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03/04/2012 11:00 PMFor the first time in several years, North Haven gymnastics fielded a team this winter, a season that not only featured the Indians notching a few wins, but also saw Brian LeRoux's athletes form a solid foundation for the future.
Those athletes were sophomore captain Lauren Macolino, sophomore Marie Facin, freshman Gabrielle Gontarek, and freshman Amanda Macolino and LeRoux was quite pleased about the campaigns put forth by each member of his quartet of gymnasts.
"The girls and I were happy that we're finally a team again and they were a bunch of warriors," said LeRoux, whose team's victories came against Branford and Hamden. "This is a talented team of smart and determined girls who worked hard all season and brought good stuff to North Haven. If all goes well, we should be a stronger team next as the girls develop even more skills."
Early in the season, the Indians displayed their skills in a meet versus Hamden and Branford that included Lauren Macolino taking first place on beam en route to a second-place showing in the all-around.
North Haven then went up against Law, and despite dropping a close 123.45-117 decision, the Indians showed they could hang in with one of the state's best teams as Lauren Macolino took second bars and beam to place second in the all-around.
The Indians followed that by earning wins against Branford and Hamden in a meet which saw Gontraek take first place on the floor routine with Facin in second.
North Haven then gave another of a state's best a tough time in losing to Hand 122.90-110.80, which set up a special night at the Southern Connecticut Conference Championship on Feb. 16. At that meet, Facin scored an 8.5 on floor to tally 29.8 overall points and finish 15th in the all-around and earn All-SCC honors. Also for the Indians, Laura Macolino scored 30.35 to finish 13th, Gontarek totaled 28.1 to place 17th, and Amanda Macolino scored 27.1 to place 20th.
Amanda Macolino then tied for first place on beam with an 8.60 when North Haven concluded its season by again battling Law and losing 127.65-123.55. Macolino tied for fourth in the all-around with her sister Lauren at 30.9 with Facin scoring 8.2 to take second on vault and place third in the all-around at 31.1. Gontarek was fifth in the all-around with a 30.65.
"Our best performance of the season came in our last meet against Law," said LeRoux, who was assisted by his daughters and program alums, Jamie and Lisa LeRoux. "The girls came out focused to win that night and all four of them scored well."
Coach LeRoux concluded by discussing how his sophomore captain guided the Indians along their comeback trail to prosperity this winter and strengthened the chemistry of his squad.
"Lauren did a great job as captain as any message I had for the girls, she always made sure they got it," LeRoux said. "This was a group of gymnasts who were like sisters to one another. They've all done gymnastics together since they were kids and have spent a lot of time with each other so it was like they were a little family of four."