Above: Five Staples gymnasts who qualified to compete in the CT State Open are (l to r) Hannah Bitsky (bars, balance beam, vault), Maite Di Pietro (balance beam and floor), Mikeala Snow (bars and vault), Sarah Arango (bars) and Laura Guster (all-around) and team Captain Sofia Alarcon-Frias. At left, in back is Head Coach Kelsey Martin and Coach Amanda Lewis.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com **Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.**

The 2024 - 2025 Staples Girls Gymnastics Team had a record breaking year, setting a school record of 144.8 on January 29, 2025 when they competed against Westhill and New Canaan at their home gym at the Westport Weston YMCA.

Laura Guster also scored three school records. She now holds the school record for all-around (38.25), bars (9.75) and beam (9.7). Laura also was crowned the FCIAC All-Around Champion with an impressive score of 38.05.

The Staples Gymnastics team concluded their regular season on on February 12, then went on to take second place in the FCIAC tournament with an outstanding score of 140.95. The Staples gymnastics team was seeded second in the L division State tournament and third in the entire state. Unfortunately, due to injury and other circumstances three of their top gymnasts could not participate in the state tournament. Without three of the top gymnasts, Staples finished a respectable 4th place.

Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.

Above, Head Coach Kelsey Martin, who has been leading this exceptional program for 15 years, confers with her gymnasts. All photos here are from the CT State Opens competition held on Saturday, March 1st at New Milford High School.

The State Opens competition includes qualifying gymnasts from all across the state, with the top 40 individuals in the State on every event and the top 20 all-arounders.

Balance beam competitors for the team are Hannah Bitsky and Maite Di Pietro who have also qualified for the New England Championship on beam. The New England Championships include competitors from the New England states, depending upon who qualifies, and will be held on March 8th at Jonathan Law High School, 20 Lansdale Avenue, Milford, CT.

Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.

The Staples gymnastics team was seeded second in the L division State tournament and third in the entire state. Unfortunately, due to injury and other circumstances three of their top gymnasts could not participate in the state tournament. Without three of the top gymnasts, Staples finished a respectable 4th place.