YARMOUTH PORT — Defending your state championship title is one thing.
Tying a school record and almost shattering a state record is on an altogether different level in the quest for perfection.
Barnstable High School’s Lauren Hansen, a sophomore, tied the school vault record of 9.8 last night, set by Brittan Morris in 2011.
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With head coach Duncan Chase out of action for Monday night’s tri-meet with Marshfield and Notre Dame Academy, Barnstable assistant coach and BHS Hall of Famer Jillian Pacheco guided the still undefeated Red & White gymnasts to an incredible 147.15 score. Barnstable outscored visiting Notre Dame Academy 147.15-137.30 and Marshfield, 147.15-118.60.
The Red Raiders’ score came within just over one point of shattering the state record (148.25) set by the Red Raiders on January 31, 2008 against Carver and Sacred Heart. Coach Pacheco’s younger sister Leah, a four-time Boston Globe All-Scholastic gymnast, was on that 2007-08 state championship team that shattered the state record and she was in attendance last night to witness her former team almost make history again.
Barnstable’s Lauren Hansen played a key role in last night’s near record-setting meet: she tied the school vault record with a 9.8 score and took a first place finish. Barnstable swept the vault competition with sisters Hayley and Kayla Myrbeck taking second and third place, respectively, with scores of 9.7 and 9.65. Former Red Raider captain Brittan Morris set the school vault record (9.8) on February 7, 2011 against, of all teams, Notre Dame Academy.
Hansen also took first place in the uneven bars (9.35) and second place in the floor routine (9.50). Barnstable’s Alexa Wilson killed it on the floor routine, taking first place with a 9.60 from the judges. Notre Dame Academy’s Hayley Doyle took first place on the balance beam with a 9.30. Barnstable’s highest finish on the balance beam was Tali Twomey who took a second place finish with an even 9.00.
Other top finishers included Alexa Wilson, who took first place in the all-around with a 36.8, joined by Jillian “Gronk” Fraser who notched a 36.0 all-around score.
Barnstable High School’s Tali Twomey is all smiles after nailing a 9.25 on the uneven bars last night, good enough for second place.
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With all that success and all the broad smiles that were seen Monday night at the Cape Cod Gymnastics Center on Corporation Road, one would think that this year’s defending state champions might be footloose and fancy-free. Not so, said the BHS Athletic Hall of Fame assistant coach.
“This team has so much depth it is hard to put up every girl (in competition),” Pacheco said. “The team from 2007 had more enthusiasm and fun than our team now. They put too much pressure on themselves to keep up this dynasty that they forget to have fun sometimes.”
Still, one could see Pacheco trying to keep things loose with the girls in the midst of running around, spotting her charges and keeping things organized in a way that would make 10-time state champion Coach Chase proud.
“I told the girls tonight that they needed to have fun,” Pacheco said. “They have been way too hard on themselves and serious. It was time to loosen up and relax. I think my advice worked because the girls were one point away from breaking the state record… if they stayed on the beam, which is always the most stressful, we would have done it. I guess we will be putting more pressure (on ourselves) during practice. This team is capable of shattering the state record.”
Barnstable High School’s Alexa Wilson is a portrait of strength and focus last night on the balance beam.
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Bars:
1. Lauren Hansen: 9.35
2. Tali Twomey: 9.25
3. Alexa Wilson: 9.0
Beam:
1. Hayley Doyle (from Notre Dame): 9.3
2. Tali Twomey: 9.0
3. Jillian Fraser 8.8 (tie)
3. Kristen Doyle (from Notre Dame): 8.8 (tie)
Floor:
1. Alexa Wilson: 9.6
2. Lauren Hansen: 9.5
3. Jillian Fraser: 9.0
Barnstable (4-0) hits the road tomorrow night to face Carver at 6:00 pm.
— Sean Walsh is the sports editor for www.capecod.com. His email is [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @coachwalshccbm
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Barnstable High School senior gymnastics captain Jacqueline Hansen does her floor routine in last night’s stellar win over Marshfield and Notre Dame Academy.
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