A big congratulations to the Hopewell HS Gymnastics team for winning the PA State Classic over the weekend in Huntingdon, PA.
On Friday February 20th, the HHS Varsity Gymnastics team placed 1st in the Silver Division with a team score of 133.53, bringing home gold! This was their highest team score of the season. All Hopewell gymnasts competed in the state competition while only the four highest scores from each athlete finalized the score for each event.
PA State Classic is high school gymnastics States as PIAA does not recognize high school gymnastics having a state competition. Coaches decided years ago that they would provide a state competition for the athletes.
Members of the 2025-26 Championship Winning Team Include:
-Co-Captain and Junior Reece Jesko
-Co-Captain and Junior Stella Vallecorsa
-Sophomore Lia Eberhardt
-Freshman Camryn Pedaline
-Freshman Madison Bradford
-Freshman Makenzie Zupsic
After the team competition on Friday, individual competitions were held on Saturday February 21st and each gymnast placed individually in their respective divisions.
In the Gold Division, Freshman Makenzie Zupsic placed 12th out of 42 on floor, 10th out of 43 all-around, and was Pennsylvania State Champion for beam out of 42 gymnasts!
In the Silver Division – Co-Captain and Junior – Reece Jesko placed 4th out of 49 on beam, 7th out of 56 on floor, and 5th all-around out of 44 gymnasts, Co-Captain and Junior – Stella Vallecorsa placed 10th out of 56 on floor, Sophomore – Lia Eberhardt placed 2nd out of 52 on vault.
In the Bronze Division – Freshman- Camryn Pedaline placed 5th out of 16 on floor, Freshman – Madison Bradford placed 2nd out of 16 on floor.
This group of ladies put numerous hours into practice, perfecting each event overcoming sprains, bruises and falls but they kept preserving. In gymnastics, these athletes compete on each event as individuals, but they truly work as a team and support each other, as evident in the culmination of their final team scores for this season.
The athletes from Hopewell High School along with neighboring high schools – team and individuals are coached by Terri Gazda, Cherie Mulford, and Jessica Irwin at Monaca Turners Gymnastics. Shout out to Central Valley Varsity Gymnastics who placed third in Gold Division and Beaver Varsity Gymnastics who placed first in Bronze Division at the PA State Classic.
Here’s a little fun fact, Coach Terri Gazda is a graduate of Hopewell High School and Gazda was previously inducted into the Hopewell Sports Hall of Fame, just as we hope this team will be one day!
You have a chance to honor and celebrate this championship team as they will be honored tomorrow at halftime of the Hopewell HS Boys playoff game vs. Belle Vernon. Tipoff tomorrow night from Hopewell HS is set for 7 PM.
Once again, congrats to this talented group of championship athletes and coaches!
