Kaplan finishes fifth in state

Grand Island Dispatch, April 20, 2007

Four Niagara Level 8 seniors from Gleason’s School of Gymnastics receive a plaque from USA Gymnastics for their dedication to the sport. From left: Jamie Farrell, Kelley Feather (Tonawanda), Maddie Quarantillo (Lewiston), and Rachael Kaplan (Grand Island).

Dedication and hard work paid off for a Grand Island gymnast who competed in the 2007 USA Gymnastics New York State Level 8 State Championship.

Rachael Kaplan scored 9.0 on bars and 8.875 on balance beam during the event, which was held in Rochester on April 14 and 15.

Kaplan’s score on beam earned her fifth place in New York state in the event. Kaplan, who is a member of Niagara Gymnastics Level 8 team out of the Gleason’s School of Gymnastics, is a senior at Grand Island High School and the Class of 2007 salutatorian.

Emilie Fose, of North Tonawanda, qualified for the Level 8 New York State 13-14 Regional Team by earning 9.5 on balance beam, 9.35 on vault, 9.3 on floor, 9.05 on bars and an all-around score of 37.2. Lee Anna Vanoni of Youngstown earned a place on the Level 8 Regional Championship All-Star Team by scoring 9.2 on floor, 9.15 on bars, 9.1 on balance beam, 8.65 on vault and an all-around score of 36.1.

Their teammates were solid on floor exerciuse. where Lauren Logar of Niagara Falls scored 9.375, Becky Metz of Pendleton scored 9.225, Maddie Quarantillo of Lewiston scored 9.175, Shelinka Cunningham of Niagara Falls scored 9.1 and Ashley Lavocat of North Tonawanda scored 8.95. Metz was also a strong competitor on bars, earning 9.3, while teammates Kelley Feather of Tonawanda and Lara Curtis of Lewiston both earned a score of 9.0 in that event.