Gavin Gately '19, a remarkable alumnus whose journey from our halls to the pinnacle of sports excellence is nothing short of inspiring. Gavin embarked on a path that led him to play D1 football at the University of Houston where he's currently making waves as a standout long snapper in football. His unwavering dedication and relentless pursuit of excellence have propelled him to the cusp of greatness on the field and inside the classroom, earning him recognition as a candidate for the coveted title of an All-Pro long snapper.

In a recent interview conducted with Gavin last month, we delved into his extraordinary achievements, showcasing how he transformed ambition into achievement after graduating from La Salle. Join us in celebrating Gavin's exceptional journey!

When you reflect upon your time at La Salle, is there a memory that you remember most?

One of the core memories that will always stick with me throughout my life would have to be the pregame meals with all of my teammates. Provided by many of the parents, Friday nights before our football games we could always come together as one team. Sharing a meal and being a community is one of the most impactful moments during my time at La Salle. The bond that the La Salle community has with students and athletics was truly special when being together as a community.

 

Football has clearly continued to be a passion for you. Do you have a recollection of your La Salle football experience that is memorable?

My football experience at La Salle was a very unique journey that I wouldn't change for the world. Almost all my closest friends to this day were made through the Falcon football program. Not just football but the whole athletic department was truly a tight knit community that created everlasting memories for falcon student athletes. My fondest memories during my football career at La Salle would be making the OSAA playoffs for the second year in a row my senior year. The correlation of our hard work throughout the four years culminated into a great season. Our senior class was very successful and had a very strong bond in our last season playing together. Our senior season was one of the most enjoyable years of organized football I've ever been a part of.

 

How did La Salle prepare you for continuing your academic career at the University of Houston?

La Salle Prep is one of, if not the best, high school that prepares you for life after high school. When I got to college, I observed many college freshmen who didn’t know how to manage a high workload during college and often struggled in their first couple of semesters. Being a proud alumnus of La Salle, I was more than ready to take on the daily challenges of being a college student. Being at the University of Houston there wasn't that big of a difference between class difficulty and workload. Overall, La Salle prepared me more than enough for my journey throughout college academia.

 

Now that you are at Houston - do you prefer Blue or Red more?

Before entering college my favorite color was definitely blue, but since graduating in 2019 things have changed a bit. I tend to wear a lot more Cougar/Falcon red, so I'll have to say red is definitely the front runner at the moment.

 

Does the University of Houston football program do any service work in the Houston area?

Our team takes part in many service opportunities, as the city of Houston is a very large community. Our team has been on many outings picking up trash around the neighborhoods surrounding campus. We also have service opportunities with local elementary schools helping set up classrooms before and after the school year. Our football team also hosts many local schools, youth organizations, and youth sports teams at many of the Houston Cougar home games throughout every fall. These service opportunities go hand in hand with the values La Salle Prep instilled in their taught students to give back to the community and to help those who need it.

 

What are you studying while at the University of Houston?

I am currently studying Interpersonal Communications with a minor in Psychology

 

When do you graduate?

I will graduate this December 2023

 

What is your next step after college?

My next step after graduation will be training for my Pro Day that will happen in March/April before the NFL draft showing my talents in front of NFL scouts hoping to earn an opportunity at the next level. After Pro Day my plans are to become a firefighter to follow in the footsteps of my father and grandfather.

 

Will you be returning to the Northwest?

At the moment my plans are to stay in Texas. My girlfriend Ellie Low (Class of 2019) is planning on pursuing a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Houston in the fall of 2024.