THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 23, 1997 TAG: 9702230332
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C14 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LEE TOLLIVER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: STAFFORD LENGTH: 54 lines
The Virginia High School League state gymnastics championships added Group A and AA schools to the individual portion of the competition two years ago.
Saturday at Brooke Point High, the state's smaller schools got a huge boost towards respectability when James Monroe junior Gillian Cote captured the state all-around championship.
Cote, who finished third last year with her back in a brace, set a new four-event total of 39.025 points - breaking the Group AAA record of 38.33 set two weeks ago by Salem's Kit Johnson.
Cote had scores of 9.8 on floor, 9.775 on uneven bars, 9.7 on balance beam and 9.75 in vaulting. She won individual titles in uneven bars and tied for first with Brandee Gound of Lake Braddock on beam, with Darden Wilee of Great Bridge on floor and with Sarah Spring of Lake Braddock in vaulting.
``I wanted to win,'' said Cote, who competes as a level 10 gymnasts for the Stafford Royals club team. ``But I never once thought I could score a 39.
``I knew I was on once I hit my beam routine.''
Cote fell on beam last year and finished a tenth of a point behind Kellam's Brooke Sawyer.
Sawyer, now a senior, held onto second place in the all-around competition.
Sawyer had finished the meet by tying her personal best of 38.2 and had to watch as Gound competed on floor.
Gound needed a 9.375 to tie Sawyer, but failed to complete a required three tumbling passes in her routine and finished just short with a 9.35.
``I feel like I held my own today,'' said Sawyer. ``I did my best and it's hard to compete with someone who's getting 9.8s on every routine.
``(Cote) was just amazing.''
Sawyer's goal for the meet was to break her personal best of 38.2 and not worry about where she placed.
``I wish I could have broken it, but . . .,'' she said. ``I'm still happy with how I did.''
Deep Creek sophomore Melissa Suter scord a personal best 38.05 to finish fourth behind Gound.
There was more than a little satisfaction for Suter, who had to sit out last year's region and state meet because of an injury.
``This is my best score by more than a point,'' said Suter. ``This definitely makes up for last year. I guess I peaked at the right time.''
Salem's Davinia Roberts narrowly missed breaking the 38-point barrier, finishing with a 37.95, despite a nagging ankle and back. Still, she finished fifth all-around.
``They didn't bother me today,'' the senior said. ``I feel like I ended (my high school career) on a good note.
``I did better on two events than last night and not as good on two others.
``Still, I'm happy overall.''
Wilee's total of 37.75 - despite a fall on beam - was good enough for sixth all-around.