Nold commits to Gardner-Webb

Posted Jan 20, 2013 by Scott Purks

Updated Jan 20, 2013 at 07:01 PM

Gabe Nold may not have played a down during his senior football season at Armwood, but on Sunday he officially committed to a scholarship to Division I-AA Gardner-Webb.

Nold, who transferred from Wharton to Armwood in February 2012, didn’t get to play for the Hawks in the fall of 2012 after being deemed ineligible by then Armwood principal Michael Ippolito, who determined Nold’s family had used false residency to transfer.

Nold’s bid to gain eligibility was turned down four times this school year by the Florida High School Athletics Association and his family recently filed a lawsuit agains the FHSAA in hopes of gaining eligibility for the rest of the wrestling season. Nold has a hearing on Tuesday to determine his immediate athletic eligibility for the remainder of his senior year.

For now Nold said “it feels great” to seal the commitment to Gardner Webb, who offered him a scholarship last spring.

“I’m so thankful that Gardner-Webb stuck with me through all of this,” said Nold, who attended every Armwood practice through the fall only to watch his teammates play on Friday night. “I’m also so thankful for the Armwood coaches who stood by me and helped me get this scholarship.”

Nold, a 6-foot2, 280-pound lineman, also had offers from Air Force and Coastal Carolina, but chose Gardner-Webb, “because it just felt right.”

“We are so happy for him after all he’s been through,” Armwood coach Sean Callahan said. “It’s been a tough road for him but he got there.”