Laura Gilligan (’89)
Laura Gilligan was one of the finest female athletes in the history of Glen Rock High School.
Laura Gilligan was a four year starter on four extremely successful Glen Rock High School girls soccer teams and earned significant honors for her exceptional play.
In her freshman year, Laura helped the 1985 team win a second straight B-PSL championship. Unfortunately, they were defeated by Mahwah in the Group 1, North semifinal in a shootout that followed a scoreless tie between the two rival schools.
In her sophomore year, Laura helped lead the 1986 team to its first sole Group, State Championship. Glen Rock won the Group 1, Sectional Championship (in a 3-0 victory over Chatham Boro), the Group 1, North Jersey Championship (in a 1-0 victory over Mahwah) and then the Group 1, State Championship (in a 1-0 victory over Bordentown). Laura was named to the Second Team, All-County (by The Bergen Record).
In her junior year, Laura helped lead the 1987 team to successfully repeat the success of the 1986 team. It won the Group 1, Sectional Championship (with a 2-0 victory over Pingry), the Group 1, North Jersey Championship (with Laura scoring the winning goal in a 2-1 victory over Waldwick) and the Group 1, State Championship (in a 1-0 victory over Bordentown). Laura received Honorable Mention, All-County, and was named to the Second Team, Group 1, All-State.
In her senior year, Laura was the 1988 team’s second leading scorer with 21 goals (second to fellow Hall of Fame inductee Megan Burke) and led the team in assists. She was also team Co-Captain. That team won the Group 2, Sectional Championship (in a 2-1 victory over Chatham Boro) and then won the Group 2, North Jersey Championship (in a 2-1 victory over Madison) before losing to Delran in the State Championship by a score of 1-0. Laura was named to the First Team, All-County and to the First Team, Group 2 and Third Team, All Groups, All-State.
Laura ended her career at Glen Rock with the then school record of 59 assists and the then school record of 61 goals.
Laura was also a four year starting guard on the school’s basketball team. Known for her aggressive style of play, both offensively and defensively, but also for her unselfishness, Laura graduated after leading the team to the best girls basketball season in school history and with Laura owning the then school record of 1,101 career points.
As a junior, Laura helped the team win the Group 1, Sectional Championship. In that sectional championship game, Glen Rock displayed tenacious determination to defeat rival Waldwick. Down 25-12 at the half, they steadily battled back to tie the game in regulation and then won the game 49-47 in overtime. The team’s final record was 20-5 and Head Coach Sharon Iacono was named All-Suburban Coach of the Year. Laura averaged 10.5 points per game and received Honorable Mention, All-Suburban (by The Ridgewood News).
As a senior, and team Co-Captain, Laura led the team to a Group 2, Sectional Championship. In that game, she scored 35 points in a 67-62 victory over Harrison. In the subsequent Group 2, North Jersey Championship game, despite being double teamed, Laura still scored 18 points to lead the Panthers to a 48-31 victory over Hanover Park. Unfortunately, Glen Rock was defeated in the State Championship game by Sterling. The team’s final record was 20-8.
In that senior year, Laura was the team’s leading scorer averaging nearly 20 points per game, She also averaged 5 assists and 5 rebounds per game. She was named to the First Team, All-County and to the First Team, All-Suburban.
In the spring, Laura was a four year leading member of the track & field team, setting then school records in both the 1600 meters and the 3200 meters. As a sophomore, Laura finished second in the 3200 and third in the 1600 at the Group 1, Sectional Championship. As a junior, she finished third in the 3200 at the Group 1, State Championship meet. In her senior year, Laura continued to help lead the team while still playing post season basketball. She finished second in the 3200 and third in the 1600 at the B-PSL Carpenter Division championship meet.
In June 1989, the administration and coaches of Glen Rock High School recognized Laura as the top female athlete in that year’s graduating class and gave her the esteemed Athlete of the Year Award. Laura continued her basketball career at Davis and Elkins College in West Virginia