A Fraction of a Point - by Nina Mandell (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

When the Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School gymnastics team competes in the Ohio High School Athletic Association state gymnastics meet, they're expected to win. That's because they've won each year--since 2004. And as the streak builds, there's more pressure each year on the public school's team to continue that tradition. No year was more tense than the year that they were hoping to take home their 20th straight title.

A Fraction of a Point follows the Bees throughout the intense 2022-2023 season as the team works toward the state meet. During one of their most competitive seasons in recent years, sports journalist Nina Mandell explores the gymnasts' backstories and traces the legacy of the Ganim family, the team's longtime coaches. Initially led by husband and wife Joan and Ron Ganim, their daughter, Maria Schneider, then became coach. In a sport that has been plagued by scandal--especially for the mistreatment of athletes--the Ganims represent a changing face of gymnastics by emphasizing their players' well-being and mental health.

Throughout A Fraction of a Point, the players and coaches frequently question if they're good enough to keep the winning streak alive and if the gymnasts will be able to rise to the challenge. But this isn't just a story about one historic season. At its heart, it's also about the teenagers balancing athletics with high school life, the larger community that supported the team, what it means to compete for the joy of the sport, and the athletes' and coaches' dedication even while facing immense pressure.

Review Quotes

"Women's gymnastics has never been more popular, from the Olympics to the NCAA to America's high schools. So the timing is perfect for journalist Nina Mandell to tell the fascinating story of the awe-inspiring domination of an unbeatable Ohio high school gymnastics team -- and she is the perfect writer to do it. Mandell is an accomplished national sports journalist, having worked at USA Today, NBC Sports Washington, and NBC Regional Sports Networks, among other media outlets. Her book will resonate as a story of remarkable female sports success as the nation continues to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Title IX."--Christine Brennan, USA Today columnist; CNN, ABC News, PBS NewsHour, and NPR commentator; author of the memoir Best Seat in the House: A Father, A Daughter, A Journey Through Sports and the best-selling Inside Edge: A Revealing Journey Into the Secret World of Figure Skating

"Nina tells the story of the greatest sports streak you've never heard of--a 19-year streak of state titles for an Ohio high school gymnastics program. That streak of dominance would be unbelievable on its own, but the journey she takes readers on is much deeper than just one about raising another banner. It explores the emotions of living up to those crushing expectations, the pressure on the next generation to keep this otherworldly streak alive, and the nail-biting suspense of whether it will finally end."--Greg Presto, author of The Workout Bucket List: Over 300 Life-Changing Races, Epic Challenges, and Incredible Hikes, Bikes, Lifts, and Runs around the World, in Your Gym, or Right in Your Living Room

About the Author

Nina Mandell is a journalist living in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, who has written for 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" site and the former digital director/managing editor of NBC Sports Washington, and currently works in sports marketing.