THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, February 9, 1995 TAG: 9502090592
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JULIE GOODRICH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: Medium: 51 lines
Great Bridge's Nadia Amen could only watch last year as a teammate took away her shot at a district gymnastics title.
This time, she made no mistakes.
Trailing after two events, Amen wrapped up the Southeastern District gymnastics tournament with solid performances in the floor exercise and on the bars to claim the all-around title, and the Wildcats coasted to their 10th straight district championship Friday at Western Branch High School.
``This is what I was really shooting for this season,'' said a surprised Amen, a senior. Amen didn't know she had placed first in the all-around until told by a spectator after her bars score was posted.
Great Bridge remained undefeated on the season, outscoring second-place Deep Creek 123.85 to 117.40. Both teams advanced to the Eastern Region tournament, February 18 at Warwick High School in Newport News.
The top eight gymnasts in each of the four individual events - vault, floor exercise, uneven parallel bars, and balance beam - advance to the region tournament as well.
Last season, Amen placed second in the all-around to teammate Lorie Martin. But just because Martin graduated didn't mean that Amen's path to the title was clear.
Deep Creek freshman Laura Bryan bolted into contention with top three finishes in the all-around at the three regular season meets, including an all-around victory in the season-ender at Great Bridge.
Bryan started the night on the beam and earned an 8.65 from the judges, the highest score of the competition. She placed first in the floor exercise with an 8.4 and led Amen by 0.7 points after two rotations.
Next up for Bryan was the bars. Although the apparatus is normally one of her stronger events, Bryan fell off at the start of her routine and scored just a 7.05.
``I hit my heels, then lost momentum,'' explained Bryan, who was bothered all night long by a tender right ankle.
Amen, meanwhile, turned in a solid performance on the floor exercise, scoring an 8.0, to take the lead. She wrapped up the all-around title with a flawless routine on the bars, taking first on that event with an 8.4. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by RICHARD L. DUNSTON, Staff
Deep Creek's Laura Bryan works toward a first on the balance beam.
The freshman was second in the all-around.
by CNB