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Bryana Poulin Gilligan, Class of 2011, was a highly versatile and tremendously talented three-sport athlete at Bartlett High School. She started and lettered in soccer, basketball, and softball beginning as an 8th grader.
Bryana dominated with the ball at her feet and was an integral part of the Lady Indians' offense on the soccer field as the focal point of attack in transition from her central midfielder position. She was also responsible for the set pieces, taking the offensive free kicks and corner kicks. As a senior Bryana took on more of a defensive role but was still able to lead the team in points with 10 goals and 5 assists. Over Bryana's phenomenal five-year career, she netted 62 goals and registered 31 assists totaling 93 points. Bryana is regarded as one of the best soccer players in Bartlett's history along with fellow Hall of Fame Inductees, Karen Norton, Abby Charbonneau, Tara Canty Bennett, and Karen Bergstrom. Bryana was a four-time SWCL All-Star, a Central Mass All-Star junior and senior year, and was a Telegram & Gazette All-Star as a junior. She was also named Captain during her junior and senior seasons and was named the team's MVP as a senior.
Bryana was equally as dominant on the basketball court. She is the 3rd highest scoring female in Bartlett history with 1,107 points, only the fifth female to join the elite club. As Coach Chris DelVecchio said, "The mark of a special player is their ability to elevate the play of those around them, and Bryana was such a player. Her greatest attributes were her passing ability and defensive instincts. It was those skills that brought her teams to the next level." In her career Bryana also collected over 560 rebounds, over 260 assists, and over 260 steals. She was a SWCL and Telegram & Gazette All-Star in her sophomore, junior, and senior seasons and was named the team's MVP in her final two years. During her senior season, Bryana came just one assist short of a quadruple double in a 57-32 win in the consolation game of the Madison Park Christmas Tournament in Boston (24pts, 14 rebounds, 10 steals).
Bryana was also a softball standout. She finished top three on her team in average, hits, runs, RBIs and stolen bases during each of her sophomore through senior seasons. Over that 3-year span she hit for a .361 average with 38 RBIs and 44 runs scored from multiple top of the lineup stops. Bryana loved to execute the delayed steal and would torment opponents while on the bases. Bryana played a tremendous centerfield and had multiple outfield assists because of her strong and accurate arm. Bryana was a three-time SWCL All-Star and was named the team's MVP as a senior.
Throughout her brilliant sports career at Bartlett, Bryana earned 15 letters and was named Captain and MVP of all three sports her senior year. She was also awarded the Sigmond S. Strzelecki Athletic Award, recognizing her ability, character, and accomplishment in girls' athletics.
After graduation Bryana attended Southern Connecticut State University and continued her soccer career. She earned a bachelors degree in Recreation and Leisure with a concentration in Therapeutic Recreation.
Bryana and her husband Ryan currently reside in Chepachet, RI. She is the Recreation Director at Webster Manor.
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