Throughout the 2020-2021 year, the Aurora University athletic department will highlight the senior student-athletes. The seniors will provide some insight to their time at AU while getting to know them as individuals they have grown into in their time as a Spartan.
Senior Spotlight: Gavin Zimbelman (Football)
Major:Â Sport Management and Business Administration
Minor:Â Coaching
What are your plans after graduation? Get my masters at AU and play football with my last year of eligibility.
What is your most memorable/best academic experience at AU? My most memorable academic experience has been earning Academic All-American which is given out to one quarterback in the country.
What is your most memorable athletic moment at AU? My most memorable athletic moment at AU would have to be winning the conference championship in 2019 and being named a finalist for the Gagliardi Trophy.
Other than the sport(s) you play, what other sports activity are you good at? Basketball, bags and golf.
Outside of sports, what is your favorite hobby or activity? I enjoy doing stuff with my friends like going to Top Golf, Mini golfing, and going out to eat.
What is your favorite meal in the cafeteria? Favorite meal in the cafeteria would have to be their breakfast. Scrambled eggs and hash browns with some chocolate milk.
What AU faculty or staff member had the greatest impact on you and why? CoachÂ
Don Beebe and our football coaching staff, they believed in me and gave me a great opportunity to be the quarterback and a captain of our football team.
What do you enjoy most and least about practice? I enjoy just being around my teammates and to see everyone working towards the same goal. As a QB I enjoy going out there and making throws and building chemistry with our WRs. Not much I don't enjoy about practice but one thing would be doing push-ups in our shoulders pads for our warm ups.
Do you have any pregame rituals? When we are in season I always eat my grandma's spaghetti on Thursday nights. Then on game day I like usually go over to our tailgate area and see my parents and other family who are there for every game. It's more of a routine than a pregame ritual.
What advice would you give to underclassmen at AU? Never lose confidence in yourself. Whether it's with sports or academics continue to push yourself and be the best version of yourself at your time at AU.
If you had to listen to one song on repeat forever, what would it be and why? The Show Goes On by Lupe Fiasco, I used to listen to it in middle school before my basketball games and I still do for football till this day.
What is something that people may not know about you but should? For any football fans out there I used to throw a football with only my thumb on the laces when I was younger.
If you could spend an hour each with three people (past or present), who would you choose and why? Russell Wilson, Drew Brees, and Peyton Manning. All three of these players are NFL QB's and players who I like to watch and take notes from. Russell and Drew are both shorter QB's so I like to watch and learn how they play in the NFL. I would want to meet Peyton Manning as well because he is the very first QB I was a fan of and I think he is the smartest to ever play the position.
