Despite injuries reducing an already small roster down to just four competitors, Newtown High School’s gymnastics team went out and won its first two meets of the season. It was gymnastics’ version of all-hands-on-deck with all hands (and feet) on the floor, balance beam, vault, and bars — each of the four events.

Typically, teams might have just a couple gymnasts who compete in all events for an all around score, but have some who excel in one, two, or three events, and enough depth to spread the wealth throughout the events. The Nighthawks have no such luxury this winter but, to this point, that has been no problem as far as competition goes.

You can call it an all around effort with this lineup.

“Everyone’s got to pitch in. It’s really about teamwork if they want to have that team score,” said Newtown Coach Kim Kane, adding that the girls are not pressured into pushing themselves to compete in all four events if they do not feel up to it.

“I just want them to get out, have fun, be part of something. They’ve been locked up in COVID prison too long,” Kane added.

The Hawks won their season-opening visit to New Milford on January 13, then came out on top in a rematch with the Green Wave at their home venue, Vasi’s International Gymnastics, on January 22. Newtown had a January 17 meet postponed and, due to snow days and midterms, have had limited practice time.

“I’m impressed with what they’ve done,” Kane said. “We’re starting to see what they’re capable of.”

In the opener, NHS scored 130.650 points to New Milford’s 128.750; the Green Wave was also shorthanded with a team of just five. Newtown’s Renee Chard had an 8.4 on vault, 9.0 on bars, 8.15 on beam, and 8.80 on floor; Lauren Young posted an 8.45 on vault, 7.3 on bars, 8.6 on beam, and 9.0 on floor; Addie Sullivan earned an 8.3 on vault, 8.8 on bars, 8.15 on beam, and 8.0 on floor; and Cyrena Arokium scored an 8.35 on vault, 6.8 on bars, 7.25 on beam, and 7.30 on floor; Chard had the top all around score with a 34.350.

When NHS and New Milford met at Vasi’s, Newtown scored 126.650 to New Milford’s 109.550. New Milford was also down to four gymnasts for this competition. The decline in scores was a reflection of a level of subjectiveness with judges, Kane said. The Newtown coach felt her team had a relatively similar performance overall, and that it improved in a couple areas, namely vault and floor.

The Hawks had the top three scorers across the four events. Chard again took first in the all around with a score of 33.700, Young had a 32.450, and Sullivan a 32.400. Chard scored an 8.5 on vault, 8.0 on bars, 8.6 on beam, and 8.6 on floor; Young had an 8.7 on vault, 7.0 on bars, 8.0 on beam, and 8.75 on floor; Sullivan had an 8.25 on vault, 7.9 on bars, 8.65 on beam, and 7.6 on floor. Arokium had an 8.45 on vault, 6.3 on bars, 6.45 on beam, and 6.9 on floor.

Chard noted that the January 22 meet marked the first time the gymnasts were doing their full routines since the previous meet due to only having two days of practice during the prior week.

“I think they came in prepared really great. They had their heads in it and weren’t distracted,” Kane said.

“We were able to pull it together,” Young added.

The small roster may pose challenges with so much responsibility falling on each team member, but the Hawks are making the most of it.

“It’s so much fun. Since we are so small we’re so close,” Chard said.

“I feel like since we’re so small we’ve bonded really well,” Young added.

Sports Editor Andy Hutchison can be reached at andyh@thebee.com.