NMHS Athletic Hall of Fame

Impressive depth of talent, competitive fire and an admirable esprit de corps... the 2009-2010 Green Wave gymnasts had it all, and were blessed with good health for their biggest meets.

 

In retrospect, that they won the 2010 New England team championship was no surprise. That the Green Wave would be inducted into the New Milford High School Athletic Hall of Fame was an inevitability.

 

Veteran coach Bethany Mihaly’s team was led by defending New England all-around champion Ashley O’Connor, who was backed by several fellow state-class gymnasts. That corps of young athletes had shown heading into the 2009-10 campaign they had the individual skills in vaulting, on the uneven parallel bars and the balance beam, and in floor exercise, to be a state contender.

 

Ashley had captured New England triumphs on the uneven parallel bars, in vaulting and all-around in 2009, and coach Mihaly just needed to bring together a strong enough supporting cast to make the Green Wave a factor on the New England scene as a team.

 

Once the season had begun, the Green Wave improved by leaps and bounds, so to speak. Carla Hernandez, Colleen Menard, Tori Weiss and Libby Martin were among the gymnasts who elevated their game, complementing Ashley O’Connor’s sublime talents to form an unbeatable lineup.

 

The Green Wave proceeded to win its first South-West Conference championship with a near school record 139.75 score, fanning hopes that 2010 could be the year for state and possibly even New England honors.

 

When the state ‘L’ meet arrived, optimism reigned. Unfortunately, in spite of first places by Ashley on beam and floor exercise, the latter with 9.7, the day’s highest mark, the Green Wave’s 136.675 fell a point shy of traditional power Southington, consigning coach Mihaly and Co. to a runnerup finish.

 

The next week, those small mistakes that had held back the Green Wave at the state ‘L’ competition had been cleaned up, and coach Mihaly and her gymnasts sailed to NMHS’ first gymnastics state open title with a 139.9 score.

 

With marks of 9.675, 9.4, 9.55 and 9.375, Ashley earned two firsts, a third and a fourth, good for an impressive 38.0 all-around, showing the way for her ever-improving Green Wave teammates. Carla Hernandez and Colleen Menard were sixth and 13th, respectively, all-around, and their teammates filled in admirably.

 

Courtesy of its state open title performance, the Green Wave gained one of the two team invitations to the climactic New England championship meet. The stage was set and the Green Wave was primed and ready to complete its ascent to the heights.

 

Although coach Mihaly admittedly didn’t check the scores as the meet unfolded, it became apparent as the afternoon progressed that her charges were handling their roles quite well. Such was the Green Wave a tour de force, Ashley (37.35), Carla (36.3) earned fourth and eighth place all-around, and Colleen (33.95), Tori (33.875) and Libby (30.05) proved plenty of support, all finishing in the top 30 in New England.

 

Jasmine Ros and Ashleigh Barney contributed points, too, as the Green Wave raced to a remarkable 141.55, more than two points higher than runnerup Barnstable, Ma.

 

As reward for their hard work and excellence, come October 18, 2025, coach Mihaly and her 2009-10 Green Wave gymnasts will become just the second New Milford High School team to be inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame.