Music and cheering filled the bus as the CHS gymnastics team traveled to the district meet at South Lakes High School last year. The girls did each other’s hair and hyped everyone up for their competition. Even though only a couple people competed for the team, the whole team showed up.
“I try to make sure that throughout the regular season, everyone on the team has competed at least once,” head coach Samanta Javanbakht said. “and I make sure all the girls show up to meet ready to go.”
The team practices six days a week. Each athlete runs their routine multiple times at practice, preparing them for meets. During meets, the whole team has to be ready to compete by having their routine prepared in case someone needs to be swapped out. Adding the top three scores from the team determines the teams score for the floor, beam, vault and uneven bars routines.
“I think being in the mindset of being ready to compete at any time helps the girls stay focused as a team,” head coach Javanbakht said. “You can’t make up a great team score with just one person. You need a full team with each person playing their role to the best of their ability.”
The team didn’t make it to regionals last year, but they got their highest score of their season at districts finishing in fifth place. There are many juniors and seniors returning who have the experience of finishing in districts last season.
“I wouldn’t say that we really have opponents,” senior Michaela Turner said. “mostly we’re all just doing it for fun and if we win along the way, then that’s great too.”
Gymnastics is an independent sport, meaning individual athletes are chosen for each skill. These selections are based on skill level and performance. Additionally, college recruiters may be present to scout higher-level gymnasts.
“Gymnastics is already a scary sport and competing by yourself on the equipment makes it scarier,” Javanbakht said. “Knowing you have a full team that has your back no matter what takes a bit of that weight off your shoulders.”
Javanbakht believes having a good mindset is important for the team to stay focused during the whole season. During practices, each gymnast runs their routine while the coach scores them, this prepares each of the girls for performing independently. Maintaining a positive mindset keeps routines smooth. While doing routines on equipment like the beam, staying calm and focused is important.
Most of the girls on the team have done gymnastics a lot of their lives and they have experience independently. Zampiello has done gymnastics for eight years and senior Michaela Turner has done gymnastics for 10 years.
“I perform many skills at different events,” Turner said. “My favorite is my floor routine and I do either a round off handspring tuck or a double handspring tuck.”
The team has their next meet on Thursday, Jan. 9 at Lake Braddock High School, starting at 6:00pm.
