Althoff sophomore’s battle with cancer exemplifies the ‘Spirit of Sport,’ says IHSA

In March of last year, doctors told Gabby Orlet that the cancer that has left lesions on her lungs and necessitated two operations to replace vertebra and reinforce her spine had returned.

Among her first thoughts: Getting back on the volleyball court and soccer field with her Crusaders teammates at Althoff Catholic High School.

“I remember laying in that hospital bed questioning if I’d ever be back on that floor,” she said. “I grew up watching many of my siblings and family members play volleyball and basketball here. I’ve always wanted that since I’ve been little. I’ve been so excited to come here and play for the high school and the student sections and the cheers. So when that was put into question whether I’d ever be able to do that, it was just kind of a very scary experience.”

Indeed, the competitive vigor that drives Orlet in the athletic arena has made her a staunch opponent for the disease she battles, and her ability to continue playing at a high level has buoyed her resolve for the ongoing fight.

To Althoff Athletic Director Kathy Wuller, the 16-year-old sophomore has been an inspiration to her teammates and others around her. So she nominated Orlet for the national Spirit of Sport Award, presented annually by the National Federation of State High School Associations.

According to the federation website, the award was developed to recognize teams or individuals associated with high school athletic programs who have overcome incredible adversity or gone above and beyond their peers in actions or service.

Chosen from 250 applications from more than 800 member schools in the Illinois High School Association, Orlet was Illinois’ nominee for the award. She knew nothing about it until last Wednesday, when IHSA Assistant Director Matt Troha told her so in front of a school-wide assembly at next-door St. Henry’s Catholic Church.

“That was definitely really exciting, partly because it just kind of showed me how I’m kind of getting rewarded for this hard work which of course is a great thing,” she said. “I think even physically I’ve been rewarded multiple times succeeding in sports and succeeding with other people. And seeing myself accomplish all these things is just definitely really exciting. And hearing all about all these odds I’m beating and everything like that ... it’s just one of those things that’s really exciting.”

Last fall, the 6-foot setter ranked among Althoff volleyball team leaders in points, kills, blocks and digs. But it was her 615 assists and 29 service aces that helped her earn All South Seven and All-State honors.

And through Althoff’s first 13 soccer games this spring, Orlet has two goals and an assist.

It’s not necessarily how Orlet has competed through her monthly, energy-sapping chemotherapy treatments, said the IHSA’s Troha. It’s that she’s competing at all.

“Knowing what Gabby has overcome ... what she achieved in volleyball since coming back and how she has persevered in her treatment that this award, this piece of paper over here, is pretty insignificant in comparison to that,” told the assembly Wednesday. “I just want to say to her — and I’m sure you all feel this already — she’s an inspiration to me, to our office, to our schools and really to anybody who hears her story.

“That’s a pretty big burden to carry as a high school student, and I don’t know that anyone should have to. But the fact she’s done it with such courage and integrity, it’s just really special.”

Cancer diagnosis

As an eighth grader in April 2021, Orlet was diagnosed with a giant cell tumor on her spine that essentially disintegrated her T-11 vertebra. Two surgeries were performed to remove the tumor, replace the T-11 vertebra, and place a cage in her back to support her spine.

During her 10 days in the hospital, Orlet — whose mom, Lisa Orlet, previously was the head volleyball coach at Edwardsville HIgh School — had to re-learn how to sit up, stand, and eventually walk again.

Even after 11 months in remission, she had to make the difficult decision to sit out her freshman soccer season.

“Last year, even when I tried to play soccer, my body wasn’t ready for it,” said Orlet, who called soccer her first love before volleyball assumed that position. “... That was a hard decision for me to say I’m not ready yet.”

That was in March 2022, before she learned the cancer had not only returned, but spread to her lungs with the inoperable lesions that will require her to undergo chemotherapy and immunotherapy for the rest of her life.

“With the ones in my lungs, there were about 14 spots — some pretty big, some pretty small — but there were about 14 different tumors along the lining of my lungs and the inside,” she said. “They did a biopsy and they tested it. And it was the same cancer as the first time but because it metastasized they found similar proteins that would be in like a sarcoma patient. So that’s what kind of made it more malignant now that it’s growing.”

Orlet further explained, due to the cancer’s rarity, she’s on a “maintenance program” with the chemo. She is scanned every three months to keep track of her prognosis.

“With how extremely rare this cancer is, they don’t have a chemo that can fully kill it,” she said. “So they’re just trying to maintain the size and keep it from growing — they really can never kill it. So that’s why I’ll have to do chemo the rest of my life as of right now because they have nothing to kill the cancer — right now.”

Orlet now receives chemotherapy once a month. She said the one or two weeks after treatments are the hardest, explaining that they make her feel “pretty run down.”

Still, she pushes through the fatigue in order to compete. Sports, she says, keeps her motivated.

“I had chemo yesterday (Tuesday) so this whole week will probably be just kind of a little tougher than the other ones,” said Orlet, who plays for the High Performance Illinois 16 National Club Volleyball Program out of St. Louis. “But I do my best to stay involved with the sports anyway just because I don’t think there’s any reason not to. If I can play and I can do it, then it’s OK. I’ve pushed myself enough so I can push myself a little bit farther is kind of the way I think about it.

“I have volleyball (Wednesday night) and that’ll be tough. But I’ll get through it and it’ll be alright ... I’ve pushed through harder things than feeling like the flu, which is basically what it feels like. So you just kind of get through it.”

An inspiration

That’s the undeniable spirit Wuller recognized in nominating Orlet for the Spirit of Sport Award.

“Gabby is one of the most amazing young ladies I have ever met,” Wuller said. “For everything that she has gone through, is presently going through, and will be going through for the rest of her life, she makes the best of every day.

“She will go through some rough chemotherapy one day and the very next day be at school with a smile on her face even though she feels terrible. She wants to be at school with her friends, and she doesn’t want or need people to feel sorry for her.”

Wuller called Orlet an inspiration to everyone.

“It makes all of us really put our aches, pains and hard days in perspective. She for sure is one of the sweetest and toughest young ladies you could meet. She is fighting this fight just like she fights to win in every athletic competition on the court or field,” Wuller said.

Added Orlet’s soccer coach at Althoff, Skip Birdsong, “She’s an outstanding young lady who reminds all of us every day to live to the fullest. She’s a great athlete, teammate and, most importantly, person. She epitomizes the award and is a perfect choice.”

Award presentation

The NFHS ultimately selected eight section winners for the Spirit of Sports Award, one of which was named the national winner. Jacob Bush from Mishawaka High School in Indiana was the section winner while Gabe Marsh, a para-athlete swimmer from Guntersville High School in Alabama, was the national winner.

IHSA Assistant Executive Director Matt Troha was at Althoff Wednesday to honor Orlet as Illinois’ nominee.

“This award aims to recognize individuals in high school sports whether they be athletes, coaches, trainers, fans ... they just look to recognize special people with special moments. Whether it be illness or injury or just a moment of sportsmanship. That’s what this award seeks to do,” he said prior to the ceremony.

Troha said the IHSA office is allowed one nominee for the award, which comes from more than 800 member schools who submitted 250 applications.

“They were all incredible nominations. All these incredible stories. But there was one story above them all that really just touched us and stood out. And that was the nomination that Kathy Wuller took the time to send us.,” Troha said. “And that was Gabby’s. I am just really proud to be able to announce that she is the IHSA’s nominees for the Spirit of Sport Award. And she represents the IHSA and our state as the nominee.”

In a statement, IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson called Orlet’s story “an inspiration to us all.”

“Her passion for sports was clearly a vital part of her recovery,” the statement said. “The fact that she came back to play volleyball this year is incredible. The fact that she came back and excelled at the level she did, while still receiving treatment, is nearly unfathomable.”

Orlet effusively praised her support network, saying the award is as much about her friends, family and healthcare workers as herself.

“This award I think does more than give gratitude to me but to those people who were kind of behind the scenes a little bit who got me through it. The people they don’t see which is definitely my family,” she said. “There’s no way I would have gotten through even half of this without them and just having them behind me. And then Althoff has been great — more than I could ever ask for.

“The supportive atmosphere here is just definitely really welcoming. They definitely wrapped their arms around me during these tough times ... everyone that’s been a part of it — teammates and coaches. This award I think of it more for them just to give recognition to them for getting me through all these tough times.”