By Colleen Gonzalez, Assistant Sports Information Director
For the past 16 years, the State University of New York at New Paltz women’s basketball team has made remarkable strides, securing two State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Championships titles, two appearances in the NCAA Division III Tournament and, just recently, a new all-time scoring record.
Robin (Shields) Lestrade ’00, who has held the record since her senior year, believes it was time to pass on the torch.
“It has been an honor to hold that record for so long and it’s time for someone else to enjoy it,” said Lestrade. “I will always have pride in playing for New Paltz.”
If anyone were to ask Lestrade when in her life she was the happiest, she would say getting married, having her children and her time as a New Paltz student-athlete.
Lestrade’s passion for basketball began at 10-years-old when she would play with her brothers in the backyard. As she continued to play for the next eight years, she knew she wanted to keep playing basketball past high school.
Lestrade knew of New Paltz due to a family friend who had attended and on her first visit to the college, she had the opportunity to meet then head coach Tom Costello.
“(He) came to a few of my high school games and basically told me that I would play right away as a freshman,” said Lestrade. “I then went up again to watch New Paltz play and I just loved the entire experience.
"The opportunity to continue my basketball career and get a college education was an easy choice at that point.”
Lestrade’s hard work on the court saw her become the second 1,000-point scorer in the program, behind teammate Jazmine Sanchez, before achieving all-time scorer status in her senior year. Both of which she had not intended to reach.
“I really just wanted to continue playing sports in college while getting a degree,” said Lestrade. “I never thought I would accomplish what I did. It was a privilege to put on a New Paltz uniform … playing college sports is not something everyone gets to do and I never took that for granted.”
In 2002, Lestrade traded in her New Paltz uniform for a New York Police Department uniform and is currently assigned on Staten Island where she resides with her husband, a retired police officer, and her three sons.
Being a police officer, Lestrade says, is like being on a team.
“You need teammates to help you, especially in the case of rookie officers; you look to senior officers for guidance,” continued Lestrade. “Now that I am a senior officer, I try to help the newer officers and it reminds me of playing basketball and softball at New Paltz and helping the younger athletes adjust.”
And even though her college days are in the past, Lestrade still keeps tabs on the team’s progress.
“I always check in with Coach Seward via email or I check the website to see how the team is doing,” said Lestrade. “We did not win much when I was there but what they have built is pretty special and I love seeing the team do well.”
