Kelsey Bolte remembers a lot of things. Four years in a Division I basketball program will do that to you.

She remembers, as a freshman, coach Jack Easley showing her the correct defensive stance over and over again. She remembers waking up at 5:30 a.m. to run suicides, and she remembers a time when she used to bench a broom stick, not being able to bench 25 pounds.

The smiles and good-luck wishes in the local Hy-Vee stores, and then running on to the court to 10,000 Cyclone faithful that make up the Hilton Magic.

Oh, how far she has come.

Bolte finished her final game at Hilton Coliseum with 17 points, six rebounds and five assists in a 72-36 romping of Kansas. Minutes after the final buzzer, Bolte gave a tear-jerking speech that lasted nearly 11 minutes, thanking the fans, her coaches, teammates and parents.

“I wish I could go around and give every one of you a hug,” Bolte told the fans in the speech. “But, since we play Missouri on Saturday, please refer to the program for further thank yous.”

While she had major compliments for all the coaches on staff, she fought back the tears the hardest for coach Bill Fennelly.

Bolte told the story of Fennelly kicking her out of practice during an early-season tournament in Hawaii during her sophomore season. Fennelly called her out on to the balcony of his 20th story hotel room to have a heart-to-heart. 

Fennelly’s honesty has always been important to Bolte.

“You’ve always coached me to be the best in everything I’ve done,” Bolte told Fennelly during the speech. “You’ve always been there for me when I needed you the most and I’ll know you’ll always give me an honest answer because I know you’ve never lied to me.”

All Bolte has done is return the favor.

In her four seasons, she has played in all of the 132 games that she has been a part of the team. While Bolte has a solid all-around game, she has made her living from behind the arc. Her 267 3-pointers made tie her for seventh all time in the Big 12.

Bolte finished the Kansas game with 1,591 career points. She is the 22nd ISU player to finish with at least 1,000 career points and is ranked seventh all-time in scoring. At Hilton, she has tallied 933 points and 141 3-pointers.

With Bolte’s help, Iowa State has won 20 or more games in each of her four seasons with the team, compiling a record of 94-38.

Tuesday, Bolte received help from sophomore forward Chelsea Poppens and sophomore guard Amanda Zimmerman. Poppens tallied 13 and Zimmerman put in 11 points off the bench, including, going 4-7 from the field including 2-3 from behind the arc.

Zimmerman is thankful for Bolte taking her under her wing.

“I couldn’t ask for a better senior leader, teammate, and friend,” Zimmerman said looking at Bolte. “We’re going to miss you.”

Fennelly, who’s sons and team managers were also honored after the game, was pleased with the effort of his whole team and was happy to see Bolte leave Hilton on a positive note.

Fennelly told his players that he wants to see the same passion, intensity, class and, dignity that Bolte carried herself with a represented the program with.

“I challenged the players to give their hardest effort because that’s what she’ll remember and that’s what she deserves,” Fennelly said.

As for that speech, she ended it with a line that speaks to what she wants for the fans, coaches, and her teammates to do now that her days at Hilton are done.

“Don’t cry because it’s over,” Bolte said. “Smile because it happened.”