My older DD's dream officially came true today when she got her acceptance letter from Wilson College in Pa. Wilson's coach had approached Caileigh at her Level 8 State meet to ask her if she had ever thought of continuing with gymnastics through college. While this had been Caileigh's dream for years, she thought that it would never happen as a broken leg and some pretty significant back problems had kept her at Level 8 for the past 4 years. Despite the injuries though, Caileigh never lost her love for gymnastics and has become a role model for the younger girls at our gym - teaching them that it is not always about the trick or the medal, but about giving your best all the time. Caileigh is the only gymnast left from a team of 21 girls on her Level 4 team 11 years ago, and now she will be the first gymnast from our gym to continue on and compete at the NCAA Collegiate level. Wilson is a fairly small all women's college and an NCAA Div III school. As an added bonus, the school is less than an hour away from home, and less than half an hour from our gym, so Caileigh will be able to stay in touch with the coaches who have been her other parents - she has been at the same gym for 18 years - and the younger girls at our gym will be able to come and see her at the Wilson home meets.
Meanwhile, we are not done with USAG Gymnastics. Emily, our 16 yr old DD is working to rehab from her ACL reconstruction this past April, and is planning on competing Level 8 again this fall. She still does not know how far she wants to pursue her gymnastics, but does know she wants to compete again this year.
I can't really put into words how proud I am of both of my daughters right now. They have both come up against obstacles that would have stopped many girls, and neither one has given up. For Caileigh, all the hard work and tears have been rewarded by the thrill of being recruited by a college who wants her as a member of their team. Now on to the next chapter in her gymnastics career.
Meanwhile, we are not done with USAG Gymnastics. Emily, our 16 yr old DD is working to rehab from her ACL reconstruction this past April, and is planning on competing Level 8 again this fall. She still does not know how far she wants to pursue her gymnastics, but does know she wants to compete again this year.
I can't really put into words how proud I am of both of my daughters right now. They have both come up against obstacles that would have stopped many girls, and neither one has given up. For Caileigh, all the hard work and tears have been rewarded by the thrill of being recruited by a college who wants her as a member of their team. Now on to the next chapter in her gymnastics career.
