By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

Sometimes you just know.

That’s how it was for Gina Gastaldo from the moment she met Hannah Salgado.

“From the day I met her, I knew she was an incredible gymnast,” the Aurora gymnastics head coach said.

That was four years ago when Salgado was a freshman.

Now a senior, Salgado’s decorated career has validated her coach’s early impressions of her.

On Saturday, Salgado was named the Suburban League Gymnast of the Year after a sparkling effort at the league championship meet, which included the Greenmen senior scoring a meet-high 36.8 in the all-around.

It was just the latest achievement for the standout, who is also a four-time state qualifier as part of a long list of accomplishments:

   • Freshman: Sectional champion on bar.

   • Sophomore: Sectional champion on bar; district champions as a team; Greater Akron Gymnast of the Year; district champion in all-around.

   • Junior: Suburban League champion in all-around and beam; sectional champion on bar, all-around, vault and beam; fourth place at the state championships in all-around and beam.

   • Senior: Suburban League champion in all-around — and more to come.

“Hannah has the whole package,” Gastaldo said. “Respectuflness, willingness to learn, incredibly athletic, humble and is a team player all rolled into one.”

Gastaldo has been Salgado’s coach throughout her high-school career and while she recognized the ability early, Aurora’s mentor has also seen her standout continue to improve along the way.

“Hannah has come such a long way since I first met her as a freshman, both with her gymnastics ability, which has grown tremendously, and with her role on the team as a leader,” Gastaldo said.

Which has made Gastaldo’s job truly enjoyable.

“I love coaching Hannah, because she takes everything I say to her and really tries to adjust her gymnastics to get better,” Gastaldo said. “She is focused and has such a passion for her talent.”

Sagaldo’s growth as a gymnast has also flourished through her commitment to improve outside of practice time at Aurora.

She competes at the club level, as well, with Chalk It Up under coach Maddie Prosek. The extra investment has allowed Salgado to get to the next level.

“Since being there, her skills have grown tremendously,” Gastaldo said. “Her and (coach) Maddie have a very special bond and work so well with each other.”

Which does not surprise Gastaldo based on the personality and work ethic that she has had a front-row seat to witness over the last four years.

“Hannah has such a positive personality. She has the ability to multitask. She can focus on herself and what she needs to accomplish, while simultaneously supporting and lifting up her teammates,” Gastaldo said.