Wright, Boucher, Palmer named lax All America
Toolbox
By Chuck Clarino Staff writer - Published: June 20, 2009
Being named an All American is something any athlete dreams about. For two girls from Rutland High School and one from Burr and Burton, it has become a dream come true.
Hannah Wright of Division I champion Rutland High School was selected as an All American in high school lacrosse for the second straight year, while Burr and Burton Academy's Kristen Palmer became a first-time All American and Ashley Boucher, also of Rutland High School, was chosen as All America honorable mention.
The selections were announced recently by USA Lacrosse.
The three lacrosse stars from Southern Vermont were selected in a vote of the coaches from their state and join those chosen from states across the country for the sport's highest honor.
Wright, 18, was also selected for Academic All America for the second consecutive year, topping a list of 16 girls selected from the state of Vermont. The group includes a great representation from southern Vermont: five from D-1 champion Rutland, one from Division I runner-up Mount Anthony and two from Division II runner-up Burr and Burton Academy.
Wright, 18, is heading off to Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, this fall and plans to play lacrosse for the Polar Bears.
"Words can't really express how I feel," said Wright, who is also plans to compete in college as a Nordic skier. "I was excited last year but I understand this year that the vote was unanimous and that makes me feel great. It's a national honor with difficult national standards that you have to meet and to be picked is so humbling. I know what good lacrosse looks like and it's such an honor to be compared to those players from across the country."
Meanwhile, Palmer, 17, was also honored and extremely surprised.
"We had a girl, Mary VanDerKar, chosen as an honorable mention a couple of years ago and it's really crazy because I never expected to be selected," said Palmer, who will attend Wheaton College this fall and hopes to continue her lacrosse career there. "I really enjoy playing lacrosse, whether it's in a team setting or out in the back yard practicing, and it's always nice to know that people appreciate how much work you put into it."
Palmer was seen as one of the team's most skilled, yet instinctual players by her coach Dave Miceli, but also as the ultimate team player.
"Physically as a player 1-v-1 she excels and as a team leader she is exceptional in her understanding of the game – not just strategy but time and score and what's going on with the momentum of the game," Miceli said. "She always seems to know when we need three passes and a goal, or when we need to pull it out … She sees the flow of the game. She gets it; it's as much about the shots she doesn't take as those she takes."
The number of All American per state is determined on the population of the states that participate in the sport. Vermont has one of the smallest pools of high school players. Because of that, they are awarded only two full All America slots and one honorable mention.
Midfielder Boucher, 18, also of Rutland High School, formed the perfect duo with Wright for the champion Raiders.
"Ashley is yin to Hanna's yang," Rutland coach Jane O'Neill said. "They complement each other so well. While Hannah can score, Ashley sees the field and is our playmaker. It's amazing both have scored their 100th career goals this spring and their statistics are surprisingly similar."
When contacted, Boucher, like Wright and Palmer, was grateful and humbled by the honor. She will attend the University of Vermont this fall but is still deciding whether to try and walk on to the UVM team or play club lacrosse.
"I feel like I've worked hard over the four years but I certainly didn't expect this honor," said Boucher, who will play in the Twin State Lacrosse Game this Sunday, the Make A Wish Hockey All Star game next week and the Twin State Lions Soccer Cup game later in July.
"I really play lacrosse because it's fun and I love playing but this honor means a lot to me because it tells me that people have watched me and they know all the hard work I've put into this."
Wright heads the list of Academic All Americans and is joined by Rutland teammates Rachel Black, Kayla Tobin, Shannon Kennelly and Hannah Hoelscher. Palmer, Chloe Griffin of Mount Anthony and Burr and Burton's Duja Jovicic round out those from southern Vermont.
The following were selected from northern Vermont teams as Academic All Americans: Molly Brown, Rice; Molly Finn, Rice; Kristen Coombs, Rice; Kristen Ignaszewski, South Burlington; Sydney Stevens, South Burlington; Abby Allen, U-32; Alice Curchin, U-32 and Brynn Cayia, U-32.
chuck.clarino@rutlandherald.com
40