Sarah Nelson is one of five first year players that make up the Salem basketball team. Nelson joined head coach Quntashea Lewis' team after graduating from South Iredell High School in 2020.
Nelson, who earned four varsity letters in basketball over the course of her career, played two years (2016-18) under head coach Michael Fisher and two for head coach Marcus Chambers (2018-20). Recognized as a high-level performer, Nelson was a two-time captain that scored 1,000 points in her prep career.
Nelson earned All-County accolades on three occasions, including the 2016-17, 2018-19 and 2019-20, while garnering All-Conference Team honors in 2016-17 and in 2019-20. Along wiith making an impact for her South Iredell program, Nelson was active in AAU basketball, competing in the offseason since 2014. Nelson played for head coach Matt Dagenhart's Statesville Shock team from 2014-18 before she joined the Lady Phenom and head coach Brian Perry AAU program in 2018. That was followed by a stint with the Winston-Salem Stealers and head coach Trisha Grant in 2019.
Nelson recently discussed her first semester at Salem College along with her career on-and-off the court. She made the following remarks:
Sport(s): Women's Basketball
Who inspired you to play this sport and why? My dad started coaching me at a young age and my passion for the game grew as time went on.
Describe some of the things that you have done, while being away from campus during the COVID-19 pandemic, that have made an impact on your life.
I have worked, and gone fishing a lot with my brother, drove around on back roads.
Favorite Food: Crab Legs
Favorite Class at Salem: Sociology, it has helped me learn more perspectives on people and problems that happen every day.
What is the one thing that you have learned most by competing in athletics that you apply in everyday life? Just never give up, and always push forward. The biggest lessons are learned from losing. You can learn more from a person when they lose, than when they win
What do you look forward to most in taking the field for the first time at Salem?: Just being able to experience it with my teammates and coaches
Intended major and any thoughts about your career once you finish college?: I plan on majoring in Exercise Science, my plans after college are to eventually plan to open my own gym.
Superstitions that are in my pregame ritual: I don't really have a pregame ritual.
How did you pick your jersey number: Both numbers I really wanted were already taken so I took the next best one.
Favorite person to follow on social media: I don't have a favorite person I follow
If you could travel anywhere where would you go: Alaska, up in the mountains fishing in the streams for trout.
What made you decide to attend Salem: It was close to home, also close to my sister that attended UNCG, it is a very close community. Makes it feel like home away from home.