Students named 2024-25 All-American Strength and Conditioning Athletes of the Year

Luca Poli

Laila Golla

Fox Chapel Area High School senior Luca Poli and junior Laila Golla were named 2024-25 High School All-American Strength and Conditioning Athletes of the Year by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). The honor recognizes high school athletes whose accomplishments reflect their dedication to strength and conditioning. The athletes are also recognized for their academic accomplishments, as well as their integrity as student-athletes and for being role models for their peers. Luca was recognized for football, but also participates on the unified bocce and track teams. Laila was recognized as a multi-sport athlete and she participates on the girls tennis and crew teams.

Luca and Laila were nominated by Fox Chapel Area High School social studies teacher and interscholastic strength and conditioning head coach Brandon Peifer. According to Peifer, Luca and Laila are both team leaders who are well-respected by others.

“Luca embodies all the qualities that we look for in our student-athletes. Over the years, he has won numerous awards for football, and his dedication to physical preparation throughout his high school career has been exceptional,” Peifer said. “In addition to being a scholar-athlete, Laila has a strong passion for community service. She also has a commitment to public health and she serves as a Youth Advisory Council Member for the Pennsylvania Department of Health and she contributes to youth-centered health policies at Penn State University.”

Founded in 1978, the NSCA is a nonprofit association dedicated to advancing the strength and conditioning and related sport science professions around the world. The NSCA exists to empower a community of professionals to maximize their impact through disseminating evidence-based knowledge and its practical application by offering industry-leading certifications, research journals, career development services, networking opportunities and continuing education. The NSCA community is composed of more than 60,000 members and certified professionals throughout the world.