The Darien Girls Gymnastic Team received its highest total score of the season, 133.85, on Saturday at the Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference meet at the Gymnastics and Cheering Academy in Fairfield.
— This article was contributed by Holly Russell for the team.
“We had the best day we’ve ever had,” said Head Coach Judy Zakim. “It all came together. You can’t ask for better.”
Sophomore Julia Decsi won First Team All FCIAC by placing sixth on bars. Junior Olivia Perkins, sophomore Anna Primmer, and Co-Captain Megan Cutler won Second Team All FCIAC for their 7-12 placements, and Co-Captain Maggie Russell won All FCIAC Honorable Mention.
The Wave came close to placing higher than sixth, overall, at the conference, ranking within tenths of a point behind fourth-place Staples High School in Westport, 134.15, and fifth-place Trumbull High School, 134.1 — and nearly dropping behind seventh-place Wilton High School, 133.15.
Fairfield Warde High School, whose team Zakim also coaches, won the county with a 142.8. St. Joseph High School in Trumbull came next with 139.15, in front of third place Fairfield Ludlowe High School, 137.1.
Photo by Louise Schmidt
Happiness is — a great day at FCIACs for Wave gymnastics.
Darien worked hard to earn its sixth at the meet. When Coach Kimberly Donovan wished at the opening that, “the girls stick their landings, point their toes, and show the improvements they’ve made over the season,” the gymnasts complied, starting with floor, their first event.
Watched over by a cardboard cutout of Olympic gymnast Simone Biles, sophomore Annelise Enters performed a flawless back tuck with a smile that set the tone for the rest of the day.
Showcasing her background as a dancer, Cutler combined a pirouette and graceful hand gestures with a front tuck front tuck. Russell riffed on a Western theme, crossing her arms and tapping her heels before landing a double back handspring.
Top sophomores Primmer and Julia Decsi — both All Around competitors along with Cutler and Russell — scored high. Primmer’s front tuck front pike resulted in an 8.45. Decsi did a front handspring front full twist that secured her an 8.5.
These scores along with Olivia Perkins’s 8.4 full and a half turn brought the team 33.3 points on floor.
Next came vault, always a strong event for the team, who made all eights at this competition. Primmer, 8.45, and sophomore Bella Koproski, 8.4, stuck their landings. Julia Decsi contributed another 8.4 with a half half, resulting in a total vault score of 32.65.
It takes a certain mindset to launch yourself over a horse, leap from bar to bar, tumble, or cartwheel on a balance beam. Head Coach Zakim considers gymnastics one of the most challenging sports to compete in. Under pressure, you must stay calm.
Darien juniors Perkins and Alex Decsi offered this advice: “I used to be more nervous, but over the years it has gotten better. I think about my routine before I begin it, which helps,” Perkins said. However, “Sometimes you aren’t calm,” said Decsi. “You have to face the fear. Even if you’re scared, you just have to go for it.”
“Going for it” meant a 34.3 on bars that shattered every one of Darien’s event scores this year: Russell, 8.15; Primmer, 8.45; Perkins, 8.7, and a free hip and a toe on by Julia Decsi that won her a 9 — the highest score awarded any Wave gymnast this season.
Photo by Louise Schmidt
Julia Decsi breaks out on bars with a 9 that earns her a spot on the awards podium.
By the time the team reached beam, its final event, everybody was in a good mood.
“The positivity is really affecting us and reflecting well on our team,” said Co-Captain Sommer Schmidt. Co-Captain Cutler thought the same. “I feel so good about today,” she said.
On beam, the gymnasts stayed light on their feet and kept their focus. Cutler scored a pretty 8.2 for her routine. Koproski stuck her full turn for an 8. Primmer, 8.1, felt proudest of her cartwheel roundoff and Schmidt of her cartwheel cartwheel, while a back handspring roundoff connection and a soaring dismount nailed Julia Decsi an 8.35.
Cheers and music filled the gymnasium. Glitter-splashed leotards in every hue from green to blue, orange, and dusty maroon sparkled in the light. Gymnasts such as freshmen Elise DeGennaro, Emma Kennedy, and Sloane Kosowsky, none of whom competed this time, called good-luck messages to teammates executing routines.
(Freshman Annabel Clas and sophomore Fiona Garfield, though not at the meet, were present in spirit.)
At one point during Olivia Perkins’s floor routine, she lifted her arms over her head in a wave she called a “fish” and a teammate called “scuba,” and the rest of the team took her lead, lifing arms over heads and waving, too.
“It’s great to be with all the girls,” said junior Mia Macdonald, a team manager. Junior Abby Kissko, the other manager, is already looking forward to next year and to “making the team as fun as possible.”
Meanwhile, State Championships on Feb. 26 await. Time to channel more positivity and with every jump, stay brave.