning Maryland’s junior college tournament.

Much of the success of this team was due to the skill and leadership of Thelma. She held the record at MC for most points in a season, scoring 482 in 1987. She was second in most points during her MC career with 784.

As captain and point guard for the team, she allowed all team members to participate in the game. Her selflessness and team spirit came naturally. She led the team in points, assists, and steals. She was voted the Most Valuable Player in the Maryland state playoffs. At the time, she ranked second in the nation in junior college scoring.

Her determination allowed her to be a dynamite player. In addition, it provided her the motivation to continue her education and basketball career at Coppin State College, where she went on a scholarship. Montgomery College and basketball provided Thelma the opportunity to fulfill her educational and career goals.

Now she is back on the court--this time as coach--at Seneca Valley High School. She teaches skills and imparts her knowledge of the game to young players, among them her daughter. She also is a pre-school special education teacher’s assistant at Rockwell Elementary School in Damascus.