Gabriel Zemach-Stovall feature athlete interview – signed with SUNY Cortland. First athlete from Alaska!

1. Why did you decide to sign with SUNY Cortland?

I live in Alaska, but I have high family morals. So I decided to live near my extended family in New York over other, more glamorous places, like Washington State. Cortland’s soccer program is not the best in the area, but they have my major. I will try out and try to achieve my dreams of playing collegiate soccer.

2. Describe the excitement you feel about becoming a college student-athlete?

I can’t wait to try out for the team. I have always been the best player on my team because there are not very many soccer players in Alaska. In Seward, I had to spend my entire senior season practicing indoors because there was too much snow on the field to play outside. Here in Cortland, I will be able to play an entire season outdoors, which is how the game should be played. Being around people that genuinely love the game will only enhance my drive and competitiveness.

3. What advice would you give to other athletes looking to get recruited?

Talk to the coaches wherever you want to go. Make sure you have a positive attitude. If they see that you really want to be a part of their team, they will embrace you and recruit you because of your character. Skill will get you on their radar, but character is what makes them want you. Coaches don’t want someone who will always be a distraction.

4. Who has been the biggest influence in your sports career and why?

My father was my soccer coach when I was young and he has always been there for me. This year he drove hours out of his way and missed work just to see me play. Even when it was obvious our team was going to get stomped, he found ways to find the positives. He is why I keep my head up. I couldn’t imagine a better father figure.

5. What would you like to accomplish during your college sports career?

I would like to prove to everybody that small school players can play too. My team the last three years had only ten players and I helped bring them to relevance. My coach said I scored the most goals in Seward history. I want to make that kind of impact here. Seeing that my teammates will be better, I want to be known more as more of a playmaker. Most importantly, I want to say that I helped SUNY Cortland’s soccer program, since they’re not known as a major soccer school.

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