Published March 4, 2021

By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI

MIDDLETON — It was a successful season finale for the Danvers-North Reading High co-op gymnastics team on Sunday afternoon as they defeated guest Peabody 135.6-120.5 at Yellow Jackets in Middleton.

With that win, the Falcons ended the year at 3-3 overall and 2-3 in the Northeastern Conference.

Allie Taylor came in first on the balance beam (9.2), vault (9.3) and floor exercise (9.1) and was first in the All-Around (35.6). The North Reading junior was third on the bars with a 7.8.

Emily Tobin had the other win for the Falcons as she was first on the bars with an 8.3. Tobin was also third on the beam with an 8.9 and third on the floor with an 8.55. 

Ashley Rabbitt, who finished behind Taylor in the All-Around, was second on the beam (9.0) and tied teammate Aria Serino for second on the floor with an 8.6.

Kailyn Richards captured third in the vault with an 8.2.

The night before the Peabody meet, the Falcons hosted the two-time defending state champions, Masconomet. The Chieftains showed that they are still the gold standard in the league as they won 150.75- 132.25.

Taylor was third in the All-Around at 34.5 as Masco came in first, second and third in all four events.

On Feb. 15, the Falcons edged host Marblehead-Swampscott 128.7- 126.65 at the YMCA Lynch van Otterloo.

Taylor was second in all four events and in the All-Around. She had an 8.9 in the vault, a 8.0 on the bars, an 8.55 on the beam and an 8.8 on the floor exercise. She finished with a 34.25 in the All-Around.

Rabbitt, a senior captain from North Reading, was second in the All-Around (31.25) and she tied Tobin for third on the floor with an 8.4.

Tobin was also tied for third on the beam with an 8.5 while Richards was tied for third in the vault with an 8.4.

It was the shortest season ever for the Falcons. Due to COVID-19 issues, the team didn’t have its first practice until Jan. 6.

The season ended only a little over a month later on Feb. 21.

The Falcons were able to compete in six meets as they finished 3-3 overall and 2-3 in the Cape Ann League-Northeastern Conference. They had a non-conference win over Bishop Fenwick.

“I think the season went very well considering the COVID-19 situation,” said Falcons senior co-captain Megan Macneil who is from North Reading. “We were able to practice 2-3 times a week once we were cleared to start practice and competed in six meets. One consequence of the situation however, is that the number of meets was reduced and they were only allowed to be dual meets, as no tri-meets were allowed.”

In a normal season, the team would have nine meets. Last winter, they went 5-2.

Along with Macneil, the team will lose two other seniors to graduation: Aria Serino and Ashley Rabbitt. Rabbitt is also from North Reading.

“The senior class, despite being small, was a really fun group who I think really helped to keep the energy up this year,” said Macneil. “Next year, there will be seven girls returning and I have high hopes for them. Some of our highest scoring girls were juniors this year so I think they will do very well next year.”

Due to the shortened season, there was no All-Star team selected.

The seven girls coming back next year will be spearheaded by Allie Taylor as the North Reading All-Around gymnast will be a senior next year.

She was a league All-Star in the All-Around last season.