Local gymnasts fare well at Niagara Cup

Niagara Wheatfield Tribune, March 9, 2006
Grand Island Dispatch, March 10, 2006

Local gymnasts on the Niagara Gymnastics teams from Gleason’s Gymnastics put in strong performances at the 25th annual Niagara Cup, held Feb. 24-26 at Canisius College in Buffalo.

Level 10 gymnast Nicole Irving placed fifth in the all-around event with a total score of 36.65 points. She also competed in the finals, scoring 9.25 points on the bars and 9.25 points on the beam.

The Niagara Level 9 squad won the team competition with all members qualifying for the finals. Jenn Najuch of North Tonawanda took first place in the all-around event with 37.25 points. She also scored 9.525 points on the floor, 9.45 points on the vault, 9.15 points on the beam and 9.125 points on the bars in the preliminary round. In the finals, she finished fourth on the beam, seventh on the floor and eighth on the vault.

Other Niagara Level 9 gymnasts reaching the finals included Kayla Gray, Katie Schmitt and Sherri Lojacono. Gray placed fourth on the floor, Schmitt took eighth on the floor and 10th on the bars, while Lojacono took eighth on the bars.

The Niagara Level 8 members took third place in the team event. Jessica Hoover of Wheatfield captured fourth place in the all-around contest with 36.35 points. In individual competition, she won the floor event with 9.4 points. She also took second on the vault with 9.35 points and fourth on the bars with 8.95 points. Kara Mangus of Wheatfield scored 8.575 points on the floor. Lauren Logar of Niagara Falls had 8.55 points on vault and 8.475 points on the beam.

In the Junior Division, Emilee Fose of North Tonawanda won on the vault with 9.55 points and finished seventh on the beam with 9.35 points. The good individual performances earned her an all-around score of 36.175 points. Samantha Johnson of North Tonawanda placed seventh on the bars with 9.425 points and 10th on the vault with 9.05 points. She also scored 9.25 points on the floor. Becky Metz from Pendleton had an all-around score of 34.225 points, including 9.0 points on the floor and 8.75 points on the vault.

The Level 7 squad finished in second place in the team event. Breana Carroll of Niagara Falls took third place on the beam with 9.35 points. She also scored 9.15 points on the floor, 8.75 points on the vault and 8.7 points on the bars. Nicholl Martin of North Tonawanda placed eighth on the floor with 9.25 points.

In the Senior Division, Ashley Lavocat of North Tonawanda took eighth place in the all-around contest with a total score of 35.85 points. In individual competition, she finished in third place on the bars with 9.2 points and 12 the on the beam with 8.95 points. Veronica Malone of North Tonawanda took fourth place on the vault with 9.425 points. Shelinka Cunningham of Niagara Falls placed fifth on both vault (9.375 points) and bars (9.075 points) and finished ninth in the all-around event with 35.8 points. Bailey Akin of Niagara Falls took sixth place on the floor with 9.4 points.

Level 6 gymnast Valerie Wellenc of North Tonawanda finished in third place in the all-around event with a total score of 35.7 points. In individual competition, she placed third on the bars with 8.9 points, third on the beam with 9.3 points, fifth on the vault with 8.8 points and fifth on the floor with 8.7. Brittany Wurl of North Tonawanda placed third on the beam with 9.1 points and eighth on the bars. Kayla Fermoile of Niagara Falls finished sixth on the floor with 8.7 points. The three helped the Level 6 squad to first place in the team event.

Competing for the Level 5 team, Jenna Brick of North Tonawanda won the beam event with 9.425 points. She also medaled on both vault and bars. Other medalists for the Niagara Level 5 team included Kayla Higgins and Kelsey Lowery, both of North Tonawanda; Jessica Szeliga of Niagara Falls and Cierra Lowery of Ransomville.

The Niagara Level 4 gymnasts remained undefeated in team event. It also captured the first four awards in the all-around contest in the Junior Division. Richelle Kloch of North Tonawanda led the way winning the all-around event with a total score of 37.975 points. In individual competition, she placed second on both vault and floor, third on the beam and fourth on the bars. Payton Klidonas of Niagara Falls took second place in the all-around contest with 37.775 points, winning both the beam and floor events. Kim Runkle of Niagara Falls placed third in the all-around event with 37.125 points. In individual competition, she took second place on the beam, third on the floor and fourth on the vault. Molly Brown of Niagara Falls completed the sweep as she finished fourth in the all-around contest with 37.10 points. She also medaled in all four events.

In the Senior Division, Bailly Barone of North Tonawanda finished fourth in the all-around contest after taking second place on the floor and third on both vault and beam. Sadie Schaefer of Tonawanda finished fifth in the all-around competition after winning the bar event. Lauren Hull, also of Tonawanda also medaled in three events for Niagara. Other members of the Niagara team having a strong meet included Samantha Penman of Sanborn, Sydney Celeste of Niagara Falls, Melissa Schmidt of Wheatfield and Emma Knotts of North Tonawanda.

In the Child Division, Lauren Testa of North Tonawanda took sixth place in the all-around competition. She also medaled in three events. Other medalists from Gleason’s Gymnastics included Danielle Thaler of North Tonawanda, Cassie Mangan of Niagara Falls and Kelly Bajorek of North Tonawanda.