Mann signs with Mastodons

FORT WAYNE — The process is over, but her soccer career is not.
Gabbie Mann will be a Mastodon.
Mann, a Jay County High School senior, signed a national letter of intent Wednesday to play soccer for Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne.
“IPFW has always been at the top of my recruiting lists that I made since I was a freshman in high school,” said Mann, adding that Murray State, Grand Valley State and Oakland University were also on her radar of college choices. “I love the school. I love the campus. I love the coach and how the program is rising.”
Unlike most collegiate athletes, Mann reached out to coaches early on in her high school career, rather than waiting for coaches to contact her. She made profiles on recruiting websites and invited coaches to tournaments and showcases that she participated in as part of her club team, Fort Wayne United Futbol Club.
“It’s kind of about getting yourself out there and exposing yourself,” said Mann, who plans on studying elementary education.
“I think it’s a well-deserved honor for her,” said Rob Berkley, Mann’s club coach. “I think she’s put in the time and she’s been very committed to the sport and to herself to make improvements to get to this level she’s been striving for.”
While at Jay County, Mann helped lead the Patriots to back-to-back sectional championships in 2013 and 2014. She scored 30 goals during her junior season — more than twice as many as her closest teammate — none bigger than the game-winner with less than a minute to play against the Yorktown Tigers in the 2014 sectional title game.
“That kind of put an exclamation point on our season,” JCHS coach Giles Laux said. “There were teams that were double- and triple-teaming her and we were still getting her the ball and the looks.
“To see what she could do that year was phenomenal. Other coaches took note of that as well.”
It also helped her recruiting process, as she verbally committed to the Mastodons in March.
“It was honestly a huge relief because I started getting myself out there so early,” she said. “There were so many emails to so many different coaches.
“Once I finally decided that IPFW was the school I wanted to go to it was a huge wave of relief.”
During her senior year, Mann continued to be the focal point of opposing defenses. She fought through a leg injury forcing her to miss a handful of games but still scored 12 goals and notched seven assists. She helped the Patriots to their first Allen County Athletic Conference title.
Mann said she looks back fondly of her time on the pitch for Jay County.
“I wouldn’t want to take it back,” she said. “I love high school soccer just because it was such a great experience. I loved the team bonding, the whole rivalry with Yorktown, Delta … the Delaware County schools.”
The sectional titles? Those weren’t too bad either.
“It makes me feel really good because I feel like it helped set a pedestal for Jay County girls soccer and I hope they build on that,” she said.
Her soccer skills may have gotten her a scholarship, but Berkley said it is more than what she can do on the pitch that will make her valuable for the Mastodons.
“The character she brings to the table, not only is she a good soccer player but she’s a great person,” Berkley said. “She comes with a positive attitude and always has a big smile on her face.
“The value she brings to a team goes well beyond what she brings as a soccer player.”