Regardless of the pain involved, Connor Gribble felt breaking his foot following his junior year of soccer was a pivotal moment for the long haul of his athletic career. “I think breaking my foot was probably the best thing that could have happened it made me realize how much I needed soccer,” said Gribble, who signed his National Letter of Intent with Division II West Liberty University during Wednesday afternoon’s ceremony inside Parkersburg High School Memorial Fieldhouse gymnasium. As the starting center midfielder for PHS, Gribble closed out his high school career with 30 goals and 43 assists, including a team-high 15 assists during a senior year that resulted in first-team, all-state recognition.
He figures to play the same position at West Liberty where he plans to major in sports physiology. “I went and visited other places – I made my first visit to West Liberty in the winter and it just felt right being with the coaches, the players and seeing the campus,” Gribble said. “I wanted to go somewhere where they push their players, and after the coach gave me their work schedule West Liberty was it.”Gribble remembers playing soccer in third grade and knowing at that young age playing at the college level was his dream. His father (Joe Gribble) coached his son and Another future Big Red in Brayden Tingler in travel soccer.
“My dad never played soccer – he put me into it to get me some exercise and I just loved it so much,” Gribble said. “My dad actually studied the sport himself and that’s how he became such a great coach.” Connor Gribble made sure to thank all of his coaches, family and the throng of teammates from soccer, basketball, track and football who attended the signing ceremony. “I had always dreamed of getting a big dunk in front of our student section – on senior night against Ripley, with a packed house, I got a big two-handed dunk and the place went crazy,” Gribble said.
“I also decided to run track this year. I had been doing the high jump for four days before our first meet in Huntington and got second place against some great jumpers. I’ve been working on clearing 6-5, and hope to stamp a ticket to states if I can.” Standing 6-foot-6 enables Gribble to have ideal vision of the soccer field in front of him. Derek Manner, who served as the Big Reds’ head coach this past season and has spent several years on staff as an assistant, knew this senior class was special from the moment they arrived as freshmen.
“Connor is one of the most skilled and complete players I have seen,” Manner said. “He just came in every day and worked super hard. His game IQ has improved every year. His ability to see the entire field while controlling a ball at his feet really helped us pick apart defenses. “He could pretty much score from anywhere on the field. He scored eight goals from more than 20 yards out and three of those were about 40 yards. After soccer practice, he would head to football practice and kick field goals. I’m sure that helped.” Wednesday’s ceremony also included Brayden Tingler making his decision official to play for Muskingum University. “This senior class, Brayden and Connor were two of the leaders,” Manner said. “They are going to be extremely hard to replace.” Read More About Big Reds’ Connor Gribble headed to West Liberty
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