After a season full of losses last year, the Walpole High gymnastics team looks to improve this year with the addition of healthy athletes and first-time members. The Rebels hope that the addition of senior Hiromi Kondo will help them get their first win in over a year. Although Walpole Gymnastics lost their first 2 meets of the year to Framingham and Wellesley, Kondo garnered many points for Walpole.
Kondo has been participating in club gymnastics since second grade and started competing beyond Paradise Gymnastics meets in sixth grade. From sixth grade through her sophomore year of high school, Kondo scored well enough at her regional meet to participate in the USAIGC World Championship meet, which showcases young gymnasts from the U.S. and a few other countries. This year, however, she decided to compete for Walpole High’s team, a group that contains few upperclassmen. Kondo earned 32.65 points for the Rebels in her opening meet, but the Rebels still lost to Framingham.
“This year the team is looking better with many new girls that bring many new skills. [Kondo] brings skills to every event from her many years of experience. I expect that she will help us increase our scores to help us win,” junior Elyse Good said.
Kondo competed for the Rebels in all four events: floor, beam, bars, and vault. She placed first on beam with a score of 8.45, out of ten possible points, and placed second for vault with a score of 8.3. These high scores helped Kondo to earn the highest all around score in the meet, a 32.65.
The loss to Wellesley this year on December 21 was a similar meet with a final score of 129-115.45. The Rebels improved their score from last year versus Wellesley, which was 130.1-113.35.
One of Walpole Gymnastics captains, senior Kaitlin Porter, spoke of Kondo’s addition to the team. “[Kondo] will really help the team this year. She can help wherever needed and do whatever is asked of her,” Porter said, “She competed all around [against Framingham], and probably will all season, which is great for the team. She really brings a lot of depth, and everyone is working well together, so I have a really positive outlook for the season.”
This year the Rebels look to bounce back from last year as they regain players that were injured last season. With the additions of Kondo and freshman Jacqui Mulcahy, the Rebels have gained more experience through the years of club gymnastics both have done.
“I would say the team is a lot stronger this year than last year because there are less people injured and we are gaining experience,” Kondo said. “My best asset to the team is probably my experience and level of skills I have been able to develop over many years of competing.”
About coming to play for Walpole’s gymnastics team, Kondo said, “Part of the reason I joined the Walpole High team is because I love team sports. It is really nice to have another team sport in addition to soccer.”
