Brockton gymnast vaults onto national scene

The Enterprise | May 1, 2014
By Chris McDaniel

Brieanna Zine of Brockton will compete in the USA Gymnastics Eastern Level Nine Championships on Sunday in Palmetto, Florida, after being crowned the Level Nine Massachusetts and Regional Six champion.

BROCKTON – For 13 years, Brockton’s Brieanna Zine has been flying through the air on gymnastics mats at Spectrum Gymnastics Inc.

The 16-year-old will now be flying south to partake in the USA Gymnastics Eastern Level Nine Championships on Sunday at Bradenton Area Convention Center in Palmetto, Florida, after being crowned the Level Nine Massachusetts and Regional Six champion.

“It’s been so much fun,” said Zine, a junior at Cardinal Spellman High School. “Every meet it gets better and better and my excitement builds.”

Zine and Spectrum are in somewhat uncharted waters, as Zine is only the facility’s third gymnast to qualify for the Eastern championship and the first level nine qualifier from the gym – level nine is the second highest level in USA Gymnastics behind 10.

“For me it makes me realize all the work that everybody puts in – the kids included,” said Michelle Farley, who owns Spectrum that has been open 33 years. “It’s nice to see someone get to that level, which is very hard to achieve.”

No gymnast from Spectrum has ever won or placed in Easterns, but there’s a different feel this time around.

“In the past with other girls who have qualified for Easterns, were just happy to make it there and didn’t expect anything,” said Stephen Cudworth, Zine’s longtime coach. “We went there just for the experience and to just be proud we made it there. Now going with her there’s a chance that something could happen, which makes it even more exciting.”

“It’s just the frosting on the cake,” said Farley.

Zine’s run to this year’s Massachusetts title may have actually started last year when she finished third in the level nine state meet, good enough to qualify for the regional competition, but she was unable to attend due to prior obligations.

“It was disappointing at the time, but it just pushed me harder,” said Zine.

After winning the Massachusetts title this year, Zine had a dominant showing at the regionals, which included participants from Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont.

Zine won the vault with a score of 9.3, finished third in floor exercise (9.175) and fifth on the balance beam (8.95) to take the all-around championship.

“Coaches I didn’t even know we’re coming over congratulating us and congratulating the gym because it actually puts Spectrum on the map,” said Cudworth, who is a former all-around state champion (1999) and regional vault champion (2000). “The level nines and level 10s have this elite group – like Brestyan’s (American Gymnastics Club) where the Aly Raisman’s came from, everybody knows who he is.”

Zine is in rarified air. Cudworth estimated that there are around 2,000 gymnasts in Massachusetts, with only around 150 in level nine.

Zine’s introduction to gymnastics began 13 years ago when a rambunctious 3-year-old needed a way to burn off extra energy. Her mother, Jodie, and father, Ed, signed up Zine for ‘Mommy and Me’ gymnastics classes at Spectrum.

“It just stuck and I’ve been here ever since,” said Zine, t who has a 13-year-old brother Eddie.

Cudworth and Farley saw the potential in Zine from a young age.

“The talent was always there,” said Cudworth. “We knew something was going to happen. We just didn’t know what was going to happen and then she finally stepped forward and everything came into play.”

Farley sees plenty of reasons why Zine has been so successful.

“What’s good about her is she’s consistent and equally talented on all events,” said Farley. “She has a balance of flexibility and strength. There is not a physical weakness where a lot of athletes will have a tight upper back or some part of their body that’s not conducive to the sport and they have to work through and compensate and work around.

“She happens to have all the right tools for the sport.”

Zine is more than happy to give back to her coaches who have watched her grown up.

“I’ve been with Stephen and Michelle forever and they’ve brought me so far and it’s awesome that I can give it back to them now,” said Zine. “People are coming up and recognizing the gym now so I feel like I can finally give back to them everything that they’ve given me.”

Cudworth sees a bright future for Zine.

“I think she can go to (level) 10,” said Cudworth “I think she can compete in college. I don’t think there’s a ceiling.”

Although Zine and her coaches are happy to be in Florida, they’ll fly down with no expectations of what to expect on Sunday when she competes.

“I’m kind of along for the ride now,” said Zine. “My goal was to qualify and compete for regionals so anything from that point on is a bonus. It feels really good that I made my goal and finally exceeded it.”

“Anything is possible,” said Cudworth.