Nothing routine about title-winning WHS gymnasts
There are several different intangibles that make for a good team, and Wooster High’s gymnastics squad has just about all of them.
From a strong work ethic to a team chemistry that is sometimes rare in an individual-oriented sport, the Generals have found the right mix to do something they haven’t done since 2020 — win a conference championship.
“This group of girls works extremely hard each and every day. They have pushed themselves to the max and are ready to finish the season strong,” said WHS coach Megan Hackett, a former All-Ohio gymnast at Wooster who is in her first season back after guiding the program from 2005-10. “They also get along very well with each other. This team is very receptive of coaches’ corrections and are always willing to listen first, then make corrections second.”
That ability to coach has taken an already talented group coming into the winter and turned them into a team that rolled through the Northeast Gymnastics Conference, capped off by a 135.2-131 victory over Wadsworth to give the Generals their championship.
With a lineup heavy with underclassmen and a handful of battle-tested veterans sprinkled in, Wooster has gotten the job done in a host of events.
Sophomore Carmela Duta is one of those individuals who has led the way, posting strong scores across all four events — notably the uneven bars (9.35), floor exercise (9.2) and balance beam (9.075).
“Carmela is an extremely talented gymnast who works extremely hard,” Hackett said. “She does a fantastic job of listening to corrections and makes changes that help her increase her scores on all four events.”
Combine that with fellow 10th-grader Dani Hendrix, who has the team’s top score on the floor with a 9.3, along with freshman Molly Watson on the beam (8.7) and floor (9.0), and it has been quite a season for the Generals. Hackett said Hendrix’s leadership might be the one thing that sets her apart, outside of her competition scores, while Watson has returned to competitive gymnastics after taking a couple years off and brings an unflappable approach to practices and meets.
Freshman Rowyn Hafner had been the team’s top performer on the vault, scoring a 9.25, but is done for the season with a hand injury. Her impact, however, played a key role in the team’s championship season.
Heading into the final two weeks of the regular season, Wooster has won four straight meets with wins over local rival Triway, sweeping a tri-meet at Massillon Perry with Canton McKinley and a victory against Cloverleaf.
The Generals have gone toe to toe with teams outside the area, competing against Medina and placing fourth earlier this season at the Hilliard Davidson Classic.
They now will turn their attention to the postseason, with the sectional and district tournaments taking place later in February.
And they will get ready for it like they’ve done everything this season — together.
“Winning the Northeast Gymnastics Conference is something that takes a team effort and not just one or two gymnasts. It takes the entire team,” Hackett said, also giving credit to her coaching staff for bringing different approaches to the team. “We competed against some good competition this year, and that is exactly what we will see at the district meet. We have learned that we must relax and attack our routines.
“The hard part is done. We have prepared. We must now go and hit our routines. This team is physically and mentally ready to take on the next three weeks.”
