After playing football for four years at Campbellsville University, while also being the president of the Student Government Association (SGA) and Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), Gabriel Maurer isn’t done pursuing difficult things in his life. Despite balancing several time-consuming leadership roles, school and football, Maurer plans to attend medical school through the Health Professionals Scholarship Program after graduating from CU.
After four years of football at Owen County High School and one year at Muskingum University, Maurer is currently in his senior year playing slot receiver at CU. However, school and football are far from the only things going on in Maurer’s life. He’s been involved in SGA for three years and is the current president. He’s the president of the Red Cross Club and he’s been FCA president for two years. Maurer is also a Resident Assistant (RA) and spends time doing medical research.
To add to all this Maurer not only plans to attend medical school, but he also plans on serving in the military post CU. The Health Professionals Scholarship Program will pay for medical school in exchange for him serving in the military after completing his education.
Despite how difficult this will be, Maurer looks forward to pursuing his medical education because he truly enjoys helping people. He’s already doing research that is related to what he wants to do for his career and said it’s his favorite extracurricular activity outside of football.
“I really enjoy discovering things and I also believe that the research we do is helping people,” he said.
According to Maurer, he has been able to use his leadership role in FCA to help him grow closer to God.
“It helps me look at the word in a different way,” said Maurer. “It helps me really dissect the word in a way that is new to me every time.”
Through his many roles, Maurer has learned a lot about leadership.
“Leadership is a great example of how hard it must have been to be Jesus and to set that example is a hard thing to do,” he said.
According to Tony “Matt” Atwood, current FCA sponsor, assistant football coach and mentor to Maurer, he went from being just a shy, good Christian kid, to someone whose teammates look to for advice.
“I feel so confident in what he will do once he leaves Campbellsville in terms of leading people to Christ,” said Atwood.
After the previous FCA president graduated, Atwood said he asked Maurer to be the next president because he’s an outspoken Christian and has great leadership qualities.
“The guys that are around him on his team would know he’s a Christian [by] the way he acts and carries himself,” he said.
Atwood also believes Maurer will be very successful in the medical field.
“People that succeed and do great in that field are people that actually care about humans versus just [being] there for a paycheck,” said Atwood. “Gabe will always be there for the people that he’s working with, it will never be about money for him.”
Atwood said Maurer never complains about his packed schedule.
“The great thing about Gabe is that I know how much is on his plate and you can’t tell,” said Atwood. “He has top-tier work ethic.”
Maurer’s journey as a football player has been filled with adversity. According to Atwood, Maurer has dealt with several injuries but has always been a great teammate despite these injuries.
“He doesn’t have a selfish bone in his body,” Atwood said. “He has such great energy around the team… he cares more about Campbellsville winning than himself.”
Spencer McCown, head women’s flag football coach, three-year teammate and friend, said the lessons Maurer has learned through the rehab process will help carry him through his future. “He wants to achieve as much as possible,” he said.
McCown said no matter what Maurer is dealing with outside of sports he’s still the type of teammate you want.
“He’s gonna give all that he’s got to give,” he said.
According to McCown, Maurer doesn’t need to tell you that his relationship with Christ is important to him for you to know it.
“Him being so strong in his faith and him not being afraid to let that be known has impacted me and helped me grow in my relationship as well,” said McCown. “Those kinds of friends don’t come around very often.”
McCown said Maurer can manage his difficult schedule because he wants to do the things he’s doing.
“He’s sacrificing his free time,” said McCown, “because he wants to achieve as much as possible.”
