Country Day soccer sensation heading south this fall
By Jon Yaneff

The Country Day School soccer super star Thais Gibson signed a National Letter of Intent with Kennesaw State University in Georgia and hopes to achieve All-American status for the Atlantic Sun Conference by her third or fourth year. Photo by Jon Yaneff

Country Day School (CDS) Cyclones soccer sensation Thais Gibson is a well-rounded athlete, defined by drive, discipline and dedication.

Those attributes will now have Gibson flying south this fall to play for the Kennesaw Sate University Owls (Georgia) women's soccer team, after signing a National Letter of Intent.

Gibson, Grade 12, will be taking the field as a freshman starter, playing outside mid-field for the Atlantic Sun Conference NCAA Division I, 18thranked Owls.

"This is something I've always wanted to do," said Gibson. "I'm really looking forward to it."

"Thais is a tremendous athlete and player, who will contribute immediately to our program," said Owls Head Coach Rob King, in a press release. "She's experienced winning national championships at the club level and we are looking forward to her joining our Owls family."

Gibson, 17, has guided the Cyclones to three CISAA (Conference of Independent Schools Athletic Association) National School Championships, while scoring 33 goals during her four years at CDS, despite missing one season after having knee surgery about a year ago.

"I thought it was going to be a big obstacle in my path from achieving my goal, but I ended up having so much support from everyone, like my parents, coaches and trainers to get me back into everything," explained Gibson. "I think if anything the injury just made me realize how much I loved the game of soccer and that's given me the extra motivation to achieve what I wanted to."

Last September, Gibson helped lead her club team, The Richmond Hill Raiders, to the Ontario Cup and the number 1 ranking for the under 18 club teams across Canada.

The soccer achievements don't end there, as the midfielder also played for Team Ontario the last four years as captain. Her Team Ontario achievements include the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the Gothia Cup in Sweden two years ago.

In addition to soccer, she has had success in other avenues of athletics, as she won gold medals in both the 100-meter and 200-meter dash and a silver medal in the 400-meters at the 2007 CISAA track and field championships and she also played three years of hockey for the Mississauga Chiefs.

The power of athletics and success runs Gibson's family with her second cousin being two-time Canadian women's hockey Olympic gold medalist, Cassie Campbell.

"She lives in Calgary now, but anytime I have a question (maybe nutrition related) I can always call and she gives me good advice," stated Gibson, who's from King. "She's a really big inspiration for me."

The CDS soccer star's future goals are to become an all-American for the Atlantic Sun Conference by her fourth year at Kennesaw State, as well as possibly earned a spot on the Canadian National Team.