Twin sisters graduated from Rockledge High in 2020
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Jackie Koehler and Monique Koehler, for the third time, received All-Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference honors in women’s bowling. Jackie and Monique both graduated from Rockledge High School in 2020, and are now seniors at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania.
Jackie Koehler earns All-AMCC accolades for the third consecutive season, as she averaged 177 during her senior campaign. At the Storm Daemen Fall Classic (Nov. 11-12), she averaged 190.2 in leading the Bearcats to the team title, before she took 12th overall at the Greater Pittsburgh Collegiate Classic with a four-game average of 185.7. A
t the AMCC Championship Tournament, her weekend was highlighted by a 190 in SVC’s opening round win over New Jersey City, and a 224 against Alvernia in the semifinals.
Monique Koehler is also now a three-time All-AMCC honoree, after closing out her career by averaging 175 during her senior campaign. At the American Heartland Tournament on Oct. 29-30, she was named to the All-Tournament Team after placing third in an 87-player field with an average of 207.7, before helping lead SVC to the title of the Unicorn Invitational after averaging a team-best 196.5.
They are both set to walk across the stage on May 11 to receive their college diplomas and I recently had the opportunity to ask both young ladies a few questions.
■ How does it feel now that your college bowling career is over?
Jackie – I feel sad about it being over but kind of a relief with always being on the go every weekend. Now I am able to prepare myself to graduate and be able to hang out with friends more.
Monique – It has not hit me yet that my college bowling career is over. It still feels like the season has not ended because we are so close as a team that we are still hanging around each other going bowling and doing little things here in Latrobe.
■ Was your college bowling career everything you expected?
Jackie – I think it was similar to what I had expected. With the first year being interfered with Covid, it was definitely different but when we were finally able to compete. It then felt normal like I had in high school.
Monique – These last two years have probably been the best two years for me at Saint Vincent. I would say it was more than what I expected just because the first two years revolved around Covid and took a lot of the fun out of being an athlete and a college student.
■ What is next for you after graduation?
Jackie – After graduation, I plan to go into the secret service to become a K-9 Trainer.
Monique – After Graduation, I plan to move back home to Florida and find a job in sports communication.
■ You will be graduating from college this spring. Is there anyone you would like to thank for helping you reach this point in your life?
Jackie – I’d like to thank my family and close friends who have stuck by my side with any decision I have made and supported me. I have a special thanks to my coaches who have continued to help me throughout my bowling career and made me a better team player.
Monique – I would like to thank my older sister, who gave us a place to stay and helped it feel more like home even though we were 1,000 miles away from home. She never stopped motivating both of us to keep pushing through. Jackie also helped me through a rough patch of my college experience, which I am grateful to have such caring sisters to help pick me up when times are tough.
Jackie Koehler and Monique Koehler are more than just twins that excelled in athletics. They are individuals that are going to go far in life. They are both dedicated, smart and driven to be the best. Jackie and Monique have made Brevard County proud, and I’m sure they will continue to do so.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Steve Wilson was born in DeRidder, Louisiana and grew up in both New Orleans and Macon, Georgia. He moved to Brevard County in 1984 and retired from local government as the Community Advocate/Assistant to the City Manager with the City of Rockledge in 2018.
Among the awards and accolades Steve has received over the years are 15 + year Rockledge Little League volunteer, Brevard Public School Jefferson Award Recipient, Rockledge High School Raider Booster Award 2001, 2006, City of Rockledge Employee of the Year 2006, Rockledge Kiwanian of the Year 2006-2007, City of Rockledge Quality Public Service Award 2008, 2012, 2017, Rockledge Kiwanis Citizen of the Year 2012-2013, Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame – Sportscasting 2015, Rockledge High School Leadership and Service Award 2016, Central Florida Humanitarian Award 2017, Space Coast Inspiration Award – 2018, Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame – Lifetime Achievement – 2020, Ecofest Achievement Award – 2022, Quality Floridian Award – 2022, presented by U.S. Congressman Bill Posey.
Wilson is especially proud of his chairing two fundraisers in support of pediatric cancer research through the St. Baldrick’s Foundation in honor of Merritt Island resident Julie Spurlock that raised over $25,000.00.
He has been a partner, along with Orville Susong, for the past 24 years with the Friday Night Locker Room, a broadcasting team that covers and reports on a wide variety of local events that are of significance to the residents of the Space Coast and beyond. Their mission is to promote youth sports, support first responders and law enforcement personnel, and showcase community and charitable events that are produced by our nonprofit partners in central Florida.
The Friday Night Locker Room has awarded hundreds of sports achievement plaques to Brevard County student-athletes over the years. They have also awarded more than $18,000 in academic scholarships to Brevard County high school seniors.
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