Jenny Bush entered the spring recognized as the top girls’ lacrosse player in Maine after being named the state’s lone All-American a year ago.

But what the Kennebunk High senior wanted most of all was a state championship. In 2015, the Rams lost in overtime in the state title game.

With plenty of help from a deep list of talented teammates, she accomplished the goal. Kennebunk capped a 15-0 season with the Class B championship, the first girls’ lacrosse state title for the school.

Bush had 65 goals and 10 assists this spring, and was exceptionally proficient at winning the draw to gain possession. Now she can add another accolade to her resume: the Maine Sunday Telegram Player of the Year in girls’ lacrosse.

“This year we were all so invested and we all had the right mindset, and we all wanted that same goal as much as the next person,” she said.

In Kennebunk’s 9-7 championship win over Yarmouth – the school that upset the Rams in last year’s final – Bush was held to one goal. The Clippers committed a defender to limit her ability to receive a pass.

Kennebunk Coach Annie Barker said the performance showed Bush’s personal growth as well as the Rams’ faith in each other.

“Last year she thought she had to carry it,” Barker said. “With developing the team and everybody realizing that everyone would contribute, it made her job easier and the result of the state game showed it. Jenny’s job that day was to win 14 of 17 draws.”

“I like that I take the draws and can kind of be in possession with them, and I feel like this season I stepped up more on the draws,” said Bush.

Bush began playing lacrosse in the fifth grade, following older sisters Allie and Catie. Allie Bush played four seasons at Wheaton College, where she set career and single-season assist records, and Catie played one season at Endicott College. Jenny Bush will play at Assumption College, an NCAA Division II school in Worcester, Massachusetts.

“Watching Allie play kind of really got me into it and we kind of showed the same passion for lacrosse,” Bush said. “Seeing her go through the high school and seeing them come so close to a state championship, that really drove me to want to be successful and made me want to get over that hump of winning a state championship.”

Bush said the loss in the 2015 title game galvanized the Rams to commit to more intensive offseason training.

“It’s important for everyone to know how hard we worked,” Bush said. “We didn’t just walk on to the field on March 28 thinking we would win. We put in so, so much time.”

Telegram All-State team

Gretchen Barbera, Yarmouth junior, defense: Noted by coaches from both Class B and Class A, the hard-working Barbera has above-average speed and good field sense, making her tough to beat one-on-one and very strong in transition.

Sydney Bell, Falmouth junior, midfield: An intense competitor and a repeat all-state pick, Bell is a top draw specialist and a dominant goal scorer (71 goals), and this year became a skilled playmaker, finishing with 27 assists.

Jenny Bush, Kennebunk senior, attack: A three-time all-state pick, Bush was the state’s only All-American for the second straight season. She had 65 goals and 10 assists, and also won 131 draws for the unbeaten Class B champs. She will play lacrosse at Assumption College.

Hannah Costin, Marshwood junior, attack: Stepped into a larger role this season and flourished for the Class A South finalists, scoring 60 goals with 19 assists as a first-team SMAA pick.

Maquila Dimastrantonio, Massabesic senior, midfield: Tall and strong, Dimastrantonio was one of the top draw control specialists in the state and scored 67 goals with 11 assists. She will attend St. Anselm College, and intends to play lacrosse and run cross country.

Jenna Kashmer, Marshwood senior, defense: A first-team SMAA pick, Kashmer came up with 24 ground balls, 14 interceptions and 18 caused turnovers for one of the stoutest defenses in the league.

Kelsey Otley, Greely senior, midfield: An athletic two-way player, the former defender became a more assertive offensive presence, with 33 goals and six assists while playing some of her best games against top teams.

Isabelle Paulus, Morse senior, midfield: The KVAC Class B player of the year, Paulus came back from a torn ACL and was a two-way threat for the North regional finalists with 32 goals and six assists. Paulus will play at Bates College next year.

Olivia Sandford, Kennebunk senior, midfield: A repeat all-state pick, Sandford was a two-way player who had 18 goals and 25 assists. Sandford plans to play at Bates College.

Kyra Schwartzman, Kennebunk senior, attack: A repeat all-state pick, Schwartzman was also an academic All-American while scoring 43 goals and 19 assists. Schwartzman will play lacrosse at Merrimack.

Ally Turner, Messalonskee sophomore, midfield: A dynamic scorer and playmaker with speed and a fierce will, Turner led the Eagles to their first Class A championship, and finished with 64 goals and 32 assists.

Isabelle Kudas, Kennebunk senior, goalie: Kudas directed a revamped defense and allowed only 3.5 goals per game, making 79 saves and stopping 59.8 percent of shots.

Coach of the Year
Annie Barker, Kennebunk: Kept a veteran, motivated team focused and relaxed, and successfully rebuilt the Rams’ defense as Kennebunk went 15-0 and won the school’s first girls’ lacrosse championship.

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