Coe-Brown’s Brady Colgan could get the job done on the pitch with his feet or on the court with his hands. Despite playing soccer non-stop, he found some time to pick up volleyball this past spring to help the Bears win a second consecutive NHIAA Division I boys’ volleyball championship.

The Bears’ attacking midfielder honed his soccer talents through Seacoast United and the N.H. Olympic Development Program. His senior fall performances earned him a spot on the D-II all-state second team.

A fast-paced and high work rate characterized his game in the attacking half. He was solid defensively and sprung the Bears into attack often on the turnover — sometimes finishing chances in the final third himself.

The volleyball was a fun and gratifying experience, he explained, but soccer is his sport. He plans to continue his playing career at the University of New England in the fall.

As we do each week, the first question will be posed by last week’s athlete of the week, Concord High hockey and lacrosse standout Brayden Beauregard.

Q: What’s one moment in your career that made all the hard work feel worth it? — Brayden Beauregard, Concord Hockey and Lacrosse

A: Lifting that trophy at the end of my high school career made all the work I’ve put in on each and every team throughout high school feel worth it.

Q: As you reflect on your high school soccer and volleyball careers, what will you miss most?

A: What I will miss most from my high school sports is the teammates I had on each and every team I played on, because without them the seasons would not have been so memorable for me. The memories I made with them throughout high school will stick with me forever, and I will miss having them around.

Q: What’s one piece of advice you’d give to your younger self?

A: Don’t worry about what people say you can or can’t do.

Q: Who is your favorite soccer player and why?

A: My favorite soccer player is Cristiano Ronaldo because of his unmatched goal-scoring ability, work ethic and style of play he brings to the game. There aren’t many other players with the same athleticism, and when combined with his creativity on the ball and his ability to shoot from anywhere on the field, I am grateful to have seen him play.

Q: How did you stay focused from play to play in volleyball? 

A: Tuning out all the background noise was the hardest part of staying focused. Especially in the championship game, where the Salem team brought nonstop trash talk through the net, it was important to just tune them out and play my game how I knew I could.

Q: What were some key differences between your sports that you had to adjust to from season to season?

A: I think the hardest part of adjusting from soccer to volleyball was the difference in my skill level between the two sports. Up until this year I had never played volleyball in my life, so I had to learn everything from the beginning. I am grateful to Coach Smith for taking me in and giving me the opportunity to learn the sport and contribute to the state championship win.

Q: What are your next steps?

A: My next steps after high school will be to continue my soccer career at the University of New England and study medical biology. I am grateful to have the ability to keep playing the sport I love throughout college against an even higher level of competition.