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Community Corner

2012 Sports Grand Marshal for Holiday Parade: Olympian Kyla Ross

Ross, a member of the 2012 Olympic Gymntastics Team will be front and center in Laguna Niguel's annual holiday parade on Dec. 8.

Residents will have a rare treat on Dec. 8 when Olympian Kyla Ross serves as the sports marshal for the annual Laguna Niguel Holiday Parade.

The theme for this year's parade is " and in typical parade fashion, the event will be filled with equestrian units, patriotic and inspirational military tributes, spirit-filled youth groups, classic auto clubs, talented marching bands, and some of the biggest attractions in the nation.

At the age of 15, Ross scored a Gold medal in the Team All-Around Competition.  

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Ross began her gymnastics career at the age of three when her mother put her in the sport because she was so active and energetic. She currently trains in Costa Mesa at Gym-Max Gymnastics under coaches Jenny Zhang and Howie Liang. She is sophomore at Aliso Niguel High School. 

The Laguna Niguel Parade begins at 10 a.m. on Crown Valley Parkway between Nueva Vista and Crown Valley Park. The Rotary Club of Laguna Niguel in partnership with the Holiday Parade Committee, is sponsoring the local hero entry in the parade. The first hero announced was  who has also shown leadership in her community. Others announced include Courtney Fielder, a volunteer and resident.

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Joining Ross as sports marshal will be Thomas John "Tom" Hoff a middle blocker in Volleyball and has been with the U.S. National Team since 1996. He is a three time Olympian: 20002004 and 2008. His team earned a Gold medal at the Bejiing Games in 2008. In addition to indoor volleyball, Hoff also played on the Bud Light Pro Beach Volleyball tour.

Hoff spent his first two years of college at Ohio State and transferred to Long Beach State, earning several First Team All American honors, as well as setting a national record for most matches with 20 or more kills (25) and 10 or more blocks. He resides in Laguna Niguel with his wife Sandy and his five daughters, Tatum, 9, Ella, 7, Ava, 5, Demi and Zoey, 3. 

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