RISING NRHS SENIOR Giuliana Ligor (center) chose the TOPSoccer program of NRYS as the recipient of the $1,000 grant she received for being named the Gatorade Massachusetts Girls’ Track & Field Player of the Year. TOPS Program Director Ann Suny (left) and NRYS President Becky Riley (right) gratefully accept the donation. (Courtesy Photo)

 

NORTH READING — Giuliana Ligor was recently selected as the 2023-24 Gatorade Massachusetts Girls’ Track & Field Player of the Year. She is the first recipient of this award to be chosen from North Reading High School.

 The award, which celebrates the nation’s top high school athletes for excellence on the field, in the classroom and in the community, distinguishes Ligor as the best high school girls’ track and field athlete in Massachusetts.

 A rising senior, Ligor was MVP of the North Reading High School track and field team over the past two years and was named as both the Cape Ann League Athlete of the Year and the Massachusetts Track and Field Athlete of the Year. She holds several school records, ranging from 200 meters up to 800 meters, including hurdles and multi-events. She is an All American in the pentathlon and recently set the all time New England record at the state Meet of Champions in the 400 meter hurdles of 58.97 seconds. Ligor was ranked No. 8 nationally among competitors this past spring. In addition to winning the 400 meter hurdles title at the state meet, she also won the 400-meter dash to lead the Hornets to the state title.

 Ligor was recently named one of the captains of the team for the 2024-25 season by Coach Sotirios Pintzopoulos. He describes Ligor as a “determined hard-working athlete with a humble yet driven athletic demeanor which her peers and rivals respect.”

 Ligor excels in the classroom as well and volunteers her time for several youth-based activities.  In commenting on her award, Steve Sawyer of Hamilton-Wenham Regional High School said, “She’s a multi-event athlete who competes at a very high level in so many events. She’s not afraid to challenge herself and always finishes her races with strength and speed.”

$1,000 GRANT DONATED IN HER HONOR

 As part of the award, every Gatorade Player of the Year receives a $1,000 grant to donate to a nonprofit organization of their choice. Ligor selected the TOPSoccer program as the grant recipient. She has volunteered as a TOPSoccer Buddy over the past several years.

 TOPSoccer (The Outreach Program for Soccer) is a community-based program that provides a constructive and accommodating soccer experience for children and young adults ages 4 to 19 with cognitive and/or physical needs.  Each athlete is partnered with a high school student (Buddy), who comes alongside them and supports them in accessing the game.

 TOPS provides opportunities for fun, fitness, development, friendships with other athletes and Buddies, and building community through soccer. TOPS has been run through and supported by North Reading Youth Soccer since its inception in 2015.  In the past year North Reading Youth Soccer has partnered with the Andover Soccer Association to further expand access and programming to TOPSoccer. The program currently has more than 50 buddies and more than 50 players participating.

 For Ligor, being named the Gatorade Player of the Year is a great honor, but being able to give back to the community has made it that much more rewarding. “I have been a buddy for TOPS over the years, and it makes me so happy to watch the kids’ faces when they play soccer. For me, it is great to give back to others who may not otherwise have an opportunity to participate.”

 “TOPS is incredibly honored that Giuliana selected us for this award. The Buddies are the anchor of our program. They typically join the program to earn volunteer hours and very quickly realize they have embarked on the experience of a lifetime. Many long-lasting buddy/player friendships are made each season. We are so thankful for Giuliana’s incredible contribution as a Buddy and now as an accomplished athlete, selecting TOPS to receive this grant,” said Program Director for TOPSoccer Ann Suny.

 “Her legacy will live on in our TOPS program, as well as on the track. The program has been focused on accessibility and this donation means we will be able to ensure access for even more children by purchasing much needed equipment, including beep soccer balls, visual cuing equipment, and adaptive technology for wheelchair users,” Suny added.

 “This is one of those moments when you realize that the TOPS program is obviously for the participants and their families, yet is for the buddies and the volunteers as well,” said North Reading Youth Soccer Board President Becky Riley. “To have someone think of TOPS, which is a part of North Reading Youth Soccer, as the charity to receive this grant, is really meaningful and is truly a great gift not only for the program but for the entire North Reading soccer community.”