HUDSON – One would think by now that Barnstable High gymnastics head coach Duncan Chase would be used to winning championships and not even blink under pressure.
After three New England Regional championships, 10 state championship titles and 16 straight conference titles, what’s a 14th Division 1 South Sectional title, right?
Barnstable High’s Tali Twomey took first place in the All-round Saturday afternoon to help lead the Red Raiders to a 14th South Sectional championship title.
Sean Walsh/Capecod.com Sports
Indeed, there would be no blinking today seen from the 16-year Red Raider helmsman at the State South Sectionals at Hudson High School, but there sure was some nail-biting.
“We’ve been worried all week,” he said. “Even on the bus ride up there. Even the last couple days we weren’t sure Jillian Fraser was quite going to make it (flu all week). And Abbey (Chetwynd) was coming down with the flu. It was a challenge. We didn’t know what to expect.”
Out for the season with a full cast and broken foot, junior stalwart Kayla Myrbeck needed to be replaced. Myrbeck broke the foot in practice just over a week ago taking a tough landing off the uneven bars. Abbey Chetwynd was nearly incapacitated with the flu on the bus, “barely able to breathe,” Chase said, and Fraser’s health had been touch and go since Wednesday at least.
So the Barnstable Red Raiders (16-0) did what they perennially do best, given the program’s depth under Chase’s tutelage: they adapted and it was senior co-captains Jillian Fraser and Jackie Hansen who came through in the clutch and underclassmen Tali Twomey and Lauren Hansen did what they’ve done all season: nailed very routine they competed in.
Thanks to that senior leadership combined with that underclassmen talent, Barnstable won its 14th South Sectional championship today by taking first place in three out of four rotations and second place in the first rotation for a combined total score of 147.25. Shrewsbury took second place (145.4), took third place (141.25) and the co-op team of Medfield-Ashland-Dover-Sherborn took fourth place with a score of 138.575.
Barnstable High’s Lauren Hansen took second place in the All-Around competition in today’s South Sectional championship and the Red Raiders prevailed with the title win.
Sean Walsh/Capecod.com Sports
All four teams will advance to the State Championship next Saturday at Algonquin Regional at 6:00 pm.
Twomey, a junior, captured the All-Around title with a stellar score of 37.75 and teammate Lauren Hansen was directly behind her in second place with a score of 36.725, but it was a still ill Jillian Fraser, Chase said, who truly gutted it out.
“Jillian came through big time,” Chase said. “Her bar routine was flawless.”
Fraser took second place in the bars and Twomey came in third place with scores of 9.55 and 9.525, respecticely, and both just behind Shrewsbury’s Madison Killay who captured first place at 9.675.
In fact, it was the Shrewsbury team that stepped up and stood closest in the way to the Red Raiders’ 14th sectional title.
In the first rotation, Shrewsbury held a slight edge over Barnstable with a 37.1 (bars) score to Barnstable’s 36.325 in the vault. The vault proved a troublesome enterprise for the Red & White, due to Chetwynd’s illness, thus, co-captain Jackie Hansen stepped up and got the job done, earning her team valuable points.
Hayley Mrybeck, though, made her vault count most with a first place at 9.5 and Twomey netted a 9.475 score, both ahead of Shrewsbury’s Ally McNeil (9.45/3rd place).
“It was the first time Jackie Hanson had to go on the vault this year and only two kids can compete in the all-around so Jackie had to compete in the vault, beam and floor. I was trying to save Abbey (Chetwynd) for just one.”
EXHAUSTED BUT PROUD – The Barnstable High gymnasts captured the program’s 14th South Sectional title in 16 years today and will move on to defend their state championship title next Saturday at Algonquin Regional.
Photo courtesy of Jillian Pacheco
In spite of feeling like she was at death’s door, Chetwynd did not let her team down: she tied Shrewsbury’s Maddie Konz with a 9.25 on the balance beam. Medway’s Maria DiFonza came in second with a 9.2 score.
On the floor routine – Barnstable’s strongest suit some might say – Twomey nailed a 9.6 and Lauren Hansen was right behind with a 9.5, edging out Bridgewater-Raynham’s top gymnast, Isabella Antonangeli who took third place with a 9.45.
“They’re glad to get this week behind them with people on vacation and some girls not being able to practice because of the flu. Jillian Fraser was just great today,” Chase said. “Abbey (Chetwynd) was just totally exhausted from the beam but she nailed it.”
Here’s how each team score in each rotation:
First Rotation
1. Shrewsbury – 37.1 – bars
2. Barns – 36.325 – vault
3. Medfield-Ashland-Dover Sherborn – 35.55
4. Sharon – 35.025
11. Falmouth/Mashpee – 32.6
2nd Rotation
1. Barnstable – 73.8
2. Shrewsbury – 72.575
3. Sharon – 69.975
4. Medfield-Ashland-Dover-Sherborn – 69.6
7. Falmouth/Mashpee – 67.75
Out sick from practice the entire week, senior co-captain Jillian Fraser came through in the clutch today for the Red Raiders and helped lead them to their 14th sectional championship.
Sean Walsh/Capecod.com Sports
3rd Rotation
1. Barnstable – 110
2. Shrewsbury – 109.075
3. Medfield-Ashland-Dover-Sherborn 104.625
4. Falmouth/Mashpee – 104.425
5. Sharon – 103.425
5. Mansfield – 103.425
4th Rotation – Final Score
1. Barnstable – 147.25
2. Shrewsbury – 145.4
3. Falmouth/Mashpee – 141.525
4. Medfield-Ashland-Dover-Sherborn – 138.575
5. Notre Dame Academy – 138.80
6. Sharon – 138.225
7. Mansfield – 37.925
— Sean Walsh is the sports editor for www.capecod.com. His email is [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @coachwalshccbm
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