Induction slideshow
Heather M. Nelson (1981) — far exceeded the standard of an ordinary athlete. She performed with great ease and respect for the sports she played. She was a collaborator, always supportive and encouraging to her teammates. She is smart, kind, thoughtful, and has a great sense of humor. Heather is a true athlete and competitor. She raised the bar.
She could step up to the plate and place a hit wherever she wanted to, and homeruns were plentiful. She had a true jump shot, with hang time. It was impressive!
Heather was a generational and transformative talent. Her leadership and unmatched skill combined to create the type of athlete that is virtually unstoppable on the court and on the field but never overshadowed the sportsmanship and character she possessed to go along with her unequaled athletic ability. Heather personified and continues to exhibit an attitude encompassing hard work, dedication, honesty, integrity and humility.
Heather’s achievements on the basketball court and softball field are legendary, causing teammates to become spectators to watch her play and work her magic. Winning one State High School Softball Championship would be memorable but the Colonels won two consecutively. Heather was the driving force and played at an MVP level when BUHS won the 1978 and 1979 High School Softball Championships. She powered the Colonels to the first-ever Dot Jones League Softball title in 1979. Heather guarded, passed and shot the BUHS Basketball Team to three straight playoff appearances from 1979-1981.
At the end of her career Heather had lettered three years in basketball and four years in softball, been named to the Division I Softball Dot Jones League All-Star Team 1978 and 1979 as shortstop (freshman and sophomore years), played in the first annual Alhambra Basketball All-Star game between Vermont and New Hampshire in 1981, was selected to the Dot Jones League All-Star Basketball Team in 1979-1980 (missed time after knee surgery), was captain of the basketball and softball teams her senior year, was WKVT’s Athlete of the year in 1981, and was awarded the Arthur J. Monroe Cup.
