CENTERVILLE, Mass.-- The Eastern College Athletic Conference sat down with Towson University standout senior gymnast Kacy Catanzaro in this week's installment of "ECAC Spotlight: Getting to Know our Neighbors."

The ECAC Spotlight is a Q&A format that examines the experiences and career paths of coaches, administrators, support staff and student-athletes within the ECAC footprint, and is published weekly. If you would like to highlight an individual from your institution, please email ECAC Director of Communications Patrick Stewart at pstewart@ecac.org with your suggestions.

Five Questions with Towson University's Kacy Catanzaro, the 2012 ECAC Division I Women's Gymnast of the Year 

1. You and your teammates had an outstanding season in 2012. Describe how this success culminated in your last year of eligibility.

I feel so blessed because I could not have asked for a better final year. This team is my family and they have made everything worth it. We all worked so hard, and pushed through the hard times, in order to reach our goals. The team started off strong during boot camp and pre season workouts, and then just took off from there. All of the girls spent so many hours in and out of the gym, doing everything they could to be the best they could be. I would give anything for this team, and I did the best I could this year. It wasn’t until mid-season that this team actually realized how good we were. We faced some big schools and didn’t feel out of place, because we knew that we belonged there. This team really shined at the end of the season. Senior Night was absolutely everything that I could have dreamed of, and more. This team scored the highest score that I have seen since I’ve been at Towson, and I was so happy to be a part of that. I also got my highest all around score this season. It felt so good to be able to really contribute to the team’s success, because I want to be the best that I can for my girls. I could go on for pages about how proud I am of this team, but I think that they already know that! I could not have asked for a better end to my career, and I have this team, and all of my supporters to thank for that!

2. What are your best memories as a member of the women’s gymnastics team at Towson University? What was the worst and can you describe what you learned from that bad experience??

There have been so many great memories that I don’t think I could just pick one. I think that my best memories are all of the little things that go into being a part of this team. There is so much love and support that is pushed upon you, and I wouldn’t want it any other way. I know that I can turn to my teammates for absolutely anything and they will always have my back. So, I would say that my best memory would have to be making all of the relationships that I have through being on this team. My teammates are not just people that were in this part of my life and then I will move onto the next part without them. No way, these teammates are people that I will have in my life forever. I have so much to thank them for, and so many great times, that I can’t imagine my life without them.

Finding a bad experience is a hard one, but I would have to say that it would be connected to injuries. I have suffered a number of injuries since I have been here, but nothing was able to stop me. I have learned so much through the process of getting injured and coming back from it. It has made me really appreciate the people around me who do all that they can to help: athletic trainers, doctors, coaches, and teammates. Everyone pulls together to do anything that they can. Also, it takes a strong person, physically and mentally, to come back from an injury. It is important to not let the pain, fear, or frustration stop you from reaching your goal. It has made me so strong to be able to push through those obstacles and not give up. I know that I am capable of anything when I put my mind to it and really go after it. It is such an amazing feeling to look back at all that I have accomplished, and know that it wasn’t easy, nobody handed me anything, and that I worked my butt off, and I made it. Nobody can ever take that away from me, and I will bring that with me throughout life, to give me strength when I am feeling weak.

3. What attracted you to attend Towson University? What are your plans post-graduation?? Will you stay involved in the sport of gymnastics???

The team environment is what attracted me to Towson. I loved the way that everyone cheered for each other and really pushed each other every day. I knew that I wanted to be a part of that. 

I am an early childhood education major, so I will be in Towson for at least another six months completing my student teaching internship. I am definitely going to stay involved in gymnastics. It has been my life for so long and I can’t imagine it not being there anymore. I have always coached gymnastics when I was not in competition season. I feel like I have so much to give and that I could really help people, so that’s what I do. I usually coach younger girls, but I would love to be involved at Towson somehow if that was possible. I will be involved with Towson gymnastics no matter what, because I will always support the team and the program. I am excited to be a Towson gymnastics alumna and I will definitely give back to the team, just like I had hoped people would when I was there.

4. What hobbies or special interests do you have?

I love children, so I enjoy doing anything that involves children. I love teaching, coaching, and babysitting. I am also addicted to the sun, so I would lie out in the sun every day if that were possible! I am excited to not have school work to worry about so I can actually start reading books for pleasure.

5. This year is the 40th anniversary of Title IX. What does this landmark legislation mean to you and your gymnastics program??

Even though it has been 40 years since the law was passed, it still feels like such an honor to be here now, representing female athletes. I am so thankful for Title IX, because I can’t imagine my life without the experiences that I have had here being a Towson athlete. I have such respect for all of the athletes, male and female, here at Towson. I thank Title IX for allowing female athletes to prove themselves along with the male athletes. I respect all of the Towson student-athletes, and I am honored to be a part of that group.