FIVE NRHS gymnasts have helped the Andover-North Reading co-op gymnastics team to a 4-1 start in their inaugural season. Pictured from left to right is Alex Lee, Alexis Ciavardone, Braelynn Eng, Chloe DeAngelis and Kelsie Berry. (Courtesy Photo)

 

 

By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI

NORTH ANDOVER — The Andover-North Reading High co-op gymnastics team has been one of the feel-good stories this winter sports season so far.

Last season, Andover went 5-3 overall. However, they lost eight seniors from that roster to graduation and were slated to have only five returners this year.

North Reading last had a varsity gymnastics team three years ago when they were a co-op with Danvers and Lynnfield.

Most of the Andover High team and the five girls from North Reading that are on the team all are members of the Reading Gymnastics Academy.

The North Reading girls were looking to join another high school varsity team and were friendly with the Andover girls, so North Reading High athletic director David Johnson worked with Andover AD Wayne Puglisi to put the co-op together.

This past fall, the announcement was officially made that the co-op team was set and would be called the “Warnets” combining the Warriors and Hornets team nicknames.

Fourth-year head coach Marlena Bresnick has been very pleased with the way things have gone.

“The merger is working out even better than I thought it would,” she said. “What made it easier is that they knew each other pretty well going into the season.”

The five Warnets from North Reading are Alex Lee, Alexis Ciavardone, Braelynn Eng, Chloe DeAngelis and Kelsie Berry.

Despite having one of the smallest rosters in the Merrimack Valley Conference this year with only 10 members, the team has gotten off to a great start.

With their 138.25- 133.8 win over host North Andover this past Sunday at Legends Gymnastics, the Warnets have improved to 4-1 overall as their lone loss of the season came to mighty Central Catholic.

“This was a great win for us,” stated Bresnick, who is an occupational therapist who also works part time at Reading Gymnastics Academy. “The girls really stepped up.”

North Reading-Andover came in first place in three of the four events led by Lee who was first on the bars (9.0) and balance beam (9.05). She also made her season debut  in the vault and came in third with an 8.8.

Lee ended up winning the all-around with a total score of 35.8.

“She keeps improving week after week,” said Bresnick. “It was also a good score for her first time doing the vault.”

Berry was the team’s other winner with a 9.1 on the vault. Berry finished third in the all-around with a score of 34.2.

Ciavardone captured third on the floor exercise with a 9.3.

The next meet for the Warnets will be on Jan. 19 as they host Methuen at Reading Gymnastics Academy. That meet will start at 4 p.m.