Gabrielle Herfindahl '25 Recruiting Profile

The unique challenges that I have faced in my life have made me into a resilient, fearless, and mentally tough individual. My goal is to be a collegiate soccer player and become a neurosurgeon to help other kids, like me, face their adversities with comfort and confidence. 

I currently play in the ECNL for Gretna Elite Academy. I am a 5’10” Defender and believe that my strengths as a player are my size & speed, aggressiveness, versatility and soccer IQ. Since I started playing soccer when I was just three years old, I have played numerous positions on the field. Playing in the competitive ECNL league has increased my ability to defend more aggressively and to play with confidence. As a leader, I believe it is important to encourage my teammates whether we win or lose. You will always hear me cheering my teammates on and communicating on the field. My teammates are like family to me and I look forward to finding that connection at the college level. 

One of the most defining moments of my life was when a Neurosurgeon discovered that I was born with a tethered spinal cord at age 11. Even though it was the answer we were looking for, I was told that I’d need spinal surgery. I faced this scary situation with faith and courage, and having to take six weeks off to recover only made my passion for soccer grow stronger. Most people tell me that I’m an “old soul” and that I’m mature for my age, which I believe is a credit to what I have overcome. 

As a student at Gretna High School, I have a 3.72 GPA taking mostly AP courses. I learned at a young age just how important your mental game is, no matter the aspect of life. I credit my success thus far, in part, to my ability to set goals and utilize visualization skills which have helped me become a more focused and disciplined player and overall person.