Melissa Fernandez is a 2023 Illinois Athletics Hall of Famer

This installment of features Illinois Women’s Gymnastics star Melissa Fernandez. In September, these athletes will be inducted into the Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame.

The University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics named 12 new members to the UI Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2023, including athletes and coaches from nine teams. This is the seventh Hall of Fame class. It includes two Olympic medalists, members of their sport’s national hall of fame, national champions, high professional draft picks, a Super Bowl champion, and a national record holder for more than 70 years. 

Eudora, Kansas native Melissa Fernandez is the most decorated gymnast in Illinois Women’s Gymnastics history. She lays claim to 23 individual titles. To be as decorated as Fernandez, accolades must come early. Melissa’s awards began as a sophomore. In 2009, Fernandez became the first woman in Illini gymnastics to compete in the NCAA Championships individual events. She competed on the balance beam, earning All-American First Team honors by qualifying for the finals, another first in Illinois women’s gymnastics.

Her seventh-place finish on the beam was good enough for a spot on the podium. That outstanding 2009 earned her Most Improved Gymnast as well.

Fernandez piled up more titles and awards, however.

As a junior, Fernandez was a First Team All-Big Ten selection. She also set or tied her career high in every event, finishing second on the team with 11 individual titles. Her teammates named her the team’s most valuable gymnast, and she was named Most Outstanding Gymnast along with Sarah Schmidt.

However, Fernandez collected more accolades. Consequently, as a senior, Fernandez set an Illinois record by earning three All-America honors at the NCAA Championships. She picked up those honors on the beam (1st team), the all-around (1st team), and on the floor (2nd team).

Melissa Fernandez won in the classroom as well.

In addition to being the first four-time All-American in program history, Fernandez was also the first Academic All-American in school history. She was also a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar, Academic All-Big Ten, and Scholastic All-American selection. In fact, Fernandez was a Scholastic All-American all four years at Illinois.

Congratulations to Melissa Fernandez, Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame 2023 inductee.