On Dec. 15, the girls varsity gymnastics team had a competition against Campus Magnet, bringing home a win, with the final score of 98.900-94.500.
As a team, girls gymnastics has been very successful, with a current undefeated PSAL ranking of 10-0. The girls on the team work hard to keep their skills up and stay motivated. Mental health is crucial when it comes to athletes, and gymnastics is no different.
After the win against Campus Magnet, the girls gymnastics team reflected on their accomplishments. Hailey Santos, a junior, shared, “One achievement I am most proud of is being able to manage my time between working on weekends while still balancing games and practices during the week.”
“It can be exhausting at times but staying committed to both has taught me responsibility, discipline, and perseverance,” Santos added. “Being able to handle everything while still giving my best effort makes me proud of how far I’ve come.”
Santos also reflected on how she keeps her head up and stays motivated during stressful times and competitive seasons. “During a hard season, I stay mentally strong by reminding myself of the important people in my life, the bonds I have built with them mean everything to me knowing I have their support helps me push through stressful times,” she explained.
“During a long season, music and my family are my main motivations,” Orianni Cummins, another gymnastics team member, added. “Personally having competitive as well as supportive parents have allowed me to be a better athlete.”
Despite having great wins, the Lady Judges have experienced tough losses, as well. “I handle losses or setbacks by reminding myself to have fun and remember that it doesn’t determine my whole season and all the improvements I made,” Cummins said. “I try to think about them as a learning moment even if it’s hard to accept losing as someone who’s very competitive.”
In addition, personal goals are crucial for athletes, pushing them to become the best version of themselves. Throughout this season, the gymnastics team has pushed themselves to give it their all. Santos is an example of how leaving space for growth can affect performance as a student athlete.
“My personal goals this season are to continue pushing myself to become the athlete I want to be and not letting myself give up when things get hard,” she said. “I am also working on controlling overthinking and trusting myself more, especially in high pressure situations. I want to grow mentally just as much as I grow physically this season.”
Furthermore, on a sports team, organization is another key factor to success. It can help athletes stay on track and practice efficiently. Cummins explained,“I stay organized during busy weeks by completing my work ahead of competitions as well as taking the time during practices to complete or view homework.”
So far this season, it’s clear that the Lady Judges gymnastics team is doing exactly what they need to stay on top of the high school gymnastics ranks.
