The gymnastics team ended their regular season with a 4-3 record, led by senior captains Katie Jennings, Lily Maletta and Maya Regan.
The team’s season ended on Feb. 5 at the Midland Wachusett League Championship, where ARHS secured third place with a score of 136.35, the team’s highest score of the season.
“I think our highlight of the season was getting our season high at leagues,” Maletta said. “Just having a really great meet overall with the energy and cheering and support for all of our teammates.”
This year’s team looked different from last year, gaining six freshmen to replace the five seniors who graduated. Even with a larger roster and blend of different skill levels, the team prioritized giving everyone the opportunity to practice and compete.
“I think another season high was senior night because that marked when everybody on our team was able to compete at some point, whether it was JV or varsity,” Regan said. “I just thought that was super fun.”
The captains emphasized how the team saw a variety of standout performances throughout the season. Sophomore Hailey Simoneau and Regan competed all-around during the season and qualified for States, with Simoneau to compete on floor and Regan to compete on bars. Freshmen also made their mark, such as freshman Layla Paradise who tied for first place with a 9.0 on beam at the league championship.
“We really figured out how to work as a team by the end of the season,” Jennings said. “I think in the beginning of the season, [figuring out the dynamics] was a little rough, but we figured it out.”
Amongst these highlights, the season was not without challenges. The team faced a series of injuries early on, forcing routines to be taken out of the lineup.
“This year, we had a lot of injuries,” Regan said. “But I feel like people who might not have gotten the chance to compete got to compete and really step up.”
Even those who were injured remained supportive of the team, continuing to attend practice or cheering the team on at meets. This consistent spirit of support and positivity were also key components in their success.
“We’re always looking for ways that the team can be supportive of each other, since when you do gymnastics, you’re up there on your own,” head coach Angela Keith said. “We’re always trying to find new ways to incorporate the team into each event.”
One way is through highlighting team spirit, particularly during competitions. Inspired by the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) gymnastics team’s “UCLA” chant, the team created their own version with “ARHS.” Additionally, all vault competitions were celebrated with a vault tunnel and event captains led pep circles before each event to energize the team.
“Cheering is a really big part of competitions and just being supportive on the side,” Jennings said. “Even if you’re not competing, you still have to show up. I feel like by the end of the season the whole team learned how to be there for each other and I think we grew a lot as a team.”
Creating this supportive environment and emphasizing the significance of team chemistry is also important in laying the groundwork for the team’s future.
“I think [the underclassmen] will have a really good foundation for when they’re seniors because I feel like we taught them a lot and they learned how to be really good leaders,” Maletta said.
Reflecting on the season overall, the team is proud of their achievements and the progress they made.
“I think that coming off a really really good season can be hard for any team because you have a lot to live up to, but I think that our team did a really good job at working hard and just doing our team’s best, not our last year’s team best,” Maletta said. “I think it really solidified all of our hard work getting our season high at leagues.”
