By Christopher Tremblay, Staff Sports Writer

Holliston senior captain Matt Gimblett has been playing football since he was in second grade and was able to join the local Pop Warner team. His older brother Mitchell, six years older, had been already playing football and Gimblett not only watched him play but wanted to be like him. 

It was around middle school when he started to take the game seriously; his brother was in high school and was named a senior captain that year and the younger Gimblett set that as his goal. During his middle school years with Holliston he decided that he wanted to be a wide receiver as well as a free safety, again because of his older brother playing those positions. 

“My brother inspired me to play those positions, so I took it upon myself to be better at them and one-up him. He was also named to the TVL All-Star team so that too became a goal of mine,” he said. “It became the turning point in my football career; I began watching football all the time and going to every high school game to get better.”

Last year Gimblett made his way onto the Tri-Valley League All-Star team for his free safety play and as a senior was named a Panther captain for this year’s squad. 

“Being named a captain at last year’s banquet was a great overall feeling,” Gimblett recalled. “It was so cool as I had set this goal for myself many years ago and here it is. It’s a huge deal to me.” 

Moving his way onto the high school team as a freshman was a totally different experience from playing for the Middle School team.

“Things were completely different procedure wise from middle school to high school,” Gimblett said. “I know knew that I was going to have to work really hard, but overall it was a good year with a great group of senior captains who were great role models.”

As a sophomore he made his was up to a starting free safety for the Panthers on the varsity squad playing sparingly but immediately found out that things were not as easy as he was used to. Originally he found himself to be nervous and unconfident in his ability on the varsity level, but each and every hit built his confidence even more. 

“I am only in my second-year coaching at Holliston and last year Matt came on strong during his junior year,” Panther Head Coach Mike Yurof said. “Matt is the quarterback of our defense when he’s out there. He has saved us on numerous occasions with his coverage.”

While Gimblett feels that he is a better free-safety and loves playing defense because he enjoys making aggressive tackles while flying around the field. Defense is the best for his skill set, but he still enjoys playing receiver and running routes.

Yurof feels that Gimblett has developed into a strong leader and knows where to move players around on the field while becoming very vocal.

“As a receiver he is tough like a tight-end and fullback blocking hard while possessing soft hands catching everything that comes near him,” the Coach said. “We’ll use him in all three phases of the game: leading us on defense where he is tough and physical and plays like a linebacker, running and throwing to him on offense and returning kicks and punts. We’ll also create some special plays for him due to his speed.”

Coming into the season Gimblett is hoping to not only put together another solid year but would like to claim the TVL MVP while leading his Panther teammates.

“This team has so much potential, I am hoping that we can win the large division of the TVL, while having a good showing in our non-league games,” the Holliston athlete said. 

Although he still has his senior campaign to engage himself in, when it does come to a conclusion Gimblett is hoping to take his talents to the collegiate level. At this point the free safety / receiver is unsure where he will end up playing but is talking to a few schools at this point.

“I have been to some college receiving camps with my friends this off-season. I know that I am good at free safety so I wanted to prioritize improving more off my offense,” Gimblett said. “College is something I am looking forward to but that’s in the future – right now I am pumped up and ready for that first game of the season (Friday September 5 against Wayland). I’m counting down the days. 

As the senior captain readies himself for his final year at Holliston, his coach is optimistic about his future on the next level.

“He is a great free-safety and any college coach would be lucky to have him on their team,” Yurof said. “He is extremely tough and physical and plays like a linebacker back there.”