Biography : Brooke's Favorites

Brooke Parker was born on September 2, 1993 in San Diego, California to Mike and Nora Parker. Brooke has an older brother, Jayce (a retired world class USAG Tumbler) who is a sophomore at the University of Alabama. Brooke graduated from South County Secondary School in 2011. Currently, she is a freshman at the University of Alabama.

Brooke's mom, Nora, wanted Brooke to pursue the sport of soccer. A friend recommended gymnastics as a means of obtaining flexibility, balance, strength and discipline for any other sport. This friend also felt that Brooke would do well as gymnast. Although gymnastics does provide the skills recommended, Brooke never made her way back to Soccer after falling in love with the sport of gymnastics. Eight years later, still in gymnastics. Brooke first started training at Novaks Gymnastics under coach Elena LaFrance and Jaraslav Novak in late 2000. Although Brooke started competing in the sport late, at age 11, Brooke has excelled.

In 2003, she competed as a level five. Brooke qualified to the VA State Championships. In 2004, Brooke moved all the way up to level seven. She finished ninth in the all-around at Level 7 States. After the 2004 season, Brooke began training and competing for Capital Gymnastics National Training Center under coaches Tatiana Perskaia, Marina Gerom, and Victor Vetrov. In late 2004, she placed third in the all-around at the Black Eyed Susan Invitational as a level eight. At the Level 8 State Championships, Brooke finished second in the all-around and won a gold medal on balance beam.

Brooke began her level nine competitive season in late 2005 season, where she placed third in the all-around at the Commonwealth Cup shortly before the new year. In 2006, she won the all-around title at the Excalibur Cup. At the Level 9 State Championships, she finished first on vault and second in the all-around. She moved up to the first place position at Level 9 Regionals. Her final level 9 meet was the Eastern Championships where she finished seventh in the all-around and placed eighth on vault and seventh on floor. Brooke then qualified for junior pre-elite. In July, she competed at the US Challenge.

As a first year level ten in 2007, Brooke finished second in the all-around at Level 10 States. She won a bronze medal on uneven bars and floor exercise and a silver medal on balance beam. Unfortunately, she had a bad bar routine at Level 10 Regionals which kept her out of Junior Olympic Nationals.

In 2008, Brooke successfully qualified to junior international elite. In May at the Texas Dreams National Elite Qualifier, she qualified for the US National Championships after placing sixth in the all-around! Brooke competed at 2008 US Classic as a practice for upcoming VISA Championships. She only did three events. On the first day of VISA Championships, Brooke placed 20th in the all-around. Two days later, she improved her all-around score and moved up to 19th place.

In 2009, Brooke successfully qualified as a senior international elite. In March, at the National Team Training Camp, Brooke qualified to the American Classic and US Classic. Brooke placed third in the all-around at the American Classic and eighth in the all-around at the US Classic in Des Moines, Iowa. SHe finished 13th overall and 9th on uneven bars at the VISA Championships in Dallas, Texas. In September of 2009, Brooke verbally committed to the University of Alabama during the 2011-2012 school year.

Brooke only competed three competitions in 2010. She finished second in the all-around and first on balance beam at the Metroplex Challenge. At the Buckeye Classic, she placed fourth in the all-around and first on floor exercise. Brooke concluded 2010 season at the US Classic in Chicago, IL, where she placed 17th overall. In 2011, Brooke competed as a level 10 gymnast and finished fifth in the all-around at the Hill's Maryland Classic and second on uneven bars at the Gliders Invitational.

Currently, Brooke is a NCAA gymnast for the University of Alabama Crimson Tide where she is training under coaches Sarah & David Patterson, Bryan Raschilla and Dana Duckworth. Brooke is preparing for the upcoming 2012 season with the gymnastics team.