04/13/2026
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT | Sarah (Gabriele) Wilmot ‘16
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Sarah (Gabriele) Wilmot was a 2016 graduate, and is most remembered by HWS for her game tying goal in the NCCAA D1 2015 National Championship game with 1.6 seconds left in regulation. Houghton went on to beat Mississippi College in PKs to claim the program’s first National Championship and Wilmot was named the MVP. During her four year career, Wilmot tallied 23 goals and 19 assists, earned NCCAA First Team All-American & First Team All-Region, Empire 8 First Team All-Conference, and NCAA Division III All-East Region Second Team & All-ECAC First Team.
Wilmot’s favorite memories as a part of HWS were competing in the NCCAA National Tournament in Florida each year and winning it all her senior year. But really, she enjoyed every part of her soccer experience and notes that it wasn’t just one thing, but all of it that made it so special - “I definitely miss my soccer days, but they come as an easy second to my family. It’s been fun to be on the other end also and start coaching my daughter.”
More from Wilmot on her time as a Highlander - “Being part of my HCWS meant so much more to me than just playing a sport—it was a season of growth, faith, and lifelong impact. What made our team different was the foundation we shared in Christ. We didn’t just compete together; we prayed together and supported each other through struggles. Coach Lewis led in a way that reflected Christ—not just in what he said, but in how he showed up every single day. Through his leadership, I learned that soccer was about more than performance; it was about purpose, discipline, and honoring God with the gifts we’ve been given. Those four years were just a short span of my life, but they have had a lasting impact on me. They’ve shaped the kind of influence I want to have on my own kids and the lessons I hope to instill in them—about working hard, living with purpose, and doing everything for the Lord.”
Sarah (Gabriele) Wilmot graduated from Houghton with a degree in Biology. She lives in Chambersburg, PA with her husband and three children. In addition to being a mom of three, she works as a Physical Therapist.
