THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 4, 1996 TAG: 9602020182
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 30 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PATTI WALSH, CLIPPER SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 72 lines
AFTER HANDING GREAT Bridge its first district loss in 10 years by nine-tenths of a point last week, Deep Creek hopes to carry that momentum into the four-team Southeastern District tournament, which gets underway at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Western Branch.
But don't expect the Wildcats to give up their title without a fight.
``We won't walk away with it like we did last year,'' Great Bridge coach Sharon Ivey said. ``We've been neck-and-neck all year. But we hope to bring home another district plaque for another year.''
The Wildcats, who won three of the four quadrangular meets that constitute the district regular season schedule, will rely on underclassmen to lead them to another crown.
Freshmen Ginny Floyd, Ginny Petree, Jennifer Newnam and Rachel Hill are expected to score points for Great Bridge. Seniors Michelle Herzing, last year's runner-up on the uneven bars, and Nancy LeMaster, the third place finisher on the bars, also are expected to do well.
Ivey added that Adrienne Barlow, the Wildcats' No. 2 competitor who missed the Deep Creek meet while vacationing with her family, should be a factor. Ivey also expects Kelly Turner, a region qualifier in all four events last year, and Allyson Holliday to contribute.
Deep Creek also will count on a freshman to spur its title hopes.
Melissa Suter is the favorite for the all-around title and has taken first in nearly every event for the Hornets.
``She's phenomenal,'' Deep Creek coach Gina Dukes said. ``She's done very well so far, and we hope she'll continue that trend. She has a few new tricks for the district tournament. She's going to pull out all the stops.''
Added Ivey: ``We expect her (Suter) to go to the state level. We usually have a hard time when we go to the region competing against the Beach schools. We have the hardest region in the state, and we're definitely supporting her.''
Also expected to pull in points for Deep Creek are April Magill, Laura Bryan and Mariel Brown.
Magill, Dukes said, is strong on the beam and should place high because of the difficulty of her routine - if she can keep her balance. Bryan, last year's all-around runner-up and the defending floor and beam champion, has improved this season and should finish near the top. Brown, who's finished third on the beam the past two years, is looking to improve on her performance.
``We're just going to try to have clean routines and take what we have and polish it up,'' Dukes said. ``We have to have a solid meet. We can't fall off the beam, and we have to stick our landings.
``I'm sure Great Bridge will come in very prepared for this meet. Especially after the loss. I know they'll be ready. I expect it to be very close. Hopefully, it will be an exciting meet if nothing else. I would like ultimately for each team to be represented at the region tournament.''
Churchland and Western Branch, which both finished 0-4, will battle it out for third, though a few stellar individual performances could get the Truckers and the Bruins to the region competition.
Ashely Eickhoff, another freshman, is the Truckers' top prospect and Kim Sykes and Jo Beth Willey, both region qualifiers on the floor exercise and vault, respectively, should lead Western Branch.
The top four all-around performers, as well as the top eight individuals and top two teams will advance to the Feb. 17 region meet at Warwick High School. ILLUSTRATION: File photo by STEVE EARLEY
Allyson Holliday of Great Bridge is expected to contribute to the
team's success.
by CNB