NORTH ROBINSON — Gabby Roston has been successful in multiple sports in her career at Colonel Crawford.
Moving on to college next year, Roston will narrow her participation to one sport, one event.
Roston officially signed her letter of intent Tuesday to continue her athletic career at the University of Findlay as a pole vaulter.
For Roston, the choice was clear. Findlay was the only place she seriously considered.
“It was pretty much Findlay. I like the girls, I like the coach,” Roston said. “It just felt right. I didn’t really feel I needed to look anywhere else.”
The coach she mentioned — assistant coach Clint Dillon who coaches pole vaulters only — has a Crawford County connection. Dillon was a multisport athlete at and 2000 graduate of Bucyrus High School.
“I just liked the whole aspect. I know all the girls because they all jumped in my club,” Roston said. “I was comfortable there and I like how close it is to everyone here.”
Findlay also has what Roston is looking for academically. And she is well prepared for college, carrying a 4.0 GPA, tied for first in her class.
“I want to go into physical therapy or health science, and they have a really good physical therapy program there,” Roston said.
At 5-feet-2, the diminutive Roston may not appear to be the prototypical athlete. But that hasn’t stopped her from success in multiple sports.
Roston has earned three letters in cross country, basketball, and track and field. She has been first-team Northern 10 Athletic Conference in cross country three times and has the fourth-fastest time in Colonel Crawford history. Roston has been first team N10 in track 10 times, 9-time district champion, 4-time regional champion, 3-year state qualifier, and 5-time all-Ohioan.
Her pole vault coach at Colonel Crawford, Brett DeGray, has no doubt about her ability to compete at the next level.
“She has a work ethic not a lot of athletes have,” DeGray said. “She works, she studies. She does all the extras you want and expect from a top-notch athlete.”
DeGray cautioned not to be distracted by her stature.
“You would think she has a gymnastics background. She doesn’t,” DeGray said. “As a coach, that’s what I look for. But she works so hard to train her body to be able to do the things she can do.”
Roston is also determined to compete in whatever sport she participates in.
“You see that on the basketball court, you saw that in cross country,” DeGray said. “She is a top-notch competitor.”
With her commitment made, Roston will continue to compete in other sports at Colonel Crawford during her senior year. But she is looking forward to concentrating on pole vault next year.
“I started (vaulting) in the eighth grade. It’s exciting because I love pole vault,” Roston said. “I never thought I would do it in college. I thought that’s something you do to score points. Now I get to do it (at college). It’s exciting.
“I’m excited to just focus on that instead of having to play basketball and run a bunch of events — have fun and just focus on one thing.”
DeGray is certain she made the right choice.
“I know they have a good coaching staff. I know they have a great program,” DeGray said. “I think that’s what she was looking for, something that takes pole vaulting seriously, because she does.”