David Ellis, Braintree
		Braintree’s boys’ gymnastics team was every bit as good as advertised, thanks, in large part, to Ellis. The senior won six of seven events at the state championship, posting high scores in the floor (9.7 points), vault (9.5), and all-around (55.1). He also set school records in the floor, high bar (9.3), rings (9.3), and all-around. He was named Massachusetts Gymnast of the Year. He will compete for Team Massachusetts at Nationals in Tampa next month. Ellis also was a four-year varsity soccer player. He will continue his career at the US Military Academy at West Point or the Naval Academy.

Michael Martin, Attleboro
		His team was young and inexperienced — but Martin was still enthusiastic about his squad, which finished 6-3. ‘‘Thirteen of 21 were first-timers with no experience,’’ said Martin. ‘‘[We] had a tremendous learning year and will challenge in the future.’’ Attleboro will have to go it without their 32-year veteran coach as Martin retired following the season. Martin has received honors from the Massachusetts Boys Gymnastics Coaches Association, for whom he served as president. He also held the position of MIAA tournament director. He is a graduate of UMass-Amherst (1970).

Zachery Aguiar, Lowell  FRESHMAN
		Someone forgot to tell young Aguiar that freshmen are supposed to wait their turn before they reach star status, or he just wasn’t listening. Aguiar set the school record (51.5 points) in the all-around this year, adding to a third-place finish in the states. He was an honor roll student, despite his love for video games and sports. He is a member of the Sterling Academy of Gymnastics where he will compete during the Lowell offseason. His goals include wanting to attend the University of Michigan in the fall of 2009. Not a bad portfolio for the first year on the job.

Michael J. Brown, Newton North  JUNIOR
		At a school where winning is a must, Brown was a consistent force for the Tigers. On the state’s biggest stage, Brown came through in the clutch, recording a first-place finish on the high bars, second in the all-around, and a top-three finish in the rest of his events. At the Salem Invitational, he finished second in the rings and high bar. He is a three-time national qualifier who enjoyed his best finish in 2005 when he finished 96th. He finished 10th in the Regional finals last season. Brown spends his offseason as a diver for the Charles River Diving club. He likes to travel in his spare time and he also competes for the New England Sports Academy gymnastics squad.

Vesana Dethchan, Revere  SOPHOMORE
		When you take into account that Dethchan has been a gymnast for only three years, it makes his accomplishments even more outstanding and noteworthy. As a sophomore, he finished fourth in the state in the parallel bars, and fourth in the league in both the all-around and the parallel bars. Those feats came a year after he was third in the league in the all-around and fourth in the league on the parallel bars. He is an honor roll member and enjoys drawing. His allegiance lies firmly with Revere as he trains exclusively with his team at the school’s facilities.

Greg Ducach, Braintree  JUNIOR
		Ducach earned All-Scholastic honors last season as a sophomore, and after he led the Wamps to their fourth straight state title, he was an easy choice again a year later. In his 2006 campaign, Ducach was fourth in the state in the vault (9.05 points) and floor (9.1), fifth in the parallel bars (7.3), and sixth in the high bar (6.2). He served as cocaptain in his junior year, giving Braintree hopes for a fifth title next season. Ducach is a three-sport star, playing soccer in the fall and baseball in the spring. He is an honor roll student and boasts a 3.23 GPA. His hobbies include doodling and Wiffleball and he will play Babe Ruth baseball during the summer.

Joe Gianino, Burlington  SOPHOMORE
		As a sophomore, Gianino already is making plans to attend the University of Michigan. After a successful ’05 season, the Wolverines just may be interested. Gianino set the school record in the floor and all-around events this season. In the state meet, he finished fourth in the all-around, third on both the high bar and the pommel horse, and fourth on the floor. Gianino devotes 20 hours a week to gymnastics and attributes much of his success to coach Mitco Lunchef. He also plays tennis and will attend Nationals for private gymnastics later this year.

Edward Han, Newton North  SENIOR
		The efforts of Han, combined with those of his teammate Brown, spearheaded Newton North to the No. 2 boys’ program in the state. Han posted a fifth-place finish on the rings at the state tournament, and a second-place finish on the rings and the floor at the Salem Invitational. He placed second on the rings and fifth in the all-around at the Coaches Invitational. He reached his goal of getting to nationals as a senior, while being a member of leadership class at North. He enjoys skateboarding and bowling in his time away from the mat, and is undecided about his college plans.

Julie Sauchuk, Pope John
		Say hello to the 2006 Girls’ Gymnast of the Year. Sauchuk was a dominant force for Pope John this season as she posted a first place finish in the state individual championships in February with a score of 37.9 in the all-around edging fellow all-scholastic O’Donnell. She also had the highest individual scores in floor and beam (9.65) and second best on floor and vault (9.52). ‘‘It feel’s great, finally, to win states’’, said Sauchuk after the meet in Beverly. She currently holds all school records in the all-around (38.55), vault (9.85), uneven bars (9.65), balance beams (9.65), and floor (9.8). Upon graduation, she will attend Michigan State in the fall continuing her gymnastics career with the schools highly revered Division 1 program.

Lori Clark, Sharon
		In her first five years of coaching gymnastics, Clark has been successful with a 30-4 mark. This past season her team could be described in one word: undefeated. Clark led her team to a 10-0 record and a Hockomock League title before falling to second in the South Sectionals. She was awarded the MGGCA coach of the year award this season. A former Bridgewater State graduate, Clark also was a member of the 1995 Randolph State championship team as a senior and enjoys golf. ‘It was truly an honor to work with an amazing group of young woman,’’ said Clark. ‘‘I am looking forward to another great season next year.’’

Melissa Bowe, Barnstable  JUNIOR
		The Red Raiders have enjoyed seven straight south titles thanks in part to the efforts of Bowe in her three years at Barnstable. She makes a return appearance to the All-Scholastics after making the team as a senior. Bowe scored a 9.55 on the beam at sectionals helping to solidify the win for Barnstable in a close meet with Bridgewater-Raynham. She finished first in the uneven bars with a 9.62, second in the Vault with a 9.35, and third in the floor exercise (9.15) at the state coaches individual championships in Beverly. Bowe accomplished all that this season despite an early season hand injury that left her unable to qualify for the all-around.

Alison Carr, Chelmsford  SOPHOMORE
		This past season, Carr was a dynamo for the Lions finishing first on the balance beams, second on the uneven bars, and the floor exercise at states. Not bad for a rookie. She set a state record 9.8 on the bars and beams and scored a 9.7 on the floor, as a member of the state champs Chelmsford. She was also named all-conference this past year. Even in her young age, she has her goals in line, as she hopes to attend a Division 1 school for gymnastics and study law. During the off-season she will continue to hone her trade by participating in club gymnastics at Gymnastics Village in New Hampshire where she is a level 10 gymnast.

Ashley Castagna, Masconomet  SENIOR
		Make that back-to-back All-Scholastic nods for Castagna the Northeast Conference/Cape Ann MVP. The senior followed up an impressive junior campaign by helping Masco finish first in the North Sectionals, and second in the state finals. The highlight of Ashley’s career was placing third in the all-Around at states in addition to the aforementioned MVP. She is a 14-year member of the yellow jackets Gymnastics Club and a member of the honor roll at Masco. She was chosen for the 2006 Mass. Senior team and will be in search of a business degree at either University of Kentucky or Bridgeport. In her leisure time, she enjoys snowboarding.

Samantha George, Plymouth North  SOPHOMORE
		George makes her first appearance as an All-Scholastic after a fourth place finish in the states in the all-around event. In the fall, George is a cheerleader at Plymouth North and also serves as a coach at Big East gymnastics when she in not competing. This season marked a return to the sport for George, who missed considerable time recovering from a broken hand. She placed second in the All-Around at the Cranberry Conference meet, posting scores of 9.6 on floor and 9.5 on the beam.

Katie C. Manopoli, Newton North  SENIOR
		Talk about a comeback player of the year, Manopoli underwent reconstructive surgery on both of her ankles in 2005, then bounced back to help the Tigers with a fifth place finish in the all-around at the state finals. Manopoli went to the Eastern Nationals in 2004 and placed 13th there and was in the level 10 regional meet. In two weeks, she will be a member of the Mass stars team taking part in the Level 9 Regional Meet in Syracuse, New York. She is also an avid snowboarder, drummer, and a member of the Mass Gymnastics Center in Waltham in the summer.

Ashley Nehiley, B-R  SENIOR
		As a senior, Nehiley truly saved her best for last. Ashley was named Senior Gymnast of the Year and selected to the senior national team in her final year at B-R. She qualified for the state individuals and placed fourth there in the all around. She is a Level 10 gymnast at O’Leary’s Gymnastics Center, and holds the school record (9.7) on the uneven bars. This comes after she earned a third place finish on the vault, and eighth place finishes on the bars and all-around last season. She will pursue a nursing degree at either Temple or Curry College next year. She was an AAU gymnastics participant twice and a Bay State Games participant.

Kim O’Donnell, Reading  JUNIOR
		Soon O’Donnell will not have much more to accomplish in her high school career. The junior makes a return trip after being named Gymnast of the Year last season. A three-time All-Scholastic, O’Donnell placed first in the Middlesex League with a 37.9 in the all-around, first in the bars (9.6), beam (9.4), and floor (9.6). O’Donnell’s efforts led the Rockets to a league title and an undefeated record. The Rockets finished the season fifth in the North sectional, highlighted by O’Donnell’s highs of 9.6 on the vaults, 9.725 on the bars. As a junior, she was a member of the National Honor Society and named to the ‘‘Who’s who among High School Students’’ list. O’Donnell hopes to continue her gymnastics career at a Division 1 college.

Taylor See, Stoneham  SOPHOMORE
		Last year See was a record breaker and an All-Scholastic, helping Stoneham break the school’s scoring record that had stood for nine year. For a follow-up season, she helped Stoneham break it again. Stoneham posted a 136.7, breaking last year’s record in See’s her second year. She posted a season-high 37.90 all-around score and was awarded MVP of the Middlesex League for her efforts. As a sophomore, she was the Middlesex League vault champ. When she is not breaking records she is trying to score as a center/midfielder for the Stoneham junior varsity soccer team in addition to shopping and hanging out with her friends.

Allison Szatek, Barnstable  JUNIOR
		In need of a big performance look no further than Szatek who is making her third straight All-Scholastic appearance. The junior led Barnstable to a third place finish at states by recording a first place finish in the all-around with a score of 38.00. She also had success at the State Coaches Individual Championship in Beverly, placing seventh in the all around(36.70). she was a standout for the Red Raiders in the South Sectionals where she scored a 9.80 on the floor exercise and didn’t not score under a 9.40 for the meet.

Robin Underwood, Chelmsford  SENIOR
		In her last year at Chelmsford, Underwood held the honor of being named team MVP. Underwood is the defending Merrimack Valley all-around champion, and placed first in the balance beam (9.85). She finished 10th in the individual states in all-around and was chosen for the high school national team. Underwood is planning on attending Southern Connecticut State where she will continue to be a gymnast while studying exercise science. While waiting for the fall, she will train prospective gymnast at the Northeast gymnastics in Tewksbury. She is a level 10 gymnast and enjoys swimming and movies when not competing.

Lexi Zonfrelli, Bridgewater-Raynham  SOPHOMORE
		Zonfrelli has accomplished a lot in a short matter of time. This season, Lexi qualified for the state individuals finishing eighth overall in the all-around. She also placed second in the all-around at the State Championships. For her two-year career at B-R, she is a Level 8 Regional Competitor finishing first in the all around and floor, and third in the beam and bars. She also rules her class as Sophomore class president and is a member of the High Honor Roll as well as a varsity cheerleader. Despite her busy sports and school life, she still finds time to pursue her favorite hobby reading and is a member of the Spectrum Gymnastics team in the summer.