The dynasty continues
Bees win 23rd consecutive team gymnastics state title
by Dan Holland
The Brecksville-Broadview Heights Bees gymnastics team extended its nationally recognized team state championship streak to 23 consecutive wins – with 26 total dating back to 1994 – during the OHSAA gymnastics state tournament held March 7-8 at Hilliard Bradley High School.
The team championship was a come-from-behind victory over familiar Cleveland-area rival high schools Magnificat and Strongsville.
“We were in third place going into our third event,” said Head Coach Maria Schneider, now in her seventh season leading the program. “We had to have a certain average going into our last rotation, and it was our favorite event – floor. We knew we could do it, but you also never know what is going to happen out there, and what the judges will see that day. So, they went out and gave their best effort, and we did it, and we secured and defended the title, which was awesome.”
“We did very well on all of our events leading up to floor, and we hit when we needed to hit, but it just wasn’t enough to keep us ahead the whole time,” she added. “We were still playing catch-up with Magnificat and Strongsville, as we were trailing them the entire time.”
The Bees managed to best all competitors in floor exercise with a combined score of 37.825, which included a best-ever individual score of 9.700 by senior Rachel Kirin.
“We were behind heading into the final event, but our collective confidence allowed us to deliver one amazing routine after another,” said Kirin. “Scoring a 9.7 on my final senior floor routine, surrounded by the cheers of my teammates, is a memory I’ll cherish forever.”
In addition to the team state championship, the Bees had an individual state champion in junior Abby Pignatiello, who came out on top in balance beam with a score of 9.500, edging out Anna Schork of Medina and Molly Francis of Magnificat, who tied for second at 9.475.
Pignatiello also finished eighth in all-around, with a combined score of 37.025, just behind Bees senior Emily Gromek, who finished seventh, with a combined score of 37.175.
In addition to Pignatiello’s first place finish, the Bees featured three additional top-five finishers in all individual events, including Kirin, who finished fourth place in floor exercise, Gromek in vault (fifth) and junior Olivia Vasile in uneven parallel bars (fourth).
Schneider said the effort put forth by the gymnasts year-after-year has allowed her to continue the legacy begun by her parents, Joan Ganim and the late Ron Ganim.
“It’s all about the culture that we’ve built, and having the girls wanting to continue to defend the title is their goal,” said Schneider. “They continue to choose that as our team goal, and that’s what they work toward throughout the season, and they all work together to get there.”“It’s a unique and different experience year-to-year, regardless if there are kids returning; as there are always kids coming in new who set a new dynamic,” she continued. “It’s special getting to see a new group of girls figure it out and all work together toward a common goal.”
Photo caption: Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School Gymnast Abby Pignatiello shows off the first-place medal she earned on the balance beam during the state gymnastics tournament in Columbus March 7-8, where she and her teammates won the state title for the 23rd consecutive year. Read more on page 2. Photo submitted.