THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, February 2, 1996 TAG: 9602010139
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 22 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LEE TOLLIVER, BEACON SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 100 lines
THE COX GYMNASTICS team has exhibited more depth this season than just about any team in district history.
While Kempsville has always been known for depth, during no other season has such quality depth shown its worth than with this year's Falcons.
A classic example came Monday when Cox had four falls on balance beam and four on uneven bars. But Cox still managed to finish the meet with a 143.6.
``And we had a girl who scores 9s in three events out because of a skiing trip the family had planned for a year,'' coach Melody Hartranft said. ``It's been a long time since I've had this much quality.''
Such rewards are obvious for such a talent-laden team. But there are other benefits, such as inner-competition that pushes each member to excel.
``Some people do have to fight for a spot in the starting rotation,'' Kim Wallfred said. ``We have a lot of good people who could compete for just about any other team, so they all work harder.''
Confidence shouldn't be a problem for the Group AAA state runner-up Falcons - whose program has finished second three times and third twice.
The fact that each of the team's 14 members have known each other for several years and competed either with or against each other on private club teams helps with unity.
``And it's that way between us and some of the other schools,'' said Britt Moore. ``Everyone's kind of grown up with each other and we support each other. We want everybody to do well.''
The Falcons entered Thursday's meet against First Colonial with an 8-0 record and barring any mishaps should have won the district title with an unbeaten season. First Colonial's best team score prior to Thursday was a far below Cox's high mark of 145.25.
``We're trying to peak for the district, region and state meets,'' Hartranft said. ``I don't think we have and we have room for improvement.''
Cox has set a goal of scoring 146 points. Lake Braddock scored 146.05 to the Falcons' 144.2 to capture first in last year's state meet - leaving Cox in second.
``We've done pretty good this season. We've had some high (team) scores,'' said Lana Pinera. ``The whole team has improved a lot. But if we work harder we can win state, I think.''
Advancing to the state meet will be considerably harder than ever this season as the Virginia High School League has imposed higher qualifying standards to cut back on what has been too large a list of competitors at the state meet.
The requirements for getting from the district meet to the region will be the same as before - the top eight finishers in each event, the top four all-arounds and any other individuals scoring 9 or higher in any event and any all-arounds scoring 35.0 total points or more.
But at the region competition at Warwick High Feb. 17, the ante gets raised.
Again, the top eight in each event and top four all-arounds move up to the next level. But for any others to move up will be harder.
The qualifying score on vault will move up from a 9 to a 9.2, up to a 9.4 on floor and a 9.3 on balance beam and uneven bars. The all-around score will move up to a 36.95.
Few gymnasts in the region have scored a 9.2 on the vault and only two have scored a 36.95 or higher in the all-around.
Only the top five all-arounds at last year's state meet scored 36.95 or more.
Team competition stays the same with the top two teams and all their gymnasts advancing to each of the next levels.
It's no surprise that the highest-scoring gymnasts in the Eastern Region are Kellam juniors Brooke Sawyer and Michelle Alexander.
The pair were state champ and runner-up hopefuls last year, but Sawyer suffered a slight fracture of the tibia. Alexander came through with a second-place finish - just 15-hundreths of a point out of first.
Kellam had also registered the highest team score going into Thursday's meet, totally 145.3. Cox has registered a 145.25 and both are significantly ahead of the next closest competition.
The 145.3 is a record for the district since team scores changed two years ago to include four individual's scores.
As was the case two years ago, when Kellam won the state title, and again this season, the team battle is nip-and-tuck between the two schools. Neither has an edge.
The all-around competition will be just as close - with Sawyer and Alexander going head to head.
``Brooke and Michelle are going to get their high scores,'' Knights coach Debi Strausbaugh said. ``The pressure is on Theresa Polizzi and Kim Russell. They have to pull through. If they both hit (their routines) at the same time, we can easily score a 146.''
Monday will be the season finale for the Beach District, with Salem against Ocean Lakes and Green Run against Bayside, all at Bayside; and Kempsville against First Colonial and Tallwood against Princess Anne, all at Princess Anne. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos by L. TODD SPENCER
Lana Pinera of Cox believes that the Falcons can win the state
title.
Last year, Michelle Alexander of Kellam finished second in the state
- just 15-hundreths of a point out of first.
by CNB