In 2023, Samantha Sargeant and Katie Hoffman joined the NHS gymnastics team. At that point, there were only three other girls on the team. Despite being a freshman, Sargeant and Hoffman’s leadership qualities stood out right away. When describing Sargeant and Hoffman, NHS head gymnastics coach Kelsey Martin says, “they’re determined, confident, leaders, and overall good people.”
When Sargeant became a captain as a freshman, she felt “nervous because it was something new, but the Staples captains set a great example that I could follow”, Sargeant said. Throughout the last three years, Sargeant and Hoffman have massively improved the program. They more than doubled the team, qualified for FCAICS for the first time in many years, and “the goal for this season is to qualify for states,” says Coach Kelsey Martin.
While winning meets is important, the captains focus just as much on creating a positive environment that feels like family. Coming in as captains freshman year, they had to start traditions from scratch. “My favorite memory on the team is definitely all the pasta parties we have because it’s a time for everyone to bond on a different level,” says Sophomore gymnast Caitlin Eckert. Hoffman also explains how traditions help strengthen the team. “Traditions we have are pasta parties, fun bus rides, and bonding with the Staples team,” she said. These moments outside of the gym helped turn teammates into close friends, making the team feel more connected.
As the team grew, so did the captains themselves. Both athletes began gymnastics at a young age and spent years improving their skills. Sargeant started gymnastics when she was six, and “I started doing gymnastics when I was five and started competitively when I was eleven,” says Hoffman. While their athletic skills have continued to improve, so have their leadership skills throughout high school. “To be a leader, you have to not put yourself first but put others first,” says Sargeant.
Its very rare to have captains like these who not only lead the team but transform the program as a whole. “They want to create a legacy that Norwalk Gymnastics is not just a couple of good girls individually, but its actually a really good team”, says Coach Kelsey Martin. But Norwalk’s success isn’t the captain’s main goal. “I hope people remember me as a captain who was welcoming and made them feel included. I hope I create a bond with every single person, even if it’s not the closest bond. I want to have a bond with everyone,” says Sargeant.
