BRYANT-JORDAN SPOTLIGHT: Guntersville swimmer Gabe Marsh

By Josh Bean | For the AHSAA

     GUNTERSVILLE – Senior Gabe Marsh of Guntersville High School inspires others every day.
     Everyone, from parents to teachers to classmates, see it. Gabe learned to accept the stares and embrace how his mere presence inspires others. He was born with no legs and one arm. His mother immediately put him up for adoption, and he joined his adopted parents before he was a week old.
     “He’s unintentionally been a hero to who knows how many,” said Guntersville teacher Matt Holaday. “You know, he just is. He’s just digging life. He’s not trying to be a hero. He just loves living. He gets after it. He’s just one of those you just love being around. He’s not trying to be a showboat either. He just does it.
     “He’s one of the finest fellas I’ve ever known, not because he’s overcome so much, but because he’s just a good dude.”
     Marsh is preparing to graduate from Guntersville High after a standout youth and nigh school swimming career. He begrudgingly uses a motorized wheelchair at school, but prefers a scooter powered by his left arm when going just about anywhere else.
     Gabe is one of 52 seniors selected as a Bryant-Jordan Foundation Regional Student Achievement winner in 2022. The Achievement regional winners, along with 52 Bryant-Jordan Regional Scholar Athlete winners, will be recognized Monday at the 37th annual Bryant-Jordan Awards Banquet in Birmingham. Each will receive a $3,000 scholarship from the Bryant-Jordan Foundation with an opportunity to receive much, much more.
     “He doesn’t realize he’s handicapped,” said Ann Marsh, his adopted mom. “He does not want to be handicapped, and he doesn’t feel like he is handicapped. He feels like he’s just like everybody else.”
     The best example of this attitude? “He does not like to use a wheelchair, period,” she said.
     Gabe voiced a deep appreciation for a long list of people who helped him – some in small ways, others in big ways – and believes finding personal success will repay them for their kindness and direction. He also credits his deep Christian faith, encouraged by his parents’ devotion, for helping him cope with his personal challenges.
     As soon as he was born, Mrs. Marsh recalls, others pitied Gabe because of his physical challenges. But he quickly developed an independent streak and the Marsh family nurtured it by “treating him just like the other kids,” she said.
    The Marshes, now in their 70s, have adopted 10 children and fostered dozens more. They were known for welcoming children with physical challenges or medical needs and adopted another child with Down syndrome.
     Gabe said he remembers people staring at him as long as he can remember. He reacted with “righteous anger” to motivate him. “I never really had doubts with myself,” he said.

     The best example of his self-confidence involves his swimming career.
     Ann Marsh believed every child should learn how to swim, especially since the family had a backyard pool. She usually taught them at age 4. “I was the only one she couldn’t teach,” Gabe said.
     Gabe, of course, largely self-taught himself how to swim and embraced it. He later swam with the local club in northeast Alabama and on the high school level.
     At first, everyone marveled at Gabe’s ability to swim.
     “Now, we think nothing of it,” Ann Marsh said. “It’s no big deal. But other people …”
     Gabe dreams of eventually earning a spot on the U.S. Paralympic Swim Team, perhaps as early as 2024.
      “He’s inspirational to so many people when they see him swim,” his mom said. “He’s been to several churches and youth groups, and he’s talked to them as a motivational speaker. He’s just an awesome kid.”
     Gabe plans to attend Snead State Community College in the fall before eventually studying theology with the goal of serving in Christian ministry. He also wants to continue as a motivational speaker.
      As Gabe pointed out, the first task for any speaker involves grabbing the audience’s attention. His appearance – no arms and only one leg – accomplishes that task immediately.
     “I kind of want to be the best speaker in the world,” Gabe said.
     Gabe said his favorite Bible verse is Ephesians 2:10: “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
     Gabe, who is known as “Mr. Journalism” at school for his work with the local newspaper, said he can continue to inspire a wider audience through public speaking, even as he motivates people in his hometown every day.
     “He is most definitely a bright light in our hallways each day,” Guntersville assistant principal and athletic director Darren James said. “Gabe always has a positive attitude and a determination about him. He has accomplished so much already and aims to do much more. He serves as an inspiration to all of us at GHS and those in our community.”
THIRD INSTALLMENT OF A FOUR-PART SERIES SHOWCASING A SAMPLING OF THIS YEAR’S BRYANT-JORDAN REGIONAL WINNERS SET TO HONORED AT THE 2022 BANQUET APRIL 11