Audrey Gibson to play for Smith College

It's hard to believe that Haas Hall Academy, known most notably for its high test scores and academic excellence, could also be home to a rising college athlete. Senior Audrey Gibson will set a record in the fall of 2014 by being the first Haas Hallian ever to go on to play for a NCAA sports team. Basketball-loving Gibson has currently led the Lady Mastiffs in rebounds, blocks, steals, assists and contributed to the team's impressive record and vast improvement from previous years.

​Gibson, a former Pea Ridge student and daughter of John and xxxx Gibson, started her basketball career in first grade at Pea Ridge Elementary School and quickly fell in love with the sport. She continued playing as a Pea Ridge Blackhawk until her sophomore year when she transferred to Haas Hall. Her elder sister, Trilby, also played basketball for Pea Ridge High School.

"Playing basketball for Pea Ridge was a wonderful experience for me. From YCB (Youth Competitive Basketball) with coach John McGee to coach Heather Wade, my mentors were very supportive and challenged me every time I stepped on the court," Gibson said. She also holds a very special place for her old Pea Ridge teammates.

"There was something special there. We all got along really well, and we worked together as a team. In the old days, we didn't even know who was going to be the high scorer. Everyone played, everyone contributed, everyone knew all positions. It was fast and furious basketball. I will never forget that, and I will never forget them."

​Transferring to Haas Hall her junior year, Gibson couldn't wait to hit the court with coach Basil Seymour-Davies and the rest of the Lady Mastiffs. Early in her junior season, Gibson had a knee injury, a torn posterior cruciate ligament, diagnosed in October 2012. She was allowed to continue to play with a brace, but unknown to Gibson and her doctors, she had suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament as well. Gibson finished out the season playing with these injuries. Despite the torn ACL that resulted in surgery and left her on crutches for the following six months, Gibson never stopped working toward her dreams through rigorous physical therapy and strength training.

​"One attribute that Audrey has that can never be taught in an athlete is her heart. Going through a session with two torn ligaments in her knee and still playing throughout the year is one example of that," Hector Cueva, former Mastiff and 2013 Haas Hall graduate, said.

​As the next season rolled around, Gibson, now fully healed, couldn't wait to commence playing with the Lady Mastiffs and helping them accomplish their goals of success.

​"Two adjectives I'd use to describe Audrey are quiet and fierce," Seymour-Davies said of Gibson in the classroom and on the court. "She's deceptively sweet and mild mannered, but put her on a court in a competitive environment, and she gets beastly."

Although one cannot deny Gibson's "heart for the game," as senior Egan Meaux put it, Audrey's heart also lies with her other love: education. Academics has always stood as Gibson's number one collegiate priority, but she still hoped to continue her beloved sport through her college years as well.

"I've just always played basketball and always loved it. I really hoped that I could continue that," Gibson said.

​Gibson's mother was the first to find out about Smith College in Northampton, Mass., and thought it might be beneficial to look into it. Smith, the alma mater to alumnae such as Barbara Bush, Nancy Reagan, Julia Childs, Sylvia Plath and Gloria Steinem, is an all-female college with 3,000 students. It currently ranks in the top 20 schools in the nation. Fittingly for Gibson, Smith is also the birthplace of women's basketball, where a physical education instructor in 1892 incorporated the game into the curriculum for her girls, borrowing an idea from another gym teacher, Dr. James Naismith, who was located just 18 miles down the road in Springfield, Mass.

Gibson called Smith College the following day and scheduled an official visit with the head basketball coach.

"I really liked it, and I decided that was where I really wanted to go. It was my first choice, so I applied for the Early Decision deadline," Gibson said.

​Not long after, Gibson received an email from Smith stating that not only was she accepted into the school, she was also the recipient of a $49,500 academic scholarship and had an invitation to play basketball for the school -- making her the first Haas Hallian to ever play for a collegiate sports team.

​"I'm really honored by all of this," Gibson said of the opportunity to fulfill her dreams, as well as marking her place in Haas Hall history.

​Although Gibson's teammates will miss her next year, they agree that she definitely deserves this chance of a lifetime.

"Audrey motivates us not with her words but with her actions," said senior and fellow Lady Mastiff Raquel Romero. "Audrey never complains; no matter how many drills we do, she sucks it up, and she'll step in for anyone that needs it. I'm so happy for her."

​"Audrey Gibson is one of my best friends. Every day she astonishes me with the power of her strength," senior Adriana Pianalto said of her successful friend. "How someone is able to be that good at playing basketball and still manages to keep such good grades is beyond me, but somehow she seems to manage herself pretty well. She never ceases to impress me, and I'm sure she always will."

​Gibson's coach agrees that Audrey will always succeed and impress, making any college lucky to have her. "She cares so much about her teammates, and she'll be a great asset anywhere she goes," Seymour-Davies said.

​"Smith College is getting a player with a big heart and a love for the game," said Cueva. "I'm certainly going to miss her dearly, but I admire her because she earned this with her work ethic. With the opportunities she is going to enjoy in the next four years of her life, I couldn't be more excited for her."

​While Gibson is excited about her future at Smith, she is grateful for her experience at Pea Ridge High School and Haas Hall Academy.

​"While basketball has always been a very important part of my life and my excitement to play in the NCAA is a dream come true, nothing can compare to the experiences I have had growing up in Pea Ridge and attending Pea Ridge and Haas Hall schools," Gibson said. "These schools are truly a lifelong gift. The faculty, administration and especially the students are the best. I am very grateful for those who challenged me, supported and accepted me. There is no doubt each school has played the most important roles in my getting accepted into Smith."

​At the end of the day, although Gibson will secure her spot in school history by joining the Smith College Pioneers later this year, Audrey will always know where her roots lie and will be thankful for all who helped her along the way.

Sports on 03/12/2014