THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 7, 1996 TAG: 9601050199
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 24 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LEE TOLLIVER, BEACON SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Long : 141 lines
LIKE THE BROKEN record that it is, predictions on which team will win the Beach District gymnastics race that started Thursday once again come down to a couple of simplicities - who sticks to the routines and who does not.
Because any one of five teams could capture the crown, the falls and wobbles are what will again be the deciding factor.
And in another repeat of the past several years, Cox, Kellam and Kempsville are the obvious favorites.
The elite three will, however, be joined this season by Salem and Tallwood.
While Cox and Kempsville are the defending district and region champion and runner-up, respectively, Kellam appears to be the team to beat.
The Knights, who won the state title two seasons ago, missed a shot at repeating by not advancing out of the district team competition. While it takes a team effort, an injury to state all-around favorite Brooke Sawyer was a big reason. Also, team leader Leigh Wallace suffered a torn ACL ligament.
Both are back and at full strength.
Even so, watch Cox, Kempsville, Salem and Tallwood because the title is only a fall away.
Here's a look at the district:
BAYSIDE Coach: Shelby Giles.
Top returners: Jackie Tugman, So., all-around; Christina George, Jr., AA; Danielle Callender, So., AA; Robbie Bullock, So., vault, floor and bars.
Top newcomers: Heather James, So., AA; Courtney Currie, Fr., floor and beam; Elizabeth Tenerowicz, So., AA.
Outlook: Tugman advanced to the region competition last year and should again be the team's top gymnast. But a lack of depth will hurt against the top schools.
COX Coach: Melody Hartranft.
Top returners: Lana Pinera, Jr., AA; Britt Moore, Jr., AA; Trish Feltz, Sr., bars, vault and floor; Kim Wallfred, Sr., AA; Lucy Fisher, So., AA.
Top newcomers: Inga Frierhoff, So., AA; Ginna Kelly, Fr., AA; Elizabeth Minter, Fr., AA; Carey Jones, Sr., AA.
Outlook: The Falcons are the most consistent team in the district, having finished second in the state three times and third twice. Pinera, who finished sixth in the state all-around, is the top returnee. She will get pushed by newcomer Inga Frierhoffer, a sophomore who competes at level 9 for a private club. The Falcons may have more depth than anyone at all-around.
FIRST COLONIAL Coach: Christy Anderson.
Top returners: Kim Maugeri, So., AA.
Top newcomers: Susan Funk, Fr., AA; Melissa Macumber, Fr., AA.
Outlook: Depth will be a big problem for the Patriots. Maugeri was one of only two freshmen state qualifiers from the Beach last year and is joined by a pair of talented freshmen. But First Colonial needs desperately to find a fourth scorer.
GREEN RUN Coach: Stacy Streit.
Top returners: Nichole Brooks, Jr., AA.
Top newcomers: Janine Fry, Sr., floor and beam; LeeAnn Sweitzer, So., undecided; Diana Gallagher, Jr., undecided; Brandy Baldwin, Sr., undec.; Karen Baranski, Sr., undec.; Lou-Ann Baines, Sr., undec.; Maria Couppis, So., undec.; Jessica West, Jr., undec.; Shawtitia Washington, Sr., floor.
Outlook: If nothing else, the Stallions will be good at cheering each other on as most of the gymnasts have backgrounds in cheerleading. Brooks is team leader.
KELLAM Coach: Debi Strausbaugh.
Top returners: Leigh Wallace, Sr., AA; Michelle Alexander Jr., AA; Theresa Polizzi, Jr., AA; Kim Russell, Jr., AA; Brooke Sawyer, Jr., AA; JoAnn Ballace, Jr., beam.
Top newcomers: Jill Meligonis, So., beam.
Outlook: The Knights captured the state team title two years ago and would like nothing more than to regain it. Last year's defense was hurt by injuries, but the entire squad is back and at full strength. Alexander defended her team's honor last year by taking second in the state's all-around division. Strausbaugh said Wallace is 100 percent recovered from a torn ACL and is looking better than ever. Sawyer has recovered from a damaged knee and will be looking to top her district all-around record of 38.2 points. The three have a strong supporting cast, but not much depth.
KEMPSVILLE Coach: Dottie Labahn.
Top returners: Kristen Grabb, Sr., AA; Melissa Lawson, Sr., AA; Rachel Peters, Sr., AA; Tena Hendricks, So., AA.
Top newcomers: Kathy Moore, So., AA; Colleen Cartin, Fr., AA; Amanda Agostino, Fr., beam and bars; Melissa Agostino, Fr., floor and vault; Annie Sessions, Fr., AA.
Outlook: Like Cox, the Chiefs are known for their consistent quality and depth. This year will be no different. Grabb finished eighth in the state all-around last year and has set goals to improve that finish. She has a good supporting cast that will be pushed by the arrival of several gymnasts new to the team - making Kempsville a very serious contender.
OCEAN LAKES Coach: Joanna Stewart
Top returners: Mauriella DiTommaso, So., AA; Savonda Quarles, Jr., bars, vault and beam; Bridget Babonis, Jr., beam and vault; Marianne Keene, Jr., floor and beam.
Top newcomers: Recita Fielding, Sr., floor and vault; Crystal Floyd, Jr., AA; Carla Kilburn, Fr., bars, vault and beam; Audra Little, Fr., bars and beam; Tracy Miller, Fr., AA; Belinda Romo, So., beam and vault.
Outlook: The Dolphins have increased their roster from five to 12 gymnasts, giving the team much-needed depth. Next, they need experience. The goal here is simply to improve with every meet.
PRINCESS ANNE Coach: Laurie Knott.
Top returners: Kim Kuchem, So., AA; Beth Yanisko, So., AA; Kelly Fallon, So., AA; Melissa Rice, Sr., bars and vault.
Top newcomers: Lei Cradle, Fr., vault and beam; Christine Campbell, Fr., vault and floor.
Outlook: Kuchem was one of only two freshmen from the Beach to advance to the state meet. She has returned to private club instruction and should improve on last year. The sophomore has some help, but there isn't much depth.
SALEM Coach: Wendy Wolf.
Top returners: Davinia Roberts, Jr., AA; Erika Sims, Jr., floor; Katey Bledsoe, So.; AA; Heather Robertson, So.; AA.
Top newcomers: Meria Eisenbraun, Fr., AA; Summey Savage, Fr., AA; Cosette Lambourne, Fr., AA; Yemi Ogunleye, Jr., floor and vault; Kim Bradshaw, Jr., beam and vault; Jenna Jackson, Fr., floor, vault and bars.
Outlook: Roberts tied for state titles in vault and floor, but struggled on bars and beam at the state meet - eliminating her from a good all-around finish. That likely won't be the case this season, as the junior will be a legitimate threat for all-around honors. This year, she will be joined by a balanced group that includes a pair of freshmen high-level private clubbers in Eisenbraun and Savage. The Sun Devils have set a goal to regain a state team championship won in 1992 and will have the depth to support that effort.
TALLWOOD Coach: Andrea Bells.
Top returners: Cheryl Risk, Sr., AA; Becky Huffman, Sr., AA; Laura Neaves, Sr., AA; Tiffany Markun, Jr., AA; Stephanie Parker, So., AA.
Top newcomers: None mentioned.
Outlook: The Lions could be the Cinderella team if the four scoring all-arounds hit their routines. Risk is the top gymnasts and had good uneven bar performances in district, region and state meets. Huffman also placed in the state meet on beam after winning the district beam title. Tallwood is not a team to be taken lightly. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos by CHARLIE MEADS
Senior Trish Feltz, left, and Britt Moore, a junior, chalk their
hands for a workout. Both return for defending champion Cox High.
Lana Pinera practices her floor routine. A junior, she's the top
returner for Cox.
by CNB