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Lessons from 'The Goddess of Yo'
By MICHELE MILLER, Times Staff Writer NEW PORT RICHEY -- It's sort of a tradition at Deer Park Elementary to top off the first week of school with something, well, a little fun. Last year it was juggling with scarves. This year the Deer Park kids got to learn a little something about yo-yo skills. Who better to learn such tricks as "the dribble," "the forward pass," or "walk the dog" than from 21-year-old Jennifer Baybrook -- a.k.a. "The Goddess of Yo." According to her Web site, Baybrook is one of seven people (and the only woman) to have earned the title of National Master. Her list of accomplishments also includes winning national and world yo-yo championship titles, performances with the Smother's Brothers (at age 8), appearances on The Late Show with David Letterman and the Today show, as well as national and foreign tours. She was in the area recently to visit her parents, Robert and Stephanie Baybrook of New Port Richey, after judging the world Yo-Yo competition in Orlando. That gave her time to put in an appearance at Deer Park, where she first wowed the kids with her yo-yo skills during a schoolwide presentation, before working individually with students during their physical education classes. "This is fun," third-grader Samantha Clements said. "It was a surprise. They didn't tell us anything. They just told us we were going to the cafeteria for something special." "It was awesome," said classmate Ryan Desmond, who was busy trying to tackle "the sleeping thing trick" under the school's covered shelter. "I'm going to try to do 'the elevator,' " said Ryan. "But it's hard." Not a problem. After giving a brief presentation on "The Science of Spin," and measuring students for yo-yos (the string should be waist length), Baybrook was more than happy to help out one on one and even untangle a few unruly yo-yo strings. Baybrook, a representative for yo-yo company Spintastics, has been doing school presentations since she was 16. The presentations are free for schools that will allow the sales of Spintastics yo-yos to students at a cost of $6 each. "I love it," she said, "I love to work with the kids. You get such a good response." Especially from the girls, who sometimes see Jennifer as a role model. "That she's a girl and doing all this, that's what's most impressive," said 10-year-old Christina Mullen. "I generally try to promote girls to get into yo-yo play," Jennifer said. "I remind them to practice and keep up with it and just kind of encourage them in general to work hard to achieve goals. "Sometimes girls need a little more support." Jennifer said she had no idea that when she first picked up a yo-yo at the age of 6, it would take her this far. It has paid for her college education -- and then some -- at the University of Hawaii, where she soon will be returning to classes as a marketing major. She also has been able to travel extensively. "I just played with it and it sort of turned into my career," she said. "That's all I've ever done for work." To learn moreFor more information on Jennifer Baybrook presentations, e-mail jlbaybrook@aol.com or call 1-808-753-4250.
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From today's Pasco Times Letters |
