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Medway High School Co-op Gymnastics Coach Breanna Vacca received the 2023-2024 MIAA Gymnastics Coach of the Year Award. (Photo courtesy Medway Public Schools)
Medway Superintendent Dr. Armand Pires and Athletic Director Jeff Parcells have announced that Medway High School Co-op Gymnastics Coach Breanna Vacca was named the 2023-24 Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletics Association (MIAA) Gymnastics Coach of the Year.
On Wednesday, Dec. 11, Coach Vacca received her recognition alongside athletics instructors from all over the state during a ceremony at the Double Tree Hotel in Milford.
Coach Vacca is in her 11th year as the head coach of the Medway Co-op Gymnastics Team, which also includes student-athletes from Holliston, Milford, and Millis.
She boasts an impressive record as the gymnastics coach, closing the 2023-24 season with a team record of 7-1. This season, she led the team through the MIAA South Sectionals placing 2nd, MIAA State Championships placing 4th, and the New England Championships, placing 4th. A team member also competed at the National High School Gymnastics Association Senior Invitational, where Team Massachusetts took first place.
During her tenure as coach, she has also led the team through the following highlights:
2015: 8th Place Finish at MIAA South Sectionals
2016: 3rd Place Finish MIAA South Sectionals
2016: 2nd Place Finish MIAA State Tournament
2016: 3rd Place Finish New England Championships
2017: 4th Place Finish MIAA South Sectionals
2018: 4th Place Finish MIAA South Sectionals
2018: 6th Place - State Championship
2022: 8th Place Finish MIAA South Sectional
2023: 4th Place Finish MIAA South Sectional
2023: 7th Place Finish MIAA State Championships
2024: 2nd Place Finish MIAA South Sectional
2024: 4th Place Finish MIAA State Championships
2024: 4th Place Finish New England Championships
She centers her successful philosophy on creating a positive and inclusive environment where athletes can develop their gymnastics skills and character.
"I believe in prioritizing individual growth alongside teamwork, and encouraging each gymnast to set personal goals while supporting one another in a shared pursuit of excellence," Coach Vacca said. "I aim to inspire them not only to be proficient gymnasts but also confident young adults, valuing open communication and celebrating achievements both big and small, while also viewing challenges as opportunities for learning. My ultimate goal is to inspire a lifelong love for the sport and leave my athletes with the tools they need to succeed both in and out of the gym."
In letters nominating Coach Vacca for the award, current and former students raved about her commitment to the sport, noting her extra hours spent making sure that athletes feel confident before stepping onto the floor. One student letter discussed a finger injury and how Coach Vacca was able to create a routine that allowed the individual to compete successfully without the use of the finger.
"Her way of developing unique routines to fit her gymnasts, instead of setting specific formulas and requirements for our routines, allows each of us to individually succeed in the way that works best for us," read one of the student letters that nominated Coach Vacca for the MIAA recognition. "Our routines are all so different, and this is because Coach Vacca puts so much effort into knowing exactly how each of us can reach our potential."
A Medway High School alumna, Coach Vacca is a proud member of the Massachusetts High School Gymnastics Coaches Association (MAHSGC), a USA Gymnastics coach, and a certified Physical Therapist Assistant.
Coach Vacca was also named the Tri-Valley League Coach of the Year in 2023, the 2016 Wicked Local Coach of the Year, the 2023 Metrowest Daily News Coach of the Year, and has been named an MAHSGC Coach of the Year finalist four times.
"We are incredibly lucky to have such a successful individual lead our gymnastics team, who not only encourages members to achieve accomplishments in the sport but also interpersonal growth," Athletic Director Parcells said. "I congratulate Coach Vacca on her well-deserved award and thank her for her commitment to the sport."
"On behalf of the entire Medway Public Schools, I would like to congratulate Coach Breanna Vacca on being named the Gymnastics Coach of the Year," Superintendent Dr. Pires said. "This well-deserved honor highlights her dedication, leadership, and passion for her student-athletes."
