The gymnastics team for South Windsor High School may only have three people on the team, but though they are small, they are mighty. Though smaller than in years prior, this will not stop the team from competing throughout the winter.
The only returning girl for the season is sophomore Madison Peruccio. ¨I am so excited to continue gymnastics with the high school; I am looking forward to a new season,¨ said Peruccio who is excited for a new season to start.
The team works hard, practicing every day except Thursdays in order to progress and make brilliant routines to compete with. They are transported by the high school every day to Tri Town, where these girls work on the bars, beam, floor, trampoline, and vault. The girls will ultimately compete in all of these different events.
Each aspect of gymnastics is vastly different. The bar category has two bars made out of fiberglass with wood coating, a lower bar and a higher bar, on which gymnasts can spin around, jump off of, or do dismounts such as backflips.
The beam features one straight line covered in leather or suede. The girls balance on this beam while performing tricks on it, trying to get a perfect 10.0 out of 10.0. Gymnasts dismount from the edge of the beam and attempt to try and stick their landing perfectly.
On the floor, girls have a routine that is choreographed by the coach. The routine includes dancing, jumping, tumbling, and moving their body every second, going all over the spring floor mat trying not to miss a step, all of this in an attempt to impress the judges.
Trampoline is where performers do use their tumbling skills. Showing off their best work on the trampoline includes things such as back handsprings and back tucks. The girls will attempt not to over rotate their body as they are soaring through the air, while still landing on two feet.
Vault is an event where gymnasts must run down a column, do a trick, place their hands on a soft surface and do a trick off of it, having to land it without moving their feet. In the end, sticking the landing is one of the most important skills a gymnast can have in the eyes of the judges.
The team manager, sophomore Ava Natal explains that the girls have been working hard even though it’s just the beginning of the season. ¨I have seen these girls work hard in order to succeed and try new skills with the team supporting each other along the way,¨ said Natal.
The team has been working hard since day one making a great effort to continue to progress. As they go on to compete, they hope to build off of this progress and get good scores in every category they compete in.
