Waltham High athletic trainer Deb Riggott says she's just doing her job.
Yet it's precisely how she has done that job in the Waltham schools system for the past 23 years that will be recognized when she is honored at the Massachusetts Celebration of Girls and Women in Sport Day today at Faneuil Hall.
Riggott will receive the Massachusetts Women in Athletics Distinguished Service Award, which is given to someone who has had an extraordinary impact on female athletes.
``It amazed me when I heard I was nominated for it,'' she said between periods of the Waltham High girls hockey team's victory over Concord-Carlisle Wednesday night. ``I am someone who goes to work every day and enjoys what I do. I didn't think there was any reason to get an award for doing something I like.''
But it is the manner in which she goes about doing it that so endears her to the Waltham High athletes and coaches. Riggott will routinely be at a basketball court or a hockey rink in the winter until well past 9 at night, and she does her best to travel to most road tournament games.
She also has an affection for Waltham athletes that always shines through as she tends to them on the sideline, and as she provides a role model for female athletes at the school and those considering athletic training as a career.
Several of her former student trainers - including Waltham High alumnae Lalanya Twitchell and Katie Dally - have gone on to work in the field professionally.
``She's mentored female athletes and female students in the athletic program for a long time,'' said Waltham High varsity field hockey and girls basketball coach Denise Nugent, who nominated Riggott for the award. ``She volunteers her time. She's helped out my programs immensely through the years. She goes above and beyond what is expected from an athletic trainer.''
Riggott said she does it because she believes it's her responsibility.
``I feel if the city is going to provide the school with a full-time athletic trainer, then I should do my best to provide a full-time service,'' she said. ``It's a lot of nights, weekends, holidays. This time of year, especially, you have to have a family that is understanding, and supportive, and can function without you once in a while.''
Riggott said she is fortunate to have one. Those at Waltham High are thankful she does as well.
Whether she is taping up an ankle before a field hockey or lacrosse game, or cheering a goal for the ice hockey team behind the boards at Veterans Rink, Riggott's contribution is most appreciated.
There was a big part of her that probably always knew that. But she said the recommendation letters that accompanied Nugent's nomination were heartfelt reminders.
``They were all very nice coming from three different coaches,'' she said. ``Just that they have the confidence in my ability and never question my decisions. They see that I do my best to have the athletes available to them, if I can. There's a rapport I try to keep up with the coaches and the athletes.''
Riggott said when she first got into athletic training it was a male-dominated field. There were far fewer opportunities for females in sports in the 1970s, and therefore fewer women taking care of those athletes. But she said she was fortunate to get into the field at the right time when Title IX helped girls sports flourish and women were encouraged to get involved in all phases of athletics.
She said she is happy that she had people in her youth who guided her toward the career has today, and she is hopeful she can provide some of the same counsel to the students at Waltham High she sees each afternoon and on many nights throughout the school year.
``The very humbling part of this whole thing,'' she said, ``is when I was driving home after reading Denise's nomination, I started thinking about how I started down this path in the first place. I thought about the coaches and teaches who told me about this field and got me on this path.
``I just hope the kids at the school today have those type of people in their lives.''
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Riggott won't be the only representative from Waltham High at today's ceremony. The school will also send seniors Colleen Monaghan, Allie Hickey and Kara Greeley as student ambassadors.
The trio was chosen by a committee at the school based on their leadership skills and commitment to multiple sports.
``When I told Kara,'' Nugent said, ``she asked me why she had been chosen. I said it was because you work hard, you have a good work ethic, you're a good teammate and you're unselfish. You should be respected for that.
``We were trying to represent most of our female sports with the spots we had, and the committee decided all three of those girls had those traits. They should be proud of it.''
(Scott Souza is a Daily News staff writer. He can be reached at 781-398-8006 or ssouza@cnc.com.)
