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Into her 23rd year at the helm of New Milford High School's gymnastics program, Bethany Mihaly isn't prone to hyperbole.
Yet the veteran coach isn't shy this winter about tossing a few superlatives in the direction of the 2010 Green Wave.
Captained by senior Ashley O'Connor and Libby Martin and boasting depth of talent from stem to stern, this season's squad could be among NMHS' best ever.
"This team really has a huge amount of talent and potential," remarked coach Mihaly, "and they are just starting to realize it... They are working to make sure they fulfill all the promise that I see in them."
O'Connor is the reigning New England all-around champion and juniors Colleen Menard and Jessica Cochrane and impressive South-West Conference and state credentials to their credit.
Add the steady contributions of Martin, the addition of a skilled Tori Weiss and promising freshmen Carla Hernandez and Jasmine Ros and one has the fixings for a state title contender.
The Green Wave opened their campaign Jan. 7 by edging host Wilton, 131.7-128.8, as Hernandez led the way with her all-around 34.4, followed by Menard at 32.4 and Martin at 30.6.
O'Connor scored impressive marks of 9.4 on the uneven bars and 9.1 on the balance beam during limited action.
Ashley competed all-around last Saturday and walked away with top honors at 36.5 at the Pomperaug Invitational in Southbury.
She placed second in vaulting and on bars with respective scores of 8.8 and was the top scorer on beam and in floor exercise at 9.4 and 9.3.
Hernandez and Menard posted respective second and sixth-place around performances with scores of 34.7 and 33.65,
As a team, New Milford registered 135.95 to outpoint Darien (135.0), Nonnewaug (132.1), host Pomperaug (130.4), Conard (130.05), Westport Staples (122.0), Farmington (112.7), Hall of West Hartford (95.4) and Weston (90.5).
The Green Wave rallied Monday from a slow start to score 129.4 in a tri-meet vs. Nonnewaug and Pomperaug but fell shy of the Chiefs' 132.9 and the Panthers' 132.3.
O'Connor's 9.35 on beam and Hernandez' 8.9 in floor exercise were high points for the Green Wave.
"I am very proud of the way they are working together as a team, stepping up for one another and supporting each other," concluded coach Mihaly.
The girls will duel Darien tomorrow (Saturday), Jan. 16 at 3 p.m. on the Blue Wave's apparatus and will make their home debut next Thursday, Jan. 21 at 5 p.m. vs. Trumbull.
-- Norm Cummings
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