Thanks to the NCAA’s new Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) program college athletes who have long been restricted from benefiting from their athletic careers are finally able to accept endorsements that recognize their achievements.
The Pond Lehocky Giordano Community initiative, our philanthropic arm, is selecting several deserving athletes that represent the best of college athletics, a commitment to the Philadelphia and Pennsylvania region, and a driving spirit to succeed even after facing injuries and other setbacks.
Champions Never Give Up
Division I women’s basketball sensation Madison Siegrist is a shining example of the will to come back from injuries. Despite breaking her ankle her freshman year, and being sidelined for a month with a broken shooting hand this season, she is on pace to break records for points and rebounds at her school.
The 6’1” power forward was still in preseason practice her freshman year when she stepped on a teammate’s foot and felt what she thought was just a sprain in her ankle. To her great disappointment, she had in fact suffered a fracture that would require surgery and shut down a two-time All-State high school phenom’s first college season before it started.
Siegrist spent her recovery time determined to come back stronger and smarter than ever. She worked out her upper body at the gym and took 500 shots a day from 3-point range with her foot resting on a scooter. Madison also spent as much time as she could interfacing with her coaches and developing her mental game. The results paid off. When she was finally ready to get back on the court she lit up the scoreboard and was named an All-Conference First Team selection.
Now in her junior season, Madison was unfortunately injured again this year with a hand fracture. Her grit and commitment to her teammates helped her get back into action and back to putting up huge numbers on stat sheets after just a month. Madison is on track to break her career-high records for points and rebounds, as well as many of her school’s all-time records. For her stellar performance, she was named a USBWA National and Big East Player of the Week this season.
Siegrist, a native of Poughkeepsie, New York, comes from a basketball family. Her father coached D1 women’s basketball and she is the oldest of four siblings, all of whom love the game. The work ethic and drive to overcome any obstacle has served her well on the court and off.
Helping Those Most in Need
Like Pond Lehocky Giordano, Madison Siegrist is also dedicated to giving back to her community. In her summertime offseason, she hosts basketball clinics for young girls, helping them build the skills and mental toughness that serves her so well.
We are extremely honored to endorse Madison. She encapsulates our mission to help individuals that have suffered injuries and other setbacks recover and gain back control of their lives and livelihoods. Her positivity, public-mindedness, mental toughness, and ability to take her injuries in stride and return to doing what she loves is a credit to her school and all of Philadelphia.
