Matt Gaudet, who led the Colby College basketball team in scoring each of his four seasons on Mayflower Hill, recently had his jersey No. 22 retired by the school.

Gaudet, a former All-Maine performer at Mountain Valley High School in Rumford, starred for the White Mules from 1992-95. He ranks ninth on Colby’s career scoring list with 1,487 points and also was an 83 percent free-throw shooter during his career.

Gaudet helped Colby post a combined record of 85-16, including two NCAA Tournament appearances and an ECAC title.

“Matt was one of the few guys we’ve had who started right away in his first year,” said Colby men’s basketball coach Dick Whitmore, now in his 35th year with the program.

“He played point guard for us, but he could have played the other guard spot as well because he was a great shooter.”

The former All-America honorable mention and All-New England Small College Athletic Conference and All-New England choice has dealt with some setbacks since his graduation in 1995.

In 2001, Gaudet was paralyzed in a diving accident in the Caribbean. However, he persevered through the injury and now lives and works in Minneapolis, Minn.

“Matt maintained a strong personal presence that has carried him through,” Whitmore said. “He works every day, drives his own van and has had an amazing amount of success.”

A golf tournament to benefit the Matt Gaudet Foundation has been held at different sites in Maine during the last five years.

Willette heads up Div. III stars

Megan Willette of Saint Joseph’s College in Standish headlines a plethora of Mainers named to the Division III Independent men’s and women’s soccer and cross country teams.

Willette, a freshman from Waterville, tallied 25 goals and 10 assists, earning offensive player of the year honors. Two of her teammates were named to the first team, Jillian Leger on defense and Krista Wotherspoon in goal.

Monks coach Michael Bolanz was named coach of the year.

Mainers named to the second team were forward Kate Jordan and midfielder Kerri Driscoll of Saint Joseph’s and goalie Johannah Bubar of the University of Maine-Presque Isle. Owls’ midfielder Marilee Waugh earned honorable mention.

On the men’s side, three Owls earned recognition. Defenseman Ryan Scott made the first team, midfielder Matt Petrie the second and Sebastian Itman, a forward, earned honorable mention.

Several runners from Saint Joseph’s and UMPI earned honors on the All-Independent Cross Country teams. Sarah Willis of Saint Joseph’s was named to the second team while UMPI’s Michelle Phillips earned honorable mention.

Owls’ senior Jeff Sprague made the second team while Ryan Prescott, Matt Ferguson and Isaac Worrall, all of Saint Joseph’s, earned honorable mention honors.