Odessa-Montour Signing Day: Family plays part in college choices for pair of seniors
A pair of Odessa-Montour seniors who produced prolific statistics in their respective sports were celebrated Wednesday during a signing ceremony at the school's cafeteria.
Bradley Gillis will stick close to home and play football at Division III Alfred University.
Gina Gavich will remain even closer to O-M as a member of the Division III Elmira College women's basketball team.
Gavich takes 3-point shot to EC
Gavich, 17, ranks fourth on Odessa-Montour's career list with 150 3-pointers over three varsity seasons, including a Section 4 high 73 as a junior. That was the second-highest total in O-M history behind state champion and future Olympian Stef Collins' 81 in 2001.
Gavich credited a lot of hours in the gymnasium with helping to hone her outside shot, accompanied by a few tears while trying to bounce back from shooting woes.
She led O-M in assists all three varsity seasons and was twice a first-team Interscholastic Athletic Conference all-star.
"It's going to be pretty scary at first, but I think I'll be OK because I'm used to being not as big and not as good as everyone because I'm little, so I feel like I'll be able to handle the higher atmosphere," the 5-foot-2 Gavich said of the leap to Division III hoops.
She praised Elmira coach Thad Phillips with calling after games and following up with a call after Gavich went to her first Soaring Eagles game, seeking her thoughts on the team dynamic.
"It made me feel very wanted and like I could fit in with them pretty easily," said Gavich, who added remaining close to her family played a key role in her decision to attend Elmira.
Gavich has played most of her basketball at the high school level for her dad, longtime Grizzlies head coach Greg Gavich. She said it might be harder for him than her when he comes to games in a spectator role after being able to help her throughout high school. There will be an adjustment for her as well.
"That’s going to definitely be a change because even AAU and everything it was all my dad, everything," Gina said. "The biggest change is not talking back to my coach because he’s not my dad because I’m used to just, ‘Dad, what’s up with that?’ Now it’s a whole different atmosphere, which I think I’ll like better because bringing it home to the house is not fun sometimes."
Gavich, who ranks fourth in her class and lives with her family in Horseheads, plans to follow a pre-med path. She also plays soccer and competes in golf for O-M.
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Alfred feels like home for Gillis
Martha Henry has been willing to play catch with her son even with snow falling. Part of the payback from Gillis is giving her a chance to watch him play at the college level by attending a university that is roughly an hour and 15 minutes away by car.
"It just felt like home when I went up there," said Gillis, a four-year varsity player who lives in Montour Falls. "It's a good community up there, not that far from home, so my mom won't miss me if she wants to drive far to see me."
Gillis, who turns 18 in two weeks, comes off a senior season in which he earned second-team Class C all-state honors for the combined Watkins Glen/Odessa-Montour football team. He rushed for 1,175 yards and 14 touchdowns, adding two TDs on receptions.
He also excelled at linebacker, leading the Storm in tackles as a junior and senior. The 6-foot, 180-pound Gillis will play safety for the Saxons. He said the coaches at Alfred are very down to Earth and players made a positive impression when he met them, contributing to his decision to go there.
Gillis is closing his prep athletic career playing baseball after competing in hoops during the winter. Work remains to get ready for college football.
"Get bigger, faster and stronger because the next level is going to be way faster than it is now," Gillis said. "I've just got to prepare myself for that."
He plans to major in exercise science, with the possibility of becoming a personal trainer after college.
As for his time with the Storm football team, he described it as "amazing."
"I can’t thank my coaches enough," Gillis said. "They helped me get where I am at today ‒ and my family and friends. I couldn’t have a better support system than that."
Follow Andrew Legare on Twitter: @SGAndrewLegare. You can also reach him at alegare@gannett.com. To get unlimited access to the latest news, please subscribe or activate your digital account today
This article originally appeared on Elmira Star-Gazette: Odessa-Montour's Gina Gavich and Bradley Gillis commit to colleges
