Gabriella “Gab” Kreuz ’14 has never been one to stay inside the lines. The Â鶹Éç alumna has built a career that blends athletics, media, and advocacy on her own terms. In the process she has become one of Cleveland’s most recognizable young voices.
A former All-American runner at John Carroll, Kreuz is now a full-time freelancer whose week might include interviewing athletes on the Big Play Sports Network, emceeing games as the in-park host for the Cleveland Guardians, and producing original content that has been featured by the Browns, Cavaliers, and the I’m From Cleveland platform. She also manages her own show, Kreuzin’ Cleveland, and partners with Fitworks gyms to create digital content.
Amid the whirlwind of appearances and productions, Kreuz remains grounded in her mission-driven nonprofit, Love Doesn’t Shove. She founded the organization during her senior year at John Carroll to bring relationship-violence education and healing conversations to schools across Northeast Ohio. The effort grew out of her own experiences and was shaped by the support she received from friends and faculty on campus.
Media Trailblazer
Kreuz’s path to working in media was anything but conventional. Following her graduation from John Carroll and completing a master’s degree in broadcast and digital journalism at Syracuse University, she accepted a traditional newsroom job but quickly realized it wasn’t the right fit. “I lasted two months,” she says with a laugh. “I felt suffocated. I’m a free spirit and I knew right away I had to do it my way.”
Since striking out on her own, Kreuz has built a portfolio career that allows her creativity, athletic energy, and public-speaking skills to overlap. “All the things I do play off each other,” she explains.
Of all her pursuits, Love Doesn’t Shove remains closest to her heart. What began as a one-woman outreach project at John Carroll has grown into a widely respected program reaching middle and high school students. Through workshops, Kreuz educates teens about recognizing abusive behavior, building healthy relationships, and seeking help when needed.
“I’ve walked out of classrooms in tears,” she says. “You can’t unhear some of the things students go through. I know I can’t change their home environments, but I can do my part by listening and hopefully easing their pain just a little bit.”
Love Doesn’t Shove has expanded largely through word of mouth, and Kreuz sees its impact every time a student shares their story or thanks her for making them feel seen. “It’s probably the most purposeful thing I do,” she reflects. “It feels divine. Like I’m just the vessel.”
Anchored by Her John Carroll Roots
Even as her media presence grows, Kreuz remains proud of her Blue Streak roots. Last year she was inducted into the John Carroll Athletic Hall of Fame for her record-setting performances in cross country and track. As a senior, she led JCU to its first Ohio Athletic Conference Cross Country title in 22 years and qualified for the NCAA Division III Championships, earning All-American honors. On the track, she collected eight OAC titles and eight school records across events ranging from the 3,000-meter run to the 4x400 relay.
Kreuz’s path has been marked by a willingness to follow her heart. “I just want to live a full, colorful life,” she says. “And one day, when I’m too old to do all of this, I’ll be able to say I really lived it.” Asked if she considers herself inspirational, she deflects. “I’ve had so many people pour into me,” she says, naming mentors like her first boss Chris Wenzler ’90, the beloved leader of John Carroll’s Sports Information Department who passed away in 2020, her mid-distance track coach Mo Banton, and Gridiron Club founder Dave Raskota ’90, who has been a long-standing champion of Love Doesn’t Shove.
“I’m just a reflection of all those who’ve lifted me up.”
Kreuz is still adding to her creative résumé in music, modeling, and even a bucket-list dream of singing the national anthem at a Guardians game. But the common thread running through her pursuits is service and storytelling. “I’m a storyteller more than an influencer,” she says. “I just want to tell stories in a way people can feel.”
Kreuz’s career is proof that a life built around purpose can take many forms. Whether she is holding a microphone at Progressive Field or speaking to a classroom of teenagers about self-worth, she is doing exactly what she was born to do, living a full and colorful life powered by heart.
