Athletic Spotlight:
Jake Bourgault ’09
Jake Bourgault ’09 has been making a name for himself on the playing field since his freshman year. Currently a member of the varsity soccer and varsity track and field teams, as well as captain of the varsity wrestling team, Jake cites his athletics involvement as an integral part of his own personal Avon experience, from providing “lifelong friendships” to helping him understand the meaning of being an Avonian. “An Avonian does what is asked of him before he does what he wants to,” explains Jake. “Athletics demonstrates this idea of doing what is expected before what is easier or convenient. On the soccer field, you have 10 other people depending on you, and in wrestling you have 13 other guys relying on you to do your part.” And Jake’s teammates have continually come to rely on him: wrestling in the 140-lb. weight class, he captured the
Varsity Wrestling Overall Record: 18-5; Western New Englands: 4th Place The 2008-2009 wrestling season was one of the greatest seen by the Winged Grapplers in recent history. With an 18-5 overall record, a 17-4 record against New England prep schools, and a 4th place finish at the Western New England Championships, the program is on the upswing. With about 40 wrestlers on the squad and only six of those graduating, the program will be strong for years to come. The season opened with a 5th place finish at the Canterbury Invitational, with Captain Jake Bourgault ’09 winning the 140-lb. weight class. The rest of the season built upon that success, and the squad wreaked havoc in the league, racking up 135 overall pins and amassing 1,239 total points while allowing only 788. The Loomis Duals tournament saw Avon take a 3rd place finish at a tournament that
12
Spring 2009 The Avonian
Western New England Championship title this February, helping the team to a 4th place finish in the tournament—the school’s best result in years. He was also named the Most Improved Player on the varsity soccer team which has advanced to the New England Championship title game in each of the last two years, winning it in 2007. Jake is busy off the field, as well, as a day student monitor, the head of both the Special Olympics soccer and basketball programs, and a member of Avon Outreach. Though he is unsure of his future plans, Jake is considering a major in business or communications, and will attend the University of Connecticut. Wherever he goes, Jake will take with him the values he learned at Avon not only as a student, but as an athlete. “To be an Avonian requires someone to put everything they have into making Avon a great place to live; a true Avonian would do anything they could to make the world better, no matter how enormous that may sound.”
previously only garnered a 7th or 8th place result, as well as a 12-3 record in duals for the remainder of the season. The season closed with two major tournaments: the Western New England and New England Championships. At Westerns, the Winged Grapplers took 4th place overall, the best finish in decades. Bourgault led the way, winning his weight class and winning the award for Most Pins in Least Time. Bourgault finished the season an amazing 23-1 and was a huge asset to the team not just for his successes on the mat but, along with co-captain
Cory Cheyne ’09 (171 lbs), his leadership off the mat as well. The New England Prep School Wrestling Championship tournament was hosted by Avon this year and the event was a spectacular success, with simultaneous action on six mats and upwards of 50 schools in attendance. Overall the season was a tremendous one, and the Winged Grapplers hope that the strength of this season is continued and improved upon next year, with elected captains Ben LaRocque ’10 and Matt Coz ’10 leading the squad.