THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, February 17, 1995 TAG: 9502160113
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 21 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LEE TOLLIVER, BEACON SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 80 lines
IF SCORES THIS SEASON are any indication, Beach District gymnasts should have no trouble continuing their dominance of the Eastern Region.
Since the first region tournament in 1974, Denbigh has been the only school to break Beach ranks - capturing the title in 1987 and 1989.
But based on scores from last week's three district tournaments - the Eastern doesn't have gymnastics - the Beach entries are the ones to beat when region action starts at 10 a.m. Saturday at Warwick High.
A look at the district scores shows just how much of a favorite the Beach is.
Cox captured its tournament with a district season-high of 144.16. Kempsville was second at 143.1. In contrast, Peninsula winner Menchville had 135.4 points. Great Bridge took the Southeastern title with only 123.85.
The individual competition should echo the team portion.
Kellam's Michelle Alexander took Beach all-around honors with a combined score of 37.46. Brooke Schubert of Warwick was the Peninsula winner at 36.65, while Great Bridge's Nadia Amen took Southeastern honors with a 32.75.
Schubert's score would have put her in third place in the Beach meet, while Amen wouldn't have made the top 20.
Even though her team finished with its highest score of the season, Cox coach Melody Hartranft says there is considerable room for improvement.
``We had five of our six girls on beam fall off,'' she said. ``We could tack on about 1 1/2 to 2 more points without those falls. We also had two falls on vaulting (landings) by two of our best vaulters.''
Kempsville is also building momentum for the next two meets and coach Dottie Labahn says her team's district effort will be a great motivator.
``Oh yes,'' she said. ``We have a few girls who had their best efforts of the season and now they're elevating their goals to do even better.
``I can easily see a one-two finish for the Beach.''
The Beach District will send more gymnasts to Saturday's region meet than any other district by virtue of additional qualifying standards. Any gymnast amassing 35 or more points in all-around competition advanced, as did any gymnast finishing in the top eight or at least scoring a nine or better in any individual event.
Advancing in all-around competition will be Alexander and Kellam teammate Theresa Polizzi; First Colonial's Marissa Sutor and Kim Maugeri; Cox's Erin Schweitzer, Britt Moore and Lana Pinera; Kempsville's Laura Snelling and Kristen Grabb; Princess Anne's Kim Kuchem; and Salem's Davinia Roberts.
The Beach also will bring eight in vaulting, 15 in uneven parallel bars, 11 on balance beam and 10 on floor.
The top two teams at Saturday's meet will advance to next weekend's Group AAA meet at Ocean Lakes, as will the top four all-arounds and top eight finishers in each individual event. The same qualifying scores for additional gymnasts that are used to get to region will be used to get to state.
The state meet's team competition begins at 6 p.m. Friday, with the individual portion starting at 1:30 p.m. Saturday. ILLUSTRATION: EASTERN REGION MEET
What: Team and individual competition featuring gymnasts from the
Beach, Southeastern and Peninsula districts battling to advance to
the Group AAA state meet.
When: 10 a.m. Saturday
Where: Warwick High (take I-64 west to Mercury Boulevard south -
second exit. When you get to Warwick Boulevard, take a right and go
approximately three miles. Warwick High will be on your right. Or
take I-664 and get off at the first exit into downtown Newport News
where you can pick up Warwick Boulevard. From City Hall, the school
is approximately six miles)
Photo by L. TODD SPENCER
Cox coach Melody Hartranft looks on as Trish Feltz prepares for the
uneven bars at Saturday's Beach District meet. Feltz tied for
fourth.
Photo by L. TODD SPENCER
Blotting out her surroundings, Lucy Fisher performs in the floor
exercise at the Beach District meet.
by CNB