GORHAM — The last few years — since 2014, to be exact — have been akin to a roller coaster for Brooke Dugan, a member of the 2014 graduating class at Oceanside High School. 

After her days at the Rockland area school, Dugan started her college days playing field hockey for NCAA Division III Wheaton College in Norton, Massachusetts, during the 2014 season, where she appeared in 14 contests and recorded one assist and one start. In her 2015 sophomore campaign, she started 15 of 17 contests and collected two goals and an assist for the Lyons. 

Dugan’s time at Wheaton, however, lasted three semesters until she transferred to Kennebec Valley Community College before landing at NCAA Division II Southern Maine in time for the 2017 season. Mixed in between was a brief stint as the seventh grade softball coach at Oceanside Middle School in Thomaston. 

“Southern Maine was appealing to me because of its affordability, location, and its welcoming atmosphere,” she said. “I knew I wanted to continue playing sports while also being able to balance school work and USM allowed me to do just that.”

While in high school at Oceanside, Dugan was a three-sport athlete who played field hockey, basketball and softball. She was named the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference Softball Player of the Year during her senior campaign, was a member of the National Honor Society and earned high-honors each year of high school. 

The St. George native was part of Oceanside teams that won the KVAC championship in basketball and softball, the regional championship in softball and a state championship in softball, the later being one of her favorite sports memories from Oceanside. 

“I will never forget the feelings and emotions that came with that win,” she said. 

Added to her high school achievement list is the Midcoast Sports Hall of Fame High School Female Athlete of the Year award her senior year. 

“The best feeling is being recognized and rewarded for your handwork and achievements,” she said. “[T]his award also holds a special meaning to me because my first ever and favorite coach, Dan Flanagan, was inducted into the [Midcoast Sports] Hall of Fame this same year.”

During her first season in Gorham, in 2017, the midfielder started all 19 games and netted one goal on top of four assists. 

This season, her senior year, Dugan started all 21 games for the Huskies, finding the back of the net three times and recording one assist. She was also one of three captains of the team.

Dugan start playing sports at a young age — she considered herself to be a tomboy growing up — though her field hockey start did not come until the third grade through her participation in field hockey clinics being run by her babysitter. 

In the classroom, Dugan is a business major and says she always aims to obtain good grades. On the field, she says she aims to give her best efforts, show leadership through being an example and being a team player. 

For those hoping to play collegiate athletics, Dugan advised students to be just as dedicated during the off-season as one is during the season, as your time and effort matters most during the off-season. 

“Summer workouts are a pain but will be beneficial in the long run and only help you,” she stated. 

After finishing college, Dugan intends on traveling plenty, with Ireland being a top destination. 

“I have a very long list of many places I want to see,” she remarked. 

Dugan — who enjoys watching Grey’s Anatomy, going to the beach and, as she says, eating good food in her spare time — finds motivation and inspiration in her life pursuits courtesy of her mother. 

“Being a single mother raising three children, she's taught me how to be a strong independent women and that nothing comes easy but with hard work and determination I can accomplish anything I put my mind to and for that I am thankful,” she stated. 

Fittingly, her favorite quote comes from Mahatma Gandhi: “Be the change that you wish to see in the world.” 

Reach George Harvey and the sports department at: sports@penbaypilot.com.