The 15 high school gymnasts who were named 2024 Daily News All-Stars
After combing over statistics and results, and with the guidance of local athletic directors and coaches, we at the Daily News selected All-Stars for boys and girls basketball, boys and girls hockey, boys and girls swimming, boys and girls track and field, gymnastics, skiing and boys and girls wrestling.
Although the sports and skill sets may vary, there’s no denying that this group put up otherworldly numbers this winter while helping their respective teams find success – whether that be on the court, field, ice, mat or track, or in the gym or pool.
The Daily News presents its 2023-24 All-Stars for gymnastics:
Kiera Akus, Algonquin
Akus, a sophomore, placed second in the all-around at Mid-Wach League meet, where she won the floor exercise with a score of 9.250. She tied for first on the balance beam and tied for third on the vault and helped the Titans win the title at the Mid-Wach Championship, defeating Groton-Dunstable by six-tenths of a point, 139.55-138.95. Akus also competed at the Southern Sectional meet.
Imani Curran, Westborough
This sophomore tied for third in the vault (8.800) at the Mid-Wach League meet. She won the floor exercise in a win over Marlborough. Also participates in outdoor track for the Rangers, placing third in the pole vault last spring at the Division 3 state meet.
Lizzie Forster, Ashland
This senior captain was a Tri-Valley League All-Star on the beam and posted a 9.175 average on beam and 8.8375 average on floor for Medfield-Ashland-Dover/Sherborn. She placed 28th at States in the all-around and 16th on beam. Forster is part of Make-A-Wish and works at Elite Gymnastics. She will play lacrosse at Southern New Hampshire University. “Lizzie's senior season was undoubtedly her best. She has grown so much in her four years at MADS as an athlete, teammate and leader," said coach Jennifer Wrenn. "Her grace and artistry is unmatched and truly came into her own this season.”
Madeline Ho, Algonquin
The captain finished third in the Mid-Wach League meet all-around, where she placed second on the floor exercise, third on the balance beam and sixth on the bars. Ho was named Senior Gymnast of the Year by the Mid-Wach League and helped the Titans win the league title. Ho qualified for the Southern Sectionals.
Clara Keith, Natick
A two-time Bay State Conference All-Star, this sophomore has qualified for New Englands twice in the floor exercise and twice in the all-around for States. The team MVP placed fourth in the all-around at the league meet and joined the 9.5 club on the floor. She will be a captain next year and is a Level 9 gymnast at Mass. Elite Gymnastics. Her season averages were: vault, 9.025; beam, 9.038; floor, 9.15; and all-around, 35.65. “Clara has the maturity, skill and charisma of an upperclassman,” said coaches Tracey Gondelman and Tara McDonald. “She is a quiet ball of strength.”
Emily Kratzer, Marlborough
After an injury left her on the sidelines for nearly a year, this sophomore returned midway through the season and placed fifth in the all-around at the Mid-Wach League meet. She finished third on the bars and sixth in both the balance beam and floor exercise. “The timing of her return left us uncertain if she would be able to compete, but she chose to commit to the team,” said coach Samantha Kelley. “She worked within the allowable scope she was given each week and whatever time she had left of practice was spent helping her teammates improve. Emily is the personification of determination.”
Emma Marden, Dover-Sherborn
Marden averaged 9.45 on the vault, 9.1 on the beam and 9.2 on the floor exercise for Medfield-Ashland-Dover/Sherborn. This junior placed 12th in the all-around at States and 22nd at New Englands. She was third on the floor and fourth on the vault at the Tri-Valley League championships and was voted captain for next season. She also plays field hockey and runs track. Marden is a Relay for Life Club leader and a state champion at Broderick Gymnastics. “Time and time again she has shown what an incredible competitor she is and she has always stepped up when the team needed her,” said coach Jennifer Wrenn.
Caroline Martin, Wellesley
The Bay State Conference All-Star was second in both the all-around and vault at the league meet. Martin finished third in the all-around at the South sectional and qualified for New Englands in the vault. She is a part of the Massachusetts Senior National Team and was voted Bay State Conference Senior of the Year. Martin was the 2023 league vault champion and a three-time BSC All-Star for the all-around. “Caroline is a hard-working athlete,” said coach Melissa Flemming. “She has had an amazing career at Wellesley and finished up her senior season with great successes.”
Hannah Pena, Ashland
This two-time Medfield-Ashland-Dover/Sherborn team MVP ranked ninth in the state all-around with a score of 37.0125 as a senior. Pena qualified for States in the all-around and was a New England qualifier on the vault and bars. She won the Tri-Valley League all-around title and is a member of the National Team that will compete in Ft. Myers, Florida, in May. Member of National Honor Society and Make-A-Wish. Will attend Boston College. “Hannah is truly one of the hardest working athletes I have ever coached,” said MADS coach Jennifer Wrenn.
Eliza Rein, Nashoba
This junior captain was named a Mid-Wach League All-Star, Marlborough High’s team MVP and placed consistently in the top three in the vault and floor exercise. Rein competes in club gymnastics at Gymnastics Learning Center in Shrewsbury. She is a member of Interact Club, Students for Social Justice and Student Council. Co-founded charitable organization called Athlete 2 Athlete, donating money to high school athletes who cannot afford equipment. “She is a quiet competitor, but her effort both in practice and in competition speaks volumes,” said coach Samantha Kelley. “Eliza is a great leader.”
Ellie Simmons, Medway
A Tri-Valley League All-Star after a second-place finish on the beam at the league meet for Medway-Holliston-Milford-Millis. Simmons was 23rd in the all-around at New Englands. She was 13th in the all-around at States, where she was also fifth on the beam. She participates in track and field and the Community Service Club. Traveled on church mission trips to Denver, Costa Rica and New Jersey. Plans to study sports psychology. “We call Ellie our ‘Steady Eddie,’” said coach Heather Cronin. “We marvel at how she can repeat the same solid beam routine meet after meet.”
Maggie Spring, Framingham
Framingham’s team MVP, this senior co-captain qualified for the state individual meet and has been chosen for the Senior National Team and will compete for Team Massachusetts in Fort Myers, Florida, in May. Spring scored more than 260 points for the team over an eight-meet season. Has participated in club gymnastics since she was 3 and is a four-year varsity volleyball player and track and field participant. National Honor Society member and Unified sports volunteer. “Solid gymnast on all four events, entire career,” said coach Sandy Maier. “We can always depend on Maggie with top scores on all four events.”
Emmeline Stoetzel, Holliston
After enduring two shoulder surgeries as an underclassman, this senior captain helped the Medway-Holliston-Milford-Millis team to second at Sectionals, fourth at States and fourth at New Englands. She was a Tri-Valley League All-Star. At individual States, she was fourth on vault, sixth on floor and 10th on the beam. Her personal bests are: vault, 9.6; beam, 9.575; and floor, 9.65. Competes in track and field and is a National Honor Society member who is in the Red Cross Club. “Emmeline was our rock,” said coach Heather Cronin. “We always knew we could count on her for a beautiful, solid routine.”
Greta Wolfgang, Holliston
This junior and Medway-Holliston-Milford-Millis MVP is a Tri-Valley League All-Star in the vault and floor exercise. She was second on the vault and fifth in both the beam and floor at the league meet. Wolfgang qualified for individual States in the beam, floor and vault, an event in which she placed fourth. Wolfgang is a National Honor Society member and has received Academic Achievement award in English. She coaches at Elite Gymnastics. “Greta had an injury during team sectionals,” said coach Breanna Vacca. “But watching Greta stay strong and support her teammates through the remainder of the season was truly inspiring.”
Caleigh Wilson, Milford
Despite an injury that required her to not put weight on one of her hands, Wilson competed on the beam and floor exercise without using either hand for Medway-Holliston-Milford-Millis. The captain was named Senior of the Year and a Tri-Valley League All-Star on the beam. She qualified for individual States on the vault and beam and is a Senior National Team qualifier. Wilson set personal bests on the vault (9.4) and floor (9.4). “Watching her turn a negative situation into a positive experience exemplified why her teammates voted her ‘The Fighting Heart’ award,” said coach Breanna Vacca.
This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: The 15 high school gymnasts who were named 2024 Daily News All-Stars
