GCM Employee Report
SEATTLE, Wash. — Gabe Marsh, a paraathlete and swimmer from Guntersville High School in Alabama, was honored with the National High School Spirit of Sport Award as the 2023 National Recipient of the Year at the 104th Summer Meeting of the National Federation of High Schools on Wednesday .
The annual award, first presented in 2008, is presented each year to an individual who embodies the true spirit of what participation in high school sports means to the many thousands of high school athletes and communities across America means.
Also honored Wednesday were Adam Mewhorter and Casey Hubbard of Southmoore High School, Oklahoma, a band director and student who won the NFHS’ national Heart of the Arts award, presented annually in the arts category. Hubbard, who suffers from spina bifida, plays trumpet and marches in the high school band, thanks in large part to the special guidance of Mewhorter, who helps navigate the wheelchair on all of the band’s choreographed marching steps.
Marsh, who now attends Snead State Community College and plans to eventually get a degree in divinity, was born with no legs and only one arm. His teenage mother abandoned him at birth, and Gabe was adopted four days later by Ed and Ann Marsh, a couple who have worked in his ministry with nearly 50 foster children over the years, including many with special needs.
Ann Marsh traveled to Seattle with her son. She and her husband built a pool because they felt the children in their care should be able to swim, so they taught swimming lessons in their family pool. However, even she felt Gabe shouldn’t be in the pool due to his limitations.
When Gabe was three, Ann worked in the pool with the other kids, leaving Gabe at the pool. Before she could stop him, he jumped into the water and swam to her with one arm. From that day on, it was clear that Gabe belonged in the water and that there was no limit to what he could do.
Gabe started competitive swimming at the age of six and went on to become one of the top para-athlete swimmers in Alabama. He won state titles at the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) state championships and the Alabama Para-Olympics. More importantly, he inspired so many others along the way with his attitude, tenacity, and strong faith.
A 2022 graduate of Guntersville High School, Gabe served on the school’s swim team for four years and competed in the 50 and 100 yard freestyle events. He was also named GHS Mr. Journalism for his work for the school’s media. He worked part-time at McDonald’s and was also named McDonald’s Alabama High School Employee of the Year.
“We are so proud of Gabe,” said AHSAA CEO Alvin Briggs. “Spend a few minutes with him and he will literally fill your heart with joy and you will love him. His attitude and love of life are uplifting, and his ability to overcome such incredible obstacles is heartwarming. He’s an amazing young man who is making a difference in this world.
Gabe calmly accepted the Spirit of Sport award.
“I’m honored by this because I feel it gives me a greater platform to share with others how God has blessed me,” he said. “It’s another door he opened. He gave me a wonderful family and blessed me so much.”
He was the second AHSAA student to receive the national NFHS Spirit of Sport Award. Hayden Holton of Elmore County High School was the 2021 recipient. Sherri Miller, the Band Director at Dale County High School, was the 2016 recipient of the NFHS Hearts National Award.
Gabe was also the eighth person in AHSAA history to receive the Section 3 Spirit of Sport Award, which includes the southeastern states of Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina.
Nominated by his school for the annual Bryant-Jordan Achievement Award as a senior, Gabe was voted the Class 5A Student Athlete of the Year at the 2022 Bryant-Jordan Annual Banquet and was named the overall state award winner of the Betty Joy and Ken Blankenship Student-Athlete Awards as well.
He often speaks to youth groups in Northeast Alabama and plans to become a minister. With his NFHS Spirit of Sport award, his incredible life story of overcoming adversity has a chance to impact others across the country.
Comments are closed.