THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, February 11, 1997 TAG: 9702110441
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LEE TOLLIVER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: 64 lines
Kit Johnson can do better.
Although she broke the Group AAA state gymnastics all-around scoring mark at Saturday's Beach District meet and led the Salem Sun Devils to a new state record for team total, she can do better.
Even though she won individual titles on balance beam (9.7), in vaulting (9.7) and on uneven bars (9.66), she can do better.
In spite of the fact that her four-event total was 38.33, the highest ever by a Virginia High School League gymnast, she can do better.
But how?
Very easily. Johnson scored only a 9.26 on floor, placing fifth. She has scored much higher.
Oh yes, with the Eastern Region meet awaiting Saturday at Warwick High in Newport News, there's room for improvement.
``Our entire team can clean up our floor routines a little bit,'' Sun Devils coach Wendy Wolf said. ``Yes, she can get a higher score.''
Which is a little hard to believe seeing how Johnson beat the Beach and Eastern Region record score of 38.2 set in 1994 by Menchville's Catherine Creswell and tied last year by Kellam's Brooke Sawyer and twice this year by Hickory's Erin Pendleton.
While it's a great accomplishment for a first-year high school gymnast, it's no surprise.
Johnson is a level-10 gymnast at Gymstrada Gymnastics School in Virginia Beach and was a member of the school's four-member national championship team last year.
She's been at gymnastics for quite some time now.
``I decided to try high school for a change of pace,'' said Johnson, who said she was third in the state among level-10s last year. ``I wanted to do something different. I wanted to meet new people.''
Johnson was understandably pleased with her own performance, but was considerably happier for the team.
``I'm real proud of them,'' she said of her teammates. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Kit johnson
ALSO STARRED:
Abby Francisco, Norfolk Academy - Earned Female Swimmer of the
Meet honors by setting school records in the 200 IM and 100
breaststroke during the TCIS championships.
Denita Eason, Great Bridge - Scored state-qualifying times in the
55 dash and 55 hurdles, won the long jump, was second in the long
and triple jumps and anchored the winning 4x200 relay team to
personally figure in 26 1/2 of her team's 103 points in a quad meet.
Amy White, Tallwood - Had a 13-point, 13-rebound game and hit the
game-winning layup with 11 seconds left to lift the Lions past No. 3
Salem, 36-35.
Erin Osborne, Catholic - Contributed 13 assists, 10 digs, six
kills, three aces and 23-of-23 serving to the Crusaders' five-game
victory over Norfolk Christian.
Erin Pendleton, Hickory - In her final meet of the season, the
freshman gymnast won the all-around and helped the first-year Hawks
win the first Southeastern District team title in the school's brief
history.