I’ve read dozens of NCAA athlete signings over the past week.
There’s something special about this one:
… For nine years, the 17-year-old senior from Clive has trained day in and day out in the gymnasium she shares with world champion Shawn Johnson. But as Johnson moves forward to the Olympics, Hansen will take another route: one that is taking her to Iowa City and the University of Iowa.
This month, Hansen signed to compete with the women’s gymnastics team on a full scholarship. She is women’s coach Larissa Libby’s first in-state recruit and Chow’s first student to move on to the college level.
“We feel like she has the opportunity to resurrect Iowans’ love for gymnastics,” Libby said. “She’s that total package. Academically she’s stellar. … But she also brings a poise and artistry in gymnastics. We couldn’t be more excited about bringing Jessa here.”
…
It wasn’t until high school that Hansen realized gymnastics could be her door into college. As she approached her senior year as an honor student at Waukee High School, scouts began to make offers. …
While Johnson is a role model for many of the girls at the gym who dream of going to the Olympics, Hansen is a role model for those who want to go to college, Coach Liang Chow said.
Gymnastics Coaching.com 