Depth, experience lead Colonial gymnasts
By Ken Powers Community Reporter

Shrewsbury - The Shrewsbury High gymnastics team has picked up in 2008 right where it left off in 2007.

The Colonials, under the guidance of coach Kristin Bennett, raised an eyebrow or two last winter by rolling to an 11-3 season and a second-place finish at the Mid-Wachusett League's A division meet.

This winter, the team hasn't missed a beat and entered the week with a 7-1 record, thanks to a 140.65-131.35 victory over Westborough High Jan. 26.

"The season is going well," Bennett said. "We've definitely benefited from the fact that only three gymnasts on last year's team graduated. So we have a lot of girls who contributed to last year's success back with us, and that success has created more interest in the team and brought more girls to us."

Gymnastics, however, is not a sport where it's only important to have large numbers in the fold.

"A big reason for last year's success was the depth we had up and down the roster, in all of the events," Bennett said.

Everyone contributed to the success - freshmen as well as seniors. When you have a team made up of athletes who all compete for spots and push each other in every practice and every meet, you'll find success."

That success has carried over and, mixed with a change in strategy by the coach, could pay dividends if the Colonials are able to again qualify for sectionals.

"We're training much diff erently this season," Bennett said. "We're spending much more of our practice time competing in ways that simulate competition and the pressures that go along with it, especially at the sectional level. We've added pressure to our practices because, ultimately, that's how you're measured - by how well you fare doing the things you've done many times before in a pressure-packed situation with everyone watching."

The Colonials are led by a trio of seniors, Lindsey Hunter, Alex Delaney and Kristen Pasquale.

"Lindsey's our captain and she's been great," Bennett said. "Every time you need someone to step up and take charge of something, there's Lindsey stepping up and taking charge."

Hunter has not only led her teammates in fund-raising eff orts this season, but she also is one of Colonials' top performers on the balance beam.

Delaney also brings veteran leadership to the team, often leading the team with her performances on the vault and the uneven parallel bars as well as with her floor exercise routines.

Pasquale has had a big impact on the Colonials' successes of late, receiving all-around honors in the win over Westborough with a 36.25 score, earned via a top finish in the uneven parallel bars (8.75), the floor exercise (9.45), the vault (8.95) and a strong showing on the balance beam as well.

In a 139.875-136.625 win over Hudson earlier in the year, Pasquale was also the top all-around performer, earning a 35.775 score with strong showings in all the events and a first-place finish on the uneven parallel bars (9.075).

Freshman Jess Mushinsky has been a nice addition for the Colonials and has performed well every time out. Her strongest events seem to be the floor exercise and the balance beam.