By Ryan O’connor

Of the four events at each competition – vault, beam, bars, and floor – six girls from each team compete. Only two athletes can compete in all four events and score in the all-around; the rest take part in a maximum of three.

Winning a state championship last year was fun, and Salem girls gymnastics coach Ginnie Lavallo said there is no reason her squad can’t let the good times roll.

 “It really depends on the other teams,” said Lavallo. “I mean, I know we will be fine, but if other teams get a couple freshmen in that are really strong, that could make a difference. But I still like our chances.”

Though the Lady Blue Devils lost one of their best all-around competitors in Ali Collins, Lavallo said a healthy Jordan Buatti, who missed last year’s state competition with an injury, should provide a seamless transition.

Buatti, a senior, captains this year’s team with classmates Jolena Diefendorf, Lizzy Lavigne and junior LeeAnn Vadala.

Others returning to the squad of 25 include senior Stephanie Schaefer; junior Jessica Maffeo; and sophomores Taylor Buatti, Shireen Kirata and Jessica Theriault.

Freshman Geena Terino, said Lavallo, has a solid shot of competing at the varsity level with her floor routine.

Those rules, said Lavallo, are in place to offer the opportunity for more gymnasts to participate.

The Salem coach said she has at least six athletes capable of participating in the all-around, allowing her to rotate the girls during regular-season dual meets and adding team flexibility.

“Sometime one or two of the girls will have a nagging injury, so it’s kind of nice because we have the ability to let them take the time and get better,” she said, noting there are 13 competitive teams in the state, and all make the state meet.

“Several girls have a chance to place very high, but it’s so early in the season. It’s not that the dual meets don’t matter, but because there’s not that much pressure for the kids, we don’t push them right now because we’re trying to peak at the end of the season.”

Salem averaged more than 130 points down the stretch last year, and Lavallo said if her team can match that production when the state meet arrives, it will once again be in position to wear gold.

“In the past I’ve had teams with two outstanding individuals, but lost a little after that,” she said. “Last year and this year, we have a much more balanced team, so the scores didn’t fall off after those first two. It’s a better all-around effort.”

But even those schools which don’t have a team can send up to four gymnasts to compete at each event, and Lavallo said there are often 20 to 30 individual competitors at states competing for one of the top four scores in each event, which, along with the top six teams, qualifies them for the New England meet.

One of the most important keys to winning close competitions and moving one team above the rest, said Lavallo, is developing the moves to earn the .3 bonus points, raising a routine’s possible score from 9.7 to 10.

Moreover, the athleticism it takes to compete, said Lavallo, rivals any other sport.

“(Gymnastics) is such a thankless sport,” she said. “Most of these girls spend 30 hours a week in the gym and don’t ever get much recognition.”

 The Lady Blue Devils open at home on Dec. 18 at 7 p.m. against Concord and Pelham.