The Jewish Link of New Jersey and Teaneck Doghouse would like to recognize East Brunswick’s own Gabrielle Thurm as this week’s Sportstar of the Week. The senior at the Bruriah High School is a two sport athlete: a star goalie on the Bruriah soccer team and captain of the 6-6 basketball team. Bruriah’s Athletic Director Susan Rifkin told the JLNJ, “ Gabrielle is gentle natured and kind. She is a leader and cheerleader on and off the court. Gabrielle’s quiet confidence and consistency combined with her love of playing make her easy to coach.”
Gabrielle, congratulations on another great year at Bruriah. If you had to select one person, who would you say is your role model and why?
My role model is my mom. My mom, Tammy Thurm, has been my cheerleader for as long as I can remember. Every game she comes to, I look forward to hearing her cheer both me and my teammates on. She is my cheerleader off the court too, and I hope to learn to be like that.
What is your favorite sport?
My favorite sport to play and to watch is basketball. When I see the talent of professional players I can then try to use their techniques to improve my own playing and to help out my team as well.
What is your greatest sports accomplishment?
When I started my freshman year, I was extremely nervous for basketball tryouts. I knew that I wanted to play with varsity, but I did not know if I was at that level, or if the school would even allow it. After trying out for both the JV and the varsity teams, I was honored with the privilege of being welcomed onto the varsity team as the the only freshman.
Who is your favorite athlete and why?
If I had to pick one, I would say that my favorite athlete is Sue Bird. She is know for her extremely impressive skills on the court and she often talks about how hard she works on those skills. She is also well known for her kindness and charity work. I tremendously admire her work on and off the court.
What is your pregame routine, if you have one?
Before every game I make sure to clear my head of all of the stress from that day so that I can focus on the game. I then go with my team, and together we read Word Watch, a book on proper speech. Once that is done, I am ready to start playing.
What is your earliest sport memory?
My earliest sport memory is playing Rovers Soccer as a little kid. I still can clearly remember my coach, Coach Spencer, telling me that I was his “star goalie” after I had made a big save in a game against kids older than my team. Now, years later, anytime I see Spencer he brings up how I was this “star goalie.”
What is your weirdest sports memory?
When I was in ninth grade my class was playing soccer during gym class and I was goalie. After gym, when I went over to my teacher, Miss Tucker, who is also soccer’s coach and she asked me why I hadn’t tried out for her team. By the next day I was added to the roster and a new player on soccer, without ever having planned to play soccer that year.
What is your favorite sports memory?
I will never forget being in middle school at RPRY, playing as goalie on on our brand new hockey team that I helped to start. At one of our games, I was still getting over being sick that week, but I played anyway. The feeling of excitement when we later won that game made my headache totally worth it.
What is your favorite thing to do when you are not playing sports?
When I am not playing sports I like to listen to music, and just relax and hang out with my friends.
What is the best thing about being a Sportstar?
Being a Sportstar has given me an opportunity to publicly thank my coaches, teammates and my parents for allowing me to get here.
The Teaneck Doghouse Sportstar of the Week will receive a $15 gift at the Teaneck Doghouse. Please send nominees for an upcoming Jewish Link of New Jersey and Teaneck Doghouse Sportstar of the Week to [email protected].
