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01/30/2012 11:00 PMThe Hand gymnastics team just keeps on winning in the early goings of the 2012 season, improving to 6-0 last week with some impressive victories. The Tigers vaulted their way to the top score in a quad-meet, a meet which included Valley Regional-the defending Class S champion. Then Hand went on to best Southern Connecticut Conference foe Foran.
On Jan. 25 the Tigers (133.05) bettered Valley (123.70), Haddam-Killingworth/Hale-Ray/Old Saybrook (61.2), and Old Lyme (108.5) in the quad-meet. Senior captain Kimmy Megargee posted a 35.1 all-around score with a 9.0 on vault and 9.3 on floor; sophomore Stefani Taschner had a 33.1 all-around, scoring an 8.9 on floor and an 8.6 on bars; and sophomore Kendall Jerzyk was awarded a 32.5 all-around with a 9.1 on floor. Senior Maggie Naclerio posted an 8.0 on beam, sophomore Ashlyn Thompson recorded an 8.1 on floor and 8.0 on vault, while freshman Madi McNeilly chipped in with an 8.2 on vault. Freshman Lauren LaChapelle made her high school debut on beam and floor.
Then on Jan. 28, Hand was again on the road, taking on Foran and coming away with a 130.25-121.6 win. Taschner scored a 33.95 all-around with a 8.85 on bars and 8.7 on vault; senior captain Maia Smith posted a 33.2 all-around with an 8.6 on floor and an 8.3 on vault and bars; McNeilly had an 8.4 on vault, while Thompson was awarded an 8.3 on vault and 8.25 on floor.
"We were really pleased with the performance today," said Hand Coach Kelly Smith. "We had a different lineup of competitors and still broke a 130, which shows the depth of our team. We also looked a little more confident on beam today, which has been a struggle for us as of late."
Sophomores Kendall Goodman and Julie Keenan each competed in three events against Foran, while Smith said LaChapelle followed up her debut with solid performances on the beam and bars.