South Side gymnasts seek conference title

Picking up where they left off last winter, South Side’s gymnasts have flipped, tumbled and vaulted their way into first place in Nassau Conference II with a pair of crucial meets to go.

“We’re having a very good season,” Lady Cyclones coach Cheryl Scalice said after a 136.85-133 victory over Cold Spring Harbor Jan. 20 kept them perfect through seven meets. “All the teams in our conference are close in talent level and everyone is scoring in the same neighborhood,” she added. “A mistake or two can be the difference.”

The last two matches will determine the conference champion. North Shore, which visits South Side on Friday, and Long Beach, which comes to town Feb. 2, remain in the title hunt. Finishing atop the conference is the No. 1 goal of the Lady Cyclones, Scalice said.

“We have a determined, young team,” she said. “The girls set a goal to win the conference and it’s within their reach. Qualifying for the county tournament would be icing on the cake.”

Only Nassau’s top eight teams advance to the county tournament, set for Feb. 8 at Oceanside. 

South Side is averaging 136.5 points per meet, about the same as last season when it finished in second place and was honored with a county sportsmanship award. No seniors returned, and Scalice is thrilled with the fact all 11 gymnasts are starting in at least one event.

“Not every team can say everyone on their roster is starting,” Scalice said. “The girls are close and root hard for each other.”

Sophomore Sydney Duncan is leading the team on floor exercise, balance beam and uneven bars. She has won the all-around in more than half of the meets thus far and posted a season-best 29.95 in a narrow victory at Great Neck South on Jan. 7. “Her mental toughness has put her in position to be extremely consistent,” Scalice said. “She’s always focused and doesn’t get rattled.”