Leslie has been a member of the Forbes Flyers Jump Rope Team since third grade and is now a graduate from Torrington High School attending Rensselaer College in Troy, New York in the Fall. She has won numerous awards at the regional and national level which includes a third place medal in Double Dutch Singles Freestyle with her Double Dutch singles relay team qualifying for the stage for the 2009, 2010, 2011 Grand National Tournament. She was a co-captain this year and was instrumental in choreographing our team show. She has been a wonderful leader and mentor for the younger members on our team as well a staff member at Northern Camp this past summer and other workshops within CT and in Michigan. She competed in the 2010 FISAC World Tournament held in London last summer. She has competed at the Apollo and plans to continue to support the sport by competing and judging. She was also a member of the high school honor society, marching band and swim and dive team. We wish her the best of luck as she transitions into college where the strong foundation formed with our team and her other team sports will be an asset to her as she continues to reach for new goals and challenges. We know she will “Fly High”.
Michele Markel been a member of the Forbes Flyers Jump Rope Team since third grade and is now a graduate from Oliver Wilcott Technical School attending Springfield College in Springfield, Massachusetts in the Fall. She has won numerous awards at the regional and nationally level. Her Double Dutch Singles Freestyle Team won an age division gold in ‘07. This year her Double Dutch Pairs Speed and Pairs Freestyle won 3rd place at Grand Nationals and Gold in their age-division. Michele was a co-captain this year and was instrumental in leading our practices and drills and in teaching and creating our team show. She has taken what she has learned as a nationally ranked gymnast and applied it to her drill work, teaching techniques and group management making her a wonderful leader and mentor for the younger members on our team. Her patience and ability to help everyone find success will serve her well as she moves into her college experience. She has competed at the Apollo and plans to continue to compete while in college. Our team motto is “We Believe we can Fly” and we know that Michele will spread her wings and “Soar” when she goes to college. Best of Luck Michele, our “Little Miss Sunshine”.
Maryssa Brogis has been a member on the Forbes Flyers Jump Rope Team since 3rd grade and will now be continuing her college education at Union College in New York. Maryssa had a very active senior year as President of her class. She was active in Drama, played an instrument and was a member of the high school honor society. In addition to these responsibilities she was also co-captain of the team and had the responsibility to assist in running practices and creating a team show for regional and national competition. She has won numerous awards at the regional and nationally level. Her Double Dutch Singles Freestyle Team won an age division gold in ‘07. This year her Double Dutch Pairs Speed and Pairs Freestyle won 3rd place at Grand Nationals and Gold in their age-division. She was very creative in developing drills and activities to maintain jumper interest as well as provide the skill development necessary to improve speed, freestyle and confidence. Her strong foundation will provide her with the confidence she needs as she transitions into college life. We wish her the best as she takes flight to fly high because she is a “Flyer” and will now she will SOAR!