By Ken Chaisson
Hometown Weekly Sports Reporter
Whatever your definition of an athlete, it was on full display Friday night, January 10, 2025, during the Walpole girls’ gymnastics home opener against the Wellesley Raiders at Broderick’s Gymnastics Academy in the Walpole Mall.
Smart, tough, agile, strong, creative, and a team player: the Ladytimbers checked all the boxes.
The Walpole squad began their 2025 season on the road earlier in January, competing against Newton North and Braintree. Many gymnasts made their high school debut, showcasing their passion and desire to compete.
The team is guided by Walpole alumni and former captains Kristen (Ridge) Rudenauer and Jessica (Doyle) Buss, now in their second seasons as coaches. This year’s captains are senior Julie Cosse and junior Sara Bianculli, who provide strong leadership for the team.
Walpole’s girls’ gymnastics program dates back to 1971 and has a proud history. The team excelled in the 1980s under Terri (Balduf) Thornton, creator of the Gymnestrada, and again in the 2000s, with standout athletes like Rudenauer and Buss.
Last season, the team scored 134.5, the third-highest in Walpole history, and finished fourth at the Bay State Conference meet. The program’s all-time record of 147.125 was achieved in 2015-16. For perspective, the top score in 1973 was just 52.7: a testament to the sport’s evolution and the athletes’ dedication.
In gymnastics, team success hinges on balance and depth, with scores determined by judges. At a league meet, there’s no individual competition; only team scoring. The top four scores in each event contribute to the team’s total, making consistency across all six competitors critical.
This year’s team includes 12 athletes, seven of whom are freshmen, along with three team managers who handle scoring during meets. The newcomers are quickly adjusting to the differences between high school and club gymnastics.
The team competes in four events: vault, uneven bars, balance beam, and floor exercise. Six gymnasts participate in each event, with two performing in all four. Events are held simultaneously, so while Walpole is on the bars, Wellesley may be on the floor.
Against Wellesley, the Bianculli family tradition continued. Emma Bianculli, a state qualifier who graduated last year, passed the torch to her sisters, Ava and Sara. Ava led the team with an 8.65 on vault and a 7.55 on bars, while Sara earned an 8.4 on beam and an 8.15 on floor. Ava narrowly edged out Sara in the all-around, 32.2 to 30.95. Captain Cosse also posted scores above 8 in every event she competed in.
Wellesley claimed the overall team score, 137.05 to 124.85, narrowly edging Walpole on vault and beam by just one point each. Despite the loss, Walpole’s 124.85 marked their highest score of the season. Wellesley, meanwhile, has consistently surpassed 134 points in all three of their meets this season.
The Ladytimbers return to action on Friday, January 24, when they face Framingham at Broderick’s Gymnastics Academy.
