Almost a year later and Covid-19 is still causing havoc with the high school sports schedules, however teams are making do with the cards they have been dealt. It’s been crazy but the Norwood gymnastic team, like so many squads, are glad to just having some sort of season. The Mustangs will take part in a home and an away schedule with the three other teams in the league: Norton, MADS (Medfield, Ashland, Dover-Sherborn) and MHM (Medway, Holliston, Millis).

“The girls have been working out in private gyms under COVID-19 regulations since last June,” Norwood Coach Karen Broderick said. “Luckily, the Tri-Valley League decided that the meets would be held in person, so we’ve got somewhat of a regular season. There will also be limited spectators only at your home meet and the girls will be wearing masks while not participating.”

The Mustangs will have a strong senior presence on the mats this winter as well as a talented group of freshmen looking to help the team succeed.  Taking the lead will be senior tri-captains Rose Donovan, Jillian Olbrys and Elizabeth Broderick.  Olbrys and Broderick, along with junior Marion Pastore, are all capable of participating as all arounds for the squad, but unfortunately the Norwood Coach can only use two of the three per meet. Although the Coach has to make decisions as to who competes in all four events, she believes it’s not a bad thing having three solid all arounds to choose from.

“All three captains take part in different roles and blend nicely together,” Broderick said. “They all have a great work ethic and will be setting the tone for the younger gymnasts. It will be tough for me to decide who to use where, but the girls are all supportive despite not wanting to take an event off.”

Although the three all around gymnasts can take part in all four events, Broderick excels at the beams, while Olbrys and Pastore in floor routines. Donovan will provide the team with top scores in vault and floor and will be a positive individual that will also provide influence and motivation to the rest of the team.

Junior Shayla Wynne is another gymnast who can participate in all four events but is a gymnast that Broderick can move around with each competition. According to the Mustang coach, Wynne’s a very versatile athlete that is well rounded and she can put her wherever the team needs her depending on the opposition. 

One thing Coach Broderick knows is that she only has six athletes who can take part on the bars, so that event will never change. With balance beam and floor exercises being a high-level event, the Coach is more likely to fill in on the vault. With that said, it will be very hard for the underclassmen to fill in one of the older girls’ spots.

Two other juniors who will see competing time will be Cee Cee Frawley and Annie Sisk. Frawley can take part in all four events, but primarily does the floor and bars and occasionally may see some action on the balance beams, while Sisk  will focus on the vault and balance beam and is working on her floor routine.

With a group of talented incoming freshmen, Broderick sees them all rather similar in stature for the time being. However, Lucy Scafati has shown to be the strongest of the bunch at this time. The freshman is working on all four events and with more experience on the high school level the Coach believes that Scafati will become more competitive in the years to come.

Three other teammates who will see action are Emily Mace and Lindsey Naychay, who are competing in their fourth Mustang season and Kendra DiTullio will be participating in her second year. DiTullio was a member of the gymnastic team as a freshman and is returning as a senior this year.

While Covid has continued to interrupt high school sports, the girls are overall thankful just to have some kind of season.

“We are grateful that we will be having a season, but the girls are a little bummed out not having any season ending tournaments especially having some strong gymnasts who would have been taking part in the post-season,” Broderick said. “The abbreviated season is bittersweet having a daughter who is a senior on the team; you always want your senior year to be a positive remembrance.”