Football, Wrestling
Favorite team: Philadelphia Eagles
Favorite memory competing in sports: Making it to states as a junior and also taking first at Bellefonte Duals last year.
Most embarrassing/funniest thing that has happened while competing in sports: Giving my wrestling coach a concussion in practice.
Music on iPod: Country
Future plans: Attend college for a degree in agricultural business
Words to live by: “Work hard and stay humble.”
One goal before turning 30: Receive a college degree
One thing people don’t know about me: I’m a farmer.
By GORDON GLANTZ
There was a time when Gavin Caroff worked on his family’s farm in the Harleysville area and felt a million miles away from his Quakertown-area friends who were doing the things that other young boys do.
But he has come to realize that the daily toil made him into the person he is today.
“Before I drove, when I was younger, it was tough sometimes,” said the Univest Featured Male Athlete of the Week. “My friends would be doing stuff – especially in the spring and summer – and I couldn’t.
“But later in life, I’m glad I did it. It taught me hard work.”
And the hard work has paid dividends for him, athletically at Quakertown.
“With sports, it helps a lot,” he said. “Not too many kids are used to doing that kind of physical labor.”
A state-qualifying wrestling standout and all-league lineman during football season, Caroff would not trade the experience for anything. That’s why he is planning on attending Delaware Valley College and majoring in agricultural business.
“I want to come back to the family farm,” said Caroff, who is still “undecided” about wrestling for the Aggies.
Quakertown wrestling coach Kurt Handel was once given a concussion in practice by Caroff, but that is about the only headache caused by the two-time captain who has volunteered his time for the midget wrestling program.
“He is a unique young man,” said Handel. “His future plan is to be a farmer. You don't hear that too often in this area. He helps with the family produce stand in the spring and summer months. He leaves the house at 4 a.m. to pick up produce for the family stand. After dropping off the produce, he then helps his father take care of 500 peach trees and 400 apple trees, along with the farm’s 200 acres of field crops – corn and soybeans -- the rest of the day. He works with his father on a daily basis in hopes to take over the family business after graduating college.”
Before that, there is some business to take care of. A year ago, Caroff kept his head down and plugged away. When he looked up, he found himself in Hershey in the state tournament in the 195-pound weight class. Once there, in the double- elimination field against the best of the best in one of the nation’s best states for wrestling, he lost and then won and then lost again.
“It was pretty cool, making it as a junior,” said Caroff. “I didn’t expect to make it. I want to make it back and win more matches than I did last year.”
On the road to Chocolatetown, Caroff has eclipsed the 100-win total for his career in a sport he first fell in love with as a toddler watching his uncle, J.J. Siegfred, grapple for Souderton High.
Along with his football and wrestling coaches, Caroff wants to thank his uncle for “always supporting” his vision quest in wrestling.
As for being captain, being able to “show them the ropes” is a role Caroff relishes and his coach appreciates.
“Being the biggest guy in the practice room helps in getting his teammates attention, but they listen to him because he leads by example,” said Handel. “He is not afraid to tell a teammate to stop screwing around but, in the same breath, he can find something kind to say, so his teammates understand he cares about them.”
It is not hard to connect the dots to understand where Caroff gets his leadership skills, as he is just following the lead of his parents, John and Bonnie, a couple described as “awesome” by Handel.
“They are one of my top five parents in all my years of coaching,” he said. “They are so down to earth, friendly and always so positive.”
Handel went on to describe the Caroffs as “true salt of the earth” people.
“Their thoughtfulness and reliability are unparalleled, always the first to respond for volunteering at a tournament, special event or even just helping with food before a match,” said Handel. “Mrs. Caroff makes wraps or Croissant egg sandwich for the entire team when we have a morning weigh in, and they also bring their freshly made apple cider to matches while it is in season.
“These kind gestures are virtuous, but their genuine compassion and enduring spirit to help the kids is what makes them so special to the program. They always have kind words to say about everything and everyone. It would be difficult to find a kinder family than the Caroffs in Quakertown or, for that matter, anywhere.”
Caroff gained admiration for his father, who works at a grain mill while also maintaining the farm.
“That’s his full-time job, he farms on the side,” said Caroff, who said it “meant a lot” to the family that his mother stopped working to raise the kids. “Seeing that as a role model, it taught me the value of hard work.”
Caroff - who said initially convincing his parents to let him play football for the first time in middle school was a challenge - is not surprised that his folks have embraced his teammates as extended family.
“It’s really cool that they take such an interest,” said Caroff, whose workload on the farm increased when his older sister, Ashley, went to college. “It’s not just me, but the entire team.”
As he recalls it, Caroff said he was corralled one day by middle school football coach David Weinstein and pretty much told he was playing football.
It wasn’t a new concept. Just a dream he kept tucked away.
“I always wanted to play football, but I had to help my parents on the farm,” he said. “(Weinstein) told me I’m going out for football in 8th grade, whether I wanted to or not. I went out for it and fell in love with it.”
There was still the reality of the workload on the farm.
“It was difficult, but my parents said they would support me,” said Caroff, who added that he was initially reticent about learning a game he hadn’t played before but that “Mr. Weinstein, my coach, really helped me out a lot.”
His coachability and toughness were more than enough to set Caroff on the course to become a starter during his sophomore year at Quakertown and stay there - at offensive guard and defensive tackle - the rest of the way.
But his stature – 5-8, 220 pounds – precludes a collegiate career. Del Val, which happens to be Handel’s alma mater, offered the only opportunity to wrestle. The decision to continue, while also holding down a minor in turf management, will come when it comes.
Just like a harvest.
No one knows that better than a pending career farmer who came to embrace the family tradition.
“When I was younger, I had interest in it, but not that much,” he said. “When I got older, I really started to like it more. It’s the best way to grow up. It taught me hard work and a good work ethic.
“I just want to thank my parents for raising me the way they did. It made me appreciate things more.”
