Kellyn Nolan was one of the most versatile scholastic athletes in recent Wayne County history.
Over the course of a stellar four-year career at Western Wayne, she piled up awards and accolades in three different varsity sports.

Kellyn was an all-star in both basketball and volleyball and an invaluable member of the Lady ‘Cat track team.

Nolan headed off to Lackawanna College after graduation where she continued her athletic career. Kellyn was a bona fide multi-sport star for the Falcons, while also pursuing a degree in business administration.

Upon completion of Lackawanna’s two-year curriculum, she transferred to Goldey-Beacom College in Wilmington, Delaware...and picked up right where she left off. Kellyn saw significant action this fall for the women’s volleyball team. The Lightning compiled a 9-19 record while fighting for play-off position in the rugged Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CCAC).

Now, as the snowflakes begin to fly and the winter sports season dawns, Nolan is back on the basketball court. Kellyn won a starting position for the Lightning and opened the 2008-‘09 campaign in fine fashion.

Lightning in a Bottle
On Sunday afternoon at the Jones Center in Wilmington, Nolan led Goldey-Beacom to an 88-54 rout of Concord College. Kellyn exploded for a team-best 27 points while also finding time to pull down six rebounds, hand out four assists and record four steals.

It was a virtuoso all-round performance that had second year Head Coach Jen Carleton singing Nolan’s praises.

“Kellyn is doing a great job for us,” Coach Carleton told TWI Sports. “She’s a very intense player who’s always hustling. Kellyn is already giving us excellent leadership on the court...and we really need that from her.”

Nolan went 10-for-15 from the floor and also knocked down 7-of-11 free throw attempts. She played a game-high 37 minutes and only committed four turnovers. According to Coach Carleton, Nolan’s biggest impact came defensively and in transition.

“Kellyn’s defense was outstanding...especially in the second half,” she said. “She helped us break open a close game and we ended up winning by 34. Kellyn forced turnovers and we converted them into points.”

Year Two
The Goldey-Beacom women’s basketball team has only been in existence for eight years now. In that time, the Lightning have posted just one winning season (2006-‘07).

Nolan hopes her presence on the floor and in the lockerroom will help elevate the Lightning to that next level. Goldey-Beacom is coming off an 11-16 campaign in Coach Carleton’s first year on the bench.

“I’m really happy here,” Kellyn said. “We’re a very young team, but we’re very close, too. Everybody gets along well. The most important thing to me is that we work hard and win.”

Nolan is the lone senior on a roster packed with underclassmen. There are no juniors on the squad that features five sophomores and four frosh. Last winter, Kellyn was among the team leaders in many major statistical categories. She started 26-of-27 games while scoring 154 points (5.7 ppg) and hauling in 109 rebounds (4.0 rpg).

“Kellyn’s very versatile,” said Coach Carleton. “She’s been playing the four (position), but I can plug her in anywhere and know she’s going to do a great job.”

Nolan is an outstanding ball handler...so much so, in fact, that she played point guard in her final season at Western Wayne. However, she’s more comfortable on the wing or along the baseline.

“I like taking the ball to the basket,” Kellyn said. “I’ve gotten to the point that I’m pretty confident on offense. I like being aggressive and pushing the ball.”

Coach Carleton agrees wholeheartedly.

“Kellyn can beat you in so many ways,” she said. “She drives the lane and if she’s stopped, then she pulls up and hits a jumper. She also gets to the foul line alot.”

Nolan connected on 71% of her free throw attempts last winter (44-for-62)

Next up for the Lightning is a road trip to Bloomsburg University for a non-league game against the Huskies next Tuesday. Opening tip for this contest is set for 6:00 p.m.

Kellyn Nolan is wrapping up her degree in business administration. She’ll remain at Goldey-Beacom one more year as a grad student working toward her Master’s.