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From pikes to pirouettes
That’s gymnastics lingo for the casual fan out there.
I took a break from varsity round ball last night to check out a gymnastics meet at Loudoun Valley H.S.
I know. Park View and Heritage boys earned big wins. Deandre Albritton hit a game-winning three at the buzzer. I looked twice, actually three times, to make sure I accurately read the box score of Briar Woods girls outscoring Broad Run 25-2 in the fourth. Loudoun County girls kept on winning, Freedom girls moved into a tie for second, etc, etc.
However, I did see Loudoun County aka “The Little Engine That Could” win another meet. Five gymnasts competed for the Raiders last night. Four of them finished among the top six in the all-around.
What’s an all-around you ask? That’s where you add up a gymnasts score on all four events (bars, beam, floor and vault).
The Dulles District gymnastics meet is Feb. 2 and the Raiders are primed to give defending champ Potomac Falls a run at the title. Katy Bauer won the all-around Thursday and figures to challenge Panther stalwart Jenna Padilla.
I had a chance to chat with Mike Hitzges for a while. Mike coached an outstanding Dominion squad a couple years back. He now coaches Broad Run, where he also teaches and coaches track.
Mike said the Spartans are in the second year of a three-year plan. He’s hoping for a top three finish this year and to win the district next season.
He also said to keep an eye on Brittany Crichton, a very talented gymnast who has had elbow injuries. Her elbows are improving and she’s adding more and more to her routines. Brittany could be a factor in the Dulles all-around.
By the way, Mike and I are both rooting for the New York Giants in the Super Bowl. I’m not so much a Giants fan, but just pulling for the underdog. I didn’t ask why Mike is rooting for the G-men. So much for my crack reporting skills.
Speaking of coaches, last night’s meet is the first time I can remember an event with five varsity teams but only three coaches.
Mike is coaching both Broad Run and Briar Woods, and Jenny Aubel is doing the same with Heritage and Loudoun County. They both said having a pleasant group of girls that pull for each other makes it much easier.
Host Loudoun Valley tinkered with its lineup Thursday in preparation for its district meet and finished a close second. Its always fun watching the camaraderie coach Jennifer Cooper Barlow instills in her team.
All of the Valley gymnasts stand on the edge of the mat and yell encouragements while one of their teammates does a floor exercise routine. The Vikings also form a tunnel for their latest vaulter to run through after completing that event.
Team manager Kevin Shea, who was honored on senior night along with Brittany Baker and Nicki Hansen, capped off Thursday’s festivities by delivering a nice exhibition vault performance to the delight of the home crowd.
The Vikings face a tall task at their first Cedar Run District meet Jan. 30. Defending AAA state champion Osbourn Park and Battlefield, a sixth-place state finisher last year, are members of the Cedar Run. Cooper Barlow has set a goal of finishing second.
Heritage High School will host the Dulles meet again this year. Jenny Aubel said the Feb. 2 event would have a Hawaiian theme.
Last but not least, I’m suggesting Loudoun County’s Caroline Joseph choose “Sweet Caroline” as her music during her next floor routine. The song selection is sure to be worth a .10 of a point in the judge’s eyes.
Here is the story from Thursday's meet.
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