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caption, page 7:
Gymnasts
take Class S
crown - again
The Woodstock Academy Centaurs gymnastics team kept its impressive state title streak going when it captured the Class S state championship at Jonathan Law High School in Milford Feb. 23.
The Centaurs easily defeated runners-up, Stonington, 143.5 - 130.675. Daniel Hand High School of Madison was third at 129.825.
It was the seventh consecutive Class S state championship for the Centaurs and ninth overall for the program which started its state title runs with a pair of Class M state championships.
“It’s so special,” said senior Lydia Taft. We feel the pressure to do it, but we enjoy keeping the tradition going.”
Woodstock Academy lived up to its billing. It was heavily favored going into the competition. The Centaurs were seeded 10 points better than the Bears.
“We don’t really look at the numbers, we just want to go in and do our best. We know things can happen,” Taft said.
The Centaurs won all four events, scoring a 37.4 in the vault; a 35.7 on the floor; 35.5 on the bars and 34.9 on the beam.
It was the vault, their first routine of the competition, that had Woodstock Academy coach Kasey Tocchio’s charges a little uptight.
“We struggled mentally with the vault last year and the girls were a little nervous going into it,” Tocchio said. “The hard landing was a little different than what they are used to at their home gym so it gets in their head a little bit.”
The Centaurs had little to worry about.
“They were so amazing. It was the best turnout we’ve done in a while on vault,” Tocchio said.
Taft led the way with a 9.45 but it was Emily Arters with a 9.2 that impressed Tocchio.
“Her vault only comes out of a (possible) 9.4. She did an awesome job,” Tocchio said.
The state class championships do not include an individual titlist; it is a team-only event.
Taft was also best in the beam (9.2) and floor (9.3) for the team while fellow senior Ali Crescimanno was best in bars at 9.6.
“Lydia really rocked it in all four events,” Tocchio said. “Ali is dealing with an injury and we’re trying to keep her healthy right now. Abby (Vaida) and Maddie (Grube) are really bringing it together for the team. Carla (Simal) did floor and that was really exciting to see her out there.”
The Centaurs were hoping to put together a better performance than what they had at the Eastern Connecticut Conference championship.
Tocchio said, in some ways, they accomplished that.
“We still struggled a little on beam. We still are trying to nurse some injuries and some end-of-season things. I feel like (this) weekend and the weekend after, we can kind of pull it all together,” Tocchio said.
The Centaurs do have something to shoot for this weekend.
Greenwich defeated Woodstock Academy in last year’s State Open championship and the Centaurs would like that title back when they compete at New Milford High School March 2.
“We’re looking forward to it,” Taft said. “It’s a huge goal especially after last year when we had the streak going (six in a row) and we came in second. It was fine, but we’re really looking forward to going back and winning again.”
The Centaurs will have the target on their backs at the Open.
Woodstock Academy is seeded almost six points better than Greenwich (137.95), the Class LL state champ.
The Centaurs will compete in the New England championship the following weekend.
Marc Allard
Sports Information Director
The Woodstock Academy
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