Addyson Galuski

Addyson Galuski’s resume is already impressively full: State champion, all-state athlete, leading scorer in Waterford-Halfmoon girls’ soccer history.

And she’s still got another year to go.

“I have a feeling it’s going to be a good year,” Galuski said. “No matter what.”

Galuski has added another honor, as she’s been selected as one of the 10 Capital District Sports Women of the Year scholastic honorees for 2023. It’s a testament, Waterford-Halfmoon girls’ soccer coach Meghan Reynolds said, to Galuski’s tireless work ethic and passionate leadership.

“She arrives early, stays late, and is the person that goes the extra mile to become better,” Reynolds wrote in her nomination letter. “She is a phenomenal teammate, leading by example and [encouraging] others to try their best. She was named one of our team captains for the 2021 season, and will continue to hold that title until she graduates.”

Waterford-Halfmoon athletic director Mike Robbins concurs.

“Her competitiveness, work ethic and passion for sports have allowed her to not only be a successful athlete, but to also be seen as a leader in the eyes of her teammates,” Robbins wrote. “Addyson is a dedicated student-athlete who values the team over herself and displays confidence and self-control in times of both adversity and triumph.”

Galuski’s greatest accomplishments have come on the soccer field. A second-team all-state selection in 2021, in 2022 she was named first-team all-state after scoring 46 goals and 17 assists to help lead the Fordians — alongside her younger sister Payton — to the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class C championship.

“The whole team, everyone just worked,” she said. “No matter what, we set out a goal and accomplished every single one. When [the state championship] happened, it was the most rewarding thing. You train from the beginning of August, and when your hard work pays off in that last little bit of the game, it’s a big relief. You know you did everything you could and were finally able to get a reward for what you’ve done as a team.”

Also, during her junior season, she became Waterford-Halfmoon’s all-time girls’ soccer scoring leader, breaking a record that had stood for 44 years.

“Addyson is dedicated, determined and loves the game of soccer,” Reynolds wrote. “Her greatest strengths on the field include her ball mastery and ability to finish. Addyson’s control and manipulation of the ball with both feet, legs, chest and head are very impressive, which coupled with her exceptional decision-making ability allow her to be the offensive threat that she is.”

Galuski’s far more than just a soccer standout.

In the classroom, she ranks sixth in Waterford-Halfmoon’s Class of 2024 heading into her senior year, and is a member of the National Honor Society.

“I have some late nights sometimes, but I have to make a schedule,” Galuski said. “When I go to practice, I know I either have to have my homework done or get right to homework as soon as I get back. Study halls in school are really important to me. You’ve got to set your priorities.”

She volunteers for Ronald McDonald House and in numerous capacities for Waterford Youth Soccer, serving as a referee for youth games and taking part in many different clinics to pass her skills and knowledge along to younger players.

“Addyson works diligently to perform well in the classroom,” Robbins wrote, “and anything she does is consistently done well. Addyson is a kind-hearted young woman who I believe will always do the right thing, even when no one is watching. She is dependable, trustworthy, and displays a high degree of integrity in everything she does.”