Dream Big Gymnastics

Gymnastics has been part of Angie Villarreal’s life for as long as she can remember. She started as a gymnast herself and began coaching while she was still a teenager, often helping others learn while continuing her own training. Even through college and other stages of life, she never really left the sport behind. Eventually, that lifelong connection led Angie to fulfill a dream of her own by opening Dream Big Gymnastics in 2014.

The name carries a meaning that goes beyond the sport. Angie had always dreamed of owning a gym, but she also wanted to create a place where children could pursue goals of their own. A big part of that is making sure there is a place for each person who walks through the door. Some athletes are highly competitive, while others simply want to learn new skills, stay active, and enjoy gymnastics. Some take naturally to the sport, while others need more time and encouragement. Angie believes all of them should feel valued and supported.

As Dream Big grew, so did the space available to its athletes. The gym moved into a larger facility in 2021, and Angie later expanded into an adjoining space designed especially for younger children. The preschool area uses smaller equipment and a more contained setting, allowing little ones to learn without feeling overwhelmed by older gymnasts practicing nearby.

That same thoughtful approach carries into the atmosphere Angie has worked to create throughout Dream Big. She makes a point of knowing the children by name and getting to know their parents as well. Coaches encourage athletes as they learn and grow, helping create the friendly, familiar environment Angie envisioned from the beginning.

For younger children, gymnastics is about much more than learning a cartwheel. Angie understands the importance of first developing coordination, motor skills, listening skills, and other foundations that make more advanced movement possible later. As athletes grow, gymnastics can also help them build confidence, self-discipline, work ethic, and the ability to work alongside others.

Angie’s commitment to athletes with special needs comes from a deeply personal place. Growing up with an uncle who had significant special needs gave her an early understanding of some of the challenges people with special needs can face and helped shape her desire to make gymnastics welcoming to athletes with different abilities.

What Angie enjoys most is watching that development unfold over time. Some children begin when they are barely old enough to walk and continue all the way into competitive gymnastics. She gets to see not only what they learn in the gym, but how they mature along the way.

For Angie, that is what Dream Big Gymnastics has always been about: giving each athlete room to build skills, gain confidence, and feel like they belong.