Dealing with adversity is nothing new for Gabrielle Ciambella.
Although Ciambella started playing soccer at age three, she did not begin playing in travel leagues until she was older. She dealt with a couple of serious injuries and was cut from higher-level teams several times. Ciambella used that disappointment as motivation and is now a stalwart for the Roberts Wesleyan College women’s soccer team.
Ciambella scored the first two goals of her college career in a 2-0 win over the University of Bridgeport on October 9 and ranks second on the Redhawks in minutes played this season.
The sophomore midfielder also shines in the classroom, where she carries a 3.92 GPA. The nursing major was named the Roberts Wesleyan Female Scholar-Athlete of the Month for September.
Ciambella, a native of East Amherst, graduated from Williamsville North High School, where she was a three-year starter and captain in soccer and also played basketball. She is also a big fan of the Buffalo Bills.
Ciambella took a few minutes to discuss her journey to Roberts, her decision to study nursing, and her favorite football team. Her responses have been lightly edited for length and clarity.
When did you think that you would be a college soccer player?
“It was kind of always my goal to play in college, but I never really thought about getting there or trying to get there. As for skill, I was always a little bit behind. … Growing up, I never actually made the very best teams the first time that I tried out, and I think getting cut from those teams made me work really, really hard. I have a strong work ethic, so every time that I got cut, I wanted to make the team even more the next year. It was just persevering through each team each year, and when the time came to commit to a college, I was getting to a higher level where I thought there was a chance, and I started looking into colleges.”
You committed to Roberts during your junior year.
How did you find out about Roberts, and what did you like about it?
“I connected with Roberts because my mom saw a video of the team, and it was Coach Mac (Sarah McClellan) talking about the team and what she looks for. It was a general video to introduce the school, and my mom saw it and was like, ‘Hey Gab, you should look into this.’ I was like, ‘OK,’ and then I went to an ID camp with one of my friends who was a year older. I came here for the camp, and then when I came back and I toured, the community was just incredible. Everybody was so welcoming; it felt like home immediately. This was the first school that I looked at, and from then on, I didn’t want to look at any other schools.”
What do you like best about being a student-athlete?
“I love the team aspect. Anywhere you go you are always able to connect with one of your teammates or another athlete in general. When you are on a sports team, it is just a specific community at Roberts where anywhere you go there’s an athlete, and they will always say ‘Hi.’ That’s something really special because it makes you feel like you fit in no matter what, and everywhere that you go you always have somebody.”
Why did you want to study nursing?
“Because of my injuries, I was always in and out of doctor’s appointments. I loved my surgeon who did my ankle surgery. He made me not really regret having to go through it and just pushed me through each part of it. I just wanted to have that same impact on somebody else’s life. I want to help people. I want to work in a hospital setting, so whoever comes in and needs help, I can make their life better.”
How would your teammates describe your style of play?
“I think that they would describe it as very gritty. I don’t like to dribble and all of that stuff; I’m not very technical, but I love to make the plays. I will work so hard, whether it’s physically or sprinting, I will do anything to get to the ball.”
You came to college during COVID when fall sports were put on hold.
How nice is it to be able to play soccer this fall?
“I really enjoy it. I think that the spring season was really good for me to come into because I had a lot of developing to do, and I wasn’t ready for the college level yet. And, also trying to manage school at the same time. I think it was really good to have that time to step into spring with COVID. However, this year it is very, very nice to be able to compete in the ECC (East Coast Conference), and everything matters. … There is just a different aspect of practice, a different type of energy, and we have something to play for.”
Chicken wings or beef on weck?
“Chicken wings.”
Who is your favorite Buffalo Bills player?
“I like Stefon Diggs. He’s just incredible, and it seems like he can get to every ball.”
Who is going to win the Super Bowl this year?
“Buffalo Bills.”
Who are they going to beat?
“I’m not sure, there’s a lot of good teams out there, and I don’t care as long as they win.”
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