Jared Gibbons comes from a family of athletes.
His grandfather and parents were competitive cyclists and his older brother, Ryan Gibbons, is an elite professional cyclist who lives in Spain and represented South Africa in the Olympics.
Jared Gibbons tried cycling as a youngster but felt a pull toward the soccer pitch that brought the native of Johannesburg, South Africa, to Roberts Wesleyan College to study computer science and pursue his dream of playing professionally.
Gibbons, a junior goalkeeper, made an immediate impact with the Redhawks by appearing in 15 matches as a freshman and earning East Coast Conference Rookie of the Year in 2019.
Gibbons posted two shutouts while starting the first eight matches of the season this fall.
Gibbons also carries a 3.94 GPA was named the Roberts Wesleyan College Male Scholar-Athlete for the month of September.
Gibbons, who enjoys coding and working on the back end of computer systems, is also considering a career as a software engineer. He shared his thoughts on becoming a goalie, balancing academics and athletics, and adjusting to life more than 13,000 away from home. His responses have been lightly edited for length and clarity.
How did you become a goalkeeper?
“I always played FIFA, and Manchester United was my favorite team. So, when I was nine, I asked my dad to sign me up for the local club. I was set. I was going to be a defender, I was going to win the ball and never let anyone past me, and then two days before the tryouts, I was watching a game and the Manchester United goalkeeper at the time made an unbelievable top-corner save. I looked at my dad and said, ‘I want to do that.’ The next day he got me my first pair of second-hand gloves, and the rest is history.”
Has your brother been a big role model for you?
“One hundred percent. I look up to him; I always have since I can remember. The dedication he has, the commitment, the drive is unmatched, and I have been fortunate enough to see that first-hand. He is definitely my role model, for sure.”
How did you learn about Roberts?
“Back home, there was this company that actually places athletes in colleges in the U.S. They put together a profile with footage of me playing and my grades from high school, and they kind of advocated for me. … The first contact that I had was an email from Coach (Scott) Reber. He reached out and said, ‘Hey, we’re looking for a goalkeeper, and I might be what they need.’… We stayed in contact for quite some time and got to know each other. About four or five months before the 2019 fall semester, we locked it in, and I signed a National Letter of Intent.”
You were named ECC Rookie of the Year after your freshman year. What was the transition of coming here from South Africa like?
“If it looked easy, it certainly wasn’t. Just getting used to the environment and the routines of going to class and practice was an adjustment. Also, the style of soccer is very different than what I am used to back home. Yeah, you play soccer, and it is the same whether you do it here or in South Africa, but the weather is completely different and the ground is completely different. Adapting, firstly to a more American style of college soccer took a while, and I am not used to the weather. Having a couple of games freshman year where we had to shovel snow off of the field before practice, I am still not used to that. I will be honest.”
Is it difficult to balance academics and athletics?
“It can be, at least it was initially because it was all new. … Time management was something that I needed to get a handle on. I am someone who has to put my best effort in; I have to put the time in so late nights do occur and doing homework on the bus is becoming more commonplace. It’s a process that you get used to over time.”
Do you have a favorite American food?
“That’s a tough one. I am not even sure if you would consider it American, but Chipotle. Those burritos, they hit a good spot there.”
Have you had a Garbage Plate yet?
“Funny enough, no. I think that I have ticked off all of the things that you have to do when you are in Rochester. I have been to all of the photo spots and coffee shops, but I am still yet to have a Garbage Plate.”
Is there anything more you would like to share?
“I think that I just wear my heart on my sleeve and that what you see is what you get. On the soccer field, I am 100 percent me. I am not putting on a show or doing it for the crowd or doing it for the fans; it’s putting the effort in. I would like people to know that all of my credit for any success that I have had goes to God. He has blessed me and given me these opportunities. Every day I learn more that this is His plan and that He is in control. I owe everything to Him, for sure.”
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