GAYLORD ― Maybe Northern Michigan kids are overlooked on the recruiting trail. You wouldn’t know if you followed Gaylord sports as of late.
Otsego County athletes are committing to play their sports at the college level seemingly on a weekly basis as of late, with the best of the best from Gaylord, St. Mary and Johannesburg-Lewiston finding their new homes.
Recently, Gaylord girls soccer’s star player joined the many college-committed athletes from the Blue Devils’ Class of 2024, pledging to Albion College in lower Michigan.
Gorno, the youngest of four kids, watched her siblings all go off to larger universities and, when her time came to look for a place to call home, found she preferred what the mid-sized and smaller universities, like Albion, had to offer.
“Once I visited Albion, I really liked the campus and the athletic facilities. The coaching staff was very open and honest and I felt very comfortable there. It just seemed like it would be a great fit,” said Gorno.
Gorno has been Gaylord’s best player for the past three seasons, earning all-state honors as a sophomore while leading the Big North Conference in goals this past season. For her career (as of April 27), she has scored 45 career goals and already has four this season. Even as she fights through an offseason ankle injury, Gorno is still one of the most feared players on a team with postseason dreams this season.
She has also been a leader off the field, representing Gaylord and all of Northern Michigan as a member of the MHSAA Student Advisory Council during her sophomore and junior years.
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Gorno has moved from forward to midfield this season, and she says taken a bit of time for her to adjust to more of a playmaking, passing playstyle than looking for her shots. However, with the team off to a nice start (4-2-3 through 9 games), she has hopes of accomplishing a lot more before heading off to college, namely winning a conference and district championship.
“Our team is starting to play really well and getting better with every game,” said Gorno. “Coach Chris (Adams) is a great coach and knows each player’s strengths, and what adjustments need to be made during a game.”
Gorno also says she hopes to study psychology with an Elementary Education concentration once she gets to Albion, with the hopes of becoming a teacher and a coach down the road.
Contact GHT Sports Editor Dylan Jespersen at Djespersen@gaylordheraldtimes.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @dylanjespersen, and Instagram, @dylanjespersen
