Natalie Luftman, a senior at Glen Rock High School won the NJSIAA Scholar-Athlete award for 2024. This is an honor that is awarded to one athlete who demonstrates a commitment to both academic excellence and a great dedication to athletics.

Throughout her life, Luftman always put school first and she always made sure to play her best, and this year was no exception. In her basketball season senior year, Luftman scored 63 points and so far in her softball season, Luftman has a batting average of .389 and has pitched 137 strikeouts. 

To manage a good season and a good report card, balance and time management are very crucial to achieving both. However, sometimes it can be hard to manage having sports right after school which in some cases lasts till 7 PM, and then having additional homework or studying the night before a big test.“

“[I] value sleep a lot, so sometimes I’ll go to bed early like the day before a county game and I’ll like sleep in, or if I stay up late at night studying, I’ll sleep in if I have gym in the morning. I’ve slept in during an option, or a period or two because I don’t want to jeopardize a game,” Luftman said.

Luftman states that the girl’s basketball team made it far into states, and the week after she had pitchers and catchers practice. Having to transition from one sport into the next without a break can be draining, but Luftman prioritizes what’s important to her, and that is getting her schoolwork done so she is able to compete with her main priority out of the way.

“And as much as I love sports that kind of motivates me to get my work done because I love sports and I want to be able to play them and since school comes first I have to get that done before I think about playing.”