Mary Kate Walch Continues Sister Act

After an impressive career on the Cranford High School gymnastics team, Meg Walch is now a member of the Temple University gymnastics team, one year after qualifying for the high school national showcase as a high school senior. But now it’s time for her sister, sophomore Mary Kate Walch, to do a balancing act of her own.

Walch finished up a strong season in helping lead the Lady Cougars to the No. 19 ranking in the final state poll, which no doubt, would make her sister proud.

“My season ended very well, I was real happy when I got to states,” said Walch. “I had a couple of big scores that helped me get ranked. I work all year, but the season is shorter for gymnastics.  We come in the summer and we set up and we come in early for morning practices. We learn from the coaches and they learn about us, then they start building our routines for the rest of the year.”

Walch began her gymnastics career at a young age, following in the footsteps of her older sibling. But instead of competing against each other, they pushed each other to become better gymnasts.

“It started for me when I was two, when my Mom saw my sister doing it,” said Walch. “I always wanted to be just like her, so being on the team with her last year really set me up for this year, for what to expect and how to hold the team up and be a team leader. We work together very well, we almost never fight. Being on the team at Cranford and at my club in Westfield, Surgent’s, we just work together really nicely. It’s always good to have someone who understands you.”

Those who have watched gymnastics at the highest level understand how difficult it is for these athletes to get to the top of their game. Mary Kate’s road has been no different.

“For me especially, I’m on a club team, I work out here (at the high school) for two to three hours, and then I go to my club and work out there for another two to three hours,” she said. “During high school gymnastics, I do six hours a day, because I have two-a-days during the season. It’s tough on my body after a while, but the coaches are really understanding, they know we’re doing both high school and club, they let us take a break at points, they work together.”

Walch looks up to her sister and a few other top acts for inspiration.

“I never really had an idol, I just look up to the people on the U.S.A. team, like Nastia Liukin, Shaun Johnston and Carly Patterson," she said. "They always set good examples for everyone.”

While learning the ropes from her sister, there were also other lessons taken in along the way.

“I learned how to communicate from my sister, to always talk to the coaches. When I get frustrated, to go and talk to them. They just want you to succeed.”

Walch was looking forward to her sophomore season after missing her freshman year with a broken leg. She didn’t disappoint, placing eighth in the state tournament and fourth in sectionals. Yet there’s still much more she’d like to do.

“In the next couple of years, there’s a few more skills that I’d like to put in, a completely different vault for next year, my floor I hope to excel as well,” said Walch.  “My sister’s doing so well (in floor) hopefully it’s in my genes to do well there. Beam, I’m pretty solid. I’m definitely strongest in vault, I picked up the speed a lot this year. I just worked really hard and my coaches helped me. We just did lots of drills and it just came out beautifully.”

Her coach, Michelle Charney-Hulse, was very happy with her performance this past season, and sees a bright future for Mary Kate and her teammates.

“We are still hoping to be a strong team. Of course, our goal is to stay healthy,” said Charney-Hulse. “A lot of our girls are freshmen and sophomores this year. Mary Kate’s been an excellent all-around performer, she has a great work ethic and can get the other girls going because of her work ethic. She’s just a good gymnast with a good attitude.”

Walch expects her team to be fighting for county honors. There’s A.L. Johnson, Scotch Plains-Fanwood and Westfield to contend with, but she expects Cranford to be among the elite as well in 2010.

“I have high expectations, although we’re losing three seniors this year," she said. "We have two freshmen that are coming up and I hear they’re at the top of their game, so I have high expectations for the next few years.”