The Bishop Guertin gymnasts celebrate their stunning state championship on Saturday in Salem. (Courtesy photo)

The plan came together. Before the season started, the Bishop Guertin High School gymnasts made a poster board of their goals, and in big letters across the middle was “WIN STATES.”

They practiced what they preached, as on Saturday at A2 Gym and Cheer in Salem, the Cardinals captured the first state championship in their history.

It was a title in the making, really. Head coach Chelsie Burland inherited a BG program filled with freshmen four years ago, and could see the improvement year by year as they tried to close the gap with her former team, Pinkerton Academy, whom she had guided to eight state crowns in 10 seasons.

Yesterday that gap was closed for this group of Cardinals for good, as BG edged the Astros, 147.9-146.9.

“The talent was there their freshman year, but we lacked the depth,” Burland said. “We finished second in 2022 and 2023 and third last year, but the fourth season they were able to pull it off.”

The Cards were led by senior Caroline Butler, who captured the All-Around at 38.1 and won on vault with a state record tying mark of (9.7) and bars (9.825) setting the state record on bars. Guertin also holds the highest state title meet winning total ever.

Quite a feat. It was finalized when sophomore Jayla Gathright, landed on her vault for a fourth place, 9.25 finish. Had she fallen, the Cards may have lost the points needed for the win. Merrimack ‘s Mia Leblanc, who was All-Around champ the last two years, was second.

“Today was incredibly special,” said Butler. “Winning the All Around title was a goal of mine all season. … Holding two event state records was unexpected but certainly a good feeling. I am so proud of this team for working together to grow and finally pulling out a win for the first time in BG history.”

Natalie Haight was fourth on bars (9.45), sixth on beam (9.275) and fifth on floor (9.425). Amanda Turcotte (9.35) was fifth on bars.

“Going into states in the second seed, we knew this wasn’t going to be an easy win,” Turcotte said. “After our first rotation on bars, we ha the best team performance of our whole season. This excitement set us up for a great meet.”

Again, a championship in the making.

“It was there,” Burland said. “They really had to work for it the past four years. If I had to pick any of the four years for it to happen, I would have picked this year, for sure. The senior class really led the way.

“They had a record-breaking day. Pinkerton put up their best, we put up our best. It wasn’t like one team had a bad day and the other team had a good day. We knew we were neck-in-neck going in. … To be able to beat Pinkerton which has a dynasty behind them. I know what goes into their dynasty as a part of it. … To be able to bring it all together is just a special feeling.”

“I am incredibly proud of our team,” Haight said, “and how each member stepped up to help us win the state championship and break records.”

You might say they were poster children for a championship.