NOTE: Join us this week as we celebrate NCAA Division III Week and highlight what it means to be a student-athlete at Hope College. On Wednesday, we profile track & field athlete Boone Marois.

By Caroline Hannema

Season-ending injuries are never part of an athlete's plan, but sophomore basketball player Angelique Gaddy hasn't let that stop her from embracing basketball at Hope College.

Gaddy's had to learn how to overcome two ACL tears during her first two seasons with the Flying Dutch and she recognizes that the community of the team and the college played a significant role in shaping her outlook on life.

Gaddy vividly recalls the number of phone calls, text messages, and visits from teammates, coaches, and other parents after both surgeries.  She can't imagine going through her injuries without her teammates. 

Hope basketball fans have provided their fair share of support as well. Gaddy has received support and encouragement from fans at home and on the road. She appreciates their loyalty and their remarks that they cannot wait to see her back on the court. "The basketball community as a whole [at Hope] is awesome.  They help me keep my head up," comments Gaddy. 

Through her injuries, the faithfulness and support of the Hope and Holland community is something Gaddy has made a point to embrace. She comments that often Hope fans, parents, and professors make up more fans for the Flying Dutch at away games than the home team. Fans are not only invested in the game, but Gaddy also appreciates their care for their lives off the court.

After both of her injuries, Gaddy received mail with well wishes at her dorm room from fans she didn't even know.  She was overwhelmed by the support.  Gaddy made it a point to meet and personally thank the fans that supported her, and through this, she has had the opportunity to meet several members of the community. She knows what the Flying Dutch have here is something special.

In high school, Gaddy knew she wanted to continue her basketball career in college.  She was looking at a few NCAA Division II schools and Hope was not on her radar.  However, after receiving a call from head coach Brian Morehouse, Gaddy was encouraged by her dad to come to campus for a visit to see what a smaller school would be like.  As soon as she got home from the visit, she started her application because she recognized that there was something different about Hope, and the rest is history.

Hope College is a memorable place for Gaddy because it is clear that people are actually interested and invested in her life.  The small class sizes allow Gaddy to have one-on-one relationships with professors, which has created a support network for her outside of the basketball arena. Classmates recognize that she plays basketball and make it a point to ask how the game went and what the outlook is for the team.  

Gaddy's experience at Hope is more about the fact that she plays basketball.  Even though her injuries have caused her role on the team to change, Gaddy says she is still just as content to be at Hope.

"I'm stuck here and happy with where I'm at," she said. "It's perfect."

DIVISION III WEEK PROFILES
Monday: Men's soccer student-athlete Toby Blom
Tuesday: Women's basketball student-athlete Angelique Gaddy
Wednesday: Track & field student-athlete Boone Marois
Thursday: Baseball student-athlete Jake Chipka
Friday: Volleyball student-athlete Jayne Kessel