My thanks go to those whose composed constructive advice. I have looked at the list of competitors at Nationals but many were unfamiliar to me, so I do appreciate the recommendations. Otherwise all I have to go on is USNWR.
Certain people automatically assume that the one who is status conscious, competitive and ambitious is the parent and not the student. Our whole family acknowledges our daughter to be just as bright if not brighter than our son, and of course she is hoping to be accepted by a college of some academic distinction like her brother was. This post is about facilitating what SHE wants. If she or he was happy going to our good state university system, I would be happy for them and our pocketbooks even happier.
Hanna: She wanted to be a flyer but is already too tall (closing in on 5’ 7") and just started basing and back-spotting on an all-star team. She loves it. She’s unusually physically strong, having done Tae Kwan Do, Gymnastics, Synchro and then a year on her HS Cheer team, when they went to Nationals but weren’t competitive.