Defending State Champs Step Off on Right Foot

MARSHFIELD — There must be something in the water.

The defending Massachusetts Division 1 State Champion Barnstable High gymnasts rolled, tumbled, vaulted and flipped their way to a decisive victory last night on the road, defeating Hanover High School 145.55-123.9 in the Red Raiders’ season opening meet. Barnstable lost just once last year, but not in Massachusetts. The Red Raiders fell in the New England

The defending state champion Red Raiders defeated Hanover last night in the season-opener, 145.55-123.9. Photo courtesy of Jillian Pacheco

The defending state champion Red Raiders defeated Hanover last night in the season-opener, 145.55-123.9.
Photo courtesy of Jillian Pacheco

Regional competition to Woodstock High (CT), but not before winning back-to-back state titles and collecting 30 straight wins in those two seasons.

Last night proved a fine start to yet another winter of hopeful success stories.

“For our first meet of the season, we did great,” said assistant coach and Barnstable High Hall of Fame gymnast Jillian Pacheco. “Our first meet is always a test. We don’t know what girl to put up or the order they are competing in but overall it was a great first meet.”

Barnstable’s Tali Twomey played a huge role in ensuring the meet was precisely that. The limber junior took a first place in the balance beam competition with a 9.55, setting a new personal best score, first place in the floor exercise with a 9.15 and first place in the All-Around with a total cumulative score of 37.35. Twomey took second place finishes in the vault (9.2) and the uneven bars with a stellar 9.45.

Fellow junior Kayla Myrbeck took first place in the vault just ahead of Twomey with a score of 9.4.

Sophomore Lauren Hansen took first place honors on the uneven bars with a 9.5 and she took second place in the floor routine with a 9.0. She also took second in the All-Around score with a 36.0 point total.

Barnstable’s next meet is on the road on January 3rd against an opponent to be determined, followed by the Red Raiders’ first home meet on January 5 against the always tough Notre Dame Academy of Hingham.

— Sean Walsh is the sports editor for www.capecod.com. His email is [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @coachwalshccbm.  

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