"A Fraction of a Point" Panel Discussion and Book Launch

A Fraction of a Point: The Story Behind Brecksville-Broadview Heights’ Gymnastics Dynasty

Friday, April 17 from 7:00–9:00 PM

Join us for a special evening celebrating the launch of A Fraction of a Point, an inside look at one of the most remarkable dynasties in high school sports history. Author Nina Mandell will be joined in conversation by former Brecksville-Broadview Heights standout gymnasts, 15x OHSAA gold medalist, Alecia Farina and former University of Maryland gymnast and Rachel Kelly, a 4× OHSAA team state champion.

For more than two decades, the Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School gymnastics team has defined excellence, capturing an extraordinary state-title streak that began in 2004. But with each passing year, the pressure to continue the legacy has only grown. No season carried more weight than 2022–2023, when the team pursued its 20th consecutive championship.

In A Fraction of a Point, Mandell follows the Bees through that high-stakes season, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the athletes, their families, and the long-running influence of the Ganim coaching family. The book reveals not only the intensity of elite competition, but also the humanity behind it—the teenagers balancing school and sport, the community rallying behind them, and the enduring joy that fuels their dedication even under immense expectations.

As the championship ultimately comes down to the final routine, the story captures a moment when an entire gym falls silent, waiting to see whether history will continue—or be rewritten.

About the Author
Nina Mandell is a Cleveland Heights–based journalist whose work has appeared in Bustle, ESPN, Sports Illustrated, USA Today, The New York Daily News, and NBC Regional Sports Networks. She is the former managing editor of USA Today’s For The Win and the former digital director/managing editor of NBC Sports Washington, and she currently works in sports marketing.

Autographed copies of the book will be available for purchase.

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