DJ G Money will be taking her act to New York this weekend.
The junior midfielder, better known to the public as Gabriella Flibotte, is not only a key part of the defending national champion women’s lacrosse team headed to the Final Four, but is also responsible for the team’s warm-up music before every game.
“I think music is a big part of our warm-up.” Flibotte said. “It’s a serious job – very serious.”
Teammates have taken notice of the dedication Flibotte shows toward selecting the right music.
“She claims she’s the best,” sophomore Kerri Harrington said. “She definitely has her own kind of swag.”
Although finding the right hip-hop or techno tunes may be critical in making sure her teammates can get in the zone, Flibotte’s talents stretch far beyond her iPod playlists.
The Cohasset, Mass., native plays a stifling midfield. Her defensive prowess has earned her not only the respect of her teammates and recognition from the lacrosse world.
Flibotte was named to the American Lacrosse Conference All-Tournament team for her play during the team’s hunt for a conference championship. She came up with four caused turnovers, five ground balls and a goal in two games. Even in the team’s ultimately losing effort against Florida, Flibotte shined in the conference championship game, forcing three turnovers.
“It’s definitely an honor to play for this team,” Flibotte said. “(Coach Kelly Amonte Hiller) is such a great coach. Getting to play for her and have her support you on the field is big enough in lacrosse. Everywhere you go people know who she is.”
Flibotte’s achievements go back much further than just the 2012 season. The junior impressed during her first campaign with the team as well, making the ALC All-Tournament team her freshman year.
Her athletic ability not only makes Flibotte a major player on arguably the best lacrosse team in the country, it also serves her when she’s not even playing on land.
In the offseason, Flibotte travels to exotic locales such as Costa Rica and Portugal to hone her surfing skills. If Northwestern had a varsity surfing team, Flibotte could have been the school’s top two-sport athlete.
“I love to surf,” Flibotte said. “It’s one of my biggest passions. I try to tell people all the time if I put all my time into surfing that I would go pro.”
The Groton School grad can be seen in many places around Evanston aside from Lakeside Field. She has also been known to frequent the Starbucks in the Norris University Center, where many of the baristas know her by name.
When Flibotte graduates with her degree in communication, she plans to test the finance world, or try something creative in regards to entrepreneurship. In 10 years, Flibotte said her friends and family should expect to see her “definitely” in California working for a big start-up, surfing and even coaching some youth lacrosse.
However, Flibotte’s most hidden talent is one her teammates had to consult each other about before sharing it.
“I don’t know if I’m allowed to tell this one,” Harrington said. “We refer to (Flibotte) as ‘The Sniper’, because one time we were at practice and there was a flock of birds on the field, and we had to go to the other side of the field and do a drill. I guess the term can speak for itself – she definitely sniped one of those seagulls.”
