THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, March 22, 1996 TAG: 9603220689
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DOUG DOUGHTY, LANDMARK NEWS SERVICE
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Medium: 96 lines
During her career at the University of Virginia, Wendy Palmer has torn cartilage in one knee. She's had tendinitis in the other that required surgery.
Still, she's missed only three games heading into Saturday's East Regional semifinal against Old Dominion at 2 p.m. in Charlottesville. And won two ACC Player of the Year awards along the way.
``No one ever said I'd be pain-free,'' said Palmer, who will play in her 125th game - out of a possible 128 - on Saturday.
She gave an early clue of her toughness during her days as a three-sport star at Person County High School in Roxboro, N.C.
``I remember the time she broke a finger one Thursday in practice and we had to play the next night,'' recalls Brenda Moore the girls basketball coach at Person County.
``She dressed for the game, but she was on the bench till the end of the first quarter. At that point, she took the splint off her finger, turned to me and said, `I'm playing.'
``Now, you can't just put an injured player in a game like that. You need parental permission. So, her father came down out of the stands - he didn't make a spectacle or anything - and said, `Put her in.' ''
Moore guessed that Palmer scored at least 30 points that night. And, she knows that she never heard Palmer complain once about the pain.
That may be Palmer's legacy at Virginia, where she has not missed more than one game in any season.
``After I hurt my knee at Duke this year, I pretty much wanted to give up,'' she said. ``It's been a struggle, but, even when things have been bad, they've never been as bad as they've seemed. I think I've played well under the circumstances.''
Palmer, a 6-foot-2 senior, has played well under any circumstances. She recently became the third player in ACC history to be named conference Player of the Year in consecutive seasons and is the No. 3 scorer and No. 1 rebounder in U.Va. history.
``She's been such an incredible force for our team,'' said Debbie Ryan, in her 19th season as the Cavaliers' coach. ``She not only gives you points and rebounds and leadership, but this year she's been our best passer. She's never been healthy, which is the most amazing thing.''
Palmer traces her knee problems to her freshman year, when she tried to play at 195 pounds. She had been in the 145-150 range as a senior in high school.
``I had never had a summer off before I went to college,'' said Palmer, who was a two-time state champion in the high jump and was named conference player of the year in volleyball. ``I was in a cycle where I was always playing a sport, but I came here for the summer transition program and did nothing.''
Nothing but eat.
She could barely get up and down the floor as a freshman, when she played only 18 minutes a game for a team that lost to Ohio State 75-73 in the East Regional final.
``That was the first thing I noticed about Wendy - how much weight she had put on,'' Moore said. ``But she took the weight off almost as quickly as she put it on. You could see by her sophomore year that her agility had really picked up.''
So had her attitude.
Frequently sullen as a freshman, Palmer became increasingly extroverted, which was more consistent with the way she was in high school.
``She was always vivacious,'' Moore said. ``If I say she was silly, some people might take it the wrong way because she's nearly 22 years old, but she is a bit on the silly side.''
Palmer uses the term ``adventurous.''
Although she is the daughter of a minister, Palmer has a belly ring and two tattoos.
``I just like to stray from the norm,'' she says. ``A lot of people are intimidated by me. I'm outspoken and I'm not shy, but I am a loner.''
Palmer admits that she has turned to her religion for strength. As a youth, she frequently would join her father, Melvin, on 100-mile round trips to his church in Charles City.
Palmer's father worked as a lifeguard during the summer, which might account for her current passion, swimming. She has remained a well-conditioned 179 pounds, but reduced the pounding on her knees with regular workouts in the pool that adjoins University Hall.
There have been days when she has outstroked Ryan, an age-group champion in her youth.
It must be an odd sight - the premier power player in U.Va. women's basketball history and her fitness-conscious coach, who was a one-time antagonist.
``Like the rest of my teammates, she didn't know me at first,'' Palmer said. ``Our relationship has definitely gotten better. It's winded down into a friendship. As it turns out, we have a lot in common. I tried to talk her into a tattoo, though, and she said her adventurous days were over.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Wendy Palmer is a two-time ACC Player of the Year despite injuries
to both of her knees.
by CNB