The defending gymnastics state champions are headed back to the state meet this weekend after placing second in their regional.
Farmington Unitedplaced second behind Huron Valley over the weekend, just 0.1 behind the victors.
Huron Valley scored 142.00 to Farmington's 141.90.Grosse Pointe was third with a 141.675.The top three teams in each of the four regions advance to the state meet inRockford to compete in the team competition starting at 2pm. Friday, March 13.
In addition to Huron Valley and Farmington, several other area teams qualified for the state meet: Livonia Blue, Northville andPlymouth.
Individual competition is Saturday. The top eightin each event plus the top sixall-around at each region advance to this competition.
"It was a competitive meet," Farmington United coach Jeff Dwyer said."We had our ups and downs but it was a true team effort to place second when it could have been much worse.Typically at a gymnastics meet each team uses sevengymnasts per event.The top fourscores in each event determine the overall team score.This meet is different and it showcases the depth of each team.A team can compete as many gymnasts who qualify for that event at this meet and still take the top fourscores out of a larger pool. For example, I believe we had 14 gymnasts qualify on beam.Therefore, we use the top fourscores of these 14 gymnasts —quite an advantage."
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Dwyer says that the team's depth was crucial. As Farmingtonheaded into itslast event, the balance beam, itneeded close to 35 points to win the meet.It did not start off well.
"Our top sevengymnasts competed and they had a rough time," Dwyer said."At this point I was hoping we at least placed third and still advance to the state meet.However, many gymnasts who don't get their names in the paper showed up big.Peyton Beals and Andrea Ouelette who have never competed on the A team for us had our team's highest scores, 8.875 and 8.675 respectively. Grace Spencer was next with a 8.65 followed by Sara Lashbrook's 8.55.What these girls did was quite remarkable.
"This also took place on other events as Lily Tyler scored an 8.7 to help out on vault; Beals on bars with a 8.5; Spencer on floor with an 8.7."
Individually, junior Sydney Schultz won the all-around competition and the uneven bars.
"What I love about Sydney is howhard she goes each and every day," Dwyer said."She is like a machine.She loves to compete and has the correct attitude and grit to compete with the best in the state.I never have to worry about Sydney going all out in any competition,she is a coach's dream in that respect.She was secondon vault and secondon floor."
Zoe Rasico had a solid meet and placed eighthon vault and sixthon bars enabling her to compete next Saturday.Dwyer said that Rasicohas come to be very dependable on these two events all year so it was good forthis to continue at the regional meet.
Beals placed seventhon bars and fourthon beam.
"Bealshad the meet of the season on Saturday," Dwyer said."For a freshman who did not compete on our A team most of the year, she acted like she had been doing it all season.In the same manner Grace Spencer had her best meet of the year by placing seventhin the all-around, just missing by 0.05 from advancing to the state meet.I know she was disappointed but that is quite remarkable in my eyes.These two freshmen bring a lot of fresh energy to the team.They are very competitive and want to gain new skills—this makes for a nice future."
Kamini Playle had her best performance on the floor and placed thirdwhile Ouelette placed eighthon beam.This is the second year in a row that Playle, a sophomore, advances to the state meet while it is the first time for Ouellette, a junior.
"Andrea has come back from a season filled with injuries and had her best meet of the year," Dwyer said."I was really happy to see her make it as she truly deserves it."
Senior Elena Vargo placed firston vault, eighthon bars,fifthon floorand sixthin the all-around.
"While it wasn't her best meet of the year, her talent still was good enough for her to advance to the state meet in the all-around," Dwyer said."Elena knows what it takes to rebound.Besides her top level talent,she is also a very competitive individual.She is not afraid of a challenge.
"Grit is so important in any sport, especially in coming off a tough competition, but the best athletes are those who persevere," Dwyer said."If our girls remember this at states (this) weekend we have a shot to compete with the best."
Contact reporter Andrew Vailliencourt at availlienc@hometownlife.com or810-923-0659. Follow him onTwitter @AndrewVcourt. Send game results and stats to Liv-Sports@hometownlife.com.