Gymnastics
Coaches of the Year
Jack Gleason, Andover
 BOYS |
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Sporting 39 years of coaching experience, Gleason's 25th year at Andover proved to be a fruitful one. He led an inexperienced group to three wins on the season, but his contributions extend far beyond the team's performance on the mat this season. A Coaches Association honoree this year, Gleason is the primary reason why a gymnastics program is operating at Andover, having spent much of his time at the school developing the program to its present level. The 1966 Boston University grad enjoys fishing and college hockey in his spare time. | |
Sheila Kelly, Barnstable
GIRLS |
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Kelly was the guiding force behind a young squad that displayed a maturity well beyond its collective years. Along with coach Duncan Chase, Barnstable captured Old Colony and South Sectional championships. A record-settting fourth straight state championship completed the squad's undefeated season. In her five seasons at the school, Kelly has registered only one loss. With only one senior leaving the Red Raiders' roster, next year's squad should be just as formidable. When she is not helping to build a state powerhouse, Kelly enjoys sewing and making furniture. | |
Gymnasts of the Year, Boys
David Ellis, Braintree
SOPHOMORE |
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Ellis figures to be next in the line of dominant male gymnasts in EMass. He set a school record with a 9.5 floor exercise showing this year, and finished second in the state with a strong all-around performance highlighted by four second-place finishes. Along with his teammate Gene (no relation), David is a major reason why the Wamps finished an undefeated campaign with an MIAA state championship. In the fall, Ellis starts on the varsity soccer team at midfield. A two-time Junior National Olympics qualifier, Ellis also competes in the Bay State Games. | |
Gene Ellis, Braintree
SENIOR |
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The captain of this year's MIAA state championship team, Ellis finished third in the vault, fifth on floor, and sixth in rings at the state meet. Ellis's exploits earned him the Paul Hanson Trophy for sportsmanship and leadership at Braintree. He was also selected as a member of the Massachusetts boys' team that will compete in the National High School Championships in Fort Worth, Texas. Ellis will attend UMass-Lowell in the fall. | |
Matt Lincoln, Attleboro
JUNIOR |
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Lincoln's outstanding performance in the vault (8.95) not only earned the talented junior the state championship in the event, but prevented Newton North's Jason Shen from making it a clean sweep. At that meet, he also was sixth on floor and fourth on the high bar. He captured first place in the high bar at both the Salem Invitational and Coaches' Invitational, while finishing second in the vault at both events. An honor roll student, Lincoln enjoys playing the guitar and computer design. | |
Jonathan Morgan, Burlington
SENIOR |
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Morgan, who enjoys flying planes, took his game to another level this winter, earning his second consecutive All-Scholastic selection. The all-around performer won the Coaches' Invitational this season, and finished third in the floor exercise in the state championships. He helped Burlington take third place in the state championships for a fourth straight year. In addition to his avaiation interests, Morgan also enjoys baseball and whiffeball. He plans on attending Temple University or Springfield college in the fall to continue gymnastics. He is also a member of the Massachusetts team that will compete in the high school senior nationals in Texas. | |
Jason Shen, Newton North
Senior, GYMNAST OF THE YEAR |
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The third time was a charm for Shen, as he captured Gymnast of the Year honors for the third straight year in his final campaign. A senior, the future Stanford Cardinal was stellar when it mattered most, taking his third state championship with a score of 54.6. The Tigers' captain, he took the top score on the floor exercise (9.25), pommel horse (9.3), rings (8.8), parallel bars (9.2), and the high bar (9.45). An honor roll student, Shen was a PSAT Commended Scholar as also earned the Cornell Book Award. When he's not training at the new England Sports Academy, Shen also dabbles in web design and DanceDance Revolution. | |
Matthew Tocchio, Braintree
JUNIOR |
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Tocchio is the third member of the two-time state champions to earn All-Scholastic honors. In addition to Gene Ellis, he was co-recipient of the Paul Hanson trophy this past season. Tocchio's season highlights included a third-place finish in the all-around, parallel bars, and pommel horse at the state meet. Tocchio, who attends the Ellis Gymnastics School, hopes to continue the sport in college. | |
Zach Stein, Reading
SENIOR |
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Stein capped another fantastic season with a string of firsts. His 37.25 in the all-around took first place and led the Rockets to the Middlesex League championship. He took another all-around championship and team title in the East/Central sectional championships, and had the top marks in the all-around at the team state championships. He capped his final season at Reading with an all-around score of 37.65, good enough for second place in the state individual championships. Stein is a two-time Middlesex League champion, and holds school records for the all-around (37.85), floor exercise (tied at 9.7), and vault (9.75). An honor roll student, Stein is an avid cheerleader, and participates in Celebrity Cheer. He will attend Elmira College on a cheerleading scholarship. | |
Gymnasts of the Year, Girls
Kimberly Chin, Canton
SENIOR |
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Chin had a record-setting campaign in her final season at Canton. She set records on the uneven bars (9.65), balance beam (9.8), floor exercise (37.15), and all-around (37.15), while finishing sixth in this year's state championships. The Hockomock League all-around champion was also a league all-star and recipient of a sportsmanship award in 2002. Chin is equally adept in the classroom, earning Spanish National Honor Society and honor roll recognition. When she is not doing gymnastics, Chin enjoys hanging out with her friends. She will attend the University of Pennsylvania in the fall. | |
Gillian Coleman, Brookline
GYMNAST OF THE YEAR |
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No one has a more complete season than this senior Warrior. Coleman took the all-around state individual championship, was named Bay State Conference and Massachusetts Gymnast of the year, and earned a spot on the senior national team. This is Coleman's second Globe Gymnast of the Year honor; she also won the award in 2002, when she won her first state championship. A junior national qualifier from 2000-2003, she placed third in the floor exercise during last year's National Junior Olympics. Coleman will attend either George Washington University or the University of Illinois in Champaign. | |
Libby Fortier, Andover
JUNIOR |
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Fortier was superior in league competition, taking this year's all-around championship in the Merrimack Valley Conference. The crown capped a season in which she went undefeated in all-around league competition. Fortier, who earned a spot on the all-conference team for the third consecutive season, is a high honor roll student who sports a 3.8 GPA. A multifaceted athlete, she is also a member of the five-time state champion swimming team, and last year's track and field state champion, where she finished third in EMass Division 1 in the pole vault. | |
Kara Machado, Case
SENIOR |
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Proving her worth to both her team and her peers, Machado earned Eastern Athletic Conference MVP honors for her exploits as the league champion. In all, she has garnered league championships in two consecutive seasons, and was the league MVP in each of her four seasons at Case. A two-time All-Scholastic, the honor roll student enjoys cheerleading, skiing, and coaching gymnastics. A participant in the AAU, Machado will attend the University of Rhode Island. She will major in elementary education and continue her gymnastics career. | |
Valerie Matyskiel, Medfield
SENIOR |
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Trouble usually came in threes for Medfield opponents during Matyskiel's time in EMass. She captured her third vault championship at this year's state meet, is a three-time MVP and coaches' award winner, and was the 2003 state champion in the floor exercise. An honor roll student, she finished seventh place in the all-around at this winter's individual championships. The team captain, Matyskiel enjoys beach volleyball and coaching pre-team and recreational classes at Gym Express. She will major in political science at the College of Charlestown in South Carolina. | |
Jacqui Mazzola, Framingham
JUNIOR |
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As outstanding as her contributions on the mat have been, it is what Mazzola does away from the gym that separates her from the rest. She led an undefeated squad to a Bay State championship and a second-place finish in the states. Mazzola trains year-round at the gymnastics training center in Holliston. The state champion in the vault, she is a ``Why Me'' volunteer for children who have cancer. Mazzola, last season's team MVP, wants to pursue a physcial education degree in college at either Southern Connecticut or Rhode Island. She plans on continuing gymnastics in college. | |
Kim O'Donnell, Reading
FRESHMAN |
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O'Donnell's indoctrination into EMass gymnastics was an eventful affair. She was the Middlesex League champion in the floor exercise (9.7), helping her team to the league crown. She finished second at the East/Central sectionals, helping her team take the top spot in the sectional meet. O'Donnell took another second-place finish in the all-around at the team state championships (37.325). Academically, O'Donnell is a high honor roll student with a 4.0 GPA. Her interests include swimming and diving. In addition, she is a level 10 gymnast who trains with both USA gymnastics and Gymnastics and More in Woburn. | |
Christine Partello, Norwood
SENIOR |
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A two-time school MVP and a high school senior national team member, Partello finished fifth in the uneven bars and sixth in the vault at the state championship. She was a Bay State Conference All-Star and the conference champion in the uneven bars for the second consecutive season. Partello is equally impressive in the classroom; she is a member of the National Honor Society, and has been on the list all through high school. Her interests include skiing, shopping, and hanging out with friends. Partello will attend Ithaca College, and is currently undecided about a major. | |
Casey Pereira, Ashland
SENIOR |
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Pereira capped her final year at Ashland with a bevy of honors. She set the school all-around record (36.65), finished ninth at the state meet, and was chosen to compete for the senior national team. The three-year team captain and four-time MVP, she was the state floor champion in 2002 and is a two-time All-Scholastic. Pereira also participates in softball, where she captained the team to a Tri-Valley League championship last year. A level 10 gymnast at the Gymnastics Training Center in Holliston, she plans to continue her gymnastics career at either Rhode Island or Brown University. | |
Chelsea Rossetti, Masconomet
FRESHMAN |
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Rossetti came on strong in her first high school campaign, winning Cape Ann League Most Valuable Gymnast honors as her squad won the league and MIAA North sectional championships. She averaged 36.125 in the all-around for the season, and placed eighth in the event at the state individual meet. Rossetti competed in the 2003 YMCA nationals for the North Shore Wildcats, placing fourth on the balanced beam. She also excells academically, where she is enrolled in all honors courses. Rossetti enjoys traveling and hopes one day to attend Stanford University. A six-year veteran on the mat, she competes in the Junior Olympics. | |
Julie Sauchuk, Pope John
SOPHOMORE |
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A key contributer to the Tigers all season, Sauchuk was a big reason why Pope John set a school record with a 133.75 during the year. She has competed internationally as well, including meets in France. Sauchuk is equally adept in school, where she has a 3.7 GPA. When Sauchuk is not nailing floor exercises (9.5) or impressing on the uneven bars (9.475) in state championship meets, she enjoys shopping and going to the movies. When she completes high school, Sauchuk hopes to attend a Division 1 institution, such as Michigan, Florida, and North Carolina, to continue her gymnastics career. Her sister Jennifer was All-Scholastic in 2002. | |
Danielle See, Stoneham
SOPHOMORE |
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There isn't much See didn't do for Stoneham this season. She broke school records in every event this season, including the all-around. She finished fourth individually in the states after taking the third spot in the East Central sectional all-around. A club gymnast as well, she has won two state championship on that levels. See won the WSF nationals with Methuen-based Celebrity Cheer; the group also took fifth place in the NCA nationals. See, who enjoys shopping and hanging out with friends when not competing, wants to get a masters degree in physical therapy or sports medicine while competing in college. | |
Allison Szatek, Barnstable
FRESHMAN |
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Szatek was the focal point of Barnstable's fourth straight state championship squad. She set school records in the balance beam (9.45) and the floor exercise (9.5) this winter, placed first in the floor exercise, and finished third in the all-around at the team state championships. A USA level 9 gymnast, she is an honor roll student who also competes in spring track. Szatek snowboards and surfs in her free time. During the offseason, she trains with Gymport Gymnastics, and has competed in the Junior Olympics (2002, 2003), Bay State Games, and AAU. | |
Stacy Zickl, King Philip
JUNIOR |
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Zickl completed her third season much like she had the first two: consistently outstanding. She set school records for the vault (9.15), uneven bars (9.25), balance beam (9.3), floor exercise (9.4), and the all-around (36.85). Her accomplishments earned her a selection to the league's all-star team for the second time in her career. A Most Valuable Player award recipient in her freshman season, Zickl is also an honor roll student. She enjoys playing soccer and trains at the New England Sports Academy in Westwood. Zickl hopes to go to a college with a Division 1 program after her senior year. | |
