Oswego East Student Athlete of the Week-Gabi Andrade

The first impression junior Gabi Andrade gives off to strangers plays in contrast to the leader she is for the Wolves volleyball team. Gabi's demeanor when first meeting her is someone who is a bit shy. However, this could not be farther from the person she is, and the leader she is for the girls' volleyball program, as she is fiercely loyal and competitive, as well as the athlete in charge of communication, making sure the lady Wolves are always where they need to be on the court. Gabi Andrade is this week's Oswego East student-athlete of the week.

Beginning in the 7th grade, Gabi took the opportunity to join her friends and participate in volleyball. After finding out she was talented enough to not only participate but to compete at the highest level, Gabi worked tirelessly at perfecting her game. "Volleyball has helped make Gabi more humble, but also confident and hard-working," says her mother, Laura McAran. She goes on to add, "Gabi always sets a goal for herself to improve and is willing to do anything to reach it."

As a second-year player on the varsity, Gabi has earned the role of starting Libero, a position that requires her to make sure all of her teammates are on the same page. "Gabi runs our back row and is always vocal," says head coach, Adam Thurlwell. He goes on to add, "Gabi's an anchor back there and key role-player for our team. Gabi communicated well for us to identify and execute during gameplay. She talks probably as much as she flies around the court."

Gabi's leadership has helped the Wolves reach their goal of improving communication as the season progresses. Not only is Gabi the signal-caller for the Wolves, but her 35 digs against Downers Gove North earlier in the season tied the school record for digs in a single game, a record she is hoping to break before season's end. On the season, Gabi leads the team with 450 digs.

Outside the sport, Gabi is an excellent student who has earned a 3.7 G.P.A. through her first two years at East. Gabi's background has played a big role in the person she has become, with Laura saying, "Gabi embraces her Mexican-American background while taking pride in being bicultural and bilingual and appreciates the diverse world we live in today." Head coach Adam Thurlwell echoes those statements, saying, "Gabi has traveled with her family and utilized those skills and travels for volleyball. She's a very well-rounded student-athlete."

Gabi is hopeful volleyball will be in her future as a college student-athlete and says it would be a dream to play volleyball at the University of Iowa. Despite not being the prototypical height for her position, Thurlwell believes it would be a detriment for colleges to overlook Gabi because of her height.

"Gabi has the skills and right mindset to play at the next level," says Thurlwell. He goes on to add, "I am hoping a school goes against the grain and gives her a shot. If a program does take a flyer, I don't doubt Gabi will be successful and give it everything she's got. Gabi is an athlete you want in your program and we are grateful to have her for another season."

Besides playing collegiate volleyball, Gabi has her sights set on majoring in psychiatry. "Gabi likes to help people and feels mental health is as important as physical health," says Laura. Gabi's AP Spanish Literature teacher, Kristen Rude, also believes she will be successful, saying, "I think Gabi will be very successful in the field of psychiatry because, in addition to her being extremely bright and having a growth mindset, she is also a good listener and always looking to help others, whether it be her friends, classmates, or teachers."

With this volleyball season reaching its end soon, Gabi and her teammates are hoping to eclipse the .500 mark in regular-season play and make some noise in the playoffs. As Gabi reflects on her first two and a half years at East, she advises future Wolves by saying, "Work hard in all of your classes and activities and try and participate in everything the school offers." Gabi's hard work has put her in a position to cement her legacy in Wolves' volleyball history, and she is hopeful she and her teammates can achieve their goals, and set new ones, with the IHSA playoffs approaching.