Sticking the Landing

"When I was a toddler, I was always running, jumping, and flipping. So much so that I actually got kicked out of my daycare."

By virtue of competing last, Murray had all the eyes in the gym on her during her final routine. (Photo by Erin Locascio/SUNY Cortland)

"I remember thinking I didn't even care what my score was. I wanted to end my season with a banger of a routine, and I remember thinking that it was the best routine I'd ever done," she said. To which Head Coach Rick Suddaby added with a grin, "It was."

She eventually learned that her score of 9.850 had won her the title, making her the 37th Ithaca College student-athlete to win an individual national championship.

"The only way I can describe it is that it really felt like a storybook ending," Murray said.

It was the ending to a journey began shortly after that fateful expulsion from the daycare at Johns Hopkins. Murray's parents placed her in the in-home daycare of an older woman who encouraged her physical exuberance and recommended that she take up gymnastics.

"My parents didn't know anything about the sport; to be honest, my dad is still a little confused by it," she laughed. "But they supported me in my pursuit of it, and I'm grateful."

The Rockville, Maryland, native began training at Hill's Gymnastics Training Center in nearby Gaithersburg. Working alongside several other elite athletes, she developed her skills to the point where competing in college was an option for her as well. Coincidentally, the last gymnast to go to the Division III level after leaving the club team at Hill's was former Bomber Rachel Edelson '04.

"At first I wasn't sure if was going to compete at college," Murray admitted. "But I'd visited Ithaca and met with Coach Suddaby, and liked what I'd heard about the program."

"The support I've received from the coaches and the other student-athletes here has been amazing. It's what they give every day that made me stay here for four years. Doing gymnastics in college is a lot different than doing it for a club team ... Especially at Division III. Everyone in D III is here because we just love to flip around."

With the help of Head Coach Rich Suddaby (pictured lower right), Murray steadily improved during her four years at IC. (Photo by Erin Locascio/SUNY Cortland)

That's something Suddaby has instilled as part of the program's ethos.

"We strive to give them that kind of experience, where they all support each other, and they feel like they're truly a part of this program," he said.

Buoyed by the entire program, Murray's "try-it-out" year ended with a bang. Heading into the NCGA Championships ranked 30th in the floor exercise, she scored a 9.800, finishing third overall and earning her first All-American honor.

"It was definitely a surprise-but a good one," Suddaby said of Murray's performance. "We don't get a chance to see a good portion of the other Division III schools in the Midwest, so we're not always sure how we're going to stack up."

Seeing Murray progress and develop her skills over four years has been a source of pride for Suddaby.

"We want to give our student-athletes the skills to take charge of their sport. We try to give them ownership of what they do, and treat them like adults," he said. "Grace is great because she's great. She's not great because of something I made her do. It's rewarding to see her accomplish what she has."

Murray is still deciding on her post-graduation path, but as she sat in the gym where she grew from a surprise all-American to a champion and reflected on her time at Ithaca College, it was clear that she holds her four years with the program in the highest regard.

"So many of my fond memories are about my time with this team," she said. "The way I've grown as a person and a gymnast in my four years here because of this place and this team has been incredible."

No matter what your passion is, you can vault into the next stage of your journey at Ithaca College. Learn more about admission into IC here.