Few things are more delightful when the time comes than being able to brag on your grandkids. I’ve done my share, and I’m always eager to give an ear to others.
John Brocker stopped by this week and mentioned his granddaughter’s successes in gymnastics. Give me some information and we’ll get a story in the paper, I said. John, beaming as he should, promised to do so. Next day came an email with comments from his wife, Linda, who has a real heart for kids, having been a teacher for years.
In her grandmother’s words, some paraphrased, here’s a report on Tessa Brocker, a 6-year-old whose future in gymnastics is bright.
If you ever thought you can put an age on focus, determination and talent, then you have never met Tessa. She is the daughter of two college athletes, Jonathan Brocker, who played golf at Allen Community College, and wife Kerri, who was captain of the diving team at the University of Kansas. We think Tessa received every athletic gene from both.
A year ago, Tessa made the competitive team at Elite Gymnastics in Lenexa, the youngest and by far smallest on the squad. She was 6 in January, right before her first competition. Competing, even against older kids, didn’t phase Tessa — nothing seems to. She trains four hours a week and will move up to eight hours in June.
As competition season started, she learned what it meant to compete and win. In her first meet she placed first on the floor, third on the beam and fourth all-around.
She knew she wanted to stand on the first-place podium and in her next meet she did. She won on beam, on floor and on vault. In her third meet, everything came together and she won all-around.
In the state meet, she doubled down on focus. Still youngest and smallest, she remained focused, calm and ready to go. By day’s end, she was the all-state champion, and also won gold medals on the beam and the bars.
Last weekend at the team’s year-end banquet, Tessa was named Elite Gymnast of the Year — before she lost her first baby tooth.
It takes a special child to be a competitive gymnast and I am pretty sure we have one here, Grandmother Linda concluded. We’re likely to be hearing more about Tessa Brocker.
