Kolleen Bouchard was born to be an athlete. At least that’s what her father, Marty Bouchard, said.
“We’re a real athletic family,” said Marty Bouchard. “On both sides of the family. So we were pretty confident that, given the fabric and culture of our home and community and lives, she would be interested in athletics.”
She was interested, and Kolleen Bouchard became an exceptional athlete for Houlton High, a gifted soccer and basketball player who led the Shiretowners to championship glory in both sports.
For all that she did, Bouchard was named the Varsity Maine Female Athlete of the Year.
“This means a lot to me,” said Bouchard at the Varsity Maine Awards ceremony. “I’m definitely proud to represent northern Maine and to see all the great athletes here, it’s just awesome.”
Bouchard, who was also the class valedictorian and president of Houlton’s chapter of the National Honor Society, is most associated with basketball, and with good reason. She dominated her opponents for four years, earning a scholarship to Bentley University, one of the top Division II programs in New England, possibly the nation. She finished her career with 2,046 points and led Houlton to four consecutive state championship games – two in Class C, two in Class B.
The Shiretowners won the first two, then lost the last two, including a 56-50 decision to Monmouth Academy in Class C this year, despite 35 points from Bouchard.
“Kolleen has been instrumental for our basketball program for the last four years,” said Houlton Coach Shawn Graham earlier this year. “She is extremely dedicated to the sport. Her commitment to our program has been phenomenal.”
She averaged 27.8 points as a senior, along with 9.8 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 3.2 steals and 2.9 blocks. This, despite opponents knowing she was going to be the focal point of everything Houlton did.
“I live off of that pressure, I’m not going to lie,” said Bouchard. “I love that kind of stuff.”
As a senior in soccer, Bouchard led Houlton to the Class C state championship last fall, scoring the winning goal in a 1-0 decision over Madison. That was her 37th goal of the season. She also led the team in assists.
Her family isn’t surprised by her exploits. Older brother Kyle said he always wanted to have her on his team in pickup games.
“She was always game ready,” he said. “She grew up in a competitive atmosphere and thrived in it.”
She really didn’t have a choice. “Pretty much everyone in my family has been an athlete,” she said. “I guess it’s just in the veins.”
Basketball was the sport she loved most – she practiced it constantly, shooting in the gym, working on dribbling drills – but she always looked forward to playing soccer in the fall.
“Soccer was a stress reliever for me,” she said. “In basketball, there was a lot of pressure. (Soccer) is definitely more relaxing and fun. It’s more of a team sport, so it was definitely a stress reliever.”
Looking back at her high school career, Bouchard said she can’t complain about too much.
“Other than those two state championship losses,” she said. “I’m very thankful how smooth my high school career went.”
Mike Lowe can be contacted at 791-6422 or:
mlowe@pressherald.com
Twitter: MikeLowePPH
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