Senior Amanda Pezzullo
  
 
Senior Feature: Amanda Pezzullo

By Mike Wojtychiw, Media Relations Student Assistant

March 8, 2007

When asked what they think Missouri gymnast Amanda Pezzullo's strongest quality is, the majority would say her role as a team leader. It hasn't always been that way, however.

"I think that I've more or less grown into that role," the senior said. "From my freshman through junior years, the seniors were the leaders on the team and I knew that it was natural for me to slide right in, especially as I gained more and more comfort with the idea of being a leader."

In 1990, at the young age of five, Pezzullo, a Wheaton, Ill., native, decided to join the world of gymnastics and has not looked back since.

"I actually started because my best friend at the time was in gymnastics," she said.

Without gymnastics, she may not have had some of the opportunities she has had in meeting famous gymnasts, as well as some memories she will cherish forever. Being a gymnast meeting other famous gymnasts made her realize they are just regular people. She has competed against or met famous gymnasts such as Olympians Dominique Moceanu, John Roethlisberger, Jayce Phelps and Amanda Borden. Even her best friend, Liz Tricase, was an Olympic team alternate. Now how many people can say that?

In her days of club gymnastics, with one of the top club teams, Illinois Gymnastics Institute, Pezzullo competed in meets with USA Nationals winner Vanessa Atler and as a junior, in the same meet as world-renowned gymnast Shannon Miller.

"Granted she was doing more an exhibition because she was an elite dropping down to compete at Level 10 when I was competing my heart out, but it was really cool to be competing at the same time with her."

When she graduates in May with her nutrition and fitness degree, Pezzullo plans on becoming a graduate assistant strength and conditioning coach for the University of Missouri.

"For the next two years, I would like to work with a variety of sports, to learn a great foundation. Working with gymnastics would be a plus but is not necessary for me to enjoy what I'm doing."

It is that major, nutrition and fitness, that was one of the major factors that drew Pezzullo to Mizzou. That wasn't the only reason the University of Missouri drew her in.

"I really fit in with the team and the coaches. You have to spend alot of time with these people so if you don't fit in with them well, your experience as an athlete won't be as much fun. I liked that it was only six hours away from home and still in the Midwest, but not a college half my high school went to (Illinois). Plus, the campus was beautiful."

Pezzullo was actually recruited by 19 schools, including Illinois, New Hampshire, Kentucky and Utah State, but Mizzou was her first choice. If she did not encounter a little bit of luck in her recruitment, however, she more than likely would have gone to Illinois.

In Pezzullo's senior year of high school, Missouri was recruiting twelve gymnasts and as she admits, "I was number 12 out of 12 girls Mizzou was bringing in." The 12 girls were broken up into two girls of six, the "top" six and the "second" six. Both sets of six were scheduled to visit the campus on back to back weekends, with the first six visiting first. One of the girls in the first group had to drop. She was the only girl of the second six that could visit each weekend and had the most interest of that group so Mizzou asked her to come out on the first weekend.

"After the first weekend, they offered a couple girls who declined and they offered it to me, I accepted and recruiting was done. The second six never got to visit because there were no more scholarships available. If the girl didn't drop out, if I didn't show so much interest, if I didn't fit in with the team then it would not have worked out."

One thing that coaches ask from their athletes is consistency. And if one looks at the scores she has posted this season, they would that Pezzullo is the definition of consistency. For the season, she has averaged a 9.765 on the vault, hitting a score of 9.8 three times and only scoring below a 9.7 once all season.

But of all her events, floor seems to be her most consistent event, and she says it's because "you get to be yourself." That said, her floor scores have averaged 9.808, tied for the top average with teammate Adrianne Perry.

As for her choice of music, Pezzullo definitely stands out from the rest of her teammates.

"I use something that pumps me up. Two years ago, it was Linkin Park. I'm a closet Metallica fan. I may not seem like one that would be a big fan of that type of music, but it's what gets me excited and pumped for an event. It motivates me."

The music seems to be working as she has hit a 9.825 on four occasions, and a 9.85 twice.

She has loved every moment here at Mizzou, the special moments with her roommates on a Friday night, or those days of practice that you think you are going to die in and end up making it through...those are the things she will cherish the most.

"So I feel like I was really meant to be here because everything has worked out so well."

 

 

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