While the rest of Newton North High School rushes home for the day, the girls gymnastics team is just getting started: leotards on, pink fuzzy socks flying through the air as the gymnasts hurl themselves across the gym.

This weekend, they will trade leotards for orange sunglasses, wigs and headbands as they represent their school at the New England Interscholastic Girls Gymnastics Championship, riding the high of their state championship win last weekend—the first time the team has claimed the title since 1972.

At practice before Saturday’s competition, the girls circle around their coach, Cassie Ford, leaning on each other’s shoulders and oohing and aahing as they listen to the logistics of meet day.

“These girls don’t even realize how athletic they are,” Ford said as gymnasts tumbled and swung behind her.

Newton North gymnastics teammates prepare for the state championship. Photo by Celine Hijazi

Before practice begins, the team blasts a variety of songs on the speaker—“Thrift Shop” by Macklemore and “Anaconda” by Nicki Minaj—as they tape each other’s ankles and yell at high school boys trying to claim the gym for a game of lacrosse.

“We’re a very bubbly team,” senior Nika Jayanth said. “We’re always cheering for each other and having fun.”

“Our energy is contagious,” teammate Simona Batista-Ciani added.

The team of 15 takes turns practicing each event: floor routines, beam, vault and bars. Each time another gymnast steps up, hands in the air, ready to run,  the team erupts with cheers and chants as chalk dust rises into the air.

Their recent historic win was fueled by that same energy, the team and coaches said.

“We knew the stakes,” Batista-Ciani said. “The last time the team won was 1972, so we were like, ‘OK, we can do this.’” 

The celebration matched the intensity of practice.

“On the way back, we were blasting songs on the bus, dancing around and passing the trophy,” Batista-Ciani said.

The gymnasts’ energy is palpable, with chalk-soaked footprints scattered across the gym floor from dancing, gossiping and cheering between exercises.

“We feed off each other’s energy,” teammate Greer Howard said. “When everyone’s excited, it motivates the whole team.” 

Although the practices are filled with laughter, the team’s skill and discipline remain clear.

“I broke the school record on floor at states,” gymnast Lucia Grabski said. This weekend, she plans to perform a similar routine to “Skyfall” by Adele, hoping to match the skill and energy of her last performance.

Nika Jayanth practices gymnastics with a teammate. Photo by Celine Hijazi

Beyond gymnastics, the athletes are already thinking about their futures.

“I’ve broken pretty much every bone you can imagine—that’s what made me interested in learning about the body,” teammate Julia Brown said, explaining her plans to pursue a career as a physician assistant.

Between routines, the girls sit on bulky tumbling mats with textbooks open, scribbling down homework before jumping back into rotation.

Ford said the team’s balance of talent and teamwork has been key to their success.

“Their work ethic and teamwork are what made the difference this year,” Ford said. “We have depth. Even if someone makes a mistake, the rest of the lineup can keep us strong.”

As practice winds down, the music fades and athletes leave, clothes covered in chalk, laughing as they head into the parking lot.

This weekend, the stage may be bigger and the stakes higher, but based on the team’s practice, Newton North appears ready, complete with orange wigs, cheers and all.

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This story is part of a partnership between the Newton Beacon and the Boston University Department of Journalism.