The Gicking Family:

Working Hard and Playing Hard in Broomall

Written by Holly Stupak

Photos by Katie Borsuk Photography, www.KatieBorsuk.com

We’re excited to introduce you to The Gicking Family: Chris, Donna, Olivia, Christopher and Nolan. On any given day, you’ll likely find Chris and Donna at one of our local sports fields. Whether coaching football, teaching a fitness class or watching one of their children play football, basketball, lacrosse or baseball, they love being active. “We’re both into fitness and our favorite thing to do is watch our kids play sports!” said Donna.

Chris has been active in Marple sports since he was a kid growing up here. His sister Jen played field hockey, basketball and lacrosse for Marple and went on to play lacrosse at James Madison University. Chris went to MNHS, where he played football, basketball and baseball. He was the football team's quarterback, becoming an All-Central League and All-Delco All-State player and the Delaware County Times Player of the Year in 1995. Chris still holds a number of records, and in 2004, he was inducted into the Marple Newtown High School Athletics Hall of Fame.

The son of two teachers, Chris knew from a young age that he wanted to be a teacher.

Teaching is in my blood. My dad coached and taught at Conestoga High School for 37 years and my mom taught preschool at Grace Lutheran for 41 years. My sister was both a teacher and lacrosse coach in Conestoga,” Chris explained. “I really admired them for what they did, so for me teaching and coaching are dream jobs.”

Chris’s football skills earned him a scholarship to Villanova University where he played for two years before transferring to Shippensburg University. While studying education there, Chris continued with his football career and was a three-time Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference All-League player, named Offensive Conference Player of the Year and an AllAmerican in 1999.

After graduating from Shippensburg in 2001 with a degree in elementary education, he spent two years playing arena football for the Augusta Stallions. Then he began his teaching career at Colwyn Elementary in Darby, where he taught for eleven years while also coaching football at Conestoga High School. During that time, Chris earned a Masters in Leadership from Neumann University in 2006.

Olivia, Nolan and Christopher Gicking

In 2014 Chris went back to his Marple Newtown roots to teach first grade at Culbertson Elementary and later that year became the coach of the MNHS football team. He was appointed MNHS’s Athletic Director (AD) and Dean of Students the following year and he’s enjoyed that role at his alma mater for the past seven years.

What’s great about my position is that I really get to know the students on and off the field,” said Chris. “I’ve known many of the students since they were kids, so to see their growth as student-athletes is really rewarding.

When Chris first took over the role as AD, he said he got a lot of inspiration from Jim Smith, the former AD and his football coach when he was at Marple. “I’m lucky to have had Jim as a great role model. And my parents both instilled a great work ethic in me throughout my childhood.

Donna also grew up in Broomall and has two younger siblings who attended Marple schools. Donna went to St. Pius X and then MNHS where she was on the track and cross country teams. Donna’s mom’s role as a preschool teacher and her dad’s love of running rubbed off on her. After high school Donna also chose to pursue a career in education.

As a student-athlete at Marple, I really admired my English teacher, Mary Jo Yannacone, who also happened to be my track coach,” said Donna. “She inspired me to become a teacher.

After graduating from MNHS in 1998, she went to Cabrini College where she ran cross country and track. She earned a BA in English and a teaching degree in secondary education in 2001 and in 2005 she earned her Masters in English. For the past 18 years she’s been an English teacher at Garnet Valley High School. “What I love about teaching English is that it lends itself to really getting to know my students,” Donna explained. “When students express themselves through writing, it gives us a great connection.”

This past year Donna pursued another dream of hers: teaching fitness classes. What started as helping friends with online workouts during the pandemic eventually turned into what is now Empowered Fitness with both in-person and online classes. “I’ve always been interested in fitness and running. With gyms being closed last year and people needing more motivation, it was the perfect time to try something like this,” she said. “The best part is that not only are my clients working hard, but they’re making a connection with other women. It has been so rewarding.” Classes are held at local parks or schools and online. In January 2021 Donna became certified as a personal trainer and looks forward to expanding Empowered Fitness even more.

With similar interests and growing up in the same town, you may think Donna and Chris dated in high school. But they didn’t officially “meet” until after college. “Chris was two years older than me in high school,” said Donna. “Everybody knew Chris, but I’m not sure if he knew me,” she added jokingly. In 2004 they bumped into each other while out with mutual friends at Barnaby’s in Havertown and the rest is history.

The Gicking Family at their home in Broomall

They got married in 2006 at the Marriott in Conshohocken, and picking a Friday night wedding earned them a free honeymoon to Aruba. But the Gickings didn’t take off on their trip right away.

We were actually at a Conestoga football game the day after our wedding,” said Donna. “ I think that was definitely a sign that football would always play a big role in our lives.

A honeymoon was planned for December that year, but that almost didn’t happen. Donna laughed when she told the story. “My new last name didn’t match my ID, so they wouldn’t let us on the plane. While we were waiting for clearance, Chris grabbed himself a slice of pizza and was still eating it when we were permitted to board. I think the other passengers thought we held up the flight just so Chris could get something to eat!”

After finally getting to enjoy their honeymoon, the newlyweds found an apartment in West Chester. They enjoyed the town’s walkability for a few years, but something kept pulling them back to Marple. “We kept going back to Broomall for everything,” said Donna. “We realized we should probably just move back.”

Chris’ mom helped them find the perfect house in the Greenhill section of Marple just a mile from his childhood home. And it’s not too far from Donna’s parents and siblings, who now live in West Chester. They say they’ve been lucky to live in the greatest neighborhood full of young families for the past thirteen years.

We spend every weekend with our neighbors and every summer we vacation with them in the Outer Banks,” said Donna. “Our children even refer to our neighbors as aunt and uncle. They’re truly like family.

The Gickings have three children: Olivia, Christopher and Nolan. Olivia will be a seventh-grader at Paxon Hollow Middle School this fall. Her parents describe her as beautiful inside and out, easy going and kind. “She’s really mature beyond her years,” said Donna and Chris, proudly. A lover of any and all sports, she plays soccer, basketball and lacrosse.

Christopher is a fifth-grader at Russell Elementary; he also loves sports and keeps busy playing football, basketball, baseball and lacrosse.

Chris is as hardworking as they come,” said Donna. “He loves helping others, too. He'll even mow our lawn and enjoy doing it!

The youngest Gicking, 6-year-old Nolan, is headed to first grade at Russell. Laid back and charming, he loves keeping up with the older kids. He’s into lacrosse, basketball and football to name a few.

The Gickings also have a 15-year-old dog named Melo, who Chris and Donna adopted when they were first married. Donna said he’s officially named after basketball player Carmelo Anthony and although they call him Melo (mellow), he’s anything but!

After growing up here and now raising their own family here in Marple, it’s no surprise that Chris and Donna say their family bleeds orange and black. As both an employee and parent in the district, Chris said he’s proud of all that this community and its schools have to offer.

There are so many amazing opportunities for Marple students, especially at the high school," said Chris. "The range of activities students can be part of is incredible.

“Not only do we have excellent academic, music and athletic programs, we also have the immense support of the Superintendent Dr. Tina Kane, our school board members and our high school principal Mr. John Beletrante.”

Donna loves the neighborhood feel and family atmosphere that the schools have. “For two working parents, it’s been comforting that when we drop our kids off at school they’re well taken care of,” she said. And every day, the Gickings said they tell their children to be kind, work hard and be leaders. Sounds like Marple is just the place for them to do this!

Do you know a Broomall family, individual or nonprofit group who should become known by our community? Make your nominations for upcoming feature articles by emailing your ideas to Holly Stupak at HStupak@BestVersionMedia.com.