Multi-Sport Athlete Morgan Giordano Aligns With Josh Burks Foundation

By Ross Forman, 06/29/25, 5:30PM CDT

Talks To Freshmen Students About Dangers Of Drug Use

Morgan Giordano, who will be a junior at Barrington High School in the fall, is a multiple-sport athlete: hockey, track & field, flag football and basketball. Yet her biggest victories come away from sports … but rather, in the real-world.

Giordano got involved with the Josh Burks Foundation through her friend Sydney Peipert as Sydney’s brothers, Josh and Nick, knew Josh and his younger brother, Jonah.

Josh Burks was a 20-year-old college student from Lake Barrington who died from fentanyl poisoning on December 1, 2022. A former Barrington football player, Josh was receiving help for opioid use disorder, but his life was cut short by a pill laced with fentanyl.

Over 100,000 Americans die each year from drug overdose, and 70 percent of the deaths are from fentanyl poisoning.

“I got involved because I wanted to help educate other kids about the dangers around these fake pills,” she said. “As part of the Josh Foundation counsel, I worked with Sydney, her brothers, and other high school kids to tell them about the Josh Burks story and the risks he took that ended his life, just 15 minutes after taking a fentanyl-laced pill that he thought was something else.

“I am proud to be part of this cause to save other kids lives in honor of Josh Burks. Knowing how easy it is to take something that could be deadly, it’s important to educate teens about the dangers of counterfeit pills. Just because you know someone doesn’t mean you’re safe.”

This was the first year the counsel was involved with educating students at Barrington High School. “We talked to all the freshman physical education classes,” she said. “Next year, the Foundation is striving to educate even more classes at Barrington High School and is planning to involve Lake Zurich High School,” too.

Giordano and her friend Sydney spent an entire day giving five 45-minute talks to freshmen classes.

Giordano, 16, lives in Barrington and is a center for the Fillies Hockey Team. She also last season skated for the Glenview Stars. This upcoming season, she will play for the Windy City Storm 19U and the Fillies.

The left-handed shooting Giordano has been playing hockey for only four seasons. She started for the Rolling Meadows Renegades when she was 12, then played for the Wolverines in Hoffman Estates.

She scored four goals in a tournament game playing for the Wolverines.

“I’m always trying to incorporate moves that I’m learning and working on, so I’m always trying to play fast and create scoring opportunities,” she said. “During my first hockey lesson, the coach told me I would never make a travel team with my skill level.

“I really wanted to prove him wrong.

“The (biggest) influence on my hockey career has been Coach Vas (Kolias), who I still work with to this day. He has always believed in me and he constantly pushes me out of my comfort zone, which has made a huge impact on my skill level. I can hear him saying, ‘Don’t worry, everyone is watching,’ every time I start to doubt myself on the ice because he wants pressure to help and not hurt my game. I can honestly say Coach Vas has made me the player I am today.”

Giordano’s hockey run has included a NIHL championship game victory and a tournament goal in which she stick-handled through an entire team – and was complimented by the opposing team’s coach after the game.

Giordano competed in multiple events for the Barrington varsity track team and also played for the school’s varsity flag football team. She played basketball as a freshman.

“Track has really helped with my conditioning and ankle mobility, which has improved my skating speed and overall pace of play. We also did a lot of weight lifting in track, which helped my overall strength and shooting,” she said. “Since I push myself so much in hockey, it has really helped me push myself in track as well. My track coach has also commented on how my high pain threshold makes me more competitive and plans to add me to the 400m next season.”

Slapshots With … Barrington Forward Morgan Giordano

Long-term Goals: “I love playing hockey and sports in general. Staying in shape helps me mentally and keeps me focused. I would love to continue playing hockey in college and beyond.”

Goals For The Upcoming Season: “Score a AAA goal and make a positive impact on my team.”

It’s a Fact: “I shoot pucks every day and I lift weights.”

Hobbies: “I am a foodie, I love to cook; I nap often and I like to hang out with my friends.”