Gabby Wisbeck took ‘extra mile’ to stay occupied through high school to SU
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Gabby Wisbeck didn’t get home until after 10 p.m. The high school junior was recovering from a torn ACL and had physical therapy and a lifting session with her trainer, Derek Phillips, after school.
Then, she traveled an hour to support her club team, Bethesda SC, at practice. When she finally returned to her Severna Park, Maryland, home, she spent hours flipping through textbooks to prepare for her human anatomy and physiology exam the next day. She ordered dinner from Chipotle and studied until midnight.
Despite the busy evening, Gabby scored a 94% on her exam.
“That was the kind of kid she was, and it’s the kind of woman she’s growing into being,” said Diane Wisbeck, Gabby’s mother. “She’s always demanded a high level of performance from herself. It’s just part of who she is.”
That night characterizes Gabby’s life — the need to stay occupied while still having success. For most of her time at Archbishop Spalding High School (Maryland), Gabby balanced a rigorous course load and traveled an hour to practice multiple days a week. Her need to stay busy hasn’t changed at Syracuse, where she’s started 38 games for SU women’s soccer, is a member of the Syracuse Ambulance Team and is vice president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
“I find gratification in getting things done, making an impact on people’s lives,” Gabby said. “Pushing that extra mile has always been normal for me. I don’t feel accomplished in my day if I’m not doing the extra thing.”
Soccer eventually took priority, but Gabby tried multiple activities as a kid, including tennis and swimming.
When she began swimming at age 5, her coach taught her team to dive. After practice, most of them stayed in the pool to play, but Diane remembers Gabby going to the other side of the pool to practice diving until she perfected it.
Gabby’s need to be occupied didn’t stem from her parents. She built her own busy schedule.
But in middle school, Gabby wasn’t sure whether she wanted her life to stay that way. She sat down with her father, Jacob Wisbeck, and told him she “just wanted to be a kid.” Jacob encouraged her to keep going.
“We talked a lot about whether or not I was willing to make that sacrifice, and at the end of the day, he saw it in me,” Gabby said. “He knew that I could. He just needs to give me a little extra push. He knows what I’m capable of, and I’m really grateful for that.”
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March 2020, her soccer opportunities were limited. Team activities were canceled, and like the rest of the nation, she was advised to keep her distance from others. But that didn’t stop her from remaining active.
Gabby went for long runs every day, sometimes with friends during hour-long class breaks. Other times, she practiced dribbling in her backyard. Although she’d return to online class sweaty, she was satisfied with how she used her time.
Pushing that extra mile has always been normal for me. I don’t feel accomplished in my day if I’m not doing the extra thing.Gabby Wisbeck, Syracuse midfielder
Once high school began and COVID-19 died down, Gabby’s schedule intensified again. Her days started with a 6 a.m. wake up and a Zoom call with Phillips to practice breathing techniques.
After eight hours of school, where she participated in advanced classes and an International Baccalaureate program, she went to the gym to work with Phillips on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. In the afternoons, they focused on weight training, stretching and flexibility along with soccer activities.
“She would always want to work hard,” Phillips said of Gabby. “I never had an issue with trying to motivate her to work hard.”
On Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays in the spring, Gabby traveled an hour from Severna Park to Bethesda for club practice. She worked through high-speed, intense drills and often learned new formations days before weekend tournaments.
During that time, Jacob said Gabby developed a high soccer IQ and typically “quarterbacked the team,” telling her teammates where to go on the field.
“She tends to make things look very easy when they aren’t very easy,” Jacob said. “That’s easily transferred to her game at Syracuse.”
With Gabby’s demanding schedule, doing homework in the car became normal. She always finished it, though, using a planner and checking off boxes as she completed tasks.
“I’m a very routine person,” Gabby said. “When I get into a set schedule every day, it’s very easy for me to follow through with it.”
Gabby Wisbeck dribbles the ball during a high school game. Before coming to Syracuse, Wisbeck starred at Archbishop Spalding High School. Courtesy of Diane Wisbeck
Gabby’s freshman year at SU didn’t begin ideally. After starting the Orange’s first two games, she fell into a “rut” and sat for the next six. But she didn’t let the slow start hold her back. She often went into head coach Nicky Thrasher Adams’ office to review film and ask for feedback. It helped her regain her starting spot against Florida State on Sept. 19, 2024.
She hasn’t looked back since, appearing in SU’s starting lineup for the last three years.
“Nicky is very communicative about what she’s seeing,” Gabby said. “I really appreciate her word of advice all the time.”
As Gabby’s progressed through college, she’s gotten involved in other ways on campus. She joined the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee last fall, where she organizes biweekly meetings as the club’s vice president.
Every Syracuse team has two to four student representatives, and Gabby works to cultivate a positive environment for student-athletes. For those who can’t attend the meetings, Gabby relays information through email.
“I really enjoy being in the loop, being involved and collaborating with other people,” Gabby said. “I love talking to people, getting to know the people who are in athletics with me for this short time and building those bonds. Just be proudly representing my team’s values and communicating with them and being their voice.”
Last spring, Gabby, who wants to attend medical school after graduation, also joined the Syracuse Ambulance Team. She spent at least 10 hours a week at the club last year and will work eight shifts, attend meetings and fill out paperwork with the club this fall.
Gabby is currently trained to drive ambulances. After finishing her EMT class this semester, she’ll be cleared to work as a crew chief member who administers care.
“It’s not enough to just be an athlete,” Gabby said. “You have to show your character in other aspects of your education.”
SAAC vice president. Ambulance team. Division I soccer player. Surely there’s not more, right?
Gabby Wisbeck takes a corner kick in Syracuse’s loss to Binghamton on Sept. 3. Wisbeck has started 10 of SU’s 11 games in 2026. Christian Calabrese | Asst. Photo Editor
Wrong. Gabby’s academic load — primarily science-based classes — keeps her busy, too. She’s enrolled in multiple graduate-level courses, ranging from biotechnology labs to biochemistry, which sometimes cause scheduling conflicts with practice. Gabby said last fall was her most academically intensive semester, as she took organic chemistry and a molecular biology class.
But as always, she’s stayed organized. When the semester starts, Gabby writes down the dates of all her exams on her iPad, then begins preparing two or more weeks in advance. Gabby said it helps her relieve stress when gameday and tests overlap.
And when they do, Gabby’s parents are often in the stands to watch her. Afterward, they’ll ask her to go for dinner. With her commitments, it’s difficult to say yes. But with all she’s doing, Diane and Jacob can’t stay mad for long.
“I applaud (Gabby) for her commitment to her life,” Diane said. “The world is her oyster, and Syracuse has given her so many fantastic opportunities.”
