Charlottesville getting together with Fluvanna County has been one of the best rivalries each spring in girls soccer. But before the two came together to play in Palmyra Monday night, the Flucos honored late former player Allison Lorraine Buck in a touching ceremony where her jersey was retired and a bench with her name and number 11 was presented before a moment of silence. This past August, Buck passed away after a car accident that left the school reeling just as the year began. On Monday in front a full crowd, the team she spent four years with offered its official tribute.
“Alli played with us for four years and really had her challenges, tearing three ligaments in her knee her sophomore year and found a way to come back from that,” said Fluvanna coach Tara Garcia. “She loved soccer, this was who she was. She had so much desire, met challenges head on and if there was a wall, she would get around it. When we lost her, we lost a huge part of our program. She was just so inspirational. It was an unspeakable loss.”
The number 11 will never be worn again for the Flucos after Garcia, her team and the Fluvanna athletic department presented the Buck family with a framed jersey. In addition to her knee injury, Buck dealt with Graves disease, an incurable thyroid condition.
“I’ve had a lot of number 11’s,” Garcia said. “Some of them were really good, but nobody owned it like Allie.”
The Ludwig family donated a bench to the school with Buck’s name and number and its placement will be determined after the Flucos find out whether they will head to the newly built school off of route 53 or whether they stay next year in the old school on Route 15 with the recent political upheaval.
“All the credit here goes to Mrs. Garcia and the soccer team,” said Fluvanna athletic director Scott Morris. “Alli was a 4-year player for her, a captain and a great influence. She had a great impact on this school on and off the field. But again, the credit here goes to this team. They really wanted to honor her spirit and I think they did a great job. It was really great to have so many people show up in attendance. And then to have old players come back and be a part this. It was very nice.”
After the game with Charlottesville, the team went to dinner with the Buck family.
This was the most formal dedication to Buck’s number, but not the only nod since her passing as the community continues to rally around her memory. This winter Fluvanna basketball star YaYa Anderson traded in his usual jersey number, 15, for 11 to pay tribute.
