69.0°,
A Few Clouds Oceanside gymnasts set the bar high
Coach wins 200th
Posted
Junior Cheyenne Blumberg thrives on floor exercise and bars for the Lady Sailors, who remain undefeated.
Frank Koester/Herald
With an average score of 166 through its first five meets, Oceanside’s gymnastics team ranks atop Nassau and is aiming for its second county championship in three seasons.
The Lady Sailors (5-0) earned coach Andy Morris his 200th career victory last Friday night when they knocked off Hicksville, 163.15-154.05. Senior Tara Wischerth led the way by winning the all-around.
“Our seven starters have been together for three seasons and all were a part of our championship team two years ago,” Morris said. “They’re experienced and motivated. I’m not shocked, but pleasantly aware of how talented they are.”
Oceanside, runner-up to Plainview-JFK for last year’s county crown, is averaging five points better per meet than any other team and hit its high-water mark Jan. 5 against Sewanhaka District. The Lady Sailors popped a 169.5, just two points off the school record and in the neighborhood of what Morris believes it’ll take to win the title on Feb. 9.
“A team goal is to hit 170, and I feel that would be enough to win the county,” Morris said.
Senior Paige McCarthy has been her usual consistent self and appears destined to qualify for the state meet for a fourth straight season. She won the all-around Jan. 5 with a 35.35, highlighted by a 9.25 floor exercise and a 9.05 vault. “She’s our captain and leader,” Morris said of McCarthy, one of the top vaulters in Nassau. “She’s incredibly consistent. She rarely makes a mistake, and if she ever does she’s great at recovering.”
Junior Casey Block took her performance to another level Jan. 5 when she scored 8.9 on floor, thanks in large part to a new twist recently added to her routine. She spent four weeks working on the Arabian Salto, a twisting back somersault, and brought her score up about a point-and-a-half. A 33.8 in the all-around marked a new personal best. “Floor is probably her top event now, and her routine lit up everyone else on the team,” Morris said.
Page 1 / 2
Report an inappropriate comment
Comments