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02/13/2012 11:00 PMWhy other teams from the Southern Connecticut Conference even showed up to pit themselves against Kelly Megargee and the Hand gymnastics team remains a mystery. The Tigers claimed their fourth straight SCC title last week-their 15th in school history-setting a meet record for total team score in the process.
"We are so proud of the girls and their performances tonight. It was truly a team effort with every member contributing," said Hand Coach Kelly Smith. "We're happy to be at the top and we're also pleased with our team score and the new SCC record. We're consistently scoring in the 139-140 range the last few meets and that will put us in great shape entering the state meet."
As if it was ever in doubt, Hand scored a record 139.55 points on Feb. 10, cruising past the likes of Law (123.4) and Foran (120.6) en route to the conference crown. The Tigers boasted a champion in all four events and the all-around as its dominance in the sport over the last four years has become second to none.
"We know as a team this was our win," said senior Kimmy Megargee, who was first in the all-around with 33.75 points. "Since it is my senior year, it was important for me to win it again, we did, and it is really exciting."
Megargee led the way for the Tigers as she was crowned SCC champion on the beam (9.15) and bars (8.9), along with the all-around title, to be named the conference's Most Valuable Player.
"Kimmy won the all-around for the third time in her four years and we really wanted her to be able to go out on top," Smith said. "She has been a standout in our conference the last four years and deserved to be No. 1 as a senior."
Megargee was equally proud of her own performance, as well as the Tigers.
"I'm really proud of the way I performed, but most of all, I'm glad Hand had a champion gymnast on every event. We all did a really great job," she said.
While Megargee may have stole the show, she wasn't without assistance. Stefani Taschner was the vaulting champion with a 9.2, followed by Megargee in third (9.0), and Abby McGuirk (8.6) in sixth.
Taschner (8.6), Maia Smith (8.5), McGuirk (8.3), and Kendall Jerzyk (8.2) came in third through sixth on the bars, respectively, while Jerzyk and Smith tied for a third-place finish on the beam with an 8.4. Taschner and Maggie Naclerio also competed on the beam, trying for fourth place with an 8.2.
On the floor, Taschner scored a 9.1, Smith an 8.8, and Megargee posted an 8.7 for third, fourth, and fifth place, respectively, while Jerzyk claimed the SCC crown with a 9.3.
In the all-around, Megargee was the champion, followed by Taschner in third (35.1), Jerzyk in fifth (34.2), and Smith in sixth (34.0). Taschner, Smith, Jerzyk, McGuirk, Naclerio, and Maria Iennaco (7.8 on beam) all were named to the All-SCC team.
"We're also pleased with the individual results tonight," said Smith. "We had an SCC champion in every event and the girls made a strong showing in the conference."
The Tigers will next be in action at the state championship meet on Saturday, Feb. 25 at Pomperaug. Despite her success in the conference meet over her four years at Hand, Megargee has never won a state title, a feat she believes this year's team can achieve.
"I definitely think we can do it," she said. "If we stay focused and listen to what our coaches have to tell us, we definitely have a shot at winning states."