GABBY DOVER

HILLDALE HIGH SCHOOL

It’s been a year since VYPE last spoke with Hilldale soccer player Gabriella “Gabby” Dover and a lot of things have changed for the Hornet senior. First and foremost, she moved from a midfield to a striker position where she scored 26 goals for the Hornets last year as they went 12-5 and advanced to the state quarterfinals before losing in a shootout to eventual state finalist Weatherford.

“You don’t see players like Gabby come along very often,” said her coach, Michael Foreman. “She showed she can score but she also sees the field well and can pass the ball off to set up her teammates. She’s also tops in the classroom. I think she’s in the running to be class valedictorian this year and she’s committed to play college ball at Oklahoma Baptist University next year.”

When we spoke with her last year, one of her goals was to help change the culture of the program and she feels like that’s happened as she steps into even more of a leadership position this year.

“I feel like we’ve changed how we view each other and how we view the game and I’m really happy about how things have come along in that regard. As a team captain last year, I think I learned a lot of good leadership skills that I can apply this year. I’ll do whatever it takes, from the smallest tasks to the largest to set a good example. I think I was a little too passive last year so this year I’ll probably expect a little more of the team especially since we lost our top defensive players to graduation. I’m making sure we start practice on time, do everything correctly and if I don’t feel like we’re doing those things, I’ll tell them we need to pick it up,” said Gabby who is in student council, National Honor Society, Teens for Christ and FCA.

But one thing that hasn’t changed is her acknowledgement of how she has become so good.

“God gave me the talent, so I always want to use it to glorify Him and that’s why I give it everything I have every day in practice and in games.”