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Raiders edge host Vikings in gymnastics meet
Loudoun County High School gymnasts received a pleasant surprise Jan. 24 following a stressful week of taking exams.
The Raiders had just delivered a decent, but clearly not their best, performance at a five-team gymnastics meet hosted by Loudoun Valley High School.
As the equipment was carried off the gymnasium floor and the final results were being tabulated, Loudoun County assumed its effort was not enough to best the Vikings, one of the most established programs in the area.
That’s when the surprise hit – Loudoun County totaled 133.25 points, .35 more than Loudoun Valley (132.9).
“It was great. None of us even expected it until that moment [it was announced],” said Raider senior Katy Bauer, who won the all-around with a 34.4. “We didn’t have a great meet, but I guess we had a good enough meet.”
The Raiders, a small yet very experienced team, held down four of the top six spots in the all-around. Libby Messina (33.7) was second, while Liz Asai (32.6) placed fifth and Jesse Sheehan (32.55) finished sixth.
It was Loudoun County’s first win against Loudoun Valley since reinstating its gymnastics program five years ago. The Raiders, who formerly practiced with the Vikings at Loudoun Valley, now practice at Heritage High School under the guidance of Jenny Aubel, who coaches Heritage and Loudoun County.
Bauer noted that several current Raiders have practiced together since well before high school at the APEX Gymnastics in Leesburg.
“I’ve practiced with these girls since I was 11 years old … our team just bonds together awesome.”
Loudoun Valley entered the meet fresh off winning the Harrisonburg Invitational Jan. 19. The Vikings, who are in their first season in the ultra-competitive Cedar Run District of the Group AAA Northwest Region, used Thursday’s meet to shuffle their lineup.
“We were messing around with our lineup a little bit and trying to find out what’s going to work for districts,” Valley coach Jennifer Cooper Barlow said. “Ultimately, this meet wasn’t about competing against another team. We were trying to get ready for the district meet.”
Brittany Baker, who was honored during senior night festivities, along with Nicki Hansen and team manger Kevin Shea, won the balance beam competition and placed fourth in the all-around.
“I’m very proud of her,” Cooper Barlow said of Baker. “She is coming along great. I could not have asked for more from her.”
Maura Cotter, normally one of the Vikings’ top all-around performers, was partially rested and did not compete in all four events Thursday. Cotter placed second on the floor exercise and the vault.
The Cedar Run District meet will be hosted by Osbourn Park, the defending AAA state champs, Jan. 30.
“We have finished third against Osbourn Park and Battlefield and our goal right now is to get into that second spot,” Cooper Barlow said. “It’s a very tough district, but it’s making [us] become better competitors. They know they have to be better in order to be successful.”
Broad Run (118.2) continued its steady improvement with a third-place showing Thursday. Brittany Crichton won the vault and finished third in the all-around.
“I’m really happy with how we did. We are getting better and better with every meet,” Spartans coach Mike Hitzges said. “We should be right there in the top three at districts. I’m very excited about our team.”
Heritage (103.25) also tried out different lineups in the meet and finished fourth. Brittany Moyer set a personal best of 8.6 on the balance beam and qualified for states in the all-around.
“We had some new people in the lineup to change it up a little bit and give them some competition time,” Aubel said. “For some of them, this was the first time doing an event.”
Briar Woods (76.55) placed fifth. The Falcons are a small and inexperienced team with a few freshmen and one sophomore. Hitzges also coached Briar Woods and they practice at Broad Run.
Heritage High School will once again host the Dulles District meet Feb. 2 at 10 a.m.Team
Loudoun County (133.25)
Loudoun Valley (132.9)
Broad Run (118.2)
Heritage (103.25)
Briar Woods (76.55)
All-around
Bauer (LC) 34.4
Messina (LC) 33.7
Crichton (BR) 33.55
Baker (LV) 33.1
Asai (LC) 32.6
Sheehan (LC) 32.55
Bars
Messina (LC) 8.35
Bauer (LC) 8.25
Spotts (LV) 8.1
Baker (LV) 7.8
Donaldson (LV) 7.7
Asai (LC) 7.7
Sheehan (LC) 7.7
Beam
Baker (LV) 9.0
Bauer (LC) 8.9
Sheehan (LC) 8.8
Moyer (H) 8.6
Spotts (LV) 8.6
Messina (LC) 8.55
Floor
Bauer (LC) 8.6
Cotter (LV) 8.5
Asai (LC) 8.5
Sheehan (LC) 8.4
Spotts (LV) 8.4
Crichton (BR) 8.3
Vault
Crichton (BR) 9.3
Cotter (LV) 9.25
Noschese (BR) 8.7
Bauer (LC) 8.65
Hansen (LV) 8.6
Messina (LC) 8.6
Check out my blog entry about this gymnastics meet.
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