Roxanne Yates ’28
EE Staff Writer
On Saturday Feb 22nd at Law High School in Milford, the Trumbull High School gymnastics team won the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) gymnastics Class L state championship, making this their second consecutive “States” win.
The gymnasts credited their success to a difficult and demanding practice schedule throughout the competition season.
“We mostly prepared during practice and club hours”, said freshman gymnast Sally Pelligra. “Practice was more stressful and demanding as competition day was getting closer.”
The extra hours and increased pressure was difficult for those competing and hard on them mentally and physically. Preparing for the competition was very important and what led the team to victory.
Before competing, the gymnasts had time to warm up and observe the other gymnasts.
“Especially after winning last year, we were worried about competing with other champions from other towns,” said one Trumbull High School upperclassmen gymnast. The team’s previous win added pressure on them as they prepared to start the competition.
The competitors try their best to encourage each other and “keep spirits high”, as one gymnast said. The gymnasts at Trumbull High School have a strong team dynamic and “hold each other up as part of the team,” said Pelligra.
The team expressed the importance of supporting and cheering for all of their teammates to help them stay focused on their individual performances and not the competitors. The team’s collective hope of winning allowed them to support and encourage each other as best they could.
Members of the team contributed in their own ways to win. The different abilities of different people on the team highlighted the strengths and weaknesses that all compliment each other. Every gymnast was an important factor in the team’s victory.
Winning the state competition was a huge achievement for the school team. Winning brought “relief” to the team, as one gymnast said. Additionally, the win brought recognition to the team, in and out of school.
Photo courstesy: Kwame Colecraft/For Hearst Connecticut Media