Next stop for Wooster soccer player Signorino is NKU
Wooster High senior Gabi Signorino signed a letter of intent to accept a scholarship to further her education and soccer career from Division I Northern Kentucky earlier this month.
If Wooster High senior Gabi Signorino was going to make a travel soccer highlight video, she could use the classic Johnny Cash song “I’ve Been Everywhere” for the soundtrack.
“I’ve been to Seattle twice for playoffs,” Signorino said. “San Diego might have been my favorite. I’ve been to Florida so many times for soccer. There was a showcase in Arizona, and we got to stay in a resort and everything. I’ve also been to Greensboro, North Carolina; New Jersey; St Louis; and Nashville, Tennessee.”
As a result of Signorino’s countless hours working at the sport she loves and extensive travels, she’s earned the right to venture where very few prep athletes go: Division I college athletics.
Signorino signed a letter of intent to accept a scholarship from Div. I Northern Kentucky earlier this month. She will join 2024 Wooster graduate Grace Kostohryz, a keeper, on the Norse women’s team.
A 5-foot-8, left-footed forward, Signorino was a two-time first-team All-Ohioan for Wooster, three-time first-team All-Ohio Cardinal Conference honoree and the 2024 OCC Player of the Year. She’s one of the top goal scorers in program history with 54, despite only playing three years of soccer because she opted to run cross country as a sophomore.
“The recruiting process can really take a toll on you, and it’s just really important that you end up in the right place,” said Signorino, the daughter of Chris and Lisa Signorino. “I really think I did with Northern Kentucky, so I’m very excited. I’m very grateful for the support system I got from my coaches, my friends and my family.”
Wooster coach Charles Cerniglia called Signorino one of the most decorated players to ever come through Wooster High School.
“Gabi is the first conference Player of the Year we’ve had in a decade and a half,” Cerniglia said. “The reason Gabi became such a great player is her God-given talent and her willingness to work hard to develop those talents into skills.
“Her parents should also be given great credit for doing everything to provide her the opportunity. But Gabi did the work, and she earned every last bit of it.”
Signorino found an inner drive to push herself as much as she could in soccer and scholastically.
“I’ve played soccer since I can remember and have always really liked it,” said Signorino, who ranks 33rd in a WHS class of 287 with a 4.103 GPA and aspires to a career in the medical field. “From about age 6-9, I played for a local club team here in Wooster, the Ohio Strikers.
“Then my parents and I agreed that I should move to a different club. I tried out for Internationals and started getting really serious about soccer. I knew it would set me up well for college.”
Playing for Wooster was a lot different from travel soccer. Instead of being on a field with all elite players, Signorino was the “marked” girl for opponents every game as a junior and senior.
Signorino’s signature moment at Wooster came in 2023. She blasted a direct kick from 41 yards out for a goal with 6:11 left in a 1-0 win over Lexington, which gave the Generals an OCC co-championship. Wooster also won a share of the title her freshman year.
“My junior year was my favorite season by far,” she said. “It was a great team, a great group of girls.
“It all came down to that Lexington game for the championship. We had to win to get a share — we couldn’t even tie. It was raining. I was exhausted from being marked the entire game running up and down the field. My coach said, ‘You have to kick that!’ It went right over the goalie’s head and (just under the crossbar) into the goal.”
The best is hopefully yet to come for Signorino, with her “everywhere” travels soon to include many new cities throughout the U.S.
Northern Kentucky compiled a 12-7-1 (8-1-1 Horizon League) record last year.
“I’ve found a great college, great coach (Bob Sheehan) and environment at Northern Kentucky,” Signorino said. “I’m really looking forward to it.”