THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 12, 1995 TAG: 9502100231
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 30 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JULIE GOODRICH, CLIPPER SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 86 lines
AT ONE POINT during the Southeastern District gymnastics meet, Great Bridge's Nadia Amen looked down and was shocked to realize that she still had her pants on.
Whereas most people would be happy to find their clothing still snug around their bodies, Amen was a bit embarrassed. Usually she removes the shorts that cover her leotard before hopping onto the balance beam.
This time, she forgot.
``I didn't know they were still on until I went to do my scale, and my hand brushed my leg,'' said Amen. ``Then I couldn't stop laughing.''
Amen laughed all the way to the all-around title at the meet as Great Bridge claimed the team championship with a six-point win over Deep Creek. Both schools advanced to the Eastern Region meet Feb. 18 at Warwick High School in Newport News.
The all-around competition was a duel between Amen and Deep Creek freshman Laura Bryan.
``I went to Ocean Tumblers with her, so I remembered what she could do,'' said Amen of Bryan. ``I knew I had competition, and that definitely pushed me hard.''
Through the first two rotations, Bryan was on top, with an 8.65 on beam (the highest score of the night) and an 8.4 on the floor exercise.
Amen had countered with a 7.85 on vault and an 8.5 on beam.
But Bryan was hurting. She injured her right ankle last week and looked to be in pain after landing her dismount off the beam, her first apparatus. The ankle hurt even worse after Bryan completed her floor routine.
``It doesn't hurt all the time, just once in a while,'' said Bryan. ``It hurt pretty bad on floor, but didn't bother me at all on vault.''
Ahead after two rotations, Bryan fell during her bars routine and gave up the lead to Amen, who scored solidly on her floor routine. Bryan's half-on, full-off vault earned an 8.0, but Amen placed first on the bars with an 8.4 to claim the all-around.
Although the Amen/Bryan matchup provided plenty of excitement, it wasn't a perfect performance that drew the greatest response from the crowd at Western Branch.
Generally regarded as the finest beam performer in the district, Suzanne Humphrey had a clean routine Wednesday before losing her balance on a back tuck.
Humphrey, who competes with two stress fractures in her back - a condition she aggravated during her vault - jumped back on and continued her routine, attempting a split leap. According to coach Sharon Ivey, Humphrey's foot slipped and she crashed, hitting the beam hard as the crowd let out a collective gasp.
For Churchland senior Kelly Hughes, a 7.0 on the bars was good enough to earn a trip to the regionals. The performance was especially satisfying for Hughes, who qualified for region competition on the bars her freshman and sophomore years before missing all of last season with an injured knee.
``This year, I've just been trying to get back into the swing of things,'' she said. Hughes, who still wears a knee brace, only competed on bars at the first meet of the season but later added a floor routine. ``At the first meet, I saw everyone doing back handsprings and flips, and I realized how much I missed it.''
Tascha Lawrence also advanced for Churchland with a 7.75 on beam.
The host Bruins had three gymnasts qualify: Jo Beth Willey (vault), Leanne Luster (vault) and Kim Sykes (floor).
Other Deep Creek gymnasts to advance individually include Bryan (bars, vault, beam, floor), Mariel Brown (bars, beam, floor), Lori Tempesco (bars, vault), Rian Cuthriell (beam), April Magill (beam) and Ginger Leppert (floor).
Great Bridge advanced Amen (bars, vault, beam, floor), Kelly Turner (bars, vault, beam, floor), Humphrey (vault, beam), Michelle Herzing (bars), Nancy LeMaster (bars), Erin Dyer (vault), Amy Murphy (floor) and Suzanne Lingo (floor). ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos by RICHARD L. DUNSTON
Great Bridge senior Nadia Amen, left, competes on the beam during
the Southeastern District gymnastics meet. Amen took the all-around
title at the meet as Great Bridge claimed the team championship with
a six-point win over Deep Creek. Both schools advanced to the
Eastern Region meet that takes place Saturday at Warwick High School
in Newport News.
Deep Creek freshman Laura Bryan, right, discusses strategy with
coach Gina Dukes.
by CNB