Brockport Oliver Middle School teacher Kathleen Boughton watched Abby Wambach’s final U.S. Women’s National Team game from a suite inside the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans on December 16.
Boughton, a physical education teacher at Brockport Oliver Middle School, coached Wambach in both basketball and soccer at Our Lady of Mercy School for Young Women. Wambach credits Boughton for giving her “tough love” and helping her to learn the value of respect.
After a field dedication in her honor at Mercy last year, Wambach said, “I’ve had a lot of coaches in my life, a lot of amazing soccer-mind coaches in my life. There is no better motivator that I’ve ever been coached by than Kathy.”
Boughton feels proud to have played a role in coaching America’s all-time leading scorer. “I never thought I’d be the coach of the number one soccer player in the world,” said Boughton.
Wambach invited Boughton to join her closest friends and family members to watch her final game against China in the suite provided by U.S. Soccer. Boughton said the most special part of the trip was reuniting with Wambach’s college coach, Becky Burleigh, from the University of Florida. “When you see a player grow, it’s nice to be able to converse about it,” said Boughton.
Following the game, Boughton attended Wambach’s post-game party at the House of Blues, where she met Mia Hamm, Carli Lloyd, Hope Solo, Brandi Chastain and several other iconic soccer players.
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