LEBANON — Whether it was on or off the field, Otto Bourne excelled this year at Lebanon High School.

For his efforts, Bourne was recognized this month as Gatorade’s New Hampshire boys soccer player of the year.

The award, which was established in 1985, goes to one player in each U.S. state in 12 sports. The award recognizes “the nation’s most elite high school student athletes for their athletic excellence, academic achievement and exemplary character,” states Gatorade’s website.

“It’s definitely a big honor to receive this award, and I am proud of it,” Bourne said. 

Bourne will continue his soccer career in the fall at Division I Colgate University in Hamilton, N.Y.

Bourne, whose soccer-playing days date back to elementary school, had a stellar career from the start at Lebanon. As a freshman, he worked his way back from an injury to shine for the Raiders when the lights were the brightest in the state championship game, which Lebanon won.

“He basically played the entire game, and you could argue that he was certainly one of our top two players on the field even (as a freshman) in the biggest moment,” said Lebanon coach Rob Johnstone. “I can’t tell you how many coaches after said, ‘Wait, that kid is a freshman?’”

“Anybody who watched our team play, it was very readily apparent that we had a really special player,” Johnstone added.

Johnstone lauded the progress Bourne made over the years on multiple fronts, including his commitment, knowledge of the game and his versatility.

“I could play Otto at any position on the field and he would have been the best player on the field,” he said.

Bourne’s performance carried over into his interaction with teammates.

“Some teams, when you’re warming up you look over on the other side of the field, you know who the ‘best’ player is, and sometimes that’s the guy who’s not warming up with the rest of the guys, not stretching with the rest of the guys, doing their own thing,” Johnstone said.

“As instantly as you would recognize Otto as the best player on the field once the game begins, you would never in a million years pick him out before the game for any kind of prima donna attitude,” he said.

Bourne was a standout in the classroom as well, maintaining a 4.32 weighted GPA, according to a Gatorade release announcing the award.

As far as successfully balancing the demands of academics and athletics, Bourne pointed to two key factors: his support system and time management.

“Just knowing that you’re working toward good stuff both academically and through sports, it’s motivating enough to make you want to keep pushing forward on both ends of that,” Bourne said.

Bourne was also a student ambassador at Lebanon High, welcoming freshmen and transfer students by answering their questions and helping them feel comfortable.

Through the school’s Spanish department, he volunteered with the Pulsera Project, which promotes the work of Central American artisans through partnerships with U.S. schools.

Bourne also volunteered to help translate for a Venezuelan student who did not speak English.

“It felt nice to have the opportunity to help him out and sort of welcome him into the community,” he said.

Gatorade award winners receive a grant from Gatorade that can be donated to a “social impact partner.” Bourne has not yet made his selection.

He credited his support system for making the achievement possible.

“It’s not just you really winning the award; it’s everybody who’s supported you and backed you through both the academics and also your sports programs as well,” he said.

Michael Coughlin Jr. can be reached at mcoughlin@vnews.com.