As one of the most decorated athletes to ever grace Springfield College’s campus, Marissa DeAngelo’s name has forever been cemented in history. Recently inducted into the National Collegiate Gymnastics Association Hall of Fame, DeAngelo, a 2017 graduate of the college, will now have her outstanding career immortalized following her time on Alden Street.
DeAngelo’s seven All-American honors rank amongst the best in Springfield College women’s gymnastics history, but don’t tell the full story of her journey to Springfield College and her time competing for the Pride.
DeAngelo got into gymnastics through her parents, with her mother and father introducing her to the sport at an early age.
“As a child, my parents saw that I liked to flip around,” DeAngelo said with a chuckle. “They decided to put me into gymnastics to learn the safe way of slipping. I ended up staying there as my parents are in health care, and my dad works as a chiropractor and works with a lot of athletes.”
Continuing to pursue her passion for gymnastics, DeAngelo found her way to Springfield College for its academics and the fact that it fulfilled her desire to keep competing. Her first season, however, did not go quite to plan.
“I was injured in my freshman year,” DeAngelo said. “I broke my foot, so I was out the whole year and couldn’t compete.”
With one season down the drain, DeAngelo knew she had to make the most out of her remaining three seasons at Springfield. As it turned out, those next three years cemented DeAngelo as one of the top Springfield women’s gymnasts of all time.
The following season, in 2015, DeAngelo’s first official season competing for the Pride, the sophomore immediately rose into the spotlight. One year after being out for the season, DeAngelo garnered her first All-American honor after placing ninth in the all-around at the NCGA Championship.
Following her first honor, her career skyrocketed. DeAngelo went on to collect six more All-American honors to reach her total of seven. In her junior season, DeAngelo earned the NCGA East Gymnast of the Year Award, setting multiple school records along the way.
Despite the immense success and pressure of being a top athlete in the country in her sport, the standout gymnast viewed practice and competition as an escape from the everyday stresses of college.
“I looked at gymnastics as my outlet,” DeAngelo said. “The fun of gymnastics turned the sport into something more of a hobby, which made me have an incredible love for gymnastics. Springfield made sure you had the love of your sport because it’s a Division III school. I am really grateful I went to Division III to develop my passion.”
Now, following her illustrious career with the Pride, DeAngelo got to reap the rewards of her incredible talent in the sport of gymnastics following her induction into the NCGA Hall of Fame, feeling surprised and incredibly honored.
“I was so grateful,” DeAngelo said. “During my induction speech, I was talking about how, as a little girl, I always dreamt of going to the Olympics. When my opportunity for that passed, I was kind of looking into the hall of fame and thought about how I wanted to leave a lasting memory. So, when I got that call, I was in shock, especially because I’m only nine years removed from graduating. I can’t put it into words.”
With her name remembered for years to come, and a legacy of domination in the sport she loves dearly, DeAngelo’s induction into the NCGA Hall of Fame is proof of what hard work and love for your sport can bring.
“I am eternally grateful that I’ll have my name be forever in history,” DeAngelo said.