January Athlete of the Month: Ella Hockman
Hey all, it’s Coach Katie again. Each month, we recognize a Gem City athlete who shows dedication, growth, and a love for the sport both inside and outside the gym. For January, our coaches selected an athlete who leads quietly, works hard, and brings a great attitude to every practice. Our January Athlete of the Month is Ella Hockman.
Meet Ella
Ella was such a delight to interview last month. While this is her second year on our competitive gymnastics team, it was my first time really sitting down and getting to know her. Ella has been attending gymnastics at Gem City since she was six years old. Now at ten, she is in the gym multiple times a week and travels across the Midwest competing as a Level 4 gymnast.
Ella’s dedication stood out immediately. Our interview took place after she finished a private lesson and before she returned for a full team practice. Not only does she attend regular practices, but she also goes above and beyond by scheduling private lessons to help prepare for competitions.
Life Outside the Gym
Ella is homeschooled here in Quincy along with her three sisters, ages four, six, and eight. At home, she enjoys reading, playing with her two-year-old golden retriever Bandit, and, in her words, eating all the time. Her favorite school subjects are science and history, but she would happily skip math if given the option. She also loves reading a good book series, especially Harry Potter.
In the Gym
Ella’s favorite events at practice are floor and bars. Gymnastics is her one and only sport, and she puts all her energy into it. While she admits she is not a big fan of competitions, she understands they are part of the journey. She shared, “I have stage fright. I do not like it, but I push through and am just fine. And last weekend I got fourth and fifth place.” That mindset says a lot about her determination.
When asked for a funny story, Ella immediately had one ready from the night before. During a vault drill into the pit, her teammate Francesca ended up upside down and stuck. Francesca was calling for help, but no one could hear her because her face was buried in the blocks. When she finally got out, everyone laughed, including her. It was a good reminder that even talented athletes have moments that turn into great memories.
Goals, Food, and Big Dreams
One of Ella’s motivations to keep pushing through competitions comes from a deal she made with her dad. If she ever scores a ten at a meet, she earns a kitten. While that has not happened yet, it is still a goal she holds onto. She also shared that she would love another dog to join Bandit at home. Her mom and sisters were nearby during our interview and laughed as we talked about this dream. Ella’s dad, this is your friendly public nudge. Ella would really love a second dog and promises to help.
When it comes to food, Ella’s face lit up. Her favorites include blue Takis, beef tacos, and El Rancherito. She even likes lettuce and vegetables on her tacos and says she hates tacos without them.
Looking ahead, Ella would love to become a zookeeper or a veterinarian. She loves animals and says that if she could be anywhere besides home or the gym, she would choose the zoo. Her favorite animals are polar bears, especially because they live in groups. Another gentle hint, Dad.
Coach’s Take
When discussing this month’s selection, Coach Jake shared, “Ella is a quiet leader that leads by example every practice. She holds herself to a high standard, shows up every day, works hard, lifts up her teammates, and is always respectful of her coaches and peers.” We could not ask for more from an Athlete of the Month.
Even though Ella is a Quincy girl, she loves visiting Florida where her grandma lives. She enjoys beach days, riding around in the golf cart, and swimming, although she prefers the ocean after once spotting a snake in the pool.
Ella’s work ethic, kindness, and determination make her a wonderful example for her teammates and younger athletes alike. We are proud to celebrate her this month.
Congratulations to January’s Athlete of the Month, Ella Hockman!
Click to read an extended version
Miss Ella Hockman was such a delight to interview last month! I have known Ella for a few years now as this is her second year on our competitive gymnastics team. However, this is my first time sitting down and really getting to know her! Ella has been attending gymnastics at GCGT since the age of six. Now, at 10 years old, she is in the gym multiple times a week and travels the Midwest competing as a Level 4 gymnast. Not only does Ella put in the time at practice, but she also goes above and beyond and even attends private lessons to better prepare herself for competition. Our interview actually took place after she finished a private lesson and before she would return for a full practice! This is dedication!
Ella is homeschooled along with her three sisters (ages 4, 6, and 8) here in Quincy. While at home she enjoys “eating all the time” and playing with her two-year-old Golden Retriever, Bandit. Her favorites subjects are science and history but she’d rather not do math if she can help it. Reading is also something Ella enjoys doing, and she went on to say that she loves to read a good series! She particularly enjoys Harry Potter.
When Ella is at gymnastics practice, she loves the floor and bars the most. Gymnastics is her sole and favorite sport, so she puts all her energy into it. She’s not a super big fan of competitions, but she knows that’s part of the package, so she powers through. She said, “I have stage fright. I do not like it, but I push through and am just fine. And last weekend I got 4th and 5th place!”
I asked Ella if she had a favorite or funny story from practice or a meet. She quickly straightened up in her seat and said she had a funny story that actually took place the night before! Her friend on gymnastics team, Francesca, even gave Ella permission to mention her name because it happened to her. The girls were doing a vault drill into the pit, and they had to run as fast as they could toward it. Francesca ended up in the pit upside down! Apparently, she was yelling for help because she was stuck upside down, but Ella said no one could hear her because her face was in the blocks! When she finally got out of the pit, all her teammates were cracking up with laughter along with her! I take this as a lesson that even the most talented of athletes can get caught off-guard and get stuck in the pit! If you’ve ever been in the pit, you know how hard it can be to get out sometimes!
One reason Ella likes to power through competition is not only her love of the sport but also an agreement that her dad made with her awhile back. If she were to score a “10” during a competition, then she could get a kitten! She said she doesn’t know if it’ll happen or not, but it’s still a goal. She doesn’t currently have a cat, so this is a dream. BUT there is also something more Ella shared with me. They used to have two dogs but now only have Bandit. She has been begging her dad for a while now to get another dog. During our interview I said that I think we could team up and put a little pressure on dad and that maybe if he read this, he would feel inclined to get another family dog! Ella’s mom and sisters were in the room when Ella and I were chatting, and this whole part of our conversation caught her mom’s attention and had her laughing out loud! Yes, this is a joint effort shout-out to Ella’s dad…..Ella wants a second dog SO BADLY and she is willing to help out if you will PLEASE change your mind and SAY YES! I’m hoping the public plea will help Ella get that last little push she needs to twist your arm. Your wife even chimed in and said she would LOVE a second dog as well! Dogs are awesome anyway, and all dogs need a dog sibling, right?! (Good luck on this, Ella!)
Since she did mention how she likes to eat all the time, I was curious as to what she likes to eat. Most athletes I’ve interviewed so far this season have also mentioned their love of food, so this question usually gets me big smiles and giggles as they answer. Ella did the same! Her eyes lit up and she grinned large when she told me blue Takis, beef tacos, and specifically El Rancherito are her favorites! She even likes the lettuce and veggies on her tacos when most kids don’t! She says she hates tacos without lettuce!
When Ella gets older, she would love to either be a zookeeper or a veterinarian. Ella loves going to the zoo to see all the animals. She actually said if she could be doing anything in the world-aside from gymnastics or being at home-she’d like to be at the zoo. She wants to be involved with animals in some capacity all the time. Her favorite enclosures at the zoo are the bears; specifically, polar bears. She was telling me that at the zoo in St. Louis that you can see the polar bears swim and dive below the water through a glass wall. The best part of all is that the polar bear isn’t alone, because he has other polar bears in the same area. (Ella’s dad, this is another example of how animals do better in pairs. Ella, you’re welcome!)
Even though Ella is a Quincy girl, she loves the Florida beaches. Her grandma lives in Florida, so her family travels there frequently. When she’s there she likes to drive around in the golf cart, swim in the neighborhood pool, and go to the beach. The beach is her favorite activity while there. She tends to be hesitant of the pool, because once when she was there a snake was in the pool! Girl, I’d be going to the beach too and staying out of that pool!
When Ella’s coaches were thinking about who to choose this month as the Athlete of the Month, Coach Jake had this to say about Ella, “Ella is a quiet leader that leads by example every practice. She holds herself to a high standard, shows up every day, works hard, lifts up her teammates, and is always respectful of her coaches and peers.” We couldn’t ask for anything more of our Athlete of the Month! Congratulations, Ella. And good luck with getting Bandit a buddy!
