caption:
Woodstock looks for a gymnastics resurgence led by seniors, from left: Olivia Aleman, Liv Gerum and Ali Boyd. Photo by Kasey Tocchio/Woodstock Academy.
Aleman returns; Centaurs prevail
in opener over Killingly
Woodstock Academy coach Kasey Tocchio considers it a plus-two this year.
The Centaurs have a promising young freshman in Anyah Oatley. But they also have senior Olivia Aleman back.
“I think we should stack up pretty well this year in the (ECC) and States. We should be a confident team and my hopes are good again. We want to put Woodstock back on the map. Last year, we had kind of a rough season. Injuries, and whatever else, kind of made us go up and down,” Tocchio said.
That roller coaster ride may come to an end in the 2024-25 season as Aleman finished first in the All-Around and Oatley third to lead the Centaurs to a narrow two-point victory over both rival and gym partner, Killingly, 136.35-134.35.
The Centaurs finished 3-6 in the regular season a year ago and saw their streak of ECC championships end at 13 as they placed fourth.
Aleman, who came in as the defending ECC champ from 2023 and was second in the State Open that year, competed in the first meet last season and wasn’t seen again until States due to injury.
When she did come back, she placed first in floor and bars, second in vault and fourth in beam to help Woodstock place third as a team in Class M.
However, her lack of competition throughout the year meant she was not eligible to compete in the State Open.
The Centaurs also have seniors Liv Gerum and Ali Boyd returning. “Both of those girls have so much potential,” Tocchio said.
Junior Emma Long has also stepped up and will be participating in vault this year while trying to stay consistent in her other routines outside of a possible upgrade to her floor routine. Sophomore Rhea DeSota has been working on some new skills.
Lillian Frechette and Scarlett Hogarty are two other frosh on the squad as is Madison Crevier but an injury will keep Crevier from competition this season.
The Centaurs appeared confident against Killingly, the defending ECC champs.
Aleman finished with a 37.7 All-Around total as she placed first in the floor (9.65), beam (9.4) and bars (9.3). She was second in the vault with a 9.25 total.
Oatley finished with an 8.9 total in the vault, 8.75 on floor, 8.6 in bars and 7.7 on beam.
It was a good early start for the Centaurs and their Killingly gym partners.
The Centaurs opened the season in in their home gym and will finish it there as well as the ECC championship meet comes back to Danielson in February.
Norwich Free Academy used to use Thames Gymnastics but no longer does and their smaller facility can no longer host the league championship.
“We were just like, ’bring it back.’ The girls are really excited. Between my Deary’s gymnasts who compete for NFA, Killingly and Woodstock and my Ellis Tech gymnast, we have eight seniors who want to have ECC’s at home, feel comfortable, and go out with a bang,” the coach said.
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
The Woodstock Academy
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