Image courtesy of Eugene Lim via Unsplash.

I recently spoke with the captains of the Ward Melville Girls Varsity Gymnastics team, Ophelia Rosenthal-Vincenti and Gianna Romani, about their season so far and their future goals.

Isabel De Bei: What are three words to describe this season?

Ophelia Rosenthal-Vincenti: Enjoyable, challenging and motivating.

Gianna Romani: Busy, exciting and full of determination.

IDB: What is your favorite part about your sport?

ORV: I love the conditioning part of our sport, and the ability to build muscles and strength from it.

GR: Being able to spend more time with my teammates.

IDB: Is there anything you guys want the school to know about your sport?

ORV: That the sport of gymnastics actually takes a lot of strength and coordination.

GR: That it is a sport just as much as all the other sports, it should not be underestimated. It’s a lot of hard work.

IDB: What are your goals for this season?

ORV: My team goal is to break the 160 score mark and my individual goal is to make counties, again.

GR: My team goal is to win our league and my individual goal is that by the end of the season I would like to start competing on floor and beam again, after having had knee surgery.

IDB: How is this season going differently than last season?

ORV: I feel stronger and more consistent, and as a team, we have grown in numbers, which brings a lot more positive inputs and support within the team.

GR: As a team we have gotten better and we have more girls on the team. We have refined and advanced all of our skills and we have become closer as a team and as a community.