NORTH ALLEGHENY SPORTS NETWORK

Gymnastics

File Photo by Al Durick, Portraits Plus Studio

MARANUK TAKES WPIAL TITLE

Sophomore Katie Maranuk took first place in the all-around competition at the WPIAL Championships at Moon High School on Saturday.  It marked the third straight year that an NA gymnast captured the title.  With the Lady Tigers’ team depleted by injuries, the individual championship was their “team” title.  NA had won the past two WPIAL championships.

Maranuk finished second behind Gray in both the vault and bars to trail by .55 points going into the balance beam.  Both gymnasts had difficulties on the beam, but Maranuk was a little better, scoring an 8.7 to Gray’s 8.1.  With this advantage going into the floor exercises, the Tiger sophomore needed a good performance to win the gold.  Maranuk came through to win the floor, 9.45 to 9.3 for Gray to capture the title.  Last year, Vanessa Rocca was the individual champion and the year before, Anne St. Clair took the title, as NA has now won the last three individual championships.

In the team competition, NA finished in 6^th place without the services of last year’s champion, Vanessa Rocca, and freshman Shannon McConnell, both out with injuries.  In addition, sophomore Lauren Spence could compete only on bars because of a severe ankle injury.  Pine-Richland won the title, with Baldwin second and Moon third.

Other Lady Tigers who performed well in the championships include freshman Brittney Kelly who took a second on bars and third on the vault in the Intermediate I competition and freshman Amy Yatsko who was seventh all-around in the Intermediate II class.

The Lady Tigers will not compete in the Pennsylvania Classic, the Pennsylvania State Championships since the PIAA withdrew from sponsoring gymnastics.  Injuries have made the second part of the season difficult for coaches Lisa Failla and Nick Fabish, but younger gymnasts have had an opportunity to gain valuable experience for the future.  With almost the entire team returning next year, look for the Lady Tigers to once again move back to the top of WPIAL gymnastics!

MEET SUMMARY
WPIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Moon High School – February 8, 2003

TEAM SCORING

INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIP

NORTH ALLEGHENY GYMNASTS

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INJURIES END LADY TIGERS' SEASON ON SOUR NOTE

Injuries to key gymnasts have ended the NA season with a 139.95-127.05 loss at Baldwin on Thursday night.  According to Coach Lisa Failla, "I have never seen this many injuries on any team I have ever coached."  Defending WPIAL Champion sophomore Vanessa Rocca will not defend her title tomorrow at Moon because of two stress fractures in her back.  Freshman Shannon McConnell has been out with a broken foot, and sophomore Lauren Spence will have surgery on her ankle which has kept her out most of the season.  The only senior on the squad, Jacque Peterson, is still not healthy due to back complications.

In the Baldwin meet, sophomore Katie Maranuk led the Tigers with a score of 33.8 in the all-around.  In individual events, junior Amanda McCoy earned an 8.2, tops for NA in the vault, Maranuk had a 9.05 on bars, McCoy had an 8.15 on balance beam, and Maranuk posted an 8.95 on floor exercises.

The Tigers will send a number of individual gymnasts to compete in the WPIAL Championships tomorrow at Moon High School.  Competition gets under way at 11:00 am.  We will have NA results as soon as we receive them.

MEET SUMMARY
BALDWIN - 139.95    NORTH ALLEGHENY - 127.05

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GYMNASTS DEFEAT CENTER AND HOPEWELL

In a tri-meet on Friday night at Rising Star Gymnastics, the Lady Tigers defeated Center, 134.9-133.7 and Hopewell, 134.9-114.2.  The two victories improved the NA record to 9-4 on the season.

Leading the way for the Lady Tigers was sophomore Katie Maranuk with an all-around score of 37.4, her top score of the season.  Junior Amanda McCoy posted a 32.65 while freshman Brittney Kelly had a 32.05.  In individual events, it was Maranuk with the top NA score in each event.  The Tiger sophomore scored 9.45 on the vault, 9.4 on bars, 9.1 on balance beam, and a 9.45 on floor exercises.

The Tigers were without top gymnasts sophomore Vanessa Rocca and freshman Shannon McConnell.  NA will travel to Baldwin on Thursday for the last dual meet of the season.  The meet is scheduled to begin at 7:00 pm.  On Saturday, Moon will host the WPIAL Championships.

MEET SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 134.9    CENTER - 133.7    HOPEWELL - 114.2

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LADY TIGERS BEAT MOON, LOSE TO PINE-RICHLAND

The Lady Tigers gymnastics team avenged an earlier loss to Moon by defeating the Tigers, 138.48-136.1, but were defeated by Pine-Richland, 142.7-138.48.  The NA record is now 7-4 on the season.

MEET SUMMARY
PINE-RICHLAND - 142.6    NORTH ALLEGHENY 138.25    MOON - 136.1

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LADY TIGERS BOUNCE BACK TO BEAT MONTOUR, 126.8-122.45

The Lady Tigers were able to regroup on Friday night at Rising Star Gymnastics to defeat the Montour Spartans, 126.8-122.45.  Despite having minimum help from the injured top three gymnasts, NA was able to utilize the talents of team members to pull out the victory.

Sophomore Katie Maranuk was able to perform on the vault and bars where she posted team high scores --- 9.45 on vault and 9.3 on bars. Junior Amanda McCoy recorded a 31.75 all-around score while freshman Amy Yatsko posted a 30.4.  On the beam, McCoy led all NA gymnasts with a 7.95.  McCoy also scored an 8.6 in the floor exercises for a team high.

The win improved the NA record to 6-3 overall on the season.  The Lady Tigers will travel to Pine-Richland to meet the Rams and Moon on Thursday, and will host Center and Hopewell on Friday at Rising Star Gymnastics.  Meet time is 5:30 pm on Thursday and 8:00 pm on Friday.

MEET SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 126.8    MONTOUR - 122.45

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INJURIES HURT LADY TIGERS IN LOSSES TO PINE-RICHLAND AND FOX CHAPEL

With a squad at less than full strength, the Lady Tigers dropped a tri-meet to Pine-Richland and Fox Chapel at Rising Star Gymnastics on Friday.  The Rams scored 141.6, Fox Chapel 136.75, and North Allegheny 135.05.  Coach Lisa Failla said, "The kids who are competing are doing well!" as NA came with .7 of Fox Chapel.

Sophomore Katie Maranuk led the way with an all-around score of 36.45.  Sophomore Vanessa Rocca won the bars with 9.5.  Rocca and freshman Shannon McConnell competed on bars only.  Maranuk won the vault with a 9.45.  Leading NA on the floor were Maranuk and junior Amanda McCoy, while Maranuk had an 8.35 on the beam to pace the Lady Tigers.

The Lady Tigers will be back in action on Friday when they host Montour at Rising Star Gymnastics.  Meet time is scheduled for 8:00 pm.  Let's hope the Lady Tigers recover in time for the meet!

MEET SUMMARY
PINE-RICHLAND - 141.6  FOX CHAPEL - 136.75  NORTH ALLEGHENY - 136.05

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MOON ENDS LADY TIGERS' UNBEATEN STREAK, 136.95-136.25

By the narrowest of margins, the Lady Tigers' five-meet unbeaten streak came to an end yesterday afternoon at Moon High School as the Moon Tigers defeated NA by .7 of a point, 136.95-136.25. 

Sophomore Vanessa Rocca scored a 36.6 in the all-around to lead NA, while sophomore Katie Maranuk was close behind with a 35.4.  Rocca had the top scores in the vault (8.9), bars (9.3), beam (9.3), and tied with Maranuk in the floor exercises with a 9.1. 

The Lady Tigers were scheduled to participate in the Moon Invitational tomorrow but will not do so because of injuries.

The Lady Tigers are right back in action tonight when they host the Pine-Richland Rams at Rising Star Gymnastics.  Meet time is scheduled for 8:00 pm.

MEET SUMMARY
MOON - 136.95    NORTH ALLEGHENY - 136.25

***BE SURE TO CHECK THE PHOTO GALLERY FOR PICTURES FROM YESTERDAY'S MEET***

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LADY TIGERS BEAT BALDWIN FOR FIFTH STRAIGHT

The Lady Tigers outscored Baldwin, 144.15-139.05 on Wednesday night at Rising Star Gymnastics to capture their fifth consecutive meet without a loss.  All four NA gymnasts scored over 30.0 points in the all-around scores to post their highest score of the season.

Sophomore Vanessa Rocca and freshman Shannon McConnell led the way with Rocca tallying 38.65 and McConnell's 38.60.  Sophomore Katie Maranuk posted a 36.15, her highest total of the year, while freshman Amy Yatsko had a 30.0, also her highest score this season.

In individual events, McConnell won the vault with a 9.8 and the bars with a 9.55.  Rocca had a 9.7 on the balance beam and  a 9.8 on the floor to take first in both events.  NA scored a 9.0 or better eleven times in the competition.

The Lady Tigers will return to competition next Thursday when they travel to Moon to meet the Tigers in a 4:00 meet.

MEET SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 144.15  BALDWIN - 139.05

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LADY TIGERS WIN TRI-MEET OVER CENTER AND HOPEWELL

The Lady Tigers were victorious over both Center and Hopewell in a tri-meet on Monday night.  NA scores 138.05 while Center tallied 132.7 and Hopewell 117.25.  The wins gave NA a record of 4-0 to this point in the season.

The Lady Tigers were led by a trio of gymnasts.  Freshman Shannon McConnell compiled an all-around score of 36.2 with sophomores Vanessa Rocca posting a 35.9 and Katie Maranuk a 34.75.  In individual events, Rocca had a 9.05 in the vault and a 9.35 on the floor, while McConnell led with a 9.3 on the bars and a 9.25 on the beam. 

MEET SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 138.05  CENTER - 132.7  HOPEWELL - 117.25

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WPIAL GYMNASTICS – 2002-03  

The defending champion Lady Tigers will compete again in the WPIAL against seven other teams.  The WPIAL championships will be held on February 8, 2003, at Moon Middle School.  The individual championship is open to all competitors who have achieved the qualifying scores as posted on the WPIAL website.  All individual qualifying scores for members of teams entered in the WPIAL program must be earned in a regular scheduled meet in which their team competes.  No team member can compete as an individual at another school for a qualifying score.

Students who participate as an individual or as a member of a team in a gymnastic program other than that of her school while she is participating for the school team shall be ineligible to take part in the WPIAL or PIAA championship events unless she has been in uniform and available to participate as a member of her school team for at least 75 percent of the contests beginning with the team’s first interscholastic contest of the regular season.

In all dual meets a team may enter five competitors for each event, but only the scores of four of them can count toward the final score of the meet. 

GYMNASTICS ALIGNMENT – 8 TEAMS