THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 8, 1995 TAG: 9501060172
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JULIE GOODRICH, CLIPPER SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 85 lines
Few teams can claim dominance in a sport for more than a few years at best. After the brief glory years comes a time of rebuilding, where other teams step forward and have their moment in the sun.
That's not the case for Great Bridge gymnastics.
The Wildcats have owned the gym for a decade, finishing on top in the Southeastern District nine times, including the last eight years in a row. Great Bridge should easily claim it's 10th district title in 1995.
``We're like a family, our own little nucleus,'' said Sharon Ivey, who is in her ninth year coaching Great Bridge. ``I'm very proud of the fact that my girls are all true high school gymnasts.''
The biggest obstacle for the Wildcats is filling the shoes of Lorie Martin. Martin won district titles in the all-around and floor events and advanced to the state competition, where she finished 9th in the vault.
Stepping up is senior co-captain Nadia Amen, who Ivey considers her best all-around gymnast.
``She has lots of potential on all the events. She's a very conscientious and hard-working young lady,'' said Ivey. ``She's got good work habits and keeps her body in top physical condition.''
Co-captain Erin Dyer is a consistent, if not flashy, performer, and newcomer Suzanne Lingo has surprised Ivey and her teammates with her natural skill since taking up the sport this year.
For inspiration, the Wildcats need look no farther than junior Suzanne Humphrey. Humphrey has advanced to the state competition on balance beam since she was a freshman and finished 13th last year, even though she was in constant pain from two stress fractures in her lower back.
``She's a tough young lady, and she'll give Nadia a run for her money on beam,'' said Ivey. Humphrey rehabilitated her back over the summer but will not compete in floor exercise or vault, in order to place less strain on her fractures.
At Deep Creek, coach Gina Dukes has 13 gymnasts on her team, and all but two are freshmen or sophomores. The Hornets finished second in every quad meet last season, losing only to Great Bridge.
Dukes has three gymnasts who can compete as all-arounds, including returning sophomore Mariel Brown, who placed third in beam and fourth in floor at districts, and sophomore vault specialist Lori Tempesco.
Deep Creek's third all-around gymnast is freshman Laura Bryan, a former Ocean Tumblers student and the only Hornet to have private club exposure.
Also returning are juniors Bobbie Jo Hess (vault, bars) and Staci Dockery (floor, beam), and sophomore Rian Cuthrell (vault, beam and floor).
``Some gymnasts are good at a couple of events and terrible in others,'' said Dukes. ``In beam, you can hit a routine five times in a row in practice without falling, but it's a totally different experience in front of the judges.''
For Western Branch, the goal is not to give Great Bridge a run for the district title but to improve its scores as a team. Coach Caren Davis took her gymnasts to an international camp in Pennsylvania this summer, and the Bruins are already reaping the benefits.
``We learned new skills and techniques, and we'll do better than we did last year,'' said Davis. Western Branch finished third in each quad meet last season. ``We're still a beginning team, but we'll do better within our own team if not on the scoreboard.''
The Bruins will be paced by three all-around gymnasts - junior Kim Sykes, sophomore JoBeth Willey and freshman Erica Chinn.
In the individual events, the Bruins will get points from seniors Kristine Harrison (vault, bars) and Kristy Gonzalez (floor, beam), and juniors Noelle Hagwood and Sandy Ordemann on the floor and beam events.
Churchland finished fourth in all the quad meets last season. Veteran coach Joe Bystrom has a squad of 14 this year, including seven holdovers.
The key for the Truckers is senior Kelly Hughes, a region qualifier as a sophomore who missed all of last season after a knee injury in the first scrimmage.
Other prospects are Sarah Atkins, a senior transfer from Wilson, senior Becky Ringer, sophomores Jackie Bales and Suzy Tarkenton and freshman Kristal Talton. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos by STEVE EARLEY
Great Bridge gymnast Alyson Holliday practices her balance beam
routine.
RIGHT: Co-captain Nadia Amen, left, and Nancy LeMaster exercise
during the Wildcats' gymnastic team practice.
by CNB