New Westfield gymnastics head coach Bethany Liquori will take over for longtime head coach Joanne Hewins, who retired at the end of last season. (Photo courtesy of Bethany Liquori)
WESTFIELD – Bethany Liquori has some big shoes to fill.
That’s because the new Westfield High School gymnastics head coach is taking over for the legendary Joanne Hewins, who over the last 20 years guided the Bombers to 11 sectional championships and an unbeaten streak of 125-0 that dates back to 2007. Hewins has become such a well-known name in high school sports that she was once featured in Sports Illustrated’s “Faces in the Crowd.”
Enter Liquori, who has been an an assistant coach on Hewins’ squad since 2010 and is a former head coach at Gateway Regional High School and Hampshire Regional High School.
New Westfield gymnastics coach Bethany Liquori (bottom left) and former head coach Joanne Hewins (bottom right), pose for a photo with the Westfield team following the Bombers seventh consecutive sectional title last season. (File photo/Fred Gore)
“Hopefully I can carry the torch,” Liquori said. “I think this year the biggest challenge I will face will be the pressure of continuing the winning streak and continuing the success this program has had under Joanne. We lost a lot of talented kids from last year, so that’s going to be a challenge. But we’ve got a couple new kids coming in and I think there’s no reason we can’t be successful again. The kids just have to work hard for it, just like they always have.”
Entering her senior year, Sarah Hogan is someone new head coach Bethany Liquori said to keep an eye on this season. (File photo/Fred Gore)
Hewins retired as head coach, but her presence will still be felt on the team this year. While she continues to teach third grade at Southampton Road Elementary School and is a coach at Westfield’s Roots Gymnastics, she will also serve as a volunteer on the WHS gymnastics team.
“Now that the season is starting, it really bothers me to not be the coach,” joked Hewins, who also accepted a position as Western Massachusetts Gymnastics Commissioner. “I feel like that’s my program. I’ve been sad and happy because it’s been such a huge part of my life. But Beth is perfectly capable of carrying on the same success with the program. I would not have left if I didn’t feel comfortable with her. I think she will do a fine job, and I’m convinced she will do great this year. If I wasn’t 100 percent positive about her, I wouldn’t have left in the first place.”
Hewins, who coached Liquori when Liquori was younger, said she told her former student to “be firm and have fun.”
Westfield gymnast Kendall Neidig will be a sophomore this season and someone new head coach Bethany Liquori said will likely be a key contributor in 2014. (File photo/Fred Gore)
“She knows she can call me at any point if she needs advice,” Hewins said. “But I don’t see her having any problems. I think this program can continue to be a powerhouse.”
Coming off its seventh consecutive sectional title, Westfield will look to earn its eighth straight championship trophy despite losing 14 seniors, including Taryn Hamel, who capped off a sensational season last year by winning seven All-Around competitions.
Liquori said Kendall Neidig (sophomore), Mairead Hagan (freshman), Liz Walker (sophomore) and Sarah Hogan (senior) are names to watch for the Bombers this season.
Liquori added that while she feels the pressure of continuing the legacy Hewins left behind, she’s humbled that she gets to take over for someone she has looked up to her whole life.
“I’m flattered that she’s leaving the team to me and she thinks I’m capable of handling it,” Liquori said. “She always had a great relationship with every gymnast on the team. She’s firm, but she’s like their mom and they’re like her children. I hope I can be as good as she’s been, in that way.”
Westfield will begin practicing next week when school starts and will open the 2014 season Tuesday, Sept. 30 at Chicopee Comprehensive.
