A Round Rock native recently helped the U.S. Air Force Academy (AFA) women’s gymnastics team gain prominence at the 2023 USA Gymnastics (USAG) Championships, earning an individual accolade of her own in the process, per a report from Austin NBC affiliate KXAN.
Citing the Colorado Springs, Colorado-based service academy, KXAN reported that 19-year-old sophomore cadet Velandra Brochi garnered the All-Around National Champion honors at the event that was held in Denton, just 210 miles to the north of her old stomping grounds.
An AFA-issued press release said that Brochi, who joined the program in 2021 out of Chaparral Star Academy, scored a 39.125 across all four events to secure national title bragging rights, becoming the Falcons’ first USAG titleholder in nearly half a decade when Anna Salamone achieved the feat.
Brochi expressed gratitude toward her teammates, coaches and family.
“I would love to thank all my coaches and teammates for all the love and support they have given me throughout my two years at the Air Force Academy,” she said, according to KXAN. “I truly could not have done it without them. I would also like to thank my parents for always supporting me and providing me with the opportunity to continue doing what I love.”
Per the AFA, Brochi was among the Falcons’ quintet of performers to be named a USAG All-American.
Joining Brochi, who landed on both the first and second teams, were teammates Amber Boll, Briona Carswell, Ayla McKean and Leilani Zander.
The program turned in a third-place finish at the team finals with a score of 194.850, tying with Southeast Missouri State University, according to the release.
Brochi’s profile on the team’s website said that she competed in all 15 events of her freshman season, with eight of those being all-around finishes.
She also enjoyed All-American honors last year as well.