Angelina Smiley '23 Recruiting Profile

Gymnastics is and always has been my first love. The sport is something I remain truly passionate about pursuing and the prospect to continue at the collegiate level has always been a dream of mine.  Honestly, gymnastics is a huge part of who I am as person since I have been doing it competitively since age 7. I really cannot imagine my life without it.  I have learned over the years how parallel to life the sport is because of the struggles, victories, high points and low points I myself as an athlete have encountered. These moments have brought the heartbreak of defeat, the joys of success, but have taught me the importance of resilience. It has allowed me the ability to develop tenacity and mental toughness that is necessary to achieve success in the sport. I am unique from other students because I have a self- awareness of my strengths and my weaknesses. I appreciate the positive and negative feedback I receive and use those recommendations to help me become a better athlete, teammate and person. Honesty is something I greatly value, and I believe it is one of my best character traits because it provides truth and authenticity, something that is a rarity these days.  I am HONEST, HARDWORKING, ASSERTIVE, ADAPATABLE, RESPONSIBLE and RELIABLE. I have a STRONG WORK ETHIC and I am not afraid to be a leader. I also understand and appreciate the value and importance of a team and the bonds that are built as a result.  In my opinion, there is no better way to continue in the sport I love, while pursuing a degree in exercise science, kinesiology and physical therapy.  I have personal knowledge of how defeating an injury can be to an athlete and how difficult it can be to overcome.  Sports, like gymnastics, beat up the body on a regular basis. Therefore, my goal is to take try and take a proactive approach and work with a club or team to perform daily therapeutic exercises and treatment to try and avoid injuries.  Being an athlete I have a true respect for this practice. I would love the opportunity to tell you more about myself and see if I would be a good fit for your school/ team.