RIO DE JANEIRO -- Anthony and Wanda Hernandez expected no favors as they gathered with the masses Tuesday to watch their daughter, Laurie, and her U.S. teammates compete in the womens gymnastics team final at Rios Olympic Stadium.They didnt get any, as an official directed the pair to the end of the line, despite some helpful onlookers pointing out that they were the parents of a competitor.It is how they say they raised their 16-year-old, the youngest member of the American team that captured team gold Tuesday night. Lauries mother, Wanda, a school social worker, said with a laugh that they still feel a little like party-crashers.It hasnt hit us that, even though Laurie is part of this team, shes really part of this team, Wanda said.If they werent sure before Tuesday night, there was confirmation in the role Laurie played in the team gold, with scores of 15.100 on vault, 15.233 on beam and 14.833 on floor. But for the family of a girl who less than a year ago was competing for the junior national team, it is still a bit of a blur.It is very overwhelming, said Anthony Hernandez, a court clerk for the New York City Supreme Court. It hasnt hit us. .... Everything is happening so fast. We dont have a chance to process. Its just a whirlwind.Not so overwhelming, apparently, was Lauries decision last week to forgo a college scholarship to Florida and turn professional.It was not an easy decision, but it was a decision she made, and we decided to support her, Wanda said.The first cent is going to go for college, Anthony said.Both parents said Laurie was partly motivated by not wanting to take a spot on the Gators roster that would better serve another gymnast.For her, it was giving others an opportunity to be able to shine the way she has, Wanda said. She doesnt want to take the opportunity away from someone else.As for the downside of being a professional on arguably the most famous team in America, there have been a few examples, the most recent being the rumor that a hamstring injury forced her out of consideration for the Olympic all-around competition.The hamstring is fine, though Marta Karolyi said Laurie had a slight abdominal pull. Laurie and her parents were content to accept that it was a competitive decision that gave Simone Biles, Aly Raisman and Gabby Douglas the nod going into qualifications (the trio finished 1-2-3, but only two per country are allowed to compete in all-around finals).Its what Marta wants for the team, Wanda said. Its about what our coach wants as well. At this point, were all respectful and mindful, just grateful for this opportunity to be here. Lauren looks at all the Olympians and world champions, and theyre the stars in her eyes. I dont think she has equated herself as part of the Olympians as yet. Neither have we.These are not stereotypical soccer parents. Wanda has patently avoided getting overly involved, to the extent that she said she does not learn Lauries routines.Im going to see it through a moms eyes, she has said.On Tuesday, the two exchanged text photos of mother and daughter puckering up before competition.There are anxious moments, of course, Wanda said, but shes having a ball.For Anthony and Wanda, what was happening for their daughter began to dawn on them at the Team USA trials.She always dreamed of being on the floor and all the confetti falling down, and once she lifted her eyes and you could see her eyes with the confetti, its like, OK, shes really there. Wow, Wanda said. That was a proud moment.Anthony said it hit him after the U.S. team was named and Laurie asked a security guard if her father could come down to the floor.When I came down, I was able to hug her and just congratulate her, tell her that were so proud of her, he said while miming the ferocity of the hug. That was a defining moment for me, where I was able to look at it and say, Wow, shes going.Before he went down to the floor, Anthony said, he looked at Lauries 20-year-old brother, and the two burst into tears.We just hugged, and we let it out, he said. It was one of those things where we couldnt believe it. It was just a surreal moment that were there, and were watching all this going on, and people are actually cheering for all of these young ladies.Cheering for Laurie. Adidas Yeezy Baratas . Once again Jordan Cieciwa (@FitCityJordan) and I (@LynchOnSports) go head to head in our picks. Last weekend at UFC Fight Night 32 my #TeamLynch got the best of #TeamJC by a score of 9-6. Let us know which side youre on for UFC 167 use the hashtag #TeamLynch or #TeamJC on Twitter. Zapatillas Adidas Yeezy Baratas . It was hard for Luck to pull off another comeback, or even get into the end zone, while standing on the sideline. Rivers threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to rookie Keenan Allen and Nick Novak kicked four field goals to give the Chargers a 19-9 victory against the Colts on Monday night. http://www.adidasyeezybaratas.es/ .Y. -- Injured Buffalo Sabres forward Marcus Foligno did not practice with the team Monday and head coach Ron Rolston said its unlikely hell play in Wednesdays season opener in Detroit. Comprar Yeezy Originales .Y. -- Canadas Kaillie Humphries and Heather Moyse have another World Cup gold medal after winning the two-women bobsled race on Saturday in Lake Placid, N. Comprar Adidas Yeezy Baratas . There was no hesitation from the 40th-ranked Pospisil, from Vernon, B.C., who admitted that he cut back on his training sessions over the last few days to conserve energy as the long ATP season finishes next week at the Paris Masters. EVANSTON, Ill. -- Bryant McIntosh sees the progress.The star point guard endured a losing season as a freshman and was a big reason why Northwestern set a school regular-season record with 20 wins a year ago.Now as he enters his junior season, McIntosh sees no reason why the Wildcats cant continue their climb.The experiences that Ive gone through the past two years, it keeps telling me its our time, its my time, McIntosh said.The Wildcats are counting on McIntosh to help them continue the progress they have made under coach Chris Collins and maybe -- at long last -- lead them to their first NCAA Tournament. Northwestern went 20-12 overall and 8-10 in conference play to finish ninth in the Big Ten a year ago.In McIntosh , the Wildcats boast one of the Big Tens top point guards.He set a school record with 213 assists and ranked second in the Big Ten -- ninth nationally -- at 6.7 per game last season. McIntosh is also the teams top returning scorer after averaging 13.8 points.I wouldnt trade Bryant for any other guard in college basketball, Collins said. I love the kid. Hes been with me since day one. He committed to us and has been there, and weve given him the ball as a freshman. Hes done nothing but get better and better every year.Here are some things to look for from the Wildcats:STEADY PROGRESSNorthwestern appears to be headed in the right direction, going from 14-19 to 15-17 to 20-12 in Collins three seasons. But the question remains. Can Northwestern, the host of the first Final Four in 1939 -- reach the NCAA tourney?I think you cant let your mind wander to March, Collins said. I think you have to understand the games in November and December are just as important as the ones in late February and early March.ddddddddddddCollins thought the Wildcats were in good position to challenge the NCAA drought last year. Losing forward Vic Law for the season to a shoulder injury and center Alex Olah (foot) missing time damaged their chances.PARDON HIMNorthwestern planned to redshirt center Dererk Pardon as a freshman last season. Olahs injury changed that.Pardon wound up averaging 6.7 points and 4.2 rebounds in 20 games. Now that Olah is gone, Northwestern is counting on bigger things from him.I think hes ready to take that role on. Alex Olah has been such a constant in our program the last four years, three with me, Collins said.LAW RETURNSNorthwesterns NCAA hopes in some ways hinge on Law.The 6-foot-7 forward brings the athleticism and all-around game that could go a long way toward determining how far the Wildcats go. A highly touted recruit, Law averaged 7 points, 4.8 rebounds and shot 35.5 percent on 3-pointers as freshman in 2014-15.TWO TIMENorthwestern needs to find a scoring threat to pair with McIntosh in the backcourt, now that last years leading scorer Tre Demps is gone. That could be up to junior Scottie Lindsey, who shot just under 41 percent on 3-pointers last season. Law might also be a possibility.OVERHAUL COMINGSay goodbye to Welsh-Ryan Arena for a while.The 63-year-old facility is in for a $110 million renovation after this season, with chair-back seats replacing wooden bleachers, premium seating, wider concourses and updated audio and video systems. While the arena gets a makeover, the Wildcats will play home games during the 2017-18 season at Allstate Arena in Rosemont. ' ' '