SuburbanOneSports.com recognizes a male and female featured athlete each week. The awards, sponsored by Univest, are given to seniors of good character who are students in good standing that have made significant contributions to their teams. Selections are based on nominations received from coaches, athletic directors and administrators.
Univest’s SuburbanOneSports.com Featured Female Athlete for week of Nov. 8, 2018
Something to occupy her time. Field hockey was nothing more than that to Olivia Geissler when she went out for the team the summer entering her freshman year. “My friends said, ‘Livie, you should try field hockey, you’ll like it,’” said Geissler, who had been playing soccer since she was a youngster. “Back then, I was probably like – ‘This is something that might keep me busy for now.’” Field hockey became a whole lot more than a diversion to the Abington senior, who was elected captain by her peers. It’s not exactly a script she could have imagined.“I definitely had doubts because I had never played hockey, but the seniors who graduated last year – I knew a few of them from elementary school, so that made it a lot easier,” Geissler said. “They were very welcoming. As it progressed over the last four years, I was like – I love this sport. I couldn’t see myself playing anything else in high school.”
Abington coach Katie Small is certainly glad she chose hockey.“Olivia was the heart of our team,” the Ghosts’ second-year coach said. “She definitely was a true team leader, and she was one of our strongest players on the field day in and day out.” Geissler excelled at the thankless task of playing defense.“She definitely has a very strong stick,” Small said. “I would always put her on the strongest player on the other team. She’s just a force on that field. I really enjoyed watching her. ”Geissler also was a natural leader. “She was the first one to the field every single game,” Small said. “Once everyone comes in, she organizes them and she’s just a go-getter. She’s like, ‘We’re going to be ready for this game, and we’re going to do this. You’re going to be prepared.’ That’s who she was – she was definitely the most prepared every single game, ready to go out there and got everybody else ready. She’s very unassuming, she’s quiet, and she’s not your typical cheerleader, but when we needed a pick-me-up, she was the one who did it.”
An excellent student, Geissler – who boasts a 3.9 GPA – takes honors and AP classes. She is involved in the school’s Garden Club, the Buddy Club (which works with special needs students) and the Alternative Sports Club – she is an avid skier. Geissler and her family work with the Breathing Room Foundation, which assists families and individuals who have been affected by cancer. Sharing Thanksgiving meals and Christmas gifts are an annual event for her family. “It helps to give back to those who are less fortunate,” Geissler said. “A few times people were so grateful - they would start crying, and I would start crying. There are so many emotions at once.”She also shares her passion for hockey working at GYAC (Glenside Youth Athletic Club) clinics. Geissler, according to Small, is a special and selfless student-athlete.“You can’t say anything bad about her,” the Ghosts’ coach said. “She’s the sweetest, nicest person. She thinks about everybody else before herself. “She’s just such an exceptional person that to know Olivia – you’re lucky.”
To read Geissler’s complete profile, please click on the following link: http://www.suburbanonesports.com/featured-athletes/female/olivia-geissler-0081414
Univest’s SuburbanOneSports.com Featured Male Athlete for week of Nov. 8, 2018
In the sporting world, the phrase “football family” gets tossed around so much that it almost becomes an eye roll of a cliché. But make no mistake about it, Nick Gallo really comes from a football family. The Council Rock South senior, a tight end on the football team who also plays defense, is the youngest of four siblings. His father played football in high school and college, and Gallo’s older brothers, Eric and P.J., played collegiate ball at Virginia Tech and Maryland, respectively. Nick Gallo even has an older sister who was a cheerleader at South, so yes, the family lives and breathes football, and it was no surprise when Nick decided to follow in Eric’s footsteps by committing to play at Virginia Tech next fall.“Growing up, we played anything we could get our hands on,” Nick said. “Playing against my older siblings gave me my competitive edge. My brothers especially, they taught me everything I know. It wasn’t just the skill set stuff, though; they taught me how to handle the recruiting process, how to work hard every day and how to maximize your potential to be the best you can be in order to play in college and use that as a vehicle to get an education.”
It’s rare for varsity football programs in the Suburban One League to carry freshmen, but Gallo became an immediate contributor when he set foot on the field in ninth grade. “From freshman year, he’s been a two-way guy for us,” assistant head coach Tony Checchia said. “On offense, he’s a complete tight end, and not just because of his size (6-foot-4, 230 lbs.). He’s polished as a route runner, and he’s mentally willing to be a blocker and mauler in the run game. From a football standpoint, he’s the complete package.” During Gallo’s senior season that just wrapped up with a first-round loss to Truman in the 6A district playoffs, the Golden Hawks got back to their winning ways. The team posted a 6-4 record and 5-2 mark in league play, including handing Truman its only loss during the regular season. Gallo and company clinched his first-ever playoff berth in a victory over rival Council Rock North.
Even though Gallo’s high school football career is done, he still has South’s baseball season to look forward to. He has been in the varsity lineup since midway through his freshman year. "I can't say enough good things about him,” coach Ted Kirner said. “He plays hard, he commands respect, his presence is felt everywhere. Being a competitor these days - in high school, it's not a given that they're competitors, and Nick gets it. He wants to compete, he welcomes competition, he wants to play against the best. He's a fantastic athlete with a tremendous up side in football. I'm really looking forward to his senior year."
Listening to his football coach tell it, Gallo is much more than just a standout athlete. "Nick is as good of a person off the field as he is a player on the field," coach Vince Bedesem said. "To me, Nick is an All-State/All-American type of player. His leadership skills have been something we haven't seen in a while. He's a student of the game, and it's been a pleasure to coach him."
To read Gallo’s complete profile, please click on the following link: http://www.suburbanonesports.com/featured-athletes/male/nick-gallo-0081440
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