It isn’t every day that we learn that one of our students has made a national sports roster. Dean Murray, class of 2029, has officially secured his spot on the gymnastics Junior US National Team, a feat that is incredibly difficult to achieve.

Competing as what’s known as a Level 10 Elite, Dean faced a rigorous qualification process.

After advancing through the normal season and nationals, he was one of roughly 20 athletes that qualified for a highly selective meet where only the top five would make the cut.

Dean placed fourth, earning his place on Team USA.

While many successful athletes crave the spotlight, Dean instead approaches his success with a sense of genuine humility, saying even that many of the competitors who ended up ranking below him are actually higher skilled than he is. The difference on competition day, however, was Dean’s consistency.

"I didn't fall a single time," Dean explained, reflecting on the meet that would determine if he made Team USA or not. "The guys under me, like they're better than me, but they just fell. So, they didn't rise to the occasion that day."

That consistency is now sending Dean to the national stage, something that, he says, has been heavily shaped by his family’s willingness to travel and sacrifice for him.

Born in Australia, Dean spent the first six years of his life there before moving to Texas for another six. When he was twelve years old, Dean and his family relocated to Minnesota to be closer to relatives.

When moving to Minnesota, Dean's parents had two primary focuses for him and his siblings:

1. Finding a school that fit their Christian values
2. Ensuring a strong environment for gymnastics progression

Gymnastics runs deep in the Murray household. Dean’s mother was a gymnast, and so are his three siblings. While his older sister retired early due to a back injury, his two younger sisters are both active in the sport, with one training for the elite level.

None of Dean’s success would be a reality without the massive, ongoing support of his parents. The physical toll of the sport means Dean is often in pain physically from the intense training, yet his parents have always been there to help him navigate the reality of what it means to be a professional-level athlete.

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"They're there with all parts of the struggle and the grind."

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Dean credits his parents entirely for his ability to compete, highlighting how they drive him to daily practices, pay monthly club fees, and travel alongside him to competitions all across the country—including trips to Iowa, Chicago, Arizona, Oregon, and Oklahoma.

Before becoming a Mustang, Dean spent two years at Central Middle School, Wayzata. While he noted that it was a fine experience, the large class sizes made it easy to just get lost in the crowd.

Dean’s parents desired a smaller school environment for Dean where teachers could provide him with more focused support alongside a solid Christian foundation where Dean was seen as much more than a number.

That close support is critical for an elite athlete. During the 2025–26 school year, Dean missed over 20 days of school for competitions, and he anticipates missing 30 or more days for the 26–27 school year. The staff of MCAhas rallied behind Dean and his family, providing the flexibility and encouragement needed to maintain his academics while also juggling the required traveling and training he has to maintain at his high level.

Beyond academics, Dean really values the spiritual climate of Maranatha. When asked what his favorite part about MCA was, he didn’t hesitate.

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"Everything's centered around God.”

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He noted how impactful it is to have "the same beliefs, chapel, D-groups—all that kind of stuff where you can just sit and talk about God, learn about God in school, which is crazy."

Despite sacrifices Dean has had to make over the years from things like missing school events to having to say "no" to some friend hangouts, he remains 100% focused and fulfilled.

"I'm never at practice saying, 'Oh, I could be at this or I could be doing this.' It's always: I got my head straight, and grind," he stated.

For younger student-athletes at Maranatha who are also currently pursuing their dreams or perhaps to those need a push to get started, Dean said, "If you really want it, then you'll grind for it. If you love something then grind for it, and God will provide and help you through the grind."