Player Profile: Abby Gatesman, North Clarion

D9Sports.com/EYT Media is doing a series of player profiles on returning high-school athletes this summer. The year in school listed by the athlete is the year the athlete is entering this fall.

(Photo by Jared Bakaysa of JB Graphics. See more of Bakaysa’s work here)

ABBY GATESMAN – SENIOR – NORTH CLARION

Daughter of: Lori and Matt Gatesman
Sports Played: Soccer (in a co-op with Forest Area) and basketball
Family Members Playing/Played Sports: Her sister, Taylor, played soccer and basketball. Her twin brother, Drew, plays basketball and baseball.
2018-19 Highlights: She averaged 14.3 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.8 steals and 1.2 blocks per game while helping lead North Clarion to its third straight District 9 Class 1A title. She also shot 47.7 percent from the field, 43.5 percent from 3-point range and 76.4 percent from the free-throw line and was named a third-team All-State player, a first-team All American Awards & Engraving D9Sports.com District 9 player and a first-team All-KSAC performer. She enters her senior season with 837 career points … In soccer, she was chosen as a U.A.V.S.L. All-Star while playing for the Forest Fires.
Post-High School Plans: She is planning on attending college and hopefully furthering her athletic career.

Q&A With Abby Gatesman

D9Sports: What is your favorite sport to participate in and why?
AG: My favorite sport would be basketball because of all the memories I have and the excitement that comes with playing.

D9Sports: What is your favorite memory, moment, game from playing high school sports?
AG: Winning the KSAC and District title my sophomore year is definitely two of my favorite memories from basketball. For me, getting those two wins really put the cherry on top of our undefeated season.

D9Sports: Why do you play high school sports?
AG: I play high school sports because it gives a nice break from school, and I meet many of the friends I have today from them. I love being able to compete and play with and against some really great athletes.

D9Sports: Who has had the most influence on your athletic career and why?
AG: My parents definitely have the most influence on me. They always push me to be a better player and person and make sure I get to all my practices, games, or tournaments. They have always helped me set goals and reach those goals, so I would not be the person I am today without them.

D9Sports: If you could change one thing about high school sports, what would it be and why?
AG: One thing I would change would be the system the PIAA uses for the basketball brackets in state playoffs. Personally, I think that the non-distribution of public and private schools could be handled in a way that would make things a little fairer. That, or I would make the basketball hoops shorter so I could dunk.

D9Sports: If you could be president for a day, what would be the one major thing you would do?
AG: If I could be president for a day I would sign a bill into law increasing the pension for former presidents.

D9Sports: What is your ideal place to live? County, City, Suburb? Why?
AG: My ideal place to live would probably be a suburb. You still get to live close enough to the city to get to do the cool things that come with living in a city but you also live far enough away to have a yard and some personal space.

D9Sports: What would someone who doesn’t know you be surprised to find out about you?
AG: I am ambidextrous. I am a lefty in basketball and kick with my left in soccer but I write with my right hand and jump off my right foot.

D9Sports: What is your strongest subject in school?
AG: I am strongest in my math classes.

D9Sports: If there was one period in history or one event in history you could go back to, what would it be?
AG: I would be fascinated to go back in time to 1963 and be a spectator during the assassination of JFK. There are a lot of conspiracies surrounding that day so I think it would be cool to know the real answer to it.

D9Sports: What question do you wish I would have asked you? And what is the answer to it?
AG: What is one of my pregame rituals? I have a couple, but right before every game after team layups, I will give my dad my warmup. It’s sort of a good luck charm.