Oak Knoll senior two-sport athlete Aine Maseker ’20, of Madison, earned the 2020 Women in Sports Award and represented Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child on February 9, 2020 in the statewide celebration of the 34th anniversary of National Girls & Women in Sport Day (NGWSD) at Seton Hall University. The award recognizes top female student athletes from each high school and college in New Jersey.

Chartered by the U.S. Congress in 1986, NGWSD is honored in all 50 states with community-based events, award ceremonies and activities honoring the achievements and encouraging participation of girls and women in sports. This year’s theme was, “Lead Her Forward.”

The Oak Knoll Women in Sports Award is presented each year to a senior who exemplifies everything that makes a student athlete special, with a focus on leadership and using one’s athletic platform for the greater good.

“Aine is a tremendous student athlete and leader,” said Oak Knoll’s Athletic Director Kelly Childs. “She has proven to be a strong leader in the classroom, in the Oak Knoll community, and in her church community. She has a tireless work ethic, positive attitude, and dedication to whatever task she is focused on,” Childs said.

At Oak Knoll, Maseker was captain of the soccer team and will also be captain of the lacrosse team this spring. She is the co-president of the Health and Nutrition Club as well as Knit for the Needy. She also serves as a Eucharistic Minister and the freshman peer leader coordinator. Maseker will be attending and playing lacrosse for Notre Dame in the fall.

In addition to her academic success at Oak Knoll, Maseker is an active leader in her church youth ministry serving as a retreat leader and assisting with freshmen making their confirmation at her local church.

Maseker said it was heartwarming to see all the women who were recognized with this award and to see how each of them is paving the way for the younger female athletes.

“Being at Seton Hall with all those remarkable athletes, in particular, those at the collegiate level but still including the high school level, I felt nothing but inspired,” Maseker said. “The females at the collegiate level inspire me to continue with my athletics and continue raising the bar for myself and my teammates. As I look up to them, I hope on the flip side that girls younger than me strive to push past their limits and find confidence within themselves through sports just as I did and do,” she said.