Harwood gymnasts stretch the short season to reach new goals

March 5, 2021  |  By Katie Martin

Harwood Unions senior gymnasts this year are Delana Cheney and Lynn Russell. Courtesy photo.

In a short season, Harwood gymnastics has had a short competition schedule with just three meets from mid-February to mid-March. 

The first two were held at Harwood’s home gym, Central Vermont Gymnastics, now in downtown Waterbury in former Green Mountain Coffee Roasters commercial space. 

Harwood hosted Montpellier on Feb. 23 and Burr & Burton on Feb. 27. 

The team was scheduled for a third meet Friday night with Montpelier but it was labeled “canceled” on the schedule late in the day. 

Anissa Davis in her 26th year coaching the gymnastics program at Harwood Union High School is excited about being back after taking last season off. She is assisted this season by Tanya Cheney.

As the season began, Davis said that most of their goals this year will be individually based. The team will be working hard to nail down the basics, “.get our routines choreographed for maximum start value and do everything we can to reduce deductions. Once that is accomplished, we will keep training new skills to try and upgrade our routines for higher start values. The stronger each individual is, the stronger the team score will be,” Davis said.

When asked about adjustments due to COVID-19 guidelines, Davis said gymnastics would not need to alter much. 

“When you are out there on that four-inch-wide balance beam four feet off the ground, you are out there all by yourself. Your team and coaches are cheering you on, but it is all you.  Gymnasts might have an advantage over other sports when it comes to this,” she said.

Not having spectators has been an adjustment although the team has done live streams of meets on the Harwood Athletics Facebook page. Davis said that platform might attract more fans. “I hope that when spectators are allowed back to sporting events again, that we continue with the live streaming.  Maybe we will get more involved in the sport this way.  These athletes work very hard, it would be nice for them to have some peer recognition for all the hard work they do,” Davis commented.

Harwood 123.8, Montpelier 129.05

Harwood faced Montpelier at its first meet on Feb. 23. It was a close match -- in each individual competition, the Solons and Highlanders were only a few short points apart.

For vault, Harwood’s Oliva Bloom scored a 7.2, Janelle Hopkins an 8.2, Lynn Russell 7.4, and Delana Cheynew 8.3. Their combined score 31.1 against Montpelier’s 32.0.

On bars, Bloom scored 2, Hopkins 3.7, Kai McGrath 8.1, Russell 6.4, and Cheney 6.85 for a combined effort of 25.05, compared to Solons 28.7. Luna Pompei for Montpelier won the bars with 8.15.

For beam, Harwood’s combined score totaled 33.75, to Montpelier’s 34.1. For floor routine, Harwood outscored Montpelier 33.9 to 33.35.

Individual end scores: Bloom 23.8, Hopkins 20.2, Russell 29.65; Cheney’s 33.4 won her second place at the meet.

Harwood 118.25 Burr & Burton 134

On Feb. 27, Harwood hosted Burr & Burton. 

On bars, Burr & Burton took all three qualifying places and ended with a score of 29.8, compared to Harwood’s 23.2. 

On beam, Harwood’s Delana Cheney scored an 8.1, earning the third podium finish. Burr and Burton finished with 33.6.

On floor style, Harwood finished with a combined score of 32.8, compared to Burton’s 35.85, with one Burton gymnast scoring an impressive 9.45.

All around, Harwood finished with 118.25, with Bloom scoring 24.6, Hopkins 28.6, Julia Biderman 27.75, Russell 30.1, and Cheney 30.8. Burr & Burton’s total score came in at 134. 

Davis said with such a short schedule, it’s been a challenge to get momentum. “It’s tough not having as many meets this year as we use the meets before states to ‘test’ routines and see how they will score,” she said, explaining how the athletes work new skills into their routines. 

“It has been a real balancing act this year, too, with teaching new skills in a shortened season and perfecting [the] routines we have. I am really excited that we are even allowed to have a season this year,” she said. “Right now we are focusing on having a good time, staying safe, and [learning] how to maximize our performance and skills for states.”

The state championship meet is scheduled for March 13 at the Green Mountain Training Center in Williston. 

Katie Martin is an assistant coach with Harwood girls hockey.