CHS gymnasts land victory over King Philip

By Kathy Anderson

A much-needed win over King Philip was a big morale-booster for the Canton High gymnastics team, which has been struggling since the start of the season. Now into the second half of the season, the team has a frustrating record of 1-6, but team morale is on the rise.

On January 7 Canton lost for the second time this season to a strong Sharon team, 124.15-130.55. Canton has been improving bit by bit each week, but one of the team’s consistently high scorers, senior co-captain Becca Spada, had to sit the second half out due to illness.

Spada’s absence didn’t deter the rest of the team, however, as Maria Rubino and Jackie Kelliher each landed a season-high score on the floor exercise, with an 8.6 and an 8.75 respectively. Also scoring well on the floor were Becca Pulcini with an 8.2, Jessie Brooks with a 7.65 and Siena Torenzio with a respectable 6.85.

On bars, Kelliher scored well with an 8.1, Spada a 7.0, Josh Klein a 6.5, and Pulcini a 5.8.

On balance beam, Rubino scored an 8.3, Spada an 8.2, Pulcini an 8.1, Stephanie Mui a 7.8, Marina Vozzella a 7.25, and Brooks a 6.7.

The vault exercise landed the highest scores of the meet with Josh Klein nailing an 8.65, Pulcini a 7.8, Kelliher a 7.45, Vozzella a 7.25 and Lizzy Doherty a 7.15.

On Tuesday, January 12 Canton clinched its first win against KP with a spectacular score of 128.95-108.25.

“This meet was the highest score for the team, which was definitely well deserved and greatly needed to boost the morale of the team,” coach Carla King said.

Spada was again unable to compete but her teammates stepped up and earned some season highs in the process.

On vault, Klein scored a 9.0, Pulcini had a season high of 8.5, Kelliher an 8.1, Vozzella a season high of 7.8, Kayla Lyles a season high of 7.7, and Doherty a 7.4.

On floor, Kelliher scored an 8.6, Pulcini had another season high of 8.5, Rubino had an 8.5, Brooks a season high of 8.0, Torenzio a 7.2 and freshman Jamie Hines earned a first-meet score of 6.8.

On bars, Canton’s toughest apparatus, Kelliher scored an 8.1, Klein a 7.5, Pulcini a 7.2 and Nicole Zane a 6.9.

On beam, Pulcini earned her third season high of the day with an 8.5; Rubino had an 8.3, Lyles a 7.85, Kelliher a 7.6, Mui a 7.3 and Zane a 7.4.

Last Saturday Canton came close to winning its second meet but fell to Oliver Ames by a narrow gap of 132.1-130. The Bulldogs, however, recorded their highest final score of the season.

On bars Kelliher scored a 7.3, Spada a 7.6, Klein a 7.3, Zane a 7.0 and Pulcini a 6.7.

The beam landed two more season highs with Pulcini and Vozzella scoring 8.55 and 7.8 respectively. Kelliher earned an 8.15, Zane a 7.8, Rubino a 7.6 and Lyles a 7.05.

Klein hit a fantastic season high of 9.3 on vault, followed by Kelliher with an 8.7, Pulcini and Spada with matching 8.2s, Lyles a 7.7 and Doherty a 7.6.

Kelliher topped the floor exercise with an 8.8, followed by Pulcini with an 8.6, Spada an 8.4, Rubino an 8.3 and Brooks a 7.4.

“Unfortunately our first few meets of the season have been with the hardest competitors in the state,” King said, “but the hard work the team has been showing this past week is paying off.”

The Bulldogs will next host North Attleboro this afternoon at 4 p.m.

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Posted by Canton Citizen on Jan 21 2010. Filed under High School, Sports. Both comments and pings are currently closed.