From the Sidelines: Tyler Lee’s Gabrielle Wiebe

Published 10:45 pm Wednesday, April 8, 2020

With spring sports currently suspended, the Tyler Morning Telegraph wants to profile East Texas seniors in those sports in a feature called “From the Sidelines”. If you’re an East Texas senior who competes in a spring sport and would like to be featured, fill out the following questionnaire and send it to sports@tylerpaper.com, along with a photo. Today’s featured female athlete is Tyler Lee’s Gabrielle Wiebe.

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Name: Gabrielle Wiebe

School: Robert E. Lee High School

Parents names: Doug and Shurrell Wiebe

Brothers/sisters: Elexis, Titan and my twin, Jacqueline Wiebe

Sports you play: Soccer

Favorite high school sports memory: My whole entire family coming to every one of my games! No matter what, they were going to be at every game whether it was two hours away, raining or snowing, nothing was going to keep them from coming and supporting! But I do have to say, my favorite memory was when my twin sister scored the winning goal to beat Rockwall-Heath (our rival) with three minutes left in overtime. As center back, I watched my aunt Tricia see it starting from the back and run down the entire bleachers, with my 2-year-old cousin, cheering and following Jacqueline all the way to the goal until she scored! It was the best/funniest thing ever to watch!

Plans after high school: Go play soccer at TJC and hopefully win a national championship!

What do you plan to major in? I want to transfer to Texas Tech and play soccer after TJC and major in nursing.

Favorite song: God Bless the Broken Road

Favorite food: Macadamia nut cookies

Favorite TV show: Grey’s Anatomy

Favorite movie: Remember the Titans

Who are your role models? My dad has been a role model to me because he has pushed me to be the person and soccer player I am today. He has always taught me the value of never quitting and working hard. He would always tell me before every game “give everything your all because no matter how bad of a game you have you can always control how hard you work and how many 50/50 balls you win.” My mom is also a huge role model to me because she has taught me to be the caring and loving person I am! She has been the one to pick me up when I’m feeling down, especially when I have a bad game. I hope to be even half the mom that she was to me!

Which coaches have had the most influence on you? Why? My dad, my first coach and the longest coach I’ve been with, has had the most influence on me! My favorite memories of him, that still continue to this day, are going to eat after a game. He would always find the closest thing to write on (usually a napkin) and sit and show me the things I couldn’t see from the field. He showed me how to be more creative, be aggressive, and see things from a different angle! Coach Woodard and Coach Sarah, my Robert E. Lee High School coaches, have taught me the importance of a team and what a true soccer family should look like! They have both pushed me and encouraged me through my rough days! They have also showed me the importance of trying new things (positions) because you never know where it can lead you! Lastly, they taught me how to just become closer to God, trusting him in everything we do! Last but definitely not least, Coach Rose, my club coach and my future college coach. He was always like a second dad to me! Some days I would spend more time with him than I would with my own family between practices, games, etc.! He showed me a totally different side of the game from just using the proper foot, to knowing which forward to play, and looking at the game as a whole. He also just saw something in me that I didn’t even see! Since the first day I started playing for him he saw my potential and pushed me to be the very best I could be!

He will always be one of the biggest influences on me!!

Who is your favorite teacher? My mom, because she did homeschool me for a majority of my life! She taught me how to be successful and has given me the opportunity to set myself up for my future!

Where do you see yourself in 10 years? In 10 years, I see myself as a nurse helping people in need and a mom coaching my kids just like my dad coached me! Just like me, they will have a whole fan squad cheering them on, on the sidelines! My whole family that supported me plus more will be supporting them!

Something about yourself that most people don’t know: I am 12 hours away from having an associates degree.

What will you miss most about high school sports? I will definitely miss the team the most! The great thing about high school sports is that it brings you and your team close together! From the bus rides, to pre-game speeches, team bonding, even team conditioning! You just become one big family and I will definitely miss that aspect of high school sports!