Joscelyn Roberson
Joscelyn Roberson is an 18-year-old Texarkana, Texas, native who has quickly risen to prominence in the world of gymnastics. Her talent was evident from a young age, and by third grade, she was already performing elite-level tumbling. She trained at Northeast Texas Elite Gymnastics before moving to the World Champions Centre (WCC) in Spring, Texas, to train under renowned coaches Cecile and Laurent Landi alongside gymnastics superstar Simone Biles. Roberson’s journey to the 2024 Paris Olympics has been marked by both triumph and challenge. At the U.S. Olympic Team Trials, she delivered captivating performances, securing her spot as a traveling alternate for the team. Looking ahead, Roberson is set to join the University of Arkansas gymnastics team, where she will be coached by Olympic gold medalist Jordyn Wieber, further honing her skills and contributing to the collegiate gymnastics scene.
What is your favorite Texarkana memory?
My favorite Texarkana memory is participating in the Christmas parade with my gymnastics team. I always remember singing Christmas jingles with them while freezing and drinking hot cocoa.
Where was your favorite place to eat in Texarkana?
I LOVE AMIGO JUAN. It’s a local spot, and I haven’t found a TexMex place like it. I go every time I’m in town. Their food is amazing!
What was the teen hangout when you lived here?
There wasn’t much of a hangout spot that I knew of. However, when I wanted to hang out with my friends or meet new people, I’d always go to the high school baseball games. Those were so much fun, and I got really competitive over them. Growing up in Liberty-Eylau (LE) and having both my parents graduate from there, I adopted it as my high school.
Where was your favorite place to shop in Texarkana?
Apricot Lane is my favorite place to shop in Texarkana, and I actually helped convince the owner to open the store! I love her so much and can’t wait to see her when I come down next time! Her name is Melissa Raney Martin, and I’m really close with her daughter!
Were you a Hawk, Leopard, Razorback, or Tiger?
I did online school. However, I adopted LE as my school, so I guess you could say I was a Leopard. At first, I really didn’t identify with any one school, but during my cousin’s senior year of high school I started going to his games. I went to the PG vs. LE game and completely fell in love with the atmosphere. The competitiveness and community all in one area was just unreal. After that, I went to as many games as I could.
How do you describe Texarkana to your friends?
I describe it as a small town with a closeknit community of people, and they’re always working to better the city. Who is someone from Texarkana who impacted your life and why? My family! They are so supportive in everything I do and I wouldn’t be where I am without them. Also, my old coaches, Amy, Lloyd, and Kory. I was with them almost as much as I was at home. They taught me so much, from work ethic to how to carry myself. They were my life teachers.
What do you love about Texarkana?
I love that it feels like home, and how much the high school rivalries thrive. It’s so much fun, and the fact that it’s within our community is just great.
What would you change about Texarkana?
I would put more things to do—like pickleball, mini-golf, and a better shopping area—just so teens and others have more to do rather than go out to eat or go to the movies. You can only do those things so many times before it gets old.
What is your nickname for Texarkana?
I honestly don’t really have a nickname for Texarkana. I guess when I’m texting, if I don’t feel like typing the whole word, I’ll put TXK or TK. However, I do call it home, so maybe “home.” What do you miss about Texarkana? I miss my family and how well I know the ins and outs of the town. Also, I miss the snow cones from Wake Village Shaved Ice!
What words do you live by?
Recently, the thing I’ve been telling myself has been, “expect nothing, be grateful for everything.”
TXK Roots is Texarkana Magazine’s forum to highlight and honor Texarkana natives who have accomplished big things in the world. These folks may have relocated, but they took the values, education, work ethic and creativity instilled in them by growing up in this unique border city and used these qualities to blaze extraordinary trails. We asked them to share their thoughts about growing up here. No matter how far from Texarkana they may find themselves, we will always consider them our neighbors and we are proud to claim them as forever members of our extended Texarkana community. After all, “everyone is famous in their hometown!”
