Gymnastics showcased the importance of team support in its 144-125.5 victory against Framingham, Thursday, Jan. 15. 

The Tigers’ unwavering support of their teammates and dedication to the sport has earned them an undefeated streak of 6-0.

As head coach Cassie Ford began announcing the plan for the meet, captains, senior Samantha Shu and juniors Simona Batista-Ciani and Greer Howard, called for a huddle. The Tigers listened intently to their leaders, buzzing with energy, before racing to their station.

The meet kicked off strong, with North on vault and Framingham on the uneven bars. As the meet progressed, the team’s spirits grew higher and team morale grew stronger. On vault, sophomore Olivia Roche flipped with ease and stuck the landing, her peers cheering her on from the sidelines. After reclaiming her center of gravity, Roach high-fived her smiling coaches.

“I feel like I have more fun out there than they do,” Ford said. “I was a gymnast growing up, so it’s fun to be able to help them love the sport as much as I do.”

The North girls successfully pulled off more impressive flips and graceful landings before switching with Framingham onto the uneven bars.

This trial, while difficult, was a breeze for the Tigers. Each member of the team exuded a level of confidence and camaraderie that was nothing to scoff at. Each routine was accompanied by a series of flips, straddles, and turns, allowing students to showcase their hard-earned skills.

“The kids often get to compete in the events that they feel the most confident in,” said parent Sarah Ruderman. “You’re able to see different kids have different skills and expertise, and they get to really shine in their events.”

The real standout performances, however, occurred during the second half of the meet. Both schools’ teams switched over to beam and floor routines, with Framingham on the floor and North on beam.

On beam, Batista-Ciani and junior Julia Brown stood out for their dedicated efforts. Brown had been recovering from a recent injury, and displayed resilience when she faced obstacles during her bar routine. 

“She has an on and off injury,” Batista-Ciani said. “She’s kind of always in pain, so I’m proud of her for pushing herself through that.”

As Brown navigated the choreographed tricks in her routine, she executed multiple mid-air straddles. She briefly lost balance, but it deterred neither her nor her fellow teammates. She quickly returned to her feet and executed an effortless backflip on the beam, followed by a turn and two jumps of equal caliber. Brown stuck the dismount, all while receiving repetitive applause and words of encouragement from teammates and the audience.

“My favorite part of being a gymnast is having a team. Even if you fall, the team is always there to pick you up,” said Batista-Ciani. “You get on with everyone so well.”

In North’s floor routines, the Tigers were filled with energy and excitement, showcasing impressive performances with every straddle, jump, split, turn, and handspring.

On the floor, sophomore Sela Yoon, who competed all-around during the meet, set a new personal best record for her score.

Yoon’s routine included a series of handsprings, straddles in rapid succession, and two sets three flips in a row, wowing the audience and the judges time and time again before sliding into an elegant finish. “She really shined,” according to Ford.

The meet ended on a high, with the Framingham team singing a chant of encouragement towards their competitors and putting smiles on the faces of athletes and audience members alike.

North, 6-0, defeated Braintree Tuesday, Jan. 20, and will compete against Needham Friday, Jan. 23.