By Joyce DeWallace, Contributing Writer
Northborough – Twinkles Tots, Little Dippers, Shining Stars, Shooting Stars and Kinder Comets are some of the names given to young gymnasts’ classes at the Massachusetts Gymnastics Center (MGC) in Westborough. But 14-year-old Robert E. Melican Middle School eighth-grader Katelyn Reynolds has started to star on her own. Last year, in the 2013-2014 competitive season, Reynolds placed first in the All-Around in every meet except the state competition.
“I think I’m good at gymnastics,” she said modestly. “I also came in first at Show Stoppers in 2013. I’m pretty good at dance, too. Because I can dance, floor is my best event. I really like it.”
Her coach, Danielle ‘Dani’ Montiverdi, said of her protégé: “She’s extremely talented and she picks up skills quickly. She’s very coachable. She helps her friends, motivates them and is a good sport when she competes. She manages to balance all the things she’s good at – dance, gymnastics, social life and school work.”
Montiverdi has been coaching the Xcel Team for the past six years and has been a gymnastics coach for 18 years. She herself started the sport in the mid-1980s at the age of 3. She competed for Westborough High School in addition to competing for the Junior Olympic Team.
Unfortunately, injuries ended her competitive career, but didn’t dim her love of the sport. While in high school, she started coaching younger girls during her summers on Cape Cod. After majoring in physical therapy, she ran into Kathy Ostberg, who started Central Mass Gymnastics, which later became MGC, and was asked to coach there part-time. In the fall of 2004, she started working full-time, and has coached at MGC even as she married and had two children.
“I think gymnastics is a great sport,” she said. “You need so much discipline, strength, balance and endurance. I think it teaches not only physical skills, but also mental skills – how to get through difficult times, how to continue to work even when it’s hard to see progress. It teaches students how to win and how to lose. The most fun thing as a coach is when kids get new skills and make progress. They get so excited and they love it!”
Reynolds agrees completely. Right now she would like to continue to do both sports. Her team at MGC includes about 50 gymnasts. She works out in two-hour sessions three times a week.
“I’m pretty good on beam, OK on vault, but bars are tough,” Reynolds admitted.
When asked what she does with all the trophies, medals and ribbons she wins, she replied: “I have them on my dresser and hang the ribbons on the wall.”
Her favorite trophy is a piggy bank she won at a themed competition in Sterling.
MGC has a total of 700 youth participating in its programs with up to 15 coaches. The youngest toddlers start as soon as they can walk and training continues through high school. The gym is open six days a week and has a complete summer camp program. For more information, visit www.massgymnastics.com or call 508-870-0253.