For many high school athletes, committing to play a sport in college is the result of many years of dedication, practice and hard work. At NDB, three student-athletes: Gabrielle Goldfarb, Gia Rivera and Allison Yue have turned their athletic performance into college commitments. While their sports are different, their journeys share similar moments that shaped them along the way.
Senior Gabrielle Goldfarb is committed to playing water polo at Chapman University. She credits NDB with preparing her both academically and athletically. “Notre Dame helped me prepare for college athletics by drilling into me what a dedicated student-athlete looks like,” said Goldfarb. “They were also really knowledgeable about water polo and knew a lot about the sport, which helped in getting feedback.”
She also credits her coaches with her success. She shared, “I think all of my coaches at Notre Dame helped me in different ways, but specifically Coach Wendy Connolly and Coach Scott Ray. They have been constants in my life for both swimming and water polo, and have been an inspiration to me for my time at Notre Dame.”
Senior Gia Rivera signed on to play volleyball at UC San Diego. The sport means so much to her. She credits the court as a place where she developed as a student-athlete and found opportunities for growth. She found herself enjoying all four seasons at NDB with coaches and teammates who supported her throughout her journey.
“NDB helped me prepare for college athletics through building positive, healthy mindsets and building a healthy leadership role,” said Rivera. “Since I was captain of the team for a few years, I learned early on how to help support my teammates in the best way through leadership.”
Commenting on the recruitment process, she said, “The biggest challenge during my recruiting journey was realizing that everyone’s process is different and that I did not have to copy others’ pace of timing. I took my time with the process and wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.”
Senior Allison Yue is committed to pole-vaulting at Johns Hopkins University. She also credits NDB with preparing her. “NDB prepared me because I learned how to balance a heavy academic load with athletics,” explained Yue. “Going from a full day of school to practice to homework, or having to do work after a four-hour track meet took a lot of commitment and dedication.”
Reflecting on her place on the school’s track and field team, she said, “NDB also taught me what it looked like to be a part
of a team. Pole vaulting is an individual sport, but being a part of the track team allowed me to be with others. I learned how to be a cheerleader, a supporter and a good communicator, which are skills that I will carry with me through college athletics.”
Yue described a few struggles during recruitment. “The biggest challenge for me was staying flexible,” she said. “I started talking to coaches during the first semester of my junior year and began to build relationships with them. I had a coach whom I had been talking to for months and told me I would have a spot on the team, and then he suddenly left the program.”
Although their sports differ, each of these senior student-athletes shares a common foundation that was built at NDB. Through long practices, demanding game schedules, and
the ups and downs of competition, each one developed the skills needed to get to the next level.
Their stories reflect more than just their athletic achievement; they highlight growth, perseverance and the importance of community. With the support of their teammates, coaches, and school, these three are ready to take the next step in their athletic career.
With contributions by Camilla Qaqundah.
