Walker’s Gymnastics & Dance wins Massachusetts state title in Lowell rebuild

By AI, Created 11:03 PM UTC, May 15, 2026, /AGP/ – Walker’s Gymnastics & Dance won the Massachusetts State Xcel Bronze Championship on May 10 at Shriners Auditorium, posting 51 podium finishes and 11 All-Around placements. The Lowell program says the result marks a milestone in its rebuild under head coach Carlos Castro as it expands training options and enrollment grows across Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

Why it matters: - The state title gives Walker’s Gymnastics & Dance a high-profile win during a broader rebuild in Lowell. - The result signals that the program’s new coaching culture is translating into competitive performance. - Leadership says the long-term goal goes beyond medals and includes confidence, discipline, mentorship and more opportunities for youth athletes in Greater Lowell.

What happened: - Walker’s Gymnastics & Dance won the Massachusetts State Xcel Bronze Championship on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Shriners Auditorium. - The team scored 116.075. - The program earned 51 individual podium finishes and 11 All-Around placements. - The team also secured the State Team Championship. - The performance included multiple individual event champions and All-Around champions.

The details: - The Xcel Bronze athletes competed across all four events with what the program described as confidence, composure and consistency. - The team’s preparation has centered on accountability, discipline and learning to compete under pressure. - Carlos Castro owns the Lowell program and serves as head coach. - Castro returned to the sport with the goal of rebuilding a community-centered gymnastics program in Lowell. - Castro brings more than 20 years of high-performance coaching experience. - Castro previously coached with Peru’s national gymnastics federation, Federación Deportiva Peruana de Gimnasia (FDPG). - Castro began his U.S. coaching career under Mihai Brestyan, who coached Olympic gold medalist Aly Raisman. - Castro has coached athletes to state, regional and national titles. - Castro has also helped gymnasts move on to collegiate competition and scholarship opportunities across the United States. - The Xcel Bronze program is led by Coach Kayleigh Harrington and Nina Morales. - Additional support came from Walker’s broader competitive team coaches Jess Cardone, Alex Huarcaya and Daniel Abad. - The gym offers USA Gymnastics Xcel and Development Program teams. - The gym also offers dance classes and competitive dance in ballet, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, modern, hip hop, K-Pop, tap and musical theatre. - Foundation training includes parent and child, preschool and recreational gymnastics and tumbling.

Between the lines: - The championship suggests the rebuild is starting to produce measurable results, not just internal progress. - Rising enrollment and expanded programming point to growing demand as the gym tries to broaden its footprint in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. - Facility improvements underway suggest the organization is still investing for the next phase of growth. - The strong family support cited by leadership appears to be a key part of the turnaround.

What’s next: - Walker’s Gymnastics & Dance is expanding training and athlete development pathways for families across Massachusetts and New Hampshire. - Leadership is inviting more athletes into the program as enrollment continues to rise. - The gym says the rebuild is ongoing and is focused on long-term development rather than a one-time championship run. - The program’s website is the gym’s website.