Student-Athlete Spotlight – Gabrielle Garcia

Born in Colorado Springs and raised in Salinas California, Hartnell College’s Gabrielle Garcia (#32) is a proud member of the Hartnell College Women’s Basketball Team. She graduated from Salinas High School and came to Hartnell to play for the Lady Panthers as a forward/center. Gabby not only has the athletic ability to play on the junior college team, but she has a bright future ahead of her. She is currently a Sophomore here at Hartnell and is pursuing a double major in Kinesiology and Register Nursing. “My career goal is to become the most influential or helpful nurse or athletic trainer there is possible. I also want to learn as much as I can about both roles. Saving people's lives and seeing their smile, as well as those of their families and friends are what I look forward to in my career,” said Gabrielle.

Her desire to be great on the court and a team player has been influenced by her past experience as a fan and player of the sport. The interest to play on the Hartnell College Women’s Basketball Team struck her in the stands while attending the Alumni game. “I chose to play for the Hartnell because ever since I was in high school, I would always watch the alumni play at their home games and when I was invited to one of their practices, I felt a strong bond as if I was part of the team already playing for them,” Garcia explained. Although this past season has been rough on the Women’s Basketball Team, with an overall record of 3 wins and 21 losses, Gabrielle still has an optimistic outlook for the next season, “what I hope to see next season for the Lady Panthers is to see them play their very best and keep striving for another win every game.” Gabby’s dedication and positive approach definitely shows the kind of leadership and skills that define a student-athlete of the week. “My experience on the team overall has been great! I've made mistakes and learned a lot from them. I wouldn't trade it for anything,” said Gabrielle.