As an ACHS student known for his athleticism and his BMX riding, freshman Marshall Gehrke enjoys more than playing basketball and riding his bike. He likes to sing, dance and spend time with his family and friends. He has gained 19.3K followers on TikTok and 10.5K on Instagram for his dancing, basketball skills and his bike riding. There is much more to him than what is portrayed on social media. 

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Q: What is your dream college?

A: “My dream college is probably UCLA or the University of Texas. UCLA just because it’s such a prestigious school and I think the scenery and the people there are amazing. [University of] Texas because it’s where my family lives. I think it’d be cool to be [by my] family.”

Q: What is the most important thing in your life to you?

A: Family. My family means a lot to me. They’ve done so much for me. I wouldn’t be nearly the person I am today without them.”

Q: If you had advice for upcoming freshmen, what would it be?

A: “Just be yourself. Don’t really worry about too many things. Go [to] school, just try to have fun and make the most of your four years while you’re here.”

Q: Who would you consider a role model in your life?

A: “I think my dad. [With] my dad being a police officer, I think he’s set a good example for me to stay on the right path to hopefully [becoming] a pro athlete one day.”

Q: How would you describe a perfect day?

A: “Waking up pretty late, like I’d say probably around 10:10 a.m. Big Breakfast around noon, and maybe go shoot some hoops for a bit. After that, go to the skate park [to ride my bike]. Go hang out with friends and come home and make TikTok dances.”

Q: If you had one wish, what would you wish for and why?

A: “It’s really corny, but for world peace. I feel like I see so much going on in the news and so much negative energy. I feel like if we could finally have world peace, that’d be really nice. Just no more arguing, no more fighting, just good times and good feels for everybody.”

Q: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

A: “Hopefully playing in the NBA or a pro bike rider.” 

Q: What is your dream job?

A: “My dream job would probably to be a professional BMX rider. The problem is that there’s no money in that. So I guess if I had to pick one it would probably be an NBA player so I could make more money and I’m still doing something that I love.”

Q: If those plans do not work out, what is your backup plan?

A: “I would want to be a sports media broadcaster. It allows me to still be close and work with the things I love. I think it would be really cool and fun for me to do. I think I would enjoy it.”

Q: If you were able to collaborate with any brand, who would it be?

A: “Funny enough, I am already partnered with the brand I want to be with. I am already partnered with Vans. I think that’s a really awesome opportunity that I have. I’m also recently partnering with Monster Energy now. So that’s a really cool thing and I’m very excited to work with them in the near future. I’m set right now [and] I’m really enjoying where I’m at in life.”

Q: If you could spend the day with any person in the world, who would it be?

A: “Probably my grandfather, because I was pretty young when he passed away. I think it’d be cool to see what he thinks of me now. I know he’s looking down on me, but to kind of have a talk with him and where I am and where I am in life. I know he’d [also] have a lot of good wisdom for me.”

Q: What is one thing you would tell your younger self?

A: “Be smart, try to stay out of trouble, stay out of drama and just have fun. Ride your bike and don’t let anybody tear you down for the person that you’re trying to become.”

Q: What do you do, besides playing basketball, in your free time? 

A: “[Riding my] bike, obviously. Singing and dancing, [as well]. Singing is something that’s been part of my life, pretty much for all of it. I used to go to the farmers market when I was younger and I had a microphone [that] I sang and danced with friends and it was really fun. That’s [one of my] core memories [from my childhood], a lot of memories from that.”

Q: What is one interesting fact about yourself that no one knows?

A: “I have a double-jointed jaw. Since I’m on everything, it is so public for me, with my Instagram and everything. There aren’t a lot of things that people don’t know about me. I like to sing and dance, and I like to ride bikes. It’s what I do with my life.”