There was a lot of pride on display Peyton Dostie Collins’ induction into the Little East Conference (LEC) Hall of Fame. Personal pride, school pride, and family pride.
Dostie Collins returned to the University of Southern Maine on October 26 to accept her hall of fame ring in a ceremony before a field hockey game at Hannaford Field in Gorham. One of the first people to congratulate her was her former field hockey coach, Bonny Brown-Denico, who is also her aunt.
“I think Peyton is one of those coach’s gifts that happens once in a coaching career,” Brown-Denico said. “She was outstanding in every aspect. We were very lucky to have her.”
Outstanding is an understatement. Dostie Collins transferred to USM in 2013 and made an immediate impact, setting the program record for most points in a single season of field hockey (56). The LEC honored her as Offensive Player of the Year in 2013 and 2014. She ended her career as program leader in points (133) and assists (25).
The respect that Dostie Collins inspired in her teammates was shared by her opponents. Brown-Denico pointed to a particular game when she knew that that Dostie Collins had secured her reputation.
“We were playing Bowdoin,” Brown-Denico said. “I just remember the coach called timeout and said, ‘Peyton Dostie is gonna change your season if you don’t shape up.’ I think a nationally ranked team calling timeout because of one player is pretty impressive.”
Dostie Collins was also a track star. She claimed the 2016 Division III National Championship in pentathlon. She won conference and regional championships in 29 events including long jump, high jump, 600-meter run, and 100-meter hurdles. The LEC named her Indoor Track and Field Athlete of the Year in 2013, 2015, and 2016. She also won the Outdoor title in 2016.
“There were hours and hours put into every practice,” Dostie Collins said. “It was a lot of dedication to whatever sport I was playing at the time. Keeping a positive mindset helped a lot, too. You can control what you can control. I think that’s something that helped me.”
Dostie Collins also brought her discipline to the classroom by first attaining a Business Administration degree in 2015, followed by a Marketing degree in 2016. She then built a career as Human Resources Manager at cPort Credit Union.
Her family life was just as busy. Dostie Collins married fellow Husky track standout, Jeremy Collins. They have two sons, 5-year-old Hudson and 3-year-old Eli. The boys are exploring different sports as their physical skills develop. Mom and Dad are encouraging but also want to give them room to find their own way.
The boys were at the ring ceremony to cheer on their mother. They knew it was a special day for their mom, but don’t yet fully grasp the scope of her accomplishments. When they’re old enough to learn, Al Bean will be glad to tell them.
Bean was USM’s Director of Athletics when Dostie Collins was a student. He’s now in his first year of his new job as LEC Commissioner. Bean returned to campus to present Dostie Collins with her hall of fame ring.
“Given the fact that she’s multi-sport and was so dominant in all of them,” Bean said, “she is certainly among the very, very best that has ever put on a Husky uniform.”