This Spartan followed the ‘Golden’ rule

(This is the sixth in a series of articles about the Lynn-area winners of the Agganis Foundation scholarship.)WINTHROP – Michelle Golden came to St. Mary’s five years ago and helped build what has turned into one of the state’s premier girls hockey programs, winning three state titles in her time on Tremont Street.But that is just a small part of what helped make the Winthrop native one of three Spartan seniors to be honored with an Agganis scholarship this year.Golden finished her high school career with a 4.3 GPA and was the valedictorian of the Class of 2009. And as much fun as hockey and girls lacrosse (she picked up that sport her freshman year) were, making the grade was something that was far more important to Golden.”Academics always came first,” Golden said. “I knew that it would get me a lot farther than athletics ever could. I worked hard and had great teachers and friends to help me out.”Her resume on the ice doesn’t have a lot of equals. One Division 2 state championship and back-to-back Division 1 crowns that saw the Spartans rattle off an astounding 51 consecutive victories (four shy of the all-time mark in the state) and becoming one of the first girls teams to complete the title at TD BankNorth Garden.”I had some excellent teammates,” Golden said. “Some record-setters in hockey, so that definitely helped. You can’t complain about winning three state championships. It was definitely a good time.”Walking into the Garden to play the final game of her high school hockey career was something that carried special meaning for Golden.”It was definitely something special to be the first to play there and win there,” Golden said. “It’s something that we all can look back on and say we were a part of. It was really cool ? Overwhelming at first but definitely special.”Golden finished with 54 points this season and 185 in her career as a Spartan. But the priorities were still in the right place thanks to her coaches.”I had two coaches in (Todd) Langlais and (Frank) Pagliuca who definitely pushed me but made sure the focus was in the classroom,” Golden said. “We knew that we had to be academically eligible. School was first, hockey second.”The daughter of Daniel, a postman, and Irene, a nurse at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston, Golden also worked in the school store and was a member of the National Honor Society. She also was part of Rachel’s Challenge in the school.”I’ve always had great role models in my family and they definitely made sure that I couldn’t fail,” Golden said.Come September, Golden will be heading to another new challenge: life as a freshman at Boston College. Her going to Chestnut Hill has caused a few good-natured jabs to come her way as her mother and sister both went to Boston University.”I can’t wait to go to some of the games when they play each other,” Golden joked. “And hopefully my school comes out on top.”Golden will study nursing in Chestnut Hill, hoping to follow in her mother’s and sister’s footsteps.”I can’t wait to get there. It’s going to be so exciting,” Golden said. “The historical aspect there is phenomenal, and Mom is definitely happy that I’m going into nursing.”The Harry Agganis Foundation has awarded $1,314,525 in scholarships to 813 student-athletes since its inception in 1955.