Sports

Montville Native Leading The Way on the Court

Jules Kowalski is a big part of Colby College's success.

For Julianne Kowalski, basketball was a part of her life as early as the third grade, when she played in the Montville Township recreation leagues.

“It’s always been something I’ve been interested in,” she said. “I started very young, and it became more serious as time went on.”

The third-grade Kowalski probably never expected to make history by being the 14th player in Colby College’s Women’s basketball program to 1,000 points in a career, yet that is what a lifetime around the sport has brought her.

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“1,000 is great, I never expected to have it,” she said. “I am surprised, but at the time I’ve very glad. Its something you put so much work into, a lot of time and practice goes into it.”

Her millennial mark at Colby marks the second time Kowalski cracked the 1,000 mark. She scored similarly impressive numbers when she played basketball at Montville High School.

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Kowalski, who said she chose Colby in Maine so she could pursue both athletics and academics, has had a largely successful career on the court for the college. According to the college’s athletic department, the Montville native is a three-year team captain who led the Mules in rebounding with 219 boards and average 8.7 points a game in the 2009-2010 season.

In her senior season, Kowalski has proven herself to be essential to Colby’s winning ways. The Mules are headed New England Small College Athletic Conference Championships against Bowdoin College on Saturday thanks in part to Kowalski, who is in the top five in the conference for scoring, rebounding and field goal percentage. She was named New England Women’s Basketball Association Player of the Week on Feb 7.

Despite her successes on the court, Kowalski says she doesn’t dwell on accolades or praise.

“It’s something I don’t really focus on,” she said. “Some other players on the team have gotten the same accolades. Colby has a prestigious program. I feel grateful, especially considering how good the conference we play in is, but its not something I really think about.”

For now, Kowalski’s focus is on the NESCAC championship and a potential bid for the Women’s NCAA tournament.

“We had a bid to the NCAA tournament last year and we lost in double overtime on the way to the Sweet 16,” she said. “We’re looking to do better than last year. It was the first time we had made it and it was amazing. We went in with nothing to lose, and we’re hoping to build on our foundation from last year.”

Regardless of what happens in the post season, Kowalski expects to make this season on the court her last in serious competition, at least for now. She was accepted to Robert Johnson Medical School and says she looks forward to coming back to New Jersey.

“Basketball has been a very positive experience, but I wanted to focus on academics and sports at the same time,” she said. “I don’t think I could have done it any other way.”


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