It's not always about softball...

My 11-year old made the Level-6 USA/AAU Jr Olympic Competition Gymnastics Team.

Let me back up a bit and tell you how she's doing gymnastics, not softball and what's involved on her part. Did I mention this kid is already an honor student and in the gifted program at school?

After 4 years of playing softball, she came to me and looked me straight in the eye, then told me "Mom, I'm giving up softball. I want to try gymnastics."

This was 2 years ago. Gasp, sputter, sob... there was not much more I could say. She started off in a beginner gymnastics class and within 3 weeks they moved her up to the advanced beginner class. After one of her practices she begged to stay and watch the competition team practice. So I stayed and watched and watched and watched for 3 hours. I could not believe how long they practiced.

The Coach seemed really mean. The girls did more working out than gymnastics. I told Goose that the competition team seemed very strict and very hard. She said "Mom, be right back, I have to do something." Next thing I know she ran out of the viewing area (glass & soundproof room) and straight up to the competition coach. I am sitting behind the glass window and I see her and the coach in a deep discussion. After 15 minutes, the coach has her do some basic gym things like cartwheels, a split, some walking on the beam. I am sitting there thinking, oh boy. What is she doing?

So afterwards she comes running back into the viewing room. "What did you say to the Competition Coach? I can't believe you went out there." "Well, I just told her this is what I want to do more than anything in the world, and I need to know what to do to be like the girls on your team." I could not believe it and of course asked what the answer was. Before Goose could answer the coach walks in. She asked Goose to go run a couple of laps around the mat with "her girls."

She tells me that she's noticed Goose in the gym lately and would like for her to try out for the then level 4 comp team. I remember telling her, "she can barely do a cartwheel, she's not anywhere near the talent of your competition girls." The coach said, "that has NOTHING to do with it. This kid has a gymnast body, she has the natural talent and the best thing she has... determination to interrupt me during a practice and go after what she wants."

So 2 years later, lot's of rips on her hands, blisters on her feet, hundreds of ice baths for sore muscles and 25 hours a week spent at the gym after school - she's doing great. She scores mid-9.0's at her meets. She's so happy doing what she loves, and not softball as I would have liked for her to do. I am so proud of her for being strong enough to go after her own dreams!

So what's her goal now? To go to the University of Georgia and be a "Gym-Dawg." I bought her season tickets to the college gymnastics team meets and she has met every one of the girls on the college team and talks to the coach at as many meets as she can. She is in the 10.0 club which gets her in the locker room with the girls and the coaches. She's just about picked out her dorm already and she's only in the 5th grade. She's a TEN O in my book.

Goose with Olympic Gymnast and GA Gym-Dawg, Courtney Kupets (her mentor) and the College gym meet.