IWU's Gigi Zera: From Fairway Ace to Dough Artisan?
The College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) recently named Illinois Wesleyan’s Gigi Zera as their Women’s Golf Student-Athlete of the Week. This announcement, dated October 8th, highlights Zera’s impressive performance at the Wisconsin-Whitewater Fall Invite, where she secured fourth place with a final round of 73 (tying her career-low). It’s her fourth top-five finish, solidifying her status as a key player for the Titans.
But here's where things get interesting. A search reveals another Gigi Zera, or rather, a Zera Artisan Bakery, owned by Lauren Tepper in Waterloo, IL. Could there be a connection?
The Two Zeras: A Statistical Anomaly or Something More?
Let’s break this down. We have Gigi Zera, the sophomore golfer at Illinois Wesleyan, achieving athletic accolades. Then we have Zera Artisan Bakery, a relatively new establishment (opened sometime in early 2025) specializing in laminated dough – croissants, sugar buns, the works. What's the probability that two entities with the name "Zera" are making headlines in the same general timeframe (mid to late 2025)?
It’s tempting to dismiss this as mere coincidence. Names, after all, are just labels. But the proximity of Illinois Wesleyan (Bloomington, IL) to Waterloo, IL – about a two-hour drive – raises an eyebrow. Are we looking at a family connection? Is Gigi Zera the golfer perhaps related to Lauren Tepper, the bakery owner? And if so, does this explain something about the drive and perfectionism described in the bakery owner?
The Drive for Perfection: From Croissants to the Course
Tepper, in an interview with the Republic-Times, emphasizes her dedication to perfecting her craft. “Two years of trial and error, and I’m a little obsessive, so I don’t stop unless I get something right.” She specifically mentions the pursuit of “that real thin, flakey layer” in her croissants. This level of commitment resonates with the discipline required for competitive golf. (It's worth noting here that perfectionism can be both a strength and a potential pitfall; studies show a correlation between high achievement and anxiety.)
Could this shared trait – this relentless pursuit of excellence – be a family characteristic? Does Gigi Zera approach her golf game with the same meticulousness that Lauren Tepper applies to her baking? We don't have direct data on Gigi's training regimen, but her consistent top-five finishes suggest a similar level of dedication. The CCIW recently highlighted her achievements, naming IWU's Zera Named CCIW Women’s Golf Student-Athlete of the Week.
And this is the part of the equation that I find genuinely puzzling. We have a high-achieving athlete and a detail-oriented artisan baker, both operating under the same relatively uncommon last name, within a reasonable geographical radius. The odds of this being purely random seem…unlikely.
The absence of readily available information connecting the two Zeras is also notable. In the age of interconnectedness and social media, it's unusual not to find some digital footprint linking them if a relationship exists. This digital silence, however, could be intentional. Perhaps the families prefer to maintain a degree of privacy.
Consider this: if Gigi Zera is indeed related to Lauren Tepper, the discipline and focus required for golf might be fueled by the delicious baked goods from Zera Artisan Bakery. A carb-loading strategy, perhaps? (Okay, that's a bit tongue-in-cheek, but the point remains: food and athletic performance are undeniably linked.)
So, What's the Real Story?
Occam's Razor suggests the simplest explanation is usually the best. But sometimes, the simplest explanation is also the least interesting. The lack of concrete evidence linking Gigi Zera, the golfer, and Lauren Tepper, the baker, is frustrating. But the circumstantial evidence – the shared name, the geographical proximity, the parallel dedication to excellence – is compelling enough to warrant further investigation. Maybe a local reporter in the Waterloo area could look into this. The truth, like a perfectly laminated croissant, is waiting to be uncovered.