Perfect 10 for six Heidi’s Gymnastic girls at Ozone
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Morgan Rouse - Photos courtesy of Heidi De La Roche
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Elizabeth Proseanchin - Photos courtesy of Heidi De La Roche
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Shelby Pistole - Photos courtesy of Heidi De La Roche
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Bailey Stone - Photos courtesy of Heidi De La Roche
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Linux Baird - Photos courtesy of Heidi De La Roche
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Saniya Galkwad - Photos courtesy of Heidi De La Roche
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The key to youth gymnast inspiration at Heidi’s Musical Gymnastics in Farragut, according to the owner and former standout gymnast herself, is teaching her students through a Christian-based approach. “This is the most important photo” shared by Heidi De La Rocha, she said, which depicts Jesus Christ — with His crucifixion illustrated in the background, alongside the United States flag on the wall of her 1,800 square-foot facility. - Photos courtesy of Heidi De La Roche
Heidi’s Musical Gymnastics, 159 West End Ave., produced a competition result worthy of praise for an multi-Olympic Games gold medalist.
Six of its 20 young students/performers, all ages 9 to 12, earned perfect 10.0 scores in one of two routines during the Ozone Invitational, involving multi-state talent, last month in Knoxville Convention Center.
Pulling off this rare feat were Saniya Galwa, 9, on the balance beam, and five others on the uneven bars: Linux Baird, 11, Bailey Stone, 9, Elizabeth Proseanchin, Shelby Pistole, 10, and Morgan Rouse, 12.
Their training comes in a building “that’s only 1,800 square feet, counting the bathroom,” owner Heidi De La Rocha said.
“I am so proud,” the gym owner added. “I know they were nervous. And I tell the girls that it’s OK to be scared because everybody in that competition is scared or nervous. But I tell them it’s what you do with it.
“You could choose to be comfortable or you could choose courage, but you cannot choose both.”
Meanwhile, in the team divisions, Heidi’s Musical Gymnastics Xcel Gold Level team finished first in Knoxville Ozone Invitation
“I only have four (Gold) girls, and they’ve won every competition so far this season,” De La Rocha said.
Her Xcel Silver Team also took home first place in the Ozone event, as did her Xcel Bronze team.
Above all else, De La Rocha demands one thing: “Behave in a Christian manner,” she said, having a strong Christian faith herself that, most importantly to De La Rouche, she wants in her students.
