With 4 seniors leading way, Fox Chapel gymnasts show camaraderie, drive to improve

By: Antonio Rossetti
Saturday, December 7, 2024 | 11:01 AM

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The Fox Chapel gymnasts walk into practice, yearning to beat their personal records. The Foxes flip through the air, showcasing their strength, flexibility and grace. Nonetheless, their performance is just one aspect of what makes gymnastics special.

Gymnastics provides camaraderie and bonds that can’t be broken. For Foxes coach Nadine DeLeo, she sees the chemistry within the team and its four seniors she said she has been grateful to coach.

Laila Blyth, Riley Hourvitz, Addy Kress and Gina Fitzsimmons are the seniors on the team.

“They’re super great girls,” DeLeo said. “I love them. They’ve been definitely taking a leadership role with some of the other girls. They’re dependable. They’re reliable. They’re supportive of each other, and they encourage each other. They’re great. All my seniors are great. I love them all.”

DeLeo, who has coached for more than 18 years and has coached Fox Chapel for 10 years, added that Blyth and Hourvitz will be team leaders. Both will compete in the floor, vault and bars.

Kress will take over on the floor and beam. Fitzsimmons returned to the team this year and will help on floor and bars.

Sophomores Madison Cook and Clara Mah will be an asset in every event.

Cook has a competitive gymnastics background and will compete in the floor exercise, vault and bars. Cook was going to compete last year but suffered an ACL tear during cheerleading. DeLeo can’t wait to see her compete this year.

Mah is a Level 9 club gymnast who also competes for Jewart’s Gymnastics. DeLeo wasn’t sure if she would compete for Fox Chapel this year with her club expectations, but she is happy to have a girl such as Mah on her squad.

Emma Kitner rounds out the sophomores, and she will compete on the floor exercise.

DeLeo said the team’s strong suit will be the floor.

“We do pull a lot of cheerleaders that have had a history of doing gymnastics and tumbling,” DeLeo said. “They are able to pull some routines together and add in to help our floor score.”

She added that vault is their next-strongest event, followed by the beam and bars.

The Foxes have two freshmen — Amalia Gutridge and Ilaria Conte — who round out their nine-gymnast roster.

Gutridge will compete in three to four events and has a club gymnastics background. Conte also has a gymnastics background and will compete in a couple of events.

DeLeo is excited to see the young girls improve and learn from the seniors.

“This year is super special because I have four seniors that I’ve been with, so that’s special,” DeLeo said. “We have other new kids that are going to be able to add a little bit more difficulty to our team. I think this is going to be great. We have a few newer freshmen that could learn from the upperclassmen.”

DeLeo is excited to see how the team does. She is already very impressed with their chemistry.

“Their camaraderie has been good,” DeLeo said. “We have a couple new freshmen and new kids on the team this year. I’m excited for where we’re at this year. Last year, we lost a lot of kids due to injury, and we didn’t even really have a full team competing every time last year.”

This season, Fox Chapel has a full team and will be able to get a full team score. DeLeo praised the girls for their positivity and their mindset.

“The girls are super positive,” she said. “I love them. They’re great. We might not be this team that’s winning every year, but we’re always pushing them to try a new skill or add another level of difficulty. Do the best you can to beat your score from last year.”

DeLeo added that she focuses on having the gymnasts improve.

“My focus has always been to beat our team scores from where we were last year,” DeLeo said. “Let’s beat any of your personal bests or try a different event this year and let’s see what you can do. Add another level of difficulty onto your routine than what you did last year. I’m always kind of pushing them to push themselves to be the best that they can be.”

DeLeo mentioned that she wants the team to be there for each other, being good teammates and role models.

“I want them to have an experience like this,” DeLeo said. “I think it’s great that these girls can come and compete in the sport and be recognized by their school. The fact that Fox Chapel still keeps it and supports it is just a great service to the kids.”

DeLeo said she wants the sport to continue to grow and will continue to love coaching and watching the girls compete.

“I’ve done the sport all my life,” DeLeo said. “I’ve been in the gym ever since I was 10 years old. I haven’t left. I love the sport. I love coaching girls, I love coaching all levels, and I love being able to help girls maybe reach potential they could never get to and getting them to believe in themselves.”

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