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DESIRE TO INSPIRE: Usner coming out of "Little Sister" shadow
ANNA CLAIRE USNER HAS ALWAYS BEEN JACK USNER’S “LITTLE SISTER”.
She doesn’t mind, though.
“Yeah, I know I kind of grew up in his shadow, but I learned a lot from him,” she said. “When you want to be the best, you have to become obsessed with the drive to get there. He taught me how to work hard for things.”
Jack and his teammates won TAPPS State golf three consecutive years in dominating fashion, and he’s now playing college golf at Texas A&M.
While Jack has been at the top of the mountain in his sport, Anna Claire has forged her own journey and is also enjoying success.
“I started in competitive cheer but by 10-years-old I wanted to do something else,” she laughed. “My parents told me it was either golf or tennis. I was
getting tired of following Jack around with
so I started playing tennis. I got pretty good at it and it’s something I can do for the rest of my life.
“I made it to State last year, but I was the only one from TWCA. I was looking at everyone having fun with their teams. This year, I want to bring my team. I’m encouraging everyone to work hard so we can all get there.”
Usner is also a cheerleader at TWCA, hangs with her friends and shops, like most teenagers, but her true passion is kids.
“I’ve always done after-school care for kids,” she said. “When you are young, you always look up to the older kids who take time to hang out with you. I want to inspire the next generation. They will always remember you for doing that.”
Her plan is to study pediatric physical therapy at Texas A&M.
Following her brother isn’t so bad after all. He’s been her inspiration.
SUPER SARAH: TWCA's Chappelle setting lofty goals for track; life
SARAH CHAPPELLE HAS LEFT A TREMENDOUS LEGACY AT THE WOODLANDS CHRISTIAN ACADEMY.
But, she’s just getting started.
The senior track star has hopes of setting the TAPPS Class 5A State Record in the 300 hurdles on her way
out this Spring, before heading to Hillsdale College in Michigan. She will be bringing her spikes with her, along with her sweaters.
“I’m beyond excited for the next step of my life,” she said. “It’s a great school with a great track and field program. The mentorship, Christian culture, facilities and network are all amazing. I’ll get homesick but I’m already building a family there.”
Family is everything for Chappelle. Her brother plays football at Troy University in Alabama, and her parents have mentored her throughout her life.
“My parents are amazing,” she said. “My Mom is from rural Alabama. She was worried about her kids having
a work ethic when we moved to The Woodlands. They have made sure that we had to work for what we wanted. It taught me an early life-lesson that if you want to be successful, you have to work for it. They instilled that in us and to seek the Lord. That has grown me into the woman I am today.”
The TWCA-lifer, Chappelle flipped her philosophy when she stepped foot on the track in high school.
“Coming into high school, track was just for me to glorify myself... I just wanted to be fast and track was my idol,” she said. “The Holy Spirit worked in me and since then I’ve been more focused on God. Now I see track as a gift he has given me to glory him. My view shifted coming into ninth grade.”
When she’s not training, she has a pair of unique hobbies.
“I love sports photography,” she said. “I never thought I was creative but taking photos is my artistic outlet. When I’m sitting and editing my photos, I just decompress. It also keeps me involved in sports.”
The other?
“I do bio-technology competitions,” she laughed. “There is a thing called gel electrophoresis (the separation of DNA) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). I basically extract DNA, run it through PCR and find out about different diseases and bacteria. I can nerd out sometimes.”
While she is focused on the Lord and track, she also has a passion to become an OBGYN (obstetrician/ gynecologist).
“That’s the plan,” she said. God-willing.