Without question, sports have an incredible way of teaching life lessons.
They help people grow stronger, learn teamwork, and bring communities closer.
And in Hillsborough, some athletes have grown up with these values and achieved remarkable things.
Let’s look at five of them whose stories are inspiring and rooted right here in our community.
First, there’s Jessica Galli.
She’s a Paralympian who competed in the 2000, 2004, 2008, and 2012 Paralympic Games.
After a car accident when she was just seven left her unable to walk, but Jessica didn’t let it stop her.
She got involved in adaptive sports with the Children’s Lightning Wheels PSC in Hillsborough.
From there, she went on to win seven Paralympic medals, including a gold in the 400-meter T53 race in 2008.
In 2007, she broke the world record for the T53 400 meters and was named Paralympian of the Year.
Over her career, she competed in many world championships, winning gold, silver, and bronze in different events.
At 5 feet tall, Jessica’s story shows that challenges don’t have to hold you back.
Growing up in Hillsborough and later studying at the University of Illinois Urbana, she’s still remembered as one of the best wheelchair racers in the world, holding records in the 200, 400, and 800 meters.
Next is Jocelyn Moore, who grew up in Hillsborough and became a star gymnast.
She started at Paramount Gymnastics and quickly stood out with her talent.
Jocelyn has achieved two perfect 10.000 scores on floor and vault, a rare, impressive accomplishment.
Now competing for the University of Missouri, she’s won many awards, like SEC Event Specialist of the Year and WCGA All-American honors, and made the All-SEC Team three times.
Jocelyn has scored 9.9 or higher over 50 times in her routines, which is incredibly consistent.
She also became the first gymnast in her school’s history to get a perfect 10 on the floor.
At just 5-foot-2, she’s making history and inspiring young gymnasts to follow their dreams.
Shaun O’Hara is a familiar name for football fans in Hillsborough.
He graduated from Hillsborough High School, played college football at Rutgers, and went on to the NFL as an undrafted free agent.
He spent 11 seasons in the league, mostly with the New York Giants. He earned three Pro Bowl selections and helped the team win Super Bowl XLII against the Patriots.
Off the field, Shaun and his wife, Amy, started the Shaun O’Hara Foundation, which raises awareness and funds for life-threatening diseases.
Today, he’s an NFL Network analyst, sharing his expertise and love for the game with fans.
Then there’s Yannick Smith, who made a name for himself in soccer.
Yannick started playing at Hillsborough High School and then continued at Old Dominion University.
He stood out there, earning All-American honors and being a semifinalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy.
During college, he scored key goals and was ranked ninth nationally for goals in one season.
After college, Yannick was drafted by the Houston Dynamo in 2013.
He went on to play professionally in Finland for Närpes Kraft and later with the Dayton Dutch Lions in the USL Pro league.
Known for his speed and skill, Yannick’s journey inspires young soccer players to dream big.
Finally, there’s Shawn Mayer, another football star from Hillsborough.
He played defensive back and had a fantastic career at Penn State, where he recorded 252 tackles and five interceptions in 23 games.
After graduating, Shawn joined the NFL and played for the New England Patriots, contributing to their Super Bowl XXXVIII victory.
He also played in NFL Europe and set records with the Hamburg Sea Devils, where he earned All-NFL Europe honors.
Now, Shawn is giving back as a player development coach at Rutgers, helping young football players grow and succeed.
These five athletes from Hillsborough have shown what it means to work hard and aim high.
They taught us that with determination, talent, and a strong support system, you can overcome obstacles and achieve great things.
Hillsborough can be proud of these hometown heroes whose stories inspire people near and far.